2 week Japan trip

Hi Fiona,

I would definitely recommend going for the 7 day JR Pass, you can use it to cover all of your expansive routes including Hiroshima. The only part that would not be covered is the last leg from Nagano - Yudanaka Onsen on the Nagaden Nagano Express, which is only an additional 1230 yen.

I would use the 7 day JR Pass from the day that you set off for Yadanaka onsen until your arrival in Osaka. Local travel on JR lines is both covered in Tokyo and Osaka by the JR Pass.

For your first arrival and travel to Tokyo, look into getting a [Suica + Nex] package as this is a very nice deal and will get you a discounted ticket for the Narita Express into Tokyo.

As for booking tickets / making seat reservations, you can do so the moment that you are in Japan and have activated your JR Pass. Just go to any JR Counter, located on every station and tell the JR Pass when and where you wish to go, they will ask to see your JR Pass and print the tickets for you.

I hope this helps!
Daniel

This is really useful, thanks very much for your help!

Hello,

We are now considering a night in Onomichi before going to Osaka and so will only be in Osaka for 2 nights. If we did this would you still recommend only the 7 day pass or would 14 be better? Are we able to use the passes to get around Tokyo and Osaka or would we need other passes/tickets for this?

Many thanks for your help,

Fiona

Hi Again!

I assume you mean Onomichi near Hiroshima?
I would still recommend the 7 day JR Pass if you can fit in all your long distance travel in its validity period and be in Osaka before it expires. Otherwise you may be best of to pay for the tickets as you travel because the cost price of the 14 day JR Pass would not pay off for the routes traveled.

The JR Pass does cover by local JR Lines in Osaka and Tokyo that will get you to most important places.

I hope this helps!
Daniel