We are flying into Osaka on 8/27. Will be there for 3 days, then to Kyoto for 3 days, then using the bullet train to Tokyo, and flying out of Tokyo on 9/7.
I don't see where I can see the pricing on individual trips, so I don't know if I would be saving money or not.
there are 2 of us flying from the USA, so not a problem to buy the Rail Pass, there is also 2 that are military, stationed in Okinawa, that are meeting us in Osaka, can they get the rail pass?
Thank you
Hi there,
You can find out ticket fares and time tables via www.hyperdia.com, it's a very hand tool.
As for the JR Pass, for a one way trip Osaka - Tokyo it does would be more economic to buy a normal ticket. The JR Pass would be a good option if you made a return Osaka - Tokyo (Kyoto is directly on the route).
The JR Pass is only for visitors entering Japan under a tourist visa, people in Japan under any other kind of visa (including military) unfortunately can't use it.
Hope this helps,
Daniel
Hi,
A couple of regional passes, such as the Kansai Area Pass and Kanto Area Pass might save you some money - although like the full JR Pass, for the former, only foreign tourists can get it. If you visit Himeji, which has Japan's finest castle, you can save quite a bit.
The Kanto Area Pass is about the only one where foreigners living in Japan can actually buy it. You can use it to go to many popular places like Nikko, or Karuizawa to escape the horrendously humid and muggy Japanese summers. Your military friends would need to have their passports on them to buy the pass - read all the conditions on their page carefully. You could actually save quite a lot buying one.
BTW you should bring enough sunblock with you. In Japan it is very pricey.
Best of luck.
Thank you so much! I appreciate your input. Both Daniel-san and Toraneko.
Thank you for the information on sunblock as well.
Have a great day.
