route 3,5 weeks Japan: which JR-Pass?

Hello Cindy,

You have plenty of time to do this trip, I'd even go as far that you have a luxurious amount of time with 3.5 weeks. In terms of a JR Pass, the best match would be to use a Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass of 5 days to go to Himeji and Hiroshima. Once you get to Kyoto, there's not really a pass that matches your plan, so just buy normal tickets for that part.

You might also like reading:
https://www.jrpass.com/blogs/family-trip-with-the-japan-rail-pass-tokyo-kyoto-and-osaka

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Hello Daniel,
Thank you for your reply. I guess I entered my question twice, sorry for that. I don't seem to be able to find your extensive reply on my other post. So sad, because you gave us so many usefull tips! :-(
You advised me to change our plans. And we did.

Here's the new plan:
7 - 10 July Osaka, including 1 day Universal Studios
10 -18 July Kyoto (10 & 11 July: Fushimi Inari-Taisha, Arashiyama bamboo forest, Kinkaku-ji, Tenryuji Temple)
12 juli: trip to Iga Uena (Kansai Area Pass)
13 juli: trip to Himeji (Kansai Area Pass) and trip to Hozu-gawa river
14 juli: trip to Nara (Kansai Area Pass)
15 juli: Kyoto (biking tour)
16 July: Kyoto (Nijo, Imperial Palace, Philosopher’s Path)
17 juli: Kyoto, Gion Matsuri Festival, Yamaboko Junkō parade
18 juli: JR Pass. Go to Hiroshima
19 juli: Trip to Miyajima (stay in Hiroshima)
20 juli: Hiroshima -> Nagiso -> Hanaya
21 July: Walk ancient postal route Magome-Tsumago
22 July: Tokyo
23 July: trip to Nikko, Edo Wonderland 24 juli
24 July: trip to Kamakura (last day JR Pass)
25 July: stay in Hakone (Hakone Free Pass)
26 July: Hakone National Park
27 July - 1 August: Tokyo (Ghibli museum, Sensoji tempel, Imperial palace & east gardens, Meiji Shrine, Yoyogi Park, Tsukiji Fishmarket, Asakusa, maybe Disney Sea)

Do you think this is a better programme? 1 Kansai Region Pass, 1 7-day JR-Pass and 1 2-day Hakone Free Pass?
What's the best way to reach Magome? Through Nagiso/Hanaya, like I read somewhere?

Looking forward to your advice!
Best regards,
Cindy & Aafko
The Netherlands

Hi Cindy & Aafko,

Did you write it under the same user name? Otherwise it may be possible to find the old post back that way.

I think this itinerary looks great, the passes are well matched to what you plan to visit and do and I think it will be a lot of fun! So I agree with Kansai Region Pass, 1 7-day JR-Pass and 1 2-day Hakone Free Pass :)

Here's a detailed guide on how to travel around the Kiso Valley, including Magome:
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6079.html

Hope this helps,
Daniel