I will be traveling from NYC to Japan for just about 2 weeks (16 days) in June, and can use some recommendations regarding getting a JR Pass. I was thinking about getting a 7 day pass but not sure if I will actually even need a pass at all. Can you help me figure out the best pass - if I actually need one? Also, when should I activate the pass? Bellow I've outlined our current itinerary for you to review.
Thanks in advance!
ITINERARY:
DAY 1 | (Saturday): Arrive Tokyo (Arrive 4pm)
- Explore Tokyo - Stay night in Tokyo
DAY 2 | (Sunday): Explore Tokyo
- Free day to explore Tokyo - Stay night in Tokyo
DAY 3 | (Monday): Ginza
- Visit the Edo-Tokyo Museum - Stay night in Tokyo
DAY 4 | (Tuesday): Leave Tokyo to Mt Koya
- Leave Tokyo go to Mt Koya - Stay night in Mt Koya at a Temple
DAY 5 | (Wednesday): Leave Mt Koya, go to Nara, then onward to Kyoto - Stay night in Kyoto
DAY 6 | (Thursday): Kyoto explore the following:
- Kiyomizu-dera Temple - Fushimi Inari - Sanjusangendo temple or Shugaku-in Villa - Stay night in Kyoto
DAY 7 | (Friday): Kyoto day trip to Arashiyama and monkey park
- Tenryu-ji Temple - Bamboo Forest - Okochi-Sanso Villa - Kinkaku-ji Temple - Daitoku-ji Temple - Stay night in Kyoto
DAY 8 | (Saturday): Free Day in Kyoto - Stay night in Kyoto
DAY 9 | (Sunday): Free Day in Kyoto - Stay night in Kyoto
DAY 10 | (Monday): Leave Kyoto to Himeji Castle then onward to Osaka
½ day at Himeji Castle and then onward to Osaka. Stay night in Osaka.
- Stay night in Osaka, leave in morning to Osaka airport, fly to Yakushima
DAY 11 | (Tuesday): Osaka Itami (Dpt 10:20am) to Yakushima (Arv 11:50am)
- Spend day in Yakushima - Stay night in Yakushima
DAY 12 | (Wednesday): Yakushima - Stay night in Yahkushima
DAY 13 | (Thursday): Yakushima - Stay night in Yahkushima
DAY 14 | (Friday): Yakushima (Depart 1:00pm) to Tokyo Haneda (Arrive 4:15pm)
- Explore Tokyo east districts or Explore Tokyo at Night Roppongi Crossing (Evening) or Shinjuku for neon lights
-Stay night in Tokyo
DAY 15 | (Saturday): Explore Asukusa Area of Tokyo - Stay night in Tokyo
DAY 16 | (Sunday): Last Day in Tokyo - Leave Tokyo (Depart 5pm)
- Ceramics shops - Takumi Craft Shop