To use your Rail pass to go to Nikko from Tokyo seems to be very difficult . What is the best way to go to Nikko from Tokyo for the day. Also the Jr Train to Hakone goes to Odawara how to you get to Gora? do you need to buy another train pass or will your JR Rail pass work. Thanks so much

To go from Odawara to Gora, you need a separate ticket that you can buy in Gora. That ticket is not part of the JR pass.

You can alternatively buy the Hakone Free Pass in Odawara, which covers the trains from Hakone to Gora as well as the transportation in the Hakone loop.

The thing to remember is that there are several rail companies in Japan. JR is the largest company by far, but many smaller rail companies serve variaous parts of the country. The JR Pass is valid only on JR lines, and you need to purchase separate tickets for travel on other lines.

From Tokyo to Nikko on JR just requires one change of trains.

From Shinjuku you could make two changes of trains. But you could just take a JR limited express train to Shimoimaichi and then get on the non-JR Tobu line to Nikko.

There is also a JR limited express train that leaves Shinjuku at 7:30 AM and goes to Tobu Nikko station.

Here is the detailed info on how to get to Nikko from Tokyo if you haven't seen it already

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3805.html

and different options on how to get to the Hakone area from Tokyo

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5206.html

This explains in detail your transportation options in Hakone with the Hakone Free Pass. You can also get transport from Shinjuku utilizing a version of the Hakone Free Pass. As stated above the JR Pass is useless in the Hakone area but don't forget to utilize your Hakone Free Pass with the discounts given at most hotels, shops, museums and restaurants in the Hakone area.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2358_008.html

Aloha!

Thanks to all but one more question. We are planning on going the second week of December will it be too cold? Would you still recommend that we go?

This was a very helpful thread for me, thanks for all the great information.