Transit advice regarding train passes

Greetings! Traveling with family to Japan in March/April for the first time and trying to get a handle on recommended passes for each area. Would appreciate any advice! It will be me, my wife, my 8 yeard old son and 4 year old daughter traveling.

Itinerary:
3/21 Late arrival at Narita. Staying at Tokyo Marriott
3/22 Tokyo: Japaniame convention, Ginza area, Tsujiki market
3/23 Tokyo: Pokemon Mega Center, Ikebukuro. Ghibli Museum
3/24 Tokyo: Hello Kittyland
3/25 Tokyo: Ueno Park/Zoo, museums
3/26 Tokyo: Possible day trip to Hakone or Kamakura
3/27 Tokyo: Yoyogi Park, Jungu Park, Giants game
3/28 Tokyo - Hiroshima. Activate 7 day JR Pass. Peace Park, Gardens, Castle
3/29 Hiroshima: Miyajima island
3/30 Hiroshima - Kobe: Staying at Kobe Sheraton on Rokko Island. Open day. Mt Rokko?
3/31 Kobe - Mt Koya (only taking overnight bag): Spend night at Koya
4/1 Koya - Kyoto or Osaka - Kobe: Return to Rokko Island.
4/2 Kyoto: Kinkakuji temple, Maruyama Park, Geisha Dancing, return to Rokko Island.
4/3 Osaka: Shopping, Japan Mint, Osaka castle, return to Rokko Island.
4/4 Kobe - Iga - Kansai Airport: Ninja festival. (Note, hope to check bags at a station en route to Iga, that we can pass back through on return to Kansai and pick back up). Stay at Kansai airport hotel:
4/5 Fly out of Kansai at 10am

We're committed to the hotels and yes, we know that rokko island is out of the way, but it meets many of our other needs. Price jumped significantly that final night, which is why we switched to Kansai. Also, it will let us sleep in a bit more that final day!

Here's what I need help with... I'm very confused as to what passes I should buy for transportation in each area. Is there a 7 day pass for Tokyo that would make sense for us to get? Will the JR pass work for most of our travel in the Kansai region? Or should I buy another pass to go along with it? And what about that final trip to Kobe - Iga - Kansai? Is there any pass that will help bring the cost of that down? The JR pass will be expired by then. We considered moving Iga to another day, within the JR pass time, but 4/4 is the first day of the Ninja Festa, and we think that will be a great way to finish out the trip.

The Seishun 18 will be available during our trip, would that make sense for any portions? Any help that can be provided to clear this up would be GREATLY appreciated!!

Thanks,
Steve

I can't help with everything, but I'll give what advice I can! There is no pass for the Tokyo region that usually pays off, just use the prepaid cards to get around (public transport is not that expensive). Regarding your long-distance travel and the JR Pass, have you calculated all your fares using Hyperdia (hyperdia.com/en)? This could tell you if it might be worthwhile getting a 14-day pass. For Mt. Koya, get a Koyasan World Heritage Ticket - this gives you a round trip to Mt. Koya from major Nankai stations in Osaka (including a limited express train on the forward journey), plus unlimited travel on the buses (you will need to take a bus to get to your accommodation from the cabelcar station).

3/21 Late arrival at Narita. Narita Express regular ticket
3/22 Tokyo: Suica or Pasmo
3/23 Tokyo: Suica or Pasmo
3/24 Tokyo: Suica or Pasmo
3/25 Tokyo: Suica or Pasmo
3/26 Tokyo: Suica or Pasmo to Kamakura but maybe this pass for Hakone http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_008.html
3/27 Tokyo: Suica or Pasmo
3/28 Tokyo - Hiroshima. Activate 7 day JR Pass. Peace Park, Gardens, Castle Day1 JR
3/29 Hiroshima: Miyajima island Day2 JR
3/30 Hiroshima - Kobe: Staying at Kobe Sheraton on Rokko Island. Open day. Mt Rokko? Day3 JR
3/31 Kobe - Mt Koya (only taking overnight bag): Spend night at Koya Day4 JR. Could buy this pass: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_012.html

4/1 Koya - Kyoto or Osaka - Kobe: Return to Rokko Island. Day5 JR.
4/2 Kyoto: Kinkakuji temple, Maruyama Park, Geisha Dancing, return to Rokko Island. Day6 JR.
4/3 Osaka: Shopping, Japan Mint, Osaka castle, return to Rokko Island. Day7 JR. Last day.
4/4 Kobe - Iga - Kansai Airport: Ninja festival. (Stay at Kansai airport hotel) : Suica or Pasmo
4/5 Fly out of Kansai at 10amCome back soon!!

Let see about 7 day rail pass:
Tokyo-Hiroshima 18560yen
Hiroshima-Kobe/Shin-Osaka 10230yen
Everything else is small
28790+

7 day Japan Rail pass 29110yen

Almost pays off...but its close enough that convince of the pass is worth buying.

Hope this helps!

Have fun!!!!

