I have two unrelated questions: 1) I've read that Japan has a unique mobile phone carrier system that stymies attempts to call back and forth between Japan and the U.S. I assumed that before we travel to Japan in June, I would get our mobile plan set up for international calls, but apparently not. I've also noticed some postings about renting cell phones at Narita, but I'm skeptical about being able to get through to the U.S. and vice versa, not to mention the cost. I had hoped maybe Skype would work, but traveling as light as possible for train travel, I don't wish to lug a laptop, and I seriously doubt that computers at an internet cafe would be set up to call via Skype. With an elderly mother back home, I need to be reachable for three weeks. Has anyone had success with public phones using a prepaid calling card (purchased in Japan or U.S.)? 2) I'm trying to sort out conversations on this format about JR national passes purchased in advance here and regional passes purchased in Japan. I'm hoping someone with experience could recommend the most cost efficient combo of passes for our itnerary? ( Our itinerary is Tokyo 3 days, Kyoto 5 days, Mt. Koya 1 day overnight, stopover in Okayama, 3 days in small towns of western Honshu coast, overnight Nagoya, 5 days in the Japanese Alps areas of Kiso Valley, Matsumoto, & Takayama, then back to Tokyo overnight before Narita.) Lastly, what is the best place to buy the national JR pass?
Many thanks in advance! Teacherhiker

Don't know anything about skype . Japan has different cell phone technology than the rest of the world which is why your cell phone won't work there. Read here for info

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2223.html

In answer to your question about Rail pass vs buying tickets. Here are two sites where you can figure out which one is best for you and answer all the questions you asked

www.hyperdia.com

use the English button

http://www.japanrail.com/JR_japanrailpass.html

Aloha!

I have an elderly mother as well so I know why you mean.

On my last trip I rented a cell phone from RentafoneJapan. However, for three weeks it might get a bit pricey - the price for calls themselves was reasonable. I also don't know how good the coverage is as you are traveling all over. I paid extra (under $10) to have the phone sent to me at home in NYC as I was in a hurry to travel onward when I landed at NRT.

On previous trips I've used my MCI calling card at public phones with no problem at all.

Enjoy!

I have also used Rentafone Japan as Mara did with good results. It is a little expensive but if you need to stay in touch this is a good way to do it imho.

http://www.rentafonejapan.com/

Rates are reasonable for Japan but the main thing is that their phones work everywhere. I have rented from them and Pupuru. The pu phones would not have signals outside the big cities while I have been in very isolated places with Rentafone's phones and they worked just fine.

We are renting two phones for a month next this weekend. The phones will be waiting for me when I check into my hotel and I just drop them in the supplied and stamped envelopes that Rentafone supplies at the front desk or mail drop outside when we are done with them.

Aloha!

Good to know, ht - I didn't get further than the Hakone area last time....but it worked pretty well there and it was sort of mountainous....

It is just a bit trick to figure out the JR Pass needs because of the way you described your itinerary. The middle part, along the San-in coast, will be all on a JR Pass, but depending on your actual plan it may make sense to fly to Nagoya.

Here is what I understand it to be:

1 Tokyo
2 Tokyo
3 Tokyo
4 Tokyo to Kyoto
5 Kyoto
6 Kyoto
7 Kyoto
8 Kyoto
9 Kyoto to Koya-san
10 Koya-san to Okayama
11 Okayama to ? (maybe Matsue?)
12) ? (maybe Matsue to Izumo to Hagi?)
13) ? (Hagi?)
14) ? (Hagi?) to Nagoya
15) Nagoya to ? Kiso Valley
16) Kiso Valley and on to Takayama
17) Takayama
18) Takayama to Kamikochi to Matsumoto
19) Matsumoto to Tokyo
20) Tokyo to Narita

A 21-day pass will cover everything, of course, including to/from Narita Airport.

I considered a 14-day pass. For the itin I listed it would end on day 16. Wouldn't use JR on day 17, nor on day 18 when traveling by non-JR bus.

