HELP for trains: Narita to tokyo to Hakone to Kyoto to Narita
Feb 4th, 2012, 08:43 AM
#1
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HELP for trains: Narita to tokyo to Hakone to Kyoto to Narita
Hello, I am travelling with my mother and would like to travel by train.
1) If our travel is within 1 month, are we eligible for the American Pass (we are from the US)
2) should we make reservations upfront for each of the trains
3) what are the best trains to take for minimal transfers please
THANK YOU!
1) If our travel is within 1 month, are we eligible for the American Pass (we are from the US)
2) should we make reservations upfront for each of the trains
3) what are the best trains to take for minimal transfers please
THANK YOU!
Feb 4th, 2012, 09:09 AM
#2
1) I think you mean Japan Rail Pass, not American Passs. Answer is yes assuming you are tourists. But whether or not the pass would save you money depends on how long your trip is.
How long is your trip? Counting day of arrival at Narita to and including day of departure from Narita, is your trip longer than 7 days? If yes, then you don't want/need a JR Pass (and you would have better train options).
2) Not necessary, in general, but it depends on what days you travel.
When are you traveling?
3) Depends a bit on where you are staying in Tokyo. An airport limo bus might be a better option than a train.
Where are you staying in Tokyo?
To answer your question, if you were staying in Shinjuku, then: Narita Express to Shinjuku, Odakyu Romance Car to Hakone-Yumoto. Other transport by bus, train, taxi, in Hakone and then to JR Odawara station where you would get a shinkansen to Kyoto.
From Odawara, you would want to take a Hikari shinkansen but check the schedule to make sure there is no change of trains in Nagoya.
From Kyoto to Narita: Nozomi shinkansen if you don't have a JR Pass (i.e. trip longer than 7 days) from Kyoto to Shinagawa or Tokyo, and then Narita Express to Tokyo.
This is simpler than it may sound.
How long is your trip? Counting day of arrival at Narita to and including day of departure from Narita, is your trip longer than 7 days? If yes, then you don't want/need a JR Pass (and you would have better train options).
2) Not necessary, in general, but it depends on what days you travel.
When are you traveling?
3) Depends a bit on where you are staying in Tokyo. An airport limo bus might be a better option than a train.
Where are you staying in Tokyo?
To answer your question, if you were staying in Shinjuku, then: Narita Express to Shinjuku, Odakyu Romance Car to Hakone-Yumoto. Other transport by bus, train, taxi, in Hakone and then to JR Odawara station where you would get a shinkansen to Kyoto.
From Odawara, you would want to take a Hikari shinkansen but check the schedule to make sure there is no change of trains in Nagoya.
From Kyoto to Narita: Nozomi shinkansen if you don't have a JR Pass (i.e. trip longer than 7 days) from Kyoto to Shinagawa or Tokyo, and then Narita Express to Tokyo.
This is simpler than it may sound.
Feb 8th, 2012, 08:57 AM
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Before we go on our trip we usually research at hyperdia.com site of what trains are available and cost. If its is cheaper to get a rail pass we do although it is the most convenient thing for us. Someone once told us the cost of the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto r/t was worth the pass.
We also activate our railpass at Narita. The train representatives are so helpful. I have my list of where we want to go and when. I get all my tickets in hand when I leave Narita airport and even get times/trains changed so that it is more convenient for us...like avoiding mad rush times, smaller stations, etc.
We also activate our railpass at Narita. The train representatives are so helpful. I have my list of where we want to go and when. I get all my tickets in hand when I leave Narita airport and even get times/trains changed so that it is more convenient for us...like avoiding mad rush times, smaller stations, etc.
Feb 8th, 2012, 02:17 PM
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For your trip,it's doubtful the JR Country pass would be the cheapest option.Either point to point tickets or other passes
would be cheaper
One option thats really overlooked by foreign tourists is the
Seishun pass,good for rapid trains only.Also more than one person can use the same pass.Its only available a few times a year but March is one of those times.You can check it out if that might work for you.It's more time on the trains, but will
save one money if used right.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Seishun_18_Ticket
Depending on where your staying in Tokyo,you can use the rapid train to from Narita.I stayed at
Hotel Nihonbashi Villa for the first few days of my trip , a basic hotel steps away from the Bakurocho station.You can arrive there in 80 minutes from Narita on a rapid train without any connections. It's also half the price of the faster trains.It was a small room with a bath.I paid $70 a night.
would be cheaper
One option thats really overlooked by foreign tourists is the
Seishun pass,good for rapid trains only.Also more than one person can use the same pass.Its only available a few times a year but March is one of those times.You can check it out if that might work for you.It's more time on the trains, but will
save one money if used right.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Seishun_18_Ticket
Depending on where your staying in Tokyo,you can use the rapid train to from Narita.I stayed at
Hotel Nihonbashi Villa for the first few days of my trip , a basic hotel steps away from the Bakurocho station.You can arrive there in 80 minutes from Narita on a rapid train without any connections. It's also half the price of the faster trains.It was a small room with a bath.I paid $70 a night.
Feb 9th, 2012, 01:01 PM
#7
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This company that I have used before has some nice package plans between Tokyo and Kyoto with Hakone thrown in.
http://www.japanican.com/special/shi...n/#tokyo_kyoto
Aloha!
http://www.japanican.com/special/shi...n/#tokyo_kyoto
Aloha!
Feb 9th, 2012, 01:22 PM
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The Seishun jūhachi kippu tickets are not a good idea for your travel imho. They cannot be used on the shinkansens, express or even the ltd express trains. For example your trip from Tokyo to Kyoto one-way utilizing a Seishun ticket would be in the over 9 hour range with many train changes wasting valuable time and adding frustration on your vacation. The shinkansen will get you there in less than 3 hours and usually no train changes. These tickets cater to the Japanese locals especially college and school students traveling on their class trips or outings or families traveling regionally. They are cheaper than the JR pass though but not worth the savings in the lost of time......just my take on them.
Aloha!
Aloha!
Feb 10th, 2012, 01:46 PM
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In my opinion the Japan country Passes are oversold.Not every case are they the best deal.They are a good deal if one is going to different parts of Japan and doesn't have a lot of travel time though.
But the other passes ,many of which offer flexible days of travel within your stay, are options that people should at least look at.Especially budget travelers.
i like the Seishun Kippu pass because it does offer flexible travel days and i like the rapid and local trains for seeing the country.Plus it is a real bargain and you can stop at stations and towns you wouldn't see otherwise.
But the other passes ,many of which offer flexible days of travel within your stay, are options that people should at least look at.Especially budget travelers.
i like the Seishun Kippu pass because it does offer flexible travel days and i like the rapid and local trains for seeing the country.Plus it is a real bargain and you can stop at stations and towns you wouldn't see otherwise.
