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Need help using jrpass with my itinerary

coolcali
coolcali
about 11 years ago
7 responses

I will be getting jrpass. Need advise on few items:
1. Arriving Haneda airport 5:20am on Jan 19. How can I get to Kyoto using jrpass?
2. Departing Narita airport 5:50pm on Jan 24. How can I get from Kyoto or Osaka to Narita airport using jrpass.
3. Any suggestions where to go/what to do in japan, and at the same time maximizing the use of jrpass?
I will be staying with relatives at Kyoto first, then mostly osaka. Thanks!

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
about 11 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

1.) Before you can travel you will have to activate your JR-Pass. The office at Haneda opens at 11.00 a.m., seeing your arrival time, the best thing you can do is go to Tokyo station and activate your pass there. The ticket office at Tokyo station opens at 7.30. Here's the best way to get from Haneda Airport to Tokyo station. Once you have activated your pass there you can take the Bullet Train from there directly to Kyoto.

2.) The best way to Narita from Kyoto or Osaka is by Bullet Train to Tokyo and from there use the Narita Express to Narita Airport(both are fully covered by the JR-Pass) Here is an example for the journey on your day of travel.

3.) When you are in Kyoto and want to make the most of your JR-Pass, consider a day (or two) trip to Hiroshima and visit the peace museum, if you want to travel a little less far Himeji is a great place too! You can view the castle there, right now they are renovating it but you can still enjoy a lot of it.

Hope this helps!
Daniel

coolcali
coolcali
7 posts
about 11 years ago

This is awesome! Thank you thank you so much! I also plan to just use one of the visa prepaid cards while in Japan. I'll have some cash but would you recommend I take yen instead of dollars?

coolcali
coolcali
7 posts
about 11 years ago

I believe visa is more accepted internationally, but I wanted to just use one of the prepaid ones :)

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
about 11 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

In Japan credit cards are accepted by most big restaurants, hotels, department stores and the like. Still it is a very cash based society. So I would always bring enough cash too. You can exchange your Dollars from Yen in Japan but they are not accepted as local payment method.

Enjoy your trip!

coolcali
coolcali
7 posts
about 11 years ago

Thank you!!! :)

coolcali
coolcali
7 posts
about 11 years ago

Turns out that from Haneda airport, I need to get to Osaka (not Kyoto). What would be the most efficient way to do that? I arrive 5:20am at Haneda. I understand I would have to go to Tokyo station to activate the jrpass.

coolcali
coolcali
7 posts
about 11 years ago

Also just as an alternative.....
If I exchange my jrpass at Haneda (i understand that exhange for jrpass opens at 11am),
what's the best way to get from Haneda to Osaka?

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
about 11 years ago
Expert

Hi again!

Osaka is the next stop with the Shinkansen, so take the same route as for Kyoto but stay in the train for 1 more station and you are there!

From Haneda with the JR Pass: Take the Monorail to Hamamatsucho, here you can transfer to the Yamonote-line. Get out on Tokyo station and from here you can ride the Shinkansen to Osaka (and/or Kyoto).

Hope this helps :)
-Daniel

coolcali
coolcali
7 posts
about 11 years ago

thank you! :)


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