JR Pass Osaka-Kyoto-Dynaland-Takayama-Osaka

Hi everyone,

My sis and I will be travelling to Japan on 9th January and will be staying for 10 days. Our itinerary will be Osaka-Kyoto-Dynaland (Takasu Snow Park)-Takayama-Osaka.

We are really confused as to which JR pass we should purchase that will be most suitable for our 10 days of travel. Is it one card for all or do we have to buy separate tickets for each journey? Also, do we have to buy them in advance, or can we get the tickets directly from each station?

Any advice provided will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

Jamie

What is your plan on Dynaland? A stay or day trip? How do you plan to move the Kyoto-Dynaland-Takayama part?

There is no train station near Dynaland. The nearest train station is Hokuno station by Nagaragawa railways, not by JR. Geographically, Hokuno-Dynaland-Takayama could be easily connected, but taxi fares could be 5000 yen for the former part and 23000 yen for the latter.

Logically, you could follow the bus route like: Hokuno=(Shrotori Bus A)=Hirugano Ski-jo=(Free shuttle)=Dynaland=(Free shuttle)=Hirugano Ski-jo=(Shrotori Bus B)=Makido=(Nohi Bus)=Takayama. But the Shorotori Bus B runs only on weekends.
http://www.rosenzu.com/brgi/brg33.html
http://www.rosenzu.com/brgi/brg66.html

One of the easiest access to Dynaland is day tours by direct buses. Examples are Osaka(700)-Osaka(2200), Kyoto(2300)-Kyoto(2100), and Nagoya(800)-Nagoya(1930). There are such tours from/to Fukui, Kanazawa, and Toyama, but no from/to Takayama. I could not find any English web sites for such tours. You should need to ask hotel clerks if you dare to attend one of them.

Hi, perhaps I should add more information.

Our itinerary is:
Upon arriving in Osaka, we will travel to Kyoto (10-13)
Depart Kyoto to Dynaland (13-15)
Depart Dynaland to Takayama (15-17)
Head back to Osaka (17-20)
Leave for home on the 20th.

As for transportation, I guess, from your answer, we are still absolutely clueless.

Should we get the JR pass for Osaka to Kyoto & Takayama to Osaka?
Should we get tickets/pass for Nagarawa train from Kyoto to Dynaland?
Are we able to get the tickets direct from the counter at those places, or should we purchase the pass online?

Help!

Jamie

Then, I would consider the following methods.

Jan 10: KIX = Kyoto
1:15/ 3,570 yen /JR Haruka
1:28/ 2,550 yen /Bus
If you would stay near JR Kyoto station, JR Haruka could be better. Otherwise, the bus would be more convenient: the bus goes into the core of Kyoto (Shijo - Sanjyo) beyond JR Kyoto.

Jan 13: Kyoto = Dynaland
Kyoto/8:30=(JR Hida 25: 2,590+2,350 yen)=10:31/Mino-Ota/11:35=(Nagaragawa Tetsudo: 1,690 yen)=13:35/Hokuno=(Taxi 30 min: 4,280-5,060 yen)=Dynaland

Jan 15: Dynaland = Takayama
Dynaland=(Taxi 30 min: 4,280-5,060 yen)=Hokuno/8:55=(Nagaragawa Tetsudo: 1,690 yen)=11:02/Mino-Ota/11:29=(JR Hida 7: 1,940+2,350 yen)=13:11/Takayama

Jan 17: Takayama = Osaka
3:35/ 10,600 yen/JR Hida (+ JR Shinkansen)
5:10/ 4,700 yen/Bus

Jan 20: Osaka = KIX
1:04/ 1,610 yen/JR
0:50/ 1,550 yen/Bus

Even selecting more expensive JR trains for all the available parts, the sum should be around 25,010 yen. Thus, any JR pass would not pay off (Japan Rail Pass for 7 days costs 29,110 yen).
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357.html

Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass for 5 days (13,500 yen)
do not cover your routes via Dynaland. Check it by yourself comparing Google Maps route finder's outputs and the valid routes sketch in the below:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_takayama_hokuriku.html
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/35.9302515,136.8277589/36.140316,137.2...

Kansai Thru Pass (Surutto Kansai) might be considered for your stays in Osaka/Kyoto.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357_005.html

So, purchase a ticket just before you start each long-distance journey.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2016.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e627.html

Thank you so much for your elaborate answers Luisjp. It has definitely given us a much clearer view of how to go about it.

