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JR pass 2017/1/14 03:31
I'll be staying in Japan for 9D and 8N and planning to purchase a JR pass. I am still researching on stuff about my trip but would appreciate some help.

I don't plan to use my JR Pass on Day 1 which is the day I will arrive to transfer from Narita to Tokyo. I am planning to purchase a NEX round trip ticket instead. Do you think that would be better?
by Chrisma (guest)  

Re: JR pass 2017/1/14 09:04
I am planning to purchase a NEX round trip ticket instead. Do you think that would be better?

Sounds like a good plan, assuming you make some considerable JR train trips on days 2 and/or 8 and do not make any other major JR train trips on day 1 and 9.

If you really want to save money, you could also look into cheaper ways of accessing the airport than the NEX Round Trip Ticket:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2027.html
by Uji rate this post as useful

Re: JR pass 2017/1/14 09:56
Hi,

Thank you for your response. I've read somewhere that I can use the JR Pass for Tokyo-Kyoto and Osaka-Tokyo via SHINKANSEN NOZOMI. Correct?

I am a bit overwhelmed with all the pages I've been reading for the past weeks in preparation for our trip this coming February 13th.

Do I need to make a seat reservation? If yes, is there really no additional cost when I use the JR Pass?
Can the JR pass be used on Tokyo Metro Line?

Thank you very much :) I might have additional questions as I finish taking down all necessary info that I need.

by Chrisma rate this post as useful

Re: JR pass 2017/1/14 10:00
I've read somewhere that I can use the JR Pass for Tokyo-Kyoto and Osaka-Tokyo via SHINKANSEN NOZOMI.

No, such a JR pass does not exist!

How to travel between Tokyo and Kyoto:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2363.html

Between Osaka and Tokyo:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4006.html

Do I need to make a seat reservation? If yes, is there really no additional cost when I use the JR Pass?

Seat reservations are not mandatory on a large majority of trains. There is no additional cost for rail pass holders. All these basics of the Japan Rail Pass are explained here:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361.html

Can the JR pass be used on Tokyo Metro Line?

No, Tokyo Metro is not JR.
by Uji rate this post as useful

Re: JR pass 2017/1/14 14:19
I've read somewhere that I can use the JR Pass for Tokyo-Kyoto and Osaka-Tokyo via SHINKANSEN NOZOMI.

No, such a JR pass does not exist!


Well, there's the Japanican discount tickets (but you'll have to choose either Tokyo-Kyoto-Tokyo or Tokyo-Osaka-Tokyo).

http://www.japanican.com/en/ticket/
by Firas rate this post as useful

Re: JR pass 2017/1/17 07:16
Thank you. Do you think I would need to purchase IC card or I'll just buy individual train tickets?
by Chrisma rate this post as useful

Re: JR pass 2017/1/17 07:34
You can buy metro tickets, but it is much easier to buy an IC card. In addition, the fare is slightly cheaper with an IC card. Also you can use the JR pass on JR lines in Tokyo such as the Yamanote line, the Chuo line, etC.
by Vienna Logan rate this post as useful

Re: JR pass 2017/1/17 07:35
Understood but I was thinking the ones not covered by the JR Pass. I was thinking which one to get so I could save up a little on transportation. So it's best to get an IC card yea?
by Chrisma rate this post as useful

Re: JR pass 2017/1/19 07:34
murphi, please start your own thread for your question. Do not hijack another person's thread.

OP, an IC card will cover all public transport within Tokyo. Doesn't matter which one you buy; Suica and PASMO will both work the same!
by sq (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: JR pass 2017/1/19 08:03
Thank you for your response sq. Sorry i just want to make surec the IC card covers all train lines and buses? Even in Osaka and Kyoto? Or just within tokyo?

by Chrisma rate this post as useful

Re: JR pass 2017/1/19 12:43
I just want to tell you that when I was handed my JR pass, I was not showered in a brilliant light, and I didn't hear a choir of angels.

The JR pass will help you with distance travel, but may not help with travel within a city. Here is a link for the Kansai thru pass:
http://www.surutto.com/images/ticket/kansai_thru_pass/english/en_map.p...

Look at the botton of the flyer, and you will see how many things are, and are not covered by the pass. None of these are covered by the JR pass.

The bottom line is that you will first have to figure out what you want to see. Then you can start to figure what passes you need.

You may not need a JR pass at all.
by ebaychucky311 (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: JR pass 2017/1/19 12:46
Hi,

I've already figured out which cities i wanna go to and that includes osaka and kyoto but i will spend most of my time in tokyo. I will have to go back to tokyo though cause it's where i will exit. So i used the fare calculator that i found on the JR pass basics and it's just a close call. But I was thinking if i still need an IC card for the places i wanna go to and not covered by the pass
by Chrisma rate this post as useful

Re: JR pass 2017/1/19 18:43
I just want to tell you that when I was handed my JR pass, I was not showered in a brilliant light, and I didn't hear a choir of angels.

