Opinion on type of rail pass please

Hi there. Below is my itinerary. Is it worth getting a JR pass, 14 days or 7 days? Or a combination of JR and pay for local trains/bus? Thanks in adv.

Arrive narita intl
4 nights in shinjuku (tokyo sightseeing)
2 nights in fuju five lakes (5th stn, fuji q, caves, lake yamanaka)
5 nights in kyoto (most temples, himeji, arashiyma, fushimi shrines...osaks. but not nara - already been)
1 night takayama
1 night shirakawago
1 night kanazawa
1 night tokyo
Narita airport (from shinjuku goen stn)

Ive been researching and making excel sheets and im still conflicted as im uncertain of the best choice!! Thanks so much

Google 'Hyperdia'.
It tells how to get from one station to another, the costs, and the time.

The rough/quick version based on 15 nights and 16 days:

For a 14 day pass, activate on day 3, gets you back to Narita.
Tokyo-Kyoto-Takayama-Kanazawa-Tokyo-Narita = Y46,390 so no real saving unless you are doing some other trips.

For a 7 day pass, activate in Kyoto, gets you back to Narita.
Kyoto-Takayama-Kanazawa-Tokyo-Narita = Y32,560 so some savings.

https://japancustomtours.co.nz/railpass.htm

Thanks for that! Night get a 7 day instead!!

But if you get
"a 7 day pass, activate in Kyoto, gets you back to Narita.
Kyoto-Takayama-Kanazawa-Tokyo-Narita = Y32,560"

you still have to pay to get out to Kawaguchiko by Mt. Fuji and then down to Kyoto. To Kawaguchiko is about Y1300 JR fare and then to Kyoto can be Y14,000+ (JR fares). So if you add another Y15,000 in fares to the Y32,560, you're at Y47,560 or the price of the 14-day pass.

When you have the pass in Tokyo, it's good on the JR lines such as the Yamanote or Chuo which can save a bit. It can also save you some fares on JR buses and trains around Kyoto before you would have activated the 7-day pass.

If the fares add up to the same cost as a JR Pass, I just get the pass for convenience. You don't have to stop at any ticket machine or window unless you want to get reserved seats, and in Tokyo, you can get on the Yamanote or ride the Shinkansen to Yokohama or Utsunomiya for any day trips without worrying about extra costs. In Kyoto, you could take day trips on all days with the 14-day pass and ride the shinkansen to Osaka or beyond.

As I said, the quick/rough estimate is that the 14 day pass is about even. Tokyo-Kyoto is 13800 on the shinkansen, but the actual (detailed) route might be different. Without a pass, they can use ticket machines and nozomi which might suit better, rather than standing in line for tickets or getting non-reserved seats. For Tokyo, there would be a mix of metro and JR, but likely to be a few hundred not a few thousand - it is up to the individual to work out which is the best option.

For example, I'll be on a 14-day pass tomorrow (2nd to 15th), and it will pay off nicely (narita-tokyo-narita-tokyo-kanazawa-kyoto-hiroshima-takayama-tokyo-narita-tokyo) and probably a trip to Nara and maybe Osaka as well as a few days in tokyo :)

If you are able to rearrange the itinerary, 7 day JR pass would be worth having for the following trip:
Activate the pass at Odawara:
Day one : Odawara Shinkansen train to Kyoto
4 nights in Kyoto : most temples, bus day pass; to Himeji : Shinkansen train; to Arashiyma :JR train; to Fushimi shrines :JR trian; to Osaka :Shinkansen , or JR train. )
Day 5 Kyoto JR train to Takayama ,1 night Takayama
Day 6 Takayama Bus to Shirakawago , 1 night Shirakawago
Day 7 Shirakawago bus to Kanazawa : Evening Kanazawa Shinkansen train to Tokyo, overnight Tokyo.

After 21 trips to Japan , I think the best solution is to buy a JR pass of 14 days ( 331 €).

When you will arrive in Narita, take the Keisei line to Ueno ( 1100 yen).
After 2 days in Tokyo without Rail - Pass you can ask the first day with JR Pass. And you can travel on JR Yamanote line in Tokyo ( 29 stations !)
In Kyoto you can go by train to Nijo-jo ( 3') and then you go back to the station and take the JR bus ( free) to Takeo. You ask the stop Ryoan-ji. After the visit you go by foot to Kinkaku - ji ( 1,2 Km).
You can use also the JR Pass to go to Arashiyama.

Have a nice trip

Marie Belgium

How about the following:

Get a JR Kanto Area Pass when you arrive, use it to take the NEX to Tokyo, and spend the first two days of your trip in the Fuji Five lakes area.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_06.html

Take the Bus, or use a discount shinkansen ticket to get to Kyoto.

Use the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass to visit Kanazawa, Shrikawa-go, and Takayama.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_takayama_hokuriku.html

Take a Nohi Bus back to Tokyo.

http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/

You will still have to figure out how to get back to the airport, but an airport limo bus may work for you.

Hi Everyone! Thanks for everyones opinion, exactly what I was looking for as I was having trouble trying to make a decision,

Unfortunately the itinerary is set as we already booked accommodation. :( But I appreciate everyones suggestions.

It seems perhaps going with a 14 day JR pass is best, mainly for convenience and the option of possible day trips should they come up. We have a pretty open itinerary in terms of activities, so you never know right.

Thanks everyone for their help.. :) We are celebrating our 1 year wedding anniversary so we are very appreciative.