We will look into the sites you have suggested and plan our way around.

Appreciate it !

Arigato!

Jamie

Regarding the trip from Kyoto to Dynaland, you may take JR train from Kyoto to Mino- Ota via Nagoya and Gifu.
Then take Nagaragawa Railway from Mino- Ota to Hokuno to go to Dynaland by bus.
However there is another bus service available from Kyoto to Gujohachiman.
Then you can transfer the bus to Nagaragawa Railway
to go to Hokuno at Gujohachiman .

Here’s website for the bus service from Kyoto to Gujohachiman:
http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/kyoto_osaka.html

Thank you so much for your elaborate answers Luisjp. It has definitely given us a much clearer view of how to go about it.

We will look into the sites you have suggested and plan our way around.

Appreciate it !

Arigato!

Jamie

Hi,

I also would like to know, do I have to make reservation for the bus to Shirakawago from Takayama? If yes, where can I purchase the bus ticket?

Thank you.

For the reservations, check red "R"s in the table at
http://www.japan-guide.com/bus/shirakawago.html

For the ticket office, see "Orientation" at
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5908.html

If you do not mind doing Shirakawago on the way, you could go back to Osaka via Kanazawa. Refer to the "Validity" map at
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_takayama_hokuriku.html

Thank you Hirohiroboy! The Nohi bus you mentioned, is that a sleeper bus?

Also, if we get these passes:

- Kansai Thru Pass (covering our Osaka, Kyoto part)
- Takayama-Hokuriku Pass (covering Takayama, Shirakawago)

Do we still need to purchase the Kintetsu Rail Pass?
Additionally, what about the Haruka and ICOCA package?

Thanks.
Jamie

Do not use the Gujyo Hachiman bus. It runs daily, but just stops at the Gujyo Hachiman Interchange, away form the railway station. Check by yourself carefully the link that Hirohiroboy has provided.

Also, do not purchase the Takayama-Hokuriku Pass. I do not recommend that. I did recommend to use only their map. If you do Shirakawago as a day trip and get back to Osaka by Shinkansen, the pass does not cover the latter part. The former costs only 4420 yen, so the pass could not pay. In the case of doing Shirakawago on the way and get back to Osaka via Kanazawa, the route should be Takayama=(bus:2470)=Shirakawago=(bus:1850)=Kanazawa=(JR:7850)=Osaka. Again, the total amount is less than the pass fee 13500 yen. See the fare table and Google Maps below, carefully.
http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/shirakawago_kanazawa.html
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Kanazawa+station/Osaka+station/

These kind of considerations should be applied for your choice of Kansai Thru Pass, Kintetsu Rail Pass, and Haruka and ICOCA package. You have to write down all the sites you are going to, and sum up all the single fares. Only if the resulting sum got higher than the pass price, then you should buy that. You should ask such at the ticket office before you purchase any pass. Otherwise, just buy a single ticket at any time.

Hey Luisjp,

Thanks again for the help! We are currently calculating the cost per trip for our entire itinerary. You were right, the passes most probably won't pay off because we are not stopping longer than 3 days at any destination, plus our Kyoto and Osaka travel is split, one at the beginning of our trip while the other at the end of the 10-day trip, so instead of the Kansai Thru Pass, we'd probably be getting the 1-day Sightseeing Pass for Kyoto and the Amazing Day Pass for Osaka, if it suits our itinerary on the day itself.

As for the ICOCA-Haruka package, we could get it at KIX if so needed, correct?

Thanks again for the insight!


Jamie

Hi Luisjp,

Regarding the trip from Kyoto to Dynaland, I don't know which route to take as I have two options available:

1) Kyoto to Mino Ota through JR (2590 yen)
Mino Ota to Hokuno through Nagaragawa Tetsudo (1690 yen)
Hokuno to Dynaland by taxi (4280 yen - 5060 yen)

2) Gion-shijo to Nagoya (6150 yen)
Nagoya to Gifu through Meitetsu line (550 yen)
Walk to Shin Gifu bus stop, take Gifu Hatchiman Express Bus to Gujo Shirotori Station, take the bus bound for Shoukawa & get off at the Dainichidake bus stop, free shuttle bus to Dynaland.

As I do not know how much is the bus fare from Shin Gifu bus stop to Gujo Shirotori Station & from Gujo Shirotori Station to Dainichidake bus stop, hence I don't know which Option is cheaper?

