21+ Days in Japan

It was just a hope, I supposed that was the answer. Thanks.

Wow, thanks everybody for your replies. Very helpful.

I've been using the advice you gave me to work out the cost for transport and I'm finding it very expensive. I'm using hyperdia for calculations. So far:

Narita/Toyko - Y1500 (plus extra for other days)
Kamakura - Enoshima Free pass Y1450
Nikko - Tobu Pass Y3600
Yamanouchi - Y8600
Takayama (Bus via Matsumoto) - Y3100+ (That is just Mastumoto to Takayama)
Kanazawa (Bus via Shirakawago) Y4200
Kyoto - Y6200
Nara - Y1110
Osaka/Koyasan - Kansai Thru Pass - Y5000
Hiroshima - Y11600
Miyajima - Y800
Kokura - Y6800
Kyushu - North Kushu rail pass Y9000
Total =Y62960

I know this includes a lot of my inner city travel and entry to a few temples too but a 21 day rail pass is cheaper at Y57700

Am I calculating this right? Is there a cheaper/better way to do it?

Am I calculating this right?

No. You are including transport that would not be covered by the JR Pass. ie. Matsumoto - Takayama - Shirakawago - Kanazawa. Koyasan.


Is there a cheaper/better way to do it?

Cheaper is:-

Bus Tokyo - Nagano.
Bus Kanazawa - Kyoto
Bus Kyoto - Hiroshima
Bus Hiroshima - Kokura/Hakata

Thanks, GC3. Good idea with the buses, I hadn't thought of them for long distances before but they're really good value. Although it does mean we won't get to ride on a Shinkansen :( only joking.

I could even save a few thousand yen more with a 4 day Japan Bus Pass. I'm having trouble finding a company that goes from Tokyo to Nagano with an English website, any ideas?

When we go to Shirakawago and Matsumoto, will we be able to leave my big backpack at the bus station?