Ann_S

Well everyone, I'm really tired of all this hassle as I'm sure you are too..... As you know, it all started as an expense thing, paying for 4 people with only 2 eligible for a JR pass. Now it's because my husband & daughter both think we should come without the JR pass. They think it will be stressful because we'll let the 7 day time thing dictate our whole visit, when the most important thing is seeing each other after so long. Kim, like you said though, we're really going to get stressed out figuring out all the different local trains, etc. (and probably won't get to go where we want to). Besides, as close as I can figure, there probably won't be too much difference in cost anyway. I did try unchecking the boxes on hyperdia & it helped on one jaunt, but not the other. I just needed some research facts to back up my opinion. I don't want to leave the states without the pass cause there'll be no changing our minds once we get there. I just hope it's not too late to get the pass once (or should I say "if&quot I convince them. We're only 2 1/2 weeks from our departure!!

Is there a place where you can check the bus routes & fares like hyperdia?

You guys have been so helpful, thanks again.

KimJapan

Unfortunately, I've never seen anything official for bus routes in English. I have seen some general info on various info sites...and do know that bus from Kanazawa to Osaka/Kyoto/Nagoya takes about 4 hours and costs about 4000 yen (plus or minus a bit) each way per person and there are maybe 8 or so buses per day...if that helps at all.

Ann_S

Thanks for the idea on busses. I found a general site. It shows Kyoto to Hiroshima is 6600. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2366.html
Unfortunately, the links that might show more detailed routes and fares are all in Japanese like you said. I know the obvious drawbacks to taking a bus vs. train like time, etc. Can you think of others I might not realize?

mrwunrfl

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Seems like you've got conflicting priorities:
1) spend all time with daughter
2) see more of Japan
3) keep costs low

You can have two of those. Sounds to me like seeing more of Japan is a much lower priority to both your DD and DH.

Which would you choose between the following options for travelling between Osaka and Hiroshima:
1) 7500 yen and 6 hours
2) 10,000 yen and 1 hr 45 min
?

If your answer is the latter then you might take another look at japanrail.com for the JR West Sanyo area pass. It covers 4 days travel for 20,000 yen and includes Nozomi shinkansen which you could use between Shin Osaka and Hiroshima. You could also use it for the train between Hiroshima and Miyajimaguchi and, I expect but am not sure, the JR ferry to Miyajima. It can be purchased in Japan but I don't know if you have to have a tourist passport stamp to buy it. If you combined it with travel to Kyoto and/or Kansai airport then you would squeeze some extra value out of it.

For using hyperdia for your travel planning in Fukui-ken, you can use "Mikuni(Fukui)" as a destination for getting close to Tojimbo, according to the JNTO directions. For Echizen Ono use "Echizenono" and you will see that you can take JR all the way.

mrwunrfl

Actually, there is a bus center in downtown Hiroshima that is convenient to the Peace Park. Just a 5 or 10 minute walk. Getting to the PP from Hiroshima station requires riding a street car for several stops.

harsha

i,m travelling in japan in the last week
of march. and plan to do kyoto,hakone,
takayama and tokyo.landing in narita.I was told the JR pass for 7 days should take me to all these places.My doubts are would I be allowed to travel in the
shinkasen betw tokyo and kyoto.Can someone enlighten me about Ryokans reasonably priced in these areas and a probable tour plan for 7 days.Thnx