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To buy or not to buy?

nadeperth
nadeperth
about 10 years ago
4 responses

Hi there,

We are travelling from Tokyo > Takayama - but we MUST buy a non-Rail Pass eligible ticket on the super fast train as we need to get there very fast!

Then staying in Takayama for 3 days.
Then travelling Takayama > Kyoto, staying for 4 days.
Then travelling Kyoto > Hiroshima return (day trip).
Then a few small trips around Osaka / Nara / Kyoto for 2-3 days.

Ive used Hyperdia and added it up to be a total of $600 per person.
It doesnt seem to be worth buying a 14-day pass each.

Agree?

Thanks :)

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
about 10 years ago
Expert

Hi there!

Let's have a look at ticket prices and find out :)

Tokyo - Takayama ¥ 14,000
Takayama - Kyoto ¥ 9,380
Kyoto - Hiroshima ¥ 10,590
Hiroshima - Kyoto ¥ 10,590
Kyoto - Osaka (return) ¥ 1,040
Kyoto - Nara return ¥ 1,380
Kyoto - ? (from where will you be leaving Japan?)

For a total of ¥ 46,980 the 14 day JR Pass is ¥ 45,100 so you'd make ¥ 1,880 in savings right now. A JR Pass could really become worth it if you use it as well to travel to the airport back home.

As for travel between Tokyo - Takayama, you can use the Shinkansen with the JR Pass. You can't use to Nozomi train but can use the Hakari Super Express, the time difference to takayama is only 10-15 minutes.

I hope this helps!
Daniel

nadeperth
nadeperth
4 posts
about 10 years ago

Hi Daniel

Wow, thanks > I think I was a bit mixed up!

If we can go on the Hikari and it's only a small time difference, then that is great. We want to leave early on 15 April from Tokyo to Takayama - so that will defintely be fine ti catch the SHINKANSEN HIKARI 503 that leaves Tokyo at 07:33? This train connects to JR Tokaido Line Rapid and LTD. EXP (WIDE VIEW) HIDA 25 - so these are all fine on the JR Pass?

So really it is just the "Nozomi" and "Mizuho" trains that it can't be used, right?

And yes, travelling from Osaka to the airport (KIX) so we can use it for that too!

Thanks so much for your help :)

Nade

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
about 10 years ago
Expert

Hi Nade,

Yes you can use the Hikari and Hida wide view express trains with the JRPass! No problem at all.

The only exclusion are trains classified as Nozomi / Mozuho. This is something that you don't really have to worry about though. The JR Staff will always book the right trains for you when making seat reservations.

Hope this helps too!
Daniel


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