For my second trip I had both a 14- and a 21-day pass, which I exchanged at the same time on arrival at Haneda. The clerk did clap her hands a couple times.
by Firas rate this post as useful

Re: JR pass 2017/1/19 23:34
An IC card is useful, but does not save you money. I own one, and use it often when I am in Japan. Of the six times that I have flown in or out of Nartia airport, I have used the NEX once. I usually take the skyliner to Nippori. I currently have enough funds on my IC card to pay for the liner from Narita to Nippori.

JAPANiCAN has a round trip discount tickets from Tokyo to Osaka that are less than a 7 day JR pass. If you do not do any other distance travel, the JR pass is not cost effective.

There are local passes that may help. These may be more cost effective than using an IC card. I can't tell, and I will not be able to recommend which one of the passes will help you, unless I know where you are going.

Every thing is very vague.

If, for instance, you plan to go to Nikko (near Tokyo), you may be able to use one of the nine different passes offered by the private transport line Tobu.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_002.html

I don't know if you are going to Nikko. I also don't know if you would want to go to the winter festival that is held nearby, which would narrow the choice to a specific one.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3882.html

I try to not suggest places to go, because these may not be the best places for you to visit. A ropeway may have a beautiful views, but can I recommend this to someone who has a fear of heights?

Where do you plan to go?
by ebaychucky311 rate this post as useful

Re: JR pass 2017/1/20 02:15
Thank you very much for your responses! Appreciate the willingness to help me with my trip.

Day 1 - Western Tokyo
day 2- traditional tokyo/east side
Asakusa and Odaiba
Day 3- central tokyo
Day 4 tokyo disney sea
Day 5- Mt fuji- not yet sure if Hakone or Five Lakes / kawaguchiko
Day 6 and 7- Kyoto/Nara
Day 8- Osaka/Nara (not yet sure if I'll choose kyoto-naea or osaka-nara)
At around 5 or 6pm, will travel back to Tokyo for morning flight
by Chrisma rate this post as useful

Re: JR pass 2017/1/20 14:28
OK. You can probably be better served just getting discount round trip tickets from Tokyo to Kyoto, and back.

The most expensive travel days are:
1) getting from Narita Airport to Tokyo
2) Tokyo to Kyoto
3) back to Tokyo
4) back to the airport.

If you do get a JR Pass:

You can combine three of these day on a seven day JR pass. If you were to activate on day three, the pass would cover travel back to the airport. There are less expensive way to get from Narita to Tokyo, including a Tokyo Shuttle (I usually stay in Nippori, so I take the Keisei private train line).
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2027.html

As to what to do on the days BEFORE you have an active JR Pass, going to Disney is usually a low transportation cost day. You go to Disney, and then go back to your hotel. It's two rides on the transportation system. Move Disney up.

Other days, where you might go several places on the Yamanote loop (A JR train), you will save more.

As for Hakone -vs- Kawaguchiko, I would look at what places look more interesting to do or visit. Both have private train lines to get to locations, and so the JR Pass is less useful. Look at the two web pages, and decide which looks more interesting to explore.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5200.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6900.html

Many people do the "round course" when they go to Hakone.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5210.html

If you do this the Hakone Free pass bundles the different transports of the round course into one ticket. You Jr Pass can save you money by allowing you to get the "free area" version of the pass, and use the JR pass to get from Tokyo to Odawara Station and back.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_008.html

For one of the day in Kyoto, get a day bus pass, to get to many of the attractions in Kyoto.

I usually visit Nara from Kyoto, and stop at the Inari shrine on the way back. Inari Station is between Kyoto and Nara on the JR line.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3915.html

If you plan to get the discount tickets:

Use the regular Hakone tickets, and not the "Free area" tickets.

If you are looking for the discount tickets, check out JAPANiCAN to the right add section of Japan Guide. It says "Book Your Trip". After you click on the search button, click on the "Tickets and Transport" button. You will find the Shinkansen tickets there.

I hope this helps,.
by ebaychucky311 (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: JR pass 2017/1/20 18:46
I would not get a 29,XXX yen pass for that itinerary. It only covers 7 days, and you still need to pay for 2 days. And does next to nothing while in Kyoto, causing you to buy other passes.

Either get a skyliner or N'EX round ticket. 3500-4000 yen.

IC card for your daily sightseeing trips, as most days are only 500-1000 yen.

And buy individual tickets for Tokyo to Kyoto and back. Others have posted links to much cheaper options for this route.
by hakata14 (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: JR pass 2017/1/24 00:22
Hi All,

Thank you very much for all the responses! I've done the calculation and JR pass would pay off. Just a confirmation, we can use it for Kyoto-Osaka round trip right?
by Chrisma rate this post as useful

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