Itinerary for Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto.

Hello Nic,

1.) You can make take nearly anything as a good souvenir. For instance, I collect IC cards from all over Japan, like Suica, ICOCA, Manaca etc. These are small transport cards that you can use, they are fairly cheap and easy to carry. Most stations will have tourist shops with an abundance of items and I am sure you will find something nice.

2.) I think a [day trip to Nara[(http://www.jrpass.com/blogs/day-trip-to-nara) would be a nice addition to your trip.

3.) There are so many restaurants, that's it hard to make individual recommendations. My advise would be to try and meet some locals, ask what they think. You may even make new friends and go together.

4.) Travel to Tokyo is the most expencive, so I would use it for that for sure. From there, try to add as much distance as possible.

5.) The JR Pass is good for travel between Tokyo - Kyoto - Osaka and on local JR lines as well. However you will still require additional transport locally within cities. For instance, the Kyoto bus and metro are not included.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Thanks Daniel :)

At the same time, appreciate if you could advice the following:

DAY1 (5 Nov): Arrived Tokyo Haneda Airport at JPN_1030PM (will overnight in the airport).
a. Where to activate the JR Pass? What is the earliest schedule time? Appreciate your advice the end-to-end process/steps in order to activate.

DAY2 (6 Nov): From Haneda Airport to Osaka in the morning (plan to visit: Osaka Castle > Hep Five Ferris Wheel > Umeda Sky Building > Dotonbori)
a. Would like to take the earliest train to Osaka that covered by JR Pass, appreciate your advice from which station we
should we depart (from end-to-end).

DAY4 (8 Nov): Travel to Kyoto (AM) (plan to visit: Ninenzaka & Sannenzaka Slope > Gion > Kiyomizu-dera Temple > Nishiki Market > Arashima)
a. Appreciate your advice on how and where should we depart from Osaka to Kyoto that covered by JR Pass and the earliest time.

DAY7 (11 Nov): Travel to Tokyo (AM) (plan to visit: Hakone (half-day trip) > Kabukicho Tokyo)
a. We will travel from Kyoto to Hakone for half day trip there, appreciate your advice from which station we should depart that covered by JR Pass? (would like to take the earliest train from Kyoto to Hakone)
b. what is the latest time for us to depart from Hakone to Tokyo (covered by JR Pass)? We will be staying in Tokyo on this day.

Thanks a lot :)

Hello again,

1.) You can activate the JR Pass at Haneda starting from 8 am. Just go to the JR Exchange office.

2.) For rail scedules and finding the earliest trains. I recommend learning to plan with Hyperdia. I unfortunately do not have the time to write out every route at this time.

3.) You can use the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Kyoto station or a local train directly from Osaka station to Kyoto. Both options that about 30minutes. Most local travel in Kyoto is not included but you can go to Arashiyama from Kyoto station.

4.) The Shinkansen station for Hakone is called Odawara and you can use the Kodama Shinkansen directly from there to Kyoto. Starts start service around 6 am.

5.) Trains stop service around midnight. Your last train from Odawara will likely depart somewhere after 10 pm. See the Hyperdia link to find the exact route.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Many thanks Daniel :)