Should I buy JR pass or regular tickets?

Hi guys,

I'm going to be flying to Japan in 2 week for 11 days and I'm not sure if i should buy the 7 day JR Pass or just buy tickets on the go. Ive been to Japan 2 years ago and i have a Suica from my last visit. And can i use my Suica in Kyoto and Osaka?

My itinerary goes like this....

Day 1: arrive at Haneda
Day 2/3: traveling around Tokyo
Day 4: leaving Tokyo to Hakone
Day 5: leaving Hakone to Kyoto
Day 6/7: touring Kyoto
Day 8: Leaving Kyoto going to Osaka
Day 9: Day trip to Nara return back to Osaka
Day 10: Touring Osaka
Day 11: leaving to Kansai Airport end of holiday

If anyone can give me suggestion on what trains to take to go from Tokyo to Hakone and Hakone to Kyoto that would be greatly appreciated as i am very confused with the transportation from those destination.

thank you

If landing in Tokyo and leaving from Osaka, then individual tickets will suffice. Get an IC card when you are in Tokyo; it will serve you in Osaka, though you will not be able to return it for the deposit.

Tokyo to Hakone:
Basically, there are two train routs - JR line and Odakyu line. Odakyu line is more convenient, as it goes all the way to Hakone Yumoto station from Shinjuku station (in Tokyo). If you have a JR Pass, then you should utilize it to go as far as Odawara (you can ride a Shinkansen from Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station). From Odawara, you need to transfer to a Odakyu affiliated local line that will take you to Hakone Yumoto.

Hakone to Kyoto:
From Hakone Yumoto station, go to Odawara station. At Odawara station, get on a Shinkansen train to Kyoto.

Welcome again to my country!

A 7-day Japan Rail Pass cannot pay off for this itinerary.

Where are your Tokyo and Osaka accommodations?

Day 4: leaving Tokyo to Hakone


For your Hakone trip, 2-day Hakone Freepass (version designed to be used beyond Odawara) (sold at 4000 yen) is worth considering.
You can purchase this pass at a ticket vending machine in Odawara Station of Odakyu Electric Railway when you make a transfer to Hakone Tozan Railway (Odawara -- Hakone-Yumoto).

- Japan Guide: How to travel between Hakone and Tokyo
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5206.html
- Japan Guide: Hakone Freepass
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_008.html
- Odakyu: How to purchase tickets
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/traffic/howto/ticket/#free
: Check "How to purchase a Freepass" on this page.

Until Odawara, you can use either
the Odakyu Odawara Line (Shinjuku -- Odawara),
the JR Tokaido Line (for the section operated by JR-East) or
the JR Tokaido Shinkansen (operated by JR-Central) .

Among the three, the JR Tokaido Shinkansen is fastest.
(Shinkansen trains which make a stop at Odawara are not very frequently available.)
Compared to Tokyo Station, Shinagawa Station of JR is much simpler, therefore sounds better for you to take a Tokaido Shinkansen train from.

- JR-Central: Map of Shinagawa Station
http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/station/_img/shinagawa_L.jpg
- JR-Central: Map of Odawara Station
http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/station/_img/odawara_L.jpg

When you choose the Odakyu Line, you might hope to take a Romancecar.
A Romancecar is a Limited Express train with higher class seats, which need reservation.
Shinjuku Station of Odakyu is in the huge and complicated Shinjuku station complex; I recommend that you in advance check your route to the platform.

Instead of Shinjuku Station, you can take a train from a station on the Chiyoda Line.
The Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line and the Odakyu Odawara Line are jointed in Yoyogi-Uehara Station.
(Romancecar trains skip this station.)
Romancecar Metro Hakone 21 is scheduled to start from Kita-senju Station (C-18) at 9:49 and arrive to (OH-47) Odawara Station at 11:52, which makes stops at Otemachi (C-11), Kasumigaseki (C-08) and Omote-sando (C-04) Stations but skips Shinjuku (OH-01) and Yoyogi-Uehara (OH-05) Stations.

- Tokyo Subway Route Map
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/subwaymap/pdf/rosen_en_1702.pdf
- Odakyu Line Route Map
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/traffic/railmap/

Day 5: leaving Hakone to Kyoto

You travel back by the Hakone Tozan Railway to Odawara and make a transfer to the JR Tokaido Shinkansen.
At Kyoto Station, Shinkansen trains make actually a "brief" stop, so when the announcement tells you that your train is approaching Kyoto, please begin the preparation to disembark.

For your Kyoto trip, Kyoto City Bus & Kyoto Bus One-Day Pass (sold at 500 yen) is worth considering.
During the cherry blossom season, the road traffic in Kyoto City might be congested; I recommend that you start early in the day and consult about the transportation with the staff of Kyoto Tourist Information Center (open 8:30 -- 19:00, along the north-south walkway on the 2nd floor of (JR) Kyoto Station).

Day 9: Day trip to Nara return back to Osaka

For your Nara trip, Kintetsu 1-day Pass is worth considering.

- Japan Guide: Kintetsu Passes
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357_006.html

By the way, when will your Days 5 through 10 be?

In Osaka City, Japan Mint has been hosting yearly a 7-day cherry blossom viewing event at the site of its main office, which is scheduled to be held from the 11th through 17th of April in 2017.
The venue may be very crowded with many visitors especially from the evening of the 14th (just before the weekend) until the 17th (= the final day), but if you can be in or around Osaka City in the first half of the period, you might hope to join this event.

- Japan Mint: 2017 Cherry Blossom Viewing in Osaka
http://www.mint.go.jp/enjoy-eng/sakura-eng/toorinuke-eng/eng_osaka_vie...

thanks for you answers they were very helpful!

My day 5-10 would be 7th - 12th April.

I would be travelling with 1 suitcase, does any of those trains have spaces for suitcase?

thank you