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Best rail pass options 2024/4/18 09:01
We are travelling in Japan late October through to mid November.
There are so many travel options available and we are trying to understand what is best for us.
Unsure of the JR rail pass is good value for us or not.

Our itinerary is as follows:
Tokyo 5nights
Takyama 2 nights
Kanazawa 2 nights
Osaka 2 nights
Hiroshima 1 night
Miyajama 1 night
Kyoto 4 nights
Back to Tokyo for a pm flight home

Would a 14 day JR pass activated the day we travel to Takyama be good value? Or individual booking of each train trip between destinations?

Any advice appreciated. Thanks Ifm advance.
by KylieD  

Re: Best rail pass options 2024/4/18 17:20
You can buy Japan bus pass 7 day=15300 yen
Non consecutive days,valid Tokyo, kanazawa
Kyoto,osaka,hiroshima etc unlimited time
by Mim (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Best rail pass options 2024/4/19 03:04
The basic rule of thumb is that if you're unsure that the rail pass will pay off, it probably doesn't.

I ran the numbers anyway, and you're nowhere close to making a 14-day pass pay off. All the more if you go visit Shirakawago also, in between Takayama and Kanazawa, since there is no rail access there.
But you could look at getting a Kansai-Hiroshima Pass, which can save you some money. Please keep in mind though that with it you can't take the bullet train between Shin-Osaka & Kyoto.
One other point is that if you are also seeing Tokyo, you don't need much daytime in Osaka - but evenings in Osaka are wonderful. Instead, I highly recommend you take a day and go see Uji and Nara, plus you could take a day and go see Himeji and Kobe. You can enjoy Osaka in the evenings after a day of sightseeing in Kyoto.
by Ken (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Best rail pass options 2024/4/19 06:01
5D Kansai-Hiroshima pass for the Hiroshima leg of the itineray. Pay one way tix for the rest. IC cards for in and around the towns/cities.
by H (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Best rail pass options 2024/4/19 06:36

https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/

Using the calculator, you'll see that Total cost without pass = 63,500 yen

Total with Japan Rail Pass
-------------------------------
14 days (80,000 yen) - does not pay off

Total with JR West All Area Pass
--------------------------------------
7 days (26,000 yen) - pays off 53,500 yen

Total with Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass
--------------------------------------
7 days (19,000 yen) pays off 57,500 yen

Total with Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass
--------------------------------------
5 days (17,000 yen) pays off 57,500 yen

Total with Hokuriku Area Pass
--------------------------------------
4 days (7,000 yen) pays off 61,000 yen

Look at the regional passes here : https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357.html

by Denis C rate this post as useful

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