Train fare for Matsumoto- Tokyo- Narita Airport would be about 10,000. Narita Airport to Tokyo on Day 1 would be about 3000 yen. Add those tickets to the 45,100 cost of a 14-day pass and you're at 48,000 which is more than the 21-day pass.

Another option is a 7-day pass at 28,300 activated on day 10. Airport to Tokyo would be 3000, Tokyo to Kyoto would be 13500, and Matsumoto to airport at 10,000. Thats about 55,000 right there.

I'm not clear about your stops in Okayama and Nagoya. Are they just overnight stops to break up the trip?

The 10000 + 3000 + 45000 would be 58000 (not 48000) which would be more than a 21-day pass.

Thanks for the helpful messages. I will look into phone rental.
As for rail passes, to clarify the part of our itinerary in question, we will stop overnight in Okayama after visiting a family in Himeji, then go to Tsuwano for a day/night, then to Matsue for 2 days, train down to Nagoya for a stop overnight, then to the Kiso Valley for the day and on to Matsumoto for 2 nights, then bus to Kamikochi for a day/night, then bus to Takayama for 3 days, then train back to Tokyo overnight before leaving for Narita. I guess my main question concerns the Suica pass I've been reading about versus just using the JR national pass for say 14 days (after Kyoto).

Suica card (it isn't a pass as such) is pre-loaded with money and each time you travel, appropriate fare is deducted on exit from a station. There's no discount as such, and in any case can only be used in and around certain big cities, currently Tokyo, Niigata, Sendai, Nagoya and Kansai. It cannot be used for inter-city travel.
You need a Japan Rail Pass (not regional one) for your travels.

Use this site for train information. Check out the whole site as it has a lot of information on Japan

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2016.html

Aloha!

I'd get a 21-day JR Pass for that itinerary. You are considering a 14-day pass at 45,000, starting at Kyoto. But the fare from Tokyo to Kyoto is 13,000.

Or, to keep it simple, your JR travel boils down to:
19,400 for Tokyo to Matsue
19,000 for Matsue to Matsumoto
14,600 for Takayama to Tokyo
-------
53,000

The 21-day pass is 54,000.

It would be useful to get from/to Narita Airport which is about 3,000 each way and for use on JR in Tokyo (maybe a few hundred yen).

Plus 16,000 for Okayama - Tsuwano - Matsue (which you are doing) and subtract 6000 for Okayama-Matsue (not doing). So, pay as you go would be over 60,000.

Back to the communication issue: I just returned from a 3 week trip to Japan and I will never travel without a laptop again. From checking the weather forecast while dressing in the morning, to looking at train scheules for the next day on hyperdia to using skype to talk to my granddaughter back home it was well worth the energy to "lug it around".

I just bought a 7-day JR pass, and relied upon Mrwunrfl's calculations (and my own verification) to figure out what level pass to get. He was quite helpful.

Note that you cannot buy a JR pass in Japan. You need to buy an exchange order in the US and exchange it in Japan for the pass. The JR website has links for US agents who sell the pass here:

http://japanrail.com/JR_tourismlinks.html

Ultimately IACE, a travel agent, could be a good bet. The company has offices throughout the country and the local offices will charge you based upon Interbank exchange rates (the website will charge a flat fee that may be more -- when I bought, I saved about $16 on two passes by buying through the local office).

Glad to help. A 7-day pass would have been my third choice (after 21-day and 14-day) though it could work out ok.

If you do want to have day 10 as the first day of validity then you will want to do your exchange before that. Do the exchange in Tokyo or Kyoto. They won't be able to do the exchange (of voucher for pass) at the station that you use to leave Koya area.

I always use my AT&T calling card when in Japan. Sorry, I don't know what the cost is since my company pays the bill. The access number to call is 00539111. Use the grey colored phones if you find one. If you use the green colored phones you have to deposit Y10 first, but it is refunded when you hang up.