Can buy a JR Pass in Japan

Old Apr 24th, 2017, 01:09 PM
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Can buy a JR Pass in Japan

I just noticed a japan-guide article that says that on a trial basis a JR Pass can be purchased in Japan, but at a higher cost, until March 31, 2018

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361.html#purchase
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 02:55 PM
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Note that JR West passes can be bought in-country without a penalty, but there is a discount for buying on the internet.
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 09:10 PM
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WE bought 4 JRPasses at the Narita JR office a month ago. I asked for Four adult tickets: Narita-Tokyo, Tokyo-Kyoto and then Kyoto-Tokyo and Tokyo-Narita 6 days later, but the agent said it would be cheaper to just buy a Railpass.

4 passes cost 1,320 Yen, or US$ 295 each. I was surprised, but didn't question it, as we were in a hurry to get to Kyoto that evening.

How much were rail passes vouchers purchased in the US recently?
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Old Apr 24th, 2017, 09:29 PM
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I just checked Japan guide's new rail pass calculator and it's 29110 yen to buy the voucher outside Japan and 33000 to buy it in Japan. I also used the calculator and our trip would have cost 33000 per person. So we didn't save any money, but it was a lot easier. (Actually, we did save some money as we used some Jr lines inside Tokyo.

The new beta calculator. Find out if a 7, 14 or 21 day pass is best for your trip:

http://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/
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Old Apr 25th, 2017, 03:40 AM
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@mrwunrfl, thanks for posting this.

@thursdaysd, thanks for the information about the JR West passes.

@lcuy, thanks for the link to the Japan Rail calculator which I used to calculate my fares and to determine if the pass would be beneficial and after inputting my train travels it says that it would it would pay off to get the pass. However, my problem would be when to activate as per the following:

5-10 Arrive Tokyo Narita to downtown Tokyo via Keisei Skyline
5-11 Tokyo
5-12 Tokyo
5-13 – Tokyo to Mishima ¥4,320
5-14 – Mishima to Kanazawa ¥17,590 ?
5-18 – Kanazawa to Matsumoto ¥10,890
5-22 – Matsumoto to Kyoto ¥9,960
6-1 - Kyoto to Hiroshima = ¥10,890
Hiroshima to Okayama = ¥6,020 x 2
Hiroshima to Onomichi = ¥3,740 x2
Hiroshima to Iwakuni = ¥760 x2
Hiroshima to Miyajima = ¥410 x2
Hiroshima to Tokyo = ¥18,360

Since my trip extends beyond the 21 days if I activated it from Mishima to Kanazawa, which to me is a long costly haul. At present, I'm meeting some friends in Izu and they mentioned that they'll drop me at the Mishima station for Kanazawa, but they may decide on another station. If I get the 21 day pass, it would expire while I'm in Hiroshima and thus another long cost haul to Tokyo, would be moot.

On the other hand, choosing one of the JR West passes wouldn't work for me because I'll be in those regions where I can use it more than the 7 days.

I also spoke with Japan Rail Pass and was told I could opt for two 7 day passes to be activated when I'm heading to Kanazawa and when I leave Kyoto for Hiroshima-Tokyo.

Would I be better off buying as I go? I do have a Suica card that my Japanese friend sent for me, so maybe I can just load that up and travel that way. What are your thoughts.

Thanks,
jdc
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Old Apr 25th, 2017, 07:32 AM
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>

Someone's missing zeroes. There's no way we're trading 4Y to $1.

Getting a JR pass voucher in the US is easy - just use one of the online services. You get a slight break on the exchange rate, and you save about $20-40 against purchasing in Japan.
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Old Apr 25th, 2017, 09:17 AM
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jdc26, a better route for you, in terms of fare and time, would be Mishima- Matsumoto- Kanazawa- Kyoto. I come up with a cost of 28,120 for that route.

Your route is 38,740 (after adding 300 to your Mishima- Kanazawa fare).

I am confused by how you showed your travel dates. What day are you planning to go from Kyoto to Hiroshima? What date for Hiroshima- Tokyo?
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Old Apr 25th, 2017, 10:47 AM
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@mrwunrfl, thank you. Unfortunately, I'm unable to rearrange my routes at this point. My friends are going to drop me at Mishima on the 14th after visiting Izu and it's onto Kanazawa from 14-18 and then to Matsumoto 18-22 and then Kyoto 22-June 1. I leave Kyoto for Hiroshima June 1-5 and Hiroshima to Tokyo June 5-9.
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Old Apr 26th, 2017, 04:23 PM
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jdc,
By my calculations, you almost make a 14 day pass pay off used your first 14 days, using the Narita Express into Tokyo and getting you up to Kyoto. I don't add in the advanced seat reservation charges since in most cases it is not necessary, unless you were traveling in a peak time, which you are not.
You didn't mention any day trip to Himeji, which you could use on the last day of your pass, and the city is certainly worth a visit (as is Nara, sometime while you're in the area). That would clearly put you over the top and get you some good savings.

For your last 5 days, you could use a JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_k...hiroshima.html

To return to Tokyo, you can book a discount flight from Hiroshima Airport using ANA's Experience Japan Fare.
http://www.ana.co.jp/wws/us/e/wws_co..._jp/index.html
or JAL's clone of it.
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Old Apr 27th, 2017, 03:30 AM
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@Adastra2200, thank you very much for this information. My Japanese friend also suggested that I can fly from Hiroshima to Tokyo at the end. So I may do just that considering I can use my points to fly ANA. And yes, I'm definitely visiting Himeji and Nara, but was thinking of doing day trips while I"m in Kyoto. If I purchase the 5 day JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass, I guess I can visit Himeji from there.

As I'm staying at a AirBnB in Tokyo on my arrival, the host has suggested that I take the KEISEI SKYLINER to Nippori station since she's a 10 min. walk from that station. I'll have to see where the Narita Express will stop in conjunction to getting to her flat.

Thanks again,
jdc
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Old Apr 30th, 2017, 02:51 PM
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@Adastra2200, since I had enough mileage points, I was able to book my return trip from Hiroshima-Tokyo, so that's one less expense I have to worry about. Still trying to decide if it's best to activate it using the Narita Express into Tokyo since my host indicated that it would be best to use the Keisei Skyliner which is closer to her. Awaiting confirmation from her if I can use Narita Express. But I suppose I can activate it when leaving Mishima-Kanazawa and then make my visit Nara and Himeji my first day trips before the pass expires or maybe I can just get the 21 day pass and use it as far as it can go.
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Old May 2nd, 2017, 08:28 AM
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Ha ha Big Russ. Yes the four passes at 33,000 each cost a total of 132000 yen.
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