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Which JR Pass should buy for itinerary - Chubu & Kansai

Eileen Tan
Eileen Tan
over 9 years ago
7 responses

Hi,

I will would like to find out if it is worth for me to buy a JR Pass for my travel as follows. If yes, which are the suitable ones. Please advise.

7 Nov 2014 : Nagoya Airport to Nagoya Station
8 Nov 2014 : Nagoya to Takayama via Nohi bus? (will travel within Takayama city)
9 Nov 2014 : Takayama to Shirakawa-go via Nohi bus
10 Nov 2014: Shirakawago to Takayama via Nohi bus. Will travel within Takayama city.
11 Nov 2014: Takayama to Okuhida then back to Takayama via Nohi bus. From Takayama to Toyama
12 Nov 2014: Toyama to Unazuki Onsen then back to Toyama
13 Nov 2014: Toyama to Kanazawa (will travel within Kanazawa city)
14 Nov 2014 : Kanazawa to Kyoto (will travel within Kanazawa city)
15 - 18 Nov 2014: Travel within Kyoto including day trip to Arashimaya (+ Sagano Train) and Uji (day trip)
19 Nov 2014 : Kyoto to Osaka (I will be staying around Osakanamba station and later travel within Osaka city center)
20 Nov 2014: will travel within Osaka city center
21 Nov 2014: Osakanamba Station (4 min. walk from hostel) and Kansai Airport.

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
over 9 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

I checked the route for the best JR Pass / travel method and would recommend buying tickets as you travel. This for two reasons, one this that you'll be travelling a good amount by Nohi bus, which is not included in any pass. The 2nd is that you do a good amount of travel but when you look at the total distance it's not that much and a JR Pass would not be put to good use.

I do think that it looks like a great plan, especially love the visit to Takayama and Kanazawa.

Make the most of Japan!
Daniel

Eileen Tan
Eileen Tan
7 posts
over 9 years ago

Hi Daniel
Thank you for your reply. As I will be travelling by train from Takayama (either via Ltd Express Wide View Hida or JR Takayama) onwards for the rest of the trip, does it mean that it is not worth for me to even consider the JR Hokuriku Area Pass(note: I will be travelling by train to Unazuki station) and JR Kansai Wide Area Pass. If the answer is still buy as I go, which travel card should I purchase for convenience of travelling rather than buying tickets at the machine.

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
over 9 years ago
Expert

Hi Again!

I guess that you could look into the Hokuriku Area Pass, the reason that I did not mention is that a lot of the route which you plan to travel is not included and could end up giving more confusion than it is worth. For instance, it does not include travel from Takayama, nor all the way to Unazuki. You could however make some savings with it if you used it for travel from Toyama to Kanazawa and from Kanazawa to Tsuruga on the way to Kyoto.

Eileen Tan
Eileen Tan
7 posts
over 9 years ago

Hello, if that being the case I will have to buy as I go. Could you pls advise if there is prepaid card to travel e.g. Suica? Can it be used in my itinerary?

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
over 9 years ago
Expert

You can use any IC card, such as Suica, Icoca or Manaca for travel nation wide. However most of your travel will be done on places where these kinds of cards can't be used, such as limited express trains and the Nohi Bus. However you could one for local travel around Nagoya, Osaka and Kyoto.

Eileen Tan
Eileen Tan
7 posts
over 9 years ago

Hi, there is Takayama - Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass offered recently at 10500 yen for foreigners. Wonder if this is useful for me for my aforementioned trip? Please advise urgently. Thanks alot.


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