Is the JR Rail Pass worth it?
Jul 5th, 2016, 04:42 AM
#1
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Is the JR Rail Pass worth it?
Hi everyone,
We will be in Japan for 12 days in August-September. Here is a basic outline of our trip:
8/26-8/31: Tokyo (arrive at Narita Airport)
8/31-9/3: Kyoto
9/3-9/6: Osaka
After researching and reading numerous sites and blogs, I'm getting confused and need some advice.
I'm finally coming here to get your guys' thoughts and suggestions!
- If I were to get the JR rail pass, should I get the 7-day or the 14 day? Will the JR rail pass be useful in Osaka and Kyoto? I heard there is a Kansai Thru Pass, which gives you access to transportation in the Kansai area along with some discounts on major attractions. But they only offer 2-day or 3-day passes.
Don't know if it's worth getting or if it's just better to buy individual tickets there.
- I thought about getting the 7-day rail pass to use in Tokyo and to take a bullet train to Kyoto. But when I calculate the transportation costs on google or HyperDia (subway tickets and bullet train cost), the approximate total cost doesn't come close to the price of the 7-day rail pass.
I supposed if we were to take day trips outside of Tokyo, the Rail pass would be worth it?
We are beginning to add details to our trip now so we haven't decided on any day trips from these major cities yet. Would the rail pass be worth it if we took day trips? Or would individual tickets still be cheaper?
Am I missing some information here that I'm not considering?
Is there another strategic way I can use the Rail Pass?
I have a lot of questions, so thank you in advance to anyone who posts a reply. This has been a very helpful community!
We will be in Japan for 12 days in August-September. Here is a basic outline of our trip:
8/26-8/31: Tokyo (arrive at Narita Airport)
8/31-9/3: Kyoto
9/3-9/6: Osaka
After researching and reading numerous sites and blogs, I'm getting confused and need some advice.
I'm finally coming here to get your guys' thoughts and suggestions!
- If I were to get the JR rail pass, should I get the 7-day or the 14 day? Will the JR rail pass be useful in Osaka and Kyoto? I heard there is a Kansai Thru Pass, which gives you access to transportation in the Kansai area along with some discounts on major attractions. But they only offer 2-day or 3-day passes.
Don't know if it's worth getting or if it's just better to buy individual tickets there.
- I thought about getting the 7-day rail pass to use in Tokyo and to take a bullet train to Kyoto. But when I calculate the transportation costs on google or HyperDia (subway tickets and bullet train cost), the approximate total cost doesn't come close to the price of the 7-day rail pass.
I supposed if we were to take day trips outside of Tokyo, the Rail pass would be worth it?
We are beginning to add details to our trip now so we haven't decided on any day trips from these major cities yet. Would the rail pass be worth it if we took day trips? Or would individual tickets still be cheaper?
Am I missing some information here that I'm not considering?
Is there another strategic way I can use the Rail Pass?
I have a lot of questions, so thank you in advance to anyone who posts a reply. This has been a very helpful community!
Jul 5th, 2016, 07:15 AM
#2
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Whether the pass is worth it depends on how much you will be using the train and exactly what routes you will travel on (not all trains in Japan are JR trains). The only way to tell is to get on Hyperdia.com and add up all of the train journeys, then compare with the rail pass price.
Don't change your itinerary in order to try to make the rail pass worthwhile. For many people, the rail pass is more expensive than individual tickets.
Don't change your itinerary in order to try to make the rail pass worthwhile. For many people, the rail pass is more expensive than individual tickets.
Jul 5th, 2016, 09:12 AM
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http://www.japanican.com/en/special/....aspx?GN_tours
If you need a hotel in Kyoto/Osaka this might help for rail and hotel deal.
Aloha!
If you need a hotel in Kyoto/Osaka this might help for rail and hotel deal.
Aloha!
Jul 6th, 2016, 02:55 AM
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Then, a JR Rail Pass wouldn't pay. The JR Rail Pass is essentially useful to a traveler who want to get on a bullet train many times.
Regional operators usually do better jobs than JR in there coverage, such as Tobu for Nikko, Odakyu for Kamakura and Hakone, Fujikyu for Mt Fuji/Kawaguchiko, Kintetsu for Nara, Nankai for Koyasan, etc.
http://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/en/pass/all.html
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/f...hima_kamakura/
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/freepass/hakone/
http://e.fujikyu-railway.jp/ticket/
http://www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/en..._1day2day.html
http://www.nankaikoya.jp/en/stations/ticket.html
Regional operators usually do better jobs than JR in there coverage, such as Tobu for Nikko, Odakyu for Kamakura and Hakone, Fujikyu for Mt Fuji/Kawaguchiko, Kintetsu for Nara, Nankai for Koyasan, etc.
http://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/en/pass/all.html
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/f...hima_kamakura/
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/freepass/hakone/
http://e.fujikyu-railway.jp/ticket/
http://www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/en..._1day2day.html
http://www.nankaikoya.jp/en/stations/ticket.html
Jul 6th, 2016, 10:29 PM
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You could make a 7 day pass pay off if you extend your itinerary. A day trip from Osaka to Hiroshima/Miyajima would do it, and is very worthwhile.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...KGUB-HPKNxP10Q
Alternatively you could take a couple day trips in the Tokyo area - Nikko, Karuizawa, Izu, Kusatsu, etc. That would make up the difference for no return back to Tokyo. It seems to me you're planning way too much time in Tokyo anyway - about 3-4 days is plenty.
Since you are already seeing Tokyo, you can largely skip Osaka during the day. After the temples of Kyoto close down around 5PM, you can zip over to Osaka for the evening. At night the city comes alive and has some great places to see, such as Dotonbori, plus the night views from the Umeda Sky Bldg and Abeno Harukas Bldg are wonderful.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...K2bcKCzr2pJQh2
Instead, take a day and go see Nara - it has some of Japan's very best sights.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...TIKwkioxuAKwt5
You could also take a day and see Himeji to add even more value to your trip.
If you use the 7 day pass Aug 31-Sep 6, you could also use the pass on your last day for the Haruka train to KIX and save even more.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...KGUB-HPKNxP10Q
Alternatively you could take a couple day trips in the Tokyo area - Nikko, Karuizawa, Izu, Kusatsu, etc. That would make up the difference for no return back to Tokyo. It seems to me you're planning way too much time in Tokyo anyway - about 3-4 days is plenty.
Since you are already seeing Tokyo, you can largely skip Osaka during the day. After the temples of Kyoto close down around 5PM, you can zip over to Osaka for the evening. At night the city comes alive and has some great places to see, such as Dotonbori, plus the night views from the Umeda Sky Bldg and Abeno Harukas Bldg are wonderful.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...K2bcKCzr2pJQh2
Instead, take a day and go see Nara - it has some of Japan's very best sights.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...TIKwkioxuAKwt5
You could also take a day and see Himeji to add even more value to your trip.
If you use the 7 day pass Aug 31-Sep 6, you could also use the pass on your last day for the Haruka train to KIX and save even more.
