Hi,
First time in Japan and very confuse over the many different rail passes with good discounts. I am sorry to ask you many questions.
Firstly, do I have to pay for fare and seat fees? When do I have to pay for reserved seats? Please help me look in my itinerary and advise me which are the days that I should made advance bookings and reserve seats because of the New Year season?
Am I supposed to buy my 7 days JR Pass in Singapore and activate only when I want to use it on my 3rd day to go to Kyoto? How and When do I activate the JR pass?
Is the 7 day JR pass most economical or the JR west since I am in Kyoto area then buy the Hakone Pass?
My Itinerary:
26 Dec D1 Take Narita express to Tokyo into Shibuya. (1440Y or 2670Y)
27 Dec D2 Spend in Tokyo
28 Dec D3 Activate JR Pass. JRPD1 Shinkansen to Kyoto (13700Y) Do I take the Shinakansen from Shibuya to Shinagawa to Kyoto? 2h 40min?
29 Dec D4 JRPD2Shinkansen to Arashiyama and Sagano (430 Y) Do I take the Shinakansen to ARASHIYAMA(HANKYU)?
30 Dec D5 JRPD3 Nara. Take 30 min train to old town of Nara (690Y)
31 Dec D6 JRPD4 Osaka's Namba and Dotombor (800Y)
1 Jan D7 JRPD5 Higashiyama Area
2 Jan D8 JRPD6 Kyoto to Hakone (12280Y for reserved seat) How can I enjoy the Hakone Pass since I am not coming from Tokyo to Hakone/
3 Jan D9 JRPD7 Hakone to Shinjuku. I heard everyone is going back after the holidays, do I need advance bookings?
4 Jan D10 Tokyo
5 Jan D11 Tokyo to Narita by Narita Express
Is this the most cost effective way of using my 7 day JR pass? can I enjoy the benefits of Hakone free pass without the train fares?
Please help me! Thank you so much!