12 days travel inquiry

By the way, this is our first time going to Japan, and we are really lost now. =_= Please help!

Hi there!

Looking at your itinerary, it seems like you have a lot of nice places in there! I think I can make a recommendation for a 7 day rail pass and using other rail deals along the way rather than a 14 day pass.

From the 17th to the 20th/21st, I would simply explore Tokyo with a [N'EX and Suica (narita express and metro) combined ticket] - a great deal for Tokyo travel. You can add a trip down to Hakone and Mt Fuji if you feel like it using the Odakyu Hakone Free Pass.

Next, from the 20th/21st, I would start a 7 day rail pass and do a big loop down to Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka & Kobe, returning to Narita on the evening of the 28th to sleep for your flight back.

This way you'll get chance to acclimatise to the country and check out the bustle of Tokyo, and will be up for finding more Japan when your Japan Rail Pass starts.

Check out other questions for recommendations - you will have a lot of flexibility in 7 days!

Hope this helps!

Thank you very much for your advise!!! And the money saving tips!!

My friend and I discussed the plan that you suggested. We are actually wondering if we can switch it a little bit. We plan to do some shopping in Tokyo, so we would like to leave Tokyo the last as the luggage will be the heaviest. We are wondering if the opposite order will be doable from Narita Airport.

Narita - Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, then Mount Fuji / Hakone, back to Tokyo - Narita?

If this is the case, would you mind to suggest the best ways to go around with JRPass and / or other possible discounted tickets?

Sorry for the trouble!! Thanks!

Hi there!

In that case, you can probably swap over the 2 pieces of your trip. Start the 7 day JR Pass immediately on arrival in Japan, and then once you are back into Tokyo use the money saving options in my first post to travel around the city (and maybe travel out to Hakone if you want).

It'll be a bit tough at first, but I'm sure you'll be fine!

Another option is leaving your luggage at a bag store while you go travelling around. For example, at Tokyo station there is a service called Gransta-nai Cloak Service - グランスタ内クロークサービス (translation) located in the floor B1F. Here you can store luggage for up to 15 days:

• Opening times: 9:00-20:00
• Contact: 03-5288-5911
• Charge (per item): 500yen/day
• Size limit: length x width x depth must be less than 2m.
• Weight limit: 30kg

Hope this helps!