FANTASTIC!

You don't know how much a relief those two replies are.

I actually did do a "JR Pass worksheet" and calculated out all the trips during those 7 days. Those trips from Kobe to Osaka/Kyoto seemed to add up so by my math, the JR pass was worth it. But the rest confused the heck out of me. Thanks for the help!

One final question:
Given that we have a four year old, I know that we don't HAVE to buy her a pass. But if we don't, she won't be guaranteed a seat, and this will be spring holidays for many I believe.

Would you recommend buying an Ordinary pass for 3? or for 4? I also had someone suggest buying a Green pass because it may be very crowded during that period of time. And once again, if so, for three or for four?

Thanks again, and appreciate any replies!

One final question:
Given that we have a four year old, I know that we don't HAVE to buy her a pass. But if we don't, she won't be guaranteed a seat, and this will be spring holidays for many I believe. If your at the Non-Reserved section of the train, then it should be no problem for her to have a seat but the conductor could ask her to sit on your lap during busy times. However unless you started at a hub station (start station like Tokyo) It can be hard to get a non reserve seat during busy times.
If you want her to have the seat with reservations, then of course the Child JR pass would help. 14,550 YEN for the child with seat

Would you recommend buying an Ordinary pass for 3? or for 4? I also had someone suggest buying a Green pass because it may be very crowded during that period of time. And once again, if so, for three or for four?

Green car is not worth it for the price and especially your itinerary.
For me, I would buy the rail passes for everyone just because its more convince and you can reserve your seats as well.

Hope this helps!!!

Have Fun!!

Or should I buy another pass to go along with it?

Honestly, your itinerary give train fans (like me :) a very interesting puzzle, and the answer is no, as shown below.

3/31 Kobe - Mt Koya (only taking overnight bag): Spend night at Koya

You need to take Nankai line to Koyasan. JR pass or Seishun 18 Kippu does not cover travel to Koyasan.

http://goo.gl/kGoNhU

4/1 Koya - Kyoto or Osaka - Kobe: Return to Rokko Island.

You can see most of Koyasan during your first day (3/31) in Koyasan. Then you may be able to start in the morning to Namba. I think you should do Osaka sightseeing on 4/1 and assign 4/2 and 4/3 for Kyoto.

I recommend you to buy Kansai Thru Pass 3 days (5200 yen for adults and 2600 yen for children). You will be able to use the pass for 3/31 and 4/1, and the rest one day for 4/4.

http://www.surutto.com/tickets/kansai_thru_english.html

Buy Autumn/Winter version somewhere (Osaka Umeda, Shin-Osaka etc.), maybe on 3/28 when transfering shinkansen at Shin-Osaka, or on 3/30 you can go to Shin-Osaka, buy Kansai Thru Pass there and get a JR to Sumiyoshi and then Rokkoliner to Island Center.

To and from Namba(Nankai)/Koyasan, you may want to take limited express which requires reservation and the seat fee. The limited express is more comfortable so I reccommend to take it, considering you have little children with you. In that case you must pay additional 780 yen per person, one way.

If you want to buy reserved seat ticket, you should start early.

http://goo.gl/Lm8Fqz

http://goo.gl/UMzL2z

Limited express ticked for Koyasan is sold at Namba (Nankai) station. I think you can buy it on the day. You can also buy Kintetsu reserved seat ticket for 4/4, at Hanshin/Kintetsu Osaka-Namba station. Your train reaches at Osaka-Namba, so you should buy tickets for 4/4 first, and then walk to Namba(Nankai), and then buy tickets to/from Koyasan.

4/4 Kobe - Iga - Kansai Airport: Ninja festival. (Note, hope to check bags at a station en route to Iga, that we can pass back through on return to Kansai and pick back up). Stay at Kansai airport hotel:

Use the rest Kansai Thru pass.

To Iga (Uenoshi):

http://goo.gl/XFnXtG

In this case also, you may want to take limited express (900 yen/person). As described above, you should buy it beforehand, on 3/31.

The pass covers from Island Center to Igakambe, but you must pay for Igakambe to Uenoshi (360 yen/person, and 180 yen for your 8 yo child).

You should drop your luggage at somewhere on the way, maybe at Osaka-namba, then you should start early.

http://goo.gl/VQ6WL7

and then

http://goo.gl/cVqtMs

From Iga (Uenoshi): to Osaka-namba:

http://goo.gl/sa75tV

Pick-up your luggage and then walk 12 min to Namba(Nankai). There should be many signage in English.

Namba(Nankai) to Kansai airport.

http://goo.gl/1bQ2fu

As you see, there is not so much difference in time to reach the airport between using limited express (510 yen/person).

The Seishun 18 will be available during our trip, would that make sense for any portions?

I don't think so, since Seishun 18 is only valid for JR trains which do not cover Koyasan. Further it is a set of 5 tickets (there is no child fare) so that you can not use them efficiently.

Just wanted to say thanks. I can't express just how helpful that is!!