2 weeks travel

Hi Matt,

hmmm, good questions!

Firstly, yes, you can use the JR Pass on main line trains and also smaller local JR services. Note that the JR Pass is for JR lines, and can not be used on the subway. That said, it will be find for all of the locations you mention in your list, and can also be used well on all JR lines in Tokyo.

As I understand it, you plan on using a 7 day pass from the 18th to the 24th. Firstly, lets take a look at the base JR ticket costs to see how they compare to the 7 day pass:

1. Osaka > Okayama: ¥5,860 (68mins, 184km)
2. Okayama > Kobe(hyogo): ¥5,440 (60mins, 143km)
3. Kobe(hyogo) > Osaka: ¥390 (25mins, 33km)
4. Osaka > Nara: ¥780 (59mins, 48km)
5. Nara > Tokyo: ¥13,750 (227mins, 555km)
6. Tokyo > Otsuki: ¥2,860 (85mins, 87km)
7. Otsuki > Tokyo: ¥2,860 (76mins, 87km)

JR ticket cost: ¥31,940 for 7 legs

• 7 day Japan Rail Pass (¥28,300) saving: ¥3,640

As you can see you'll make small savings with the 7 day rail pass and also retain flexibility to change plans as needed (travel to Hiroshima, Kinosaki onsen, or Nikko for example all make good extra day trips which will be free during your validity period). Note that I have not included travel to the airport (If Narita, add a further ¥3000 savings) and travel on JR lines around Tokyo (¥200 per trip).

Hope this helps!

Great that helps a lot

think what we plan to do then is take a 7 day pass follows

Tokyo-Kyoto
Kyoto-Osaka
Osaka-Okayama
Okayama-Osaka
Osaka-Nara
Nara-Osaka
Osaka-Koyasan
Koyasan-Osaka

Osaka-Tokyo take a flight back

Cheers again for coming back so quickly - we can activate the rail pass in Japan and then it is valid for 7 days from the moment we activate it right ?

regards

matt

Hi Matt,

When you activate your rail pass in Japan you can specify a starting date anytime within the next 1 month. This can be the same day, and can also give you the flexibility to get all the paperwork out of the way in advance if you'd like.

Hope this helps!

By the way, you should check out this great guide on the cheapest way to get to Koyasan for JRPass holders. You should be able to do it via Nara for ¥810 each way.

Hope this helps!