Should I get a JR Pass

Hi there,

Lovely plan you have! Since I currently live in Kyoto, I can tell you that it is perfectly possible to do visit all those places in 4 days. Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari Shrine are places where you can easily spend half a day though, so plan carefully for that.

It may be worth getting a JR Pass but it would depend on the amount of travel you do in the Kansai Area.
Here is a list of ticket prices, to give you an idea of prices involved.

Kansai Airport --> Kyoto ¥ 3,480 (By direct Haruka express)
Kyoto --> Hiroshima ¥ 10,990 (By Shinkansen)
Hiroshima --> Kyoto ¥ 10,990
Kyoto --> Osaka ¥ 540
Osaka --> Kyoto ¥ 540
Kyoto --> Nara ¥ 690
Nara --> Kyoto ¥ 690
Kyoto --> Kansai Airport ¥ 3,480

For a total of ¥ 34,880.
If you used a 7 Day JR-Pass for this (28,300Yen), than you would be able to save ¥ 6,580.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Daniel-san,
Thank you very much for the information sharing.

Here is my draft itinerary

Day 1:
Arrive 6 am at Kansai Ariport
Kansai Airport >> Kyoto
1. Nishiki Food Market
2. Kyoto Imperial Palace
3. Ninjo Castle
4。 Kyoto Station
Note: Buy a 1 day JR West Kansai pass. It is only 2,000 yen and gives you unlimited access on the Haruka plus all other JR trains within the Airport, Nara, Kyoto and Himeji

Day 2:
Kiyomizu-dera
Kōdai-ji
二年坂/三年坂 Ginkakuj
Gion
Yasaka Shrine

Day 3:
Fushimi Inari Shrine
Kinkaku-ji
Shijō Kawaramachi

Day 4:
Half Day trip to Nara
Todaiji Temple
Nara Park
Nara Machi
Note: Kyoto to Nara ¥ 1380
Kyoto to Otsu ¥ 380

Evening travel to Otsu
Nagisa Lake Park
Biwako Hana Funsui
Note: Kyoto to Otsu ¥ 380

Day 5:
Arashiyama
Travel to Osaka

Day 6 & 7:
Hiroshima
I found a Shinkansen trip from http://www.tokyotravelpal.com/tour-Shinkansen_Osaka-Hiroshima.KVJTA.2.days.htm which cover shikansen ride + hotel accomodation cost ¥ 21,250

Day 8:
Osaka City Tour

Day 9:
Leaving home

Question:
1. Do you think my itinerary is feasible?
2. My main objective is to relax and taking photos during Fall, do youthink places that i visit are idea for photos taking?
3. Based on my itinenaries, 7 days JR Pass may not be idea since transportation within Kyoto may not required or able to utilise JR Pass

Thank you

リム

Hi Again,

1.) Yes it will be busy but well planned and certainly possible, I would make a time table with how much time you would like to spend in each place, so you can keep a track on things once you are traveling.

2.) I am not an a professional photographer but Kyoto offers many beautiful sights you could capture, I would also recommend that you visit the city Central after dark, the town really comes to life and can be very pretty!

3.) Transportation within Kyoto is done by several companies, buses stop almost everywhere and are one of the best ways to get around there. The JR-Pass is not valid on these buses but you can buy an all day bus pass for just 500Yen!

Hope this helps!
-Daniel

Daniel-san, Thank you very much for your advise!