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Tokyo - Honke Bankyu: which travel/rail pass? 2018/7/17 20:31
Hi there,

I'll be travelling with my partner to Japan for three weeks in November.
We have quite a few things planned and in the first part of the trip (the first five days), we were hoping to visit the greater Tokyo area as both of us have already been to Tokyo before so we'll be spending a little less time there...

This was our projected itinerary:
Day 1 Narita Airport - Tokyo
Day 2 Tokyo
Day 3 Honke Bankyu (Yunushigawa Onsen)
Day 4 Nikko (back to Tokyo in the evening)
Day 5 Kamakura

We know that some of these destinations are not covered by the JR pass (notably Honke Bankyu and the Tokyo metro lines) so we were wondering if it was even worth using the JR pass for this part of our trip, or considering other passes instead, or simply buying tickets individually and then taking a JR pass for the rest of our trip.

Here are the other passes we were looking at:
- the JR East pass
- the Greater Tokyo Pass (I can't seem to find out if it includes the train to Yunishigawa Onsen or if it only covers up to Kinugawa Onsen)
- the JR Tokyo Wide pass

Would you happen to know if these passes will cover us all the way to Honke Bankyu and which one would be the best value for money?

Thank you.


by autumnvisitor (guest)  

Re: your trips and passes 2018/7/19 01:52
It depends on the sites to visit and the traveling pace,
but I would add one day for Nikko,
especially when I am likely to be there
during the autumn coloring of the foliage in a good weather.

We know that some of these destinations are not covered by the JR pass

Depending on how the rest of your itinerary is,
Japan Rail Pass or JR East area pass might be a good choice.

For your two side trips from Tokyo,
Marugoto Nikko-Kinugawa Tobu Free Pass sounds suitable.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_002.html

While the three other passes shown below
are available exclusively to foreign travelers,
this pass is issued regardless of the nationality of passengers.

Around 11800 yen
(i.e. 9490 to 9590 yen + about 2300 yen)
as transportation cost for the two side trips.
: About 300 yen as railway fees
to get to and back from (Tobu) Asakusa Station (#).
: 6150 yen
on Marugoto Nikko-Kinugawa Tobu Free Pass,
which covers the fees shown below as (A) through (C)
and Tobu Bus Nikko fares for your rides on Day 4.
(#) You can buy the pass
which is valid from another Tobu station.
: 1340 or 1440 yen (depending on dates)
as Tobu Railway Limited Express surcharge
for your ride on Day 3 to Shin-fujiwara Station.
: 370 yen
as Yagan Tetsudo Railway Limited Express surcharge
for your ride on Day 3 to Yunishigawa-onsen Station.
: 1030 yen
as Tobu Railway Limited Express surcharge
for your ride of a specified train
in the afternoon on Day 4 for Asakusa.
: About 2000 yen as railway fees
to get to and back from Kamakura Station.
: 600 yen
on Enoshima Electric Railway [Enoden]
"Noriorikun" one-day pass.

(A) 2 x 150 yen
as Tobu Railway basic fares
for Kinugawa-onsen Sta. -- Shin-fujiwara Sta.
(B) 2 x 510 yen
as Yagan Tetsudo Railway basic fares
for Shin-fujiwara Sta.
-- Yunishigawa-onsen Sta.
(C) 2 x 880 yen
as Nikko Kotsu bus fares
for Yunishigawa-onsen Station bus stop
-- Honke Bankyu Ryokan Mae bus stop

Tobu NIKKO PASS all area (4520 yen, 4 consecutive days)
does not cover the fees shown above as (B) and (C)
(2780 yen).
This pass brings you a discount of about 20 percent
(460 to 480 yen) on the Tobu Limited Express surcharges.
http://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/en/pass/all.html
So,
compared to when you use the Nikko-Kinugawa free pass,
the amount of the cost is estimated
at higher by 690 to 670 yen.
(4520 - 6150 - (460 to 480) + 2780 = 690 to 670.)

JR TOKYO Wide Pass (10000 yen, 3 consecutive days)
covers JR fees to go between Tokyo and Kamakura
(except on the Tokaido Shinkansen)
and Limited Express surcharges
for rides of JR-Tobu through trains,
while it does not cover
Tobu Bus Nikko fares
or the fees shown above as (A) through (C) (3080 yen).

Greater Tokyo Pass (7200 yen, 3 consecutive days)
does not cover
surcharges (to be paid in addition to the basic fares),
Tobu Bus Nikko fares
or the fees shown above as (B) and (C) (2780 yen).
by omotenashi rate this post as useful

Re: Tokyo - Honke Bankyu: which travel/rail pass? 2018/7/19 06:30
I dont think you need a JR pass for said 5 days.

I just looked at the Honte Bankyu website for access options. And you are looking at Tobu Railway buses and trains. So I'd look at a 2 or 3 day Tobu Nikko pass that covers all the routes you need.

The rest of the 5 days' I'd just use an IC card or tickets.
by hakata14 (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Tokyo - Honke Bankyu: which travel/rail pass? 2018/7/19 19:54
Thank you both for your helpful answers.

I always thought I wasn't too bad at maths but it looks like I was mistaken as I'm a little confused.

Omotenashi, could you please explain to me how you came to the 11800 yen figure please?

Around 11800 yen
(i.e. 9490 to 9590 yen + about 2300 yen)
as transportation cost for the two side trips.
: About 300 yen as railway fees
to get to and back from (Tobu) Asakusa Station (#).
: 6150 yen
on Marugoto Nikko-Kinugawa Tobu Free Pass


From what I understand, if we take the Marugoto Nikko-Kinugawa Tobu Free Pass, we will be covered for all our transport from Tokyo to Yunishigawa-Onsen/Honke Bankyu/Nikko and back.
However, the bus from Yunishigawa-Onsen to Honke Bankyu is not covered I believe, is that right?

This should add (880yen x2) 1,760yen to our trip.

This would mean that the total transport cost for Day 3 Honke Bankyu (Yunushigawa Onsen) and Day 4 full day in Nikko (back to Tokyo in the evening) comes to 7,910yen (6,150yen for the pass + 1,760yen for the buses)... Am I forgetting anything?

Then if I add 2,000yen for a return trip Kamakura and approximately 2,600yen according to Hyperdia for the initial trip from Narita then I get to 12,510yen total (not including metro tickets in Tokyo).

Again, thank you so much for your help and advice, they are much appreciated!

by autumnvisitor (guest) rate this post as useful

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