Thank you very much!

Jamie

The bus fare from Shin Gifu bus stop to Gujo Shirotori bus stop is \1,860 by Kousoku Hachiman Line by Gifu Bus and the bus fare from Gujo Shirotori bus stop to Dainichidake bus stop is \620 by Shirotori-Hirugano Line by Shirotori Koutsu.

Hi hirohiroboy,

Thank you for your prompt reply!

Jamie

Hi everyone,

I was thinking of buying Takayama Hokuriku Pass for my Takayama - Shirakawago (day trip) - Takayama - Osaka routes.

In Osaka, I will be using JR Hida, JR Tokaido Line, JR Tokaido-Sanyo Line, JR Osaka Loop Line, JR Touzai Gakkentoshi Line and JR Haruka.

Hence, are all those JR Lines that I have mentioned included in the Takayama Hokuriku Pass? If yes, I will buy the Takayama Hokuriku as I have calculated the cost to be more than the Pass itself.

Any advice provided will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Jamie

Did you resign to go to Dynaland?
If it's so, it makes sense to purchase JR Hokuriku Pass.
Even if it's not so, it may be OK to pay extra charge to go to Dynaland for taking other transportation system as said.

As for the ICOCA-Haruka package, we could get it at KIX if so needed, correct?
https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/travel-information/pass/icoca-haruk...
says
How to Purchase:
"ICOCA & HARUKA" can be purchased at Kansai Airport Station.
One way type: 3,030 yen is less than JR Haruka: KIX=Kyoto on Jan 10. Clearly, it should pay off.

And you should take account of the accompanying 2000 yen e-money with ICOCA, when you should determine whether either of your stated passes would pay off:
http://www.keihan.co.jp/travel/en/1dayticket.html
https://www.osaka-info.jp/osp/en/kukan/kukan_1day.html

From Kyoto to Dynaland:

http://snow.gurunavi.com/guide/htm/r0231enm.htm
has been updated and now includes the bus instruction, rather than just saying a taxi.
By Train:
Nagoya Station→"Mino-shirotori" station on Nagaragawa line(3hr)→Shirotori Kotsu Bus(30min)→"Dainichidake" bus stop→Free shuttle bus(15min)→DYNALAND
So, forget about both cases of the taxi (1) and the Gifu Bus (2). However, there is no timetables for the free shuttle in that page.

The official site (the English site is not by dynaland...)
http://www.dynaland.co.jp/access/index.html#access03
lists only four free shuttle buses for dynaland (ダイナランド). We could imagine they should be the first and the last ones, but how frequent in between?

On the other hand, here is the timetable for Shirotori Kotsu Bus:
http://www.shirotori-kotsu.com/app/download/12223699089/2015.10%EF%BD%...
There are only six services in a weekday. Could we expect they should provide free shuttles accordingly?

Among which, one of the following three would be your choice.
Nagaragawa Train=11:53/Mino-Shirotori/12:00=Shirotori Bus
Nagaragawa Train=13:24/Mino-Shirotori/13:48=Shirotori Bus
Nagaragawa Train=17:21/Mino-Shirotori/17:50=Shirotori Bus
From Kyoto, you could take the first one, either by a earlier train or by a Shinkansen. Check it by yourself with GoogleMaps (using the option to minimize transfers):
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Gion-shijo/Hokuno/

In the above, I have used Hokuno in GoogleMaps, but you could take Mino-Shirotori as a transfer station. The difference is that it would be easier to take a bus form Mino-Shirotori because the bus is departing there, while you could gain a little money via Hokuno:
Mino-Ota/=1670 yen=13:24/Mino-Shirotori/13:48=620 yen=14:20/Dainichidake
Mino-Ota/=1690 yen=13:35/Hokuno/13:59=420 yen=14:20/Dainichidake

By the way, doesn't your hotel provide a picking up service? How about to ask your hotel on this issue?

Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass:

I have already said NO.

I believe this pass should be renamed as Hokuriku-Takayama Pass. In order to pay off, you should go through Hokuriku to reach Takayama:
http://touristpass.jp/en/takayama_hokuriku/

Hokuriku literally means "North Land", and the major cities in Hokuriku are Kanazawa, Toyama, and Fukui. You never go to these cities. And you are taking the south route, along the southern coast of Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. The pass is basically for passengers going along the northern coast to Hokuriku.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Takayama/Osaka/