: should i get the 5 day JR east and the JR west or the 7 day rail pass that covers all.
You don't need a railroad pass except ones for Hakone and Nikko. : just to clarify, the JR east pass does not cover the bullet train ride to osaka?
Right.
As to Shinkansen lines, Tokaido Shinkasnen (Tokyo - Shin-Osaka) is operated by JR-Central, and San'yo Shinkasnen (Shin-Osaka - Hakata) is operated by JR-West.
Your draft itinerary sounds tightly packed.
Visiting two theme parks of Tokyo Disney Resort [TDR] and Hakone and Nikko in 4 consecutive days can be a tough schedule for a first-time foreign traveler in Japan. You may not have enough stamina when you head to western Japan.
How about this one?
- Day 1: From NRT to Shinjuku;
1,500 yen: Using a Suica & N'EX package (available at 3,500 yen to foreign tourists).
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/index.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2359_002.html
- Day 2: Round trip to Nikko;
6,840 yen: Using a World Heritage Pass (available at 3,600 yen to foreign tourists) and taking Ltd. Express trains of Tobu Railway.
http://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/pass/index.html
- Day 3: Round trip to either DisneyLand or DisneySea in Maihama area;
Up to 1,880 yen (within Suica - PASMO network): Including TDR monorail fares.
- Day 4: Touring Tokyo and/or rest at your hotel in Shinjuku.
Up to 1,500 yen (within Suica - PASMO network).
- Days 5 & 6: Shinjuku via Odawara to Hakone to lodge in: Back to Odawara;
5,000 yen: Using a Hakone Free Pass.
- Day 6: From Odawara to Maibara (by Shinkansen HIKARI);
Up to 10,780 yen: JR fare and charge.
- Day 6: Trip near and on Biwa Lake: Moving to Kyoto to lodge in;
Up to 3,480 yen: Taking a non-JR cruiser (at 3,100 yen) departing from Nagahama Port at 15:00 (on Sat., Sun., Holidays until 29 Nov.) to Otsu Port.
- Day 7: Touring Kyoto: Lodging in Kyoto.
- Day 8: Touring Kyoto: Moving to Osaka: Lodging in Osaka.
- Day 9: Round trip to Kobe (Sannomiya Sta., by Special Rapid): Lodging in Osaka.
- Day 10: Round trip to Universal Studios Japan (Universal City Sta.): Lodging in Osaka.
- Day 11: Osaka to KIX (Kansai-airport Sta.).
//
Transportation cost:
- 1,500 yen: One way: Narita Airport / Airport Terminal 2 - Shinjuku.
A Suica & N'EX package available at 3,500 yen to foreign tourists
(3,500 yen
= 1,500 yen for fare and charge for Narita Express [N'EX]
+ 1,500 yen for e-money of a Suica Card
+ 500 yen for a deposit on a Suica Card.)
- 6,840 yen: Round trip: Shinjuku - Tobu Nikko.
2 x 160 yen for Shinjuku - Kanda (by JR-East: Chuo Line).
2 x 160 yen for Kanda - Asakusa (by Tokyo Metro: Ginza Line).
3,600 yen for a World Heritage Pass (Tobu Railway).
2 x 1,300 yen as Ltd. Express charges for Asakusa - Tobu Nikko (by Tobu Railway).
- 1,380 yen (max): Round trip: Shinjuku - Maihama.
Shinjuku - Ikebukuro (by JR-East: Yamanote Line's outer loop), Ikebukuro - Shin-kiba (by Tokyo Metro: Yurakucho Line), Shin-kiba - Maihama (by JR-East: Keiyo Line);
OR
Shinjuku - Osaki (by JR-East: Yamanote Line's inner loop) - Shin-kiba (by TWR: Rinkai Line), Shin-kiba - Maihama (by JR-East: Keiyo Line).
