¥1890 fare + ¥2010 seat fee = ¥3900
Look at the thread link Bill left above for the pricing.

Are you saying the ¥3900 is the LE fee only and that they would be charged more than ¥3900? If it were it would be cheaper to take the shinkansen as a paying customer and that doesn't make sense. Price also checks out on Jourdan.

http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/

Unless I am missing something the JR Pass holder would only be charged a supplement to travel from Shinjuku to Nikko and not the whole ¥3900 as explained by this segment of the Japan-Guide:
<i>Because the trains between Shinjuku and Nikko partially use the tracks of Tobu Railways, the Japan Rail Pass and JR Kanto Area Pass <b>do not fully cover the expenses of the journey.</b> However, thanks to a special agreement, the JR East Pass does cover the entire trip. </i>

Aloha!

Bob, stick close to your man - he won't get you lost. The following might be too much for you, so you can skip it.

I found a wikipage that said the difference for a JR pass-holder on that L'ex is ¥1560 each way.

The base fare is ¥950 on JR to Kurihashi and ¥940 on Tobu from there to Tobu Nikko, so that's the ¥1890. The ¥2010 would include the limited express surcharges plus seat reservation fees. Subtract ¥510 for the JR reserved seat leaves ¥1500 for the surcharges and a Tobu seat fee. That is the same ballpark as what the wiki says.

But it could simply be that you would be paying the Tobu $940 fare plus a ¥620 surcharge+seat fee for the Kurihashi-Tobu Nikko leg.

I was wondering why I, a supposedly intelligent individual, could not figure out the surcharge from Shinjuko to Nikko. After reading the discussion above, I see you need an advanced degree in Japan Rail Pass. I think I am just going to leave from Tokyo station with my JR pass. At least i know what the charge will be...zero.

Yeah mrw!

I won't get him lost for too long anyways.....

<i>But it could simply be that you would be paying the Tobu $940 fare plus a ¥620 surcharge+seat fee for the Kurihashi-Tobu Nikko leg.</i>

Yes I think that would be the charge. The Tobu charge using the Tobu line.

With the JR Pass you wouldn't pay any LE or seat fees on the JR train.

'Seat reservations are mandatory, and the fare for this journey is ¥3900 each way. Japan Rail Pass holders can use this limited express train departing Shinjuku for ¥1560 each way (covering the portion of the trip between Kurihashi and Tobu-Nikko).' Quote from wikitravel.org/en/Nikko

Yes, I agree - I think there was some misunderstanding of my earlier post - I didn't think a JR Pass holder would have to pay the complete 3900¥.

Complete info from wiki

<i>By JR and Tobu

In March of 2006, JR East and Tobu began joint limited-express service from Shinjuku station to the Nikko area.

This service offers one daily round-trip between Shinjuku and Tobu-Nikko station. The Nikko limited express departs Shinjuku at 7:12, and makes stops at Ikebukuro and Omiya, then continues via JR tracks to Kurihashi station, where control of the train is turned over to Tobu. Operating over the Tobu Nikko line, the train then makes three more stops before terminating at Tobu-Nikko. The one-way journey lasts about two hours.

Other limited express trains depart Shinjuku for Kinugawa, so you will have to transfer to a shuttle train at Shimo-Imaichi for the final run to Tobu-Nikko. This also takes about two hours. This service is all in addition to Tobu's regularly-scheduled Kegon and Kinu service into and out of Asakusa.

Seat reservations are mandatory, and the fare for this journey is ¥3900 each way. Japan Rail Pass holders can use this limited express train departing Shinjuku for ¥1560 each way (covering the portion of the trip between Kurihashi and Tobu-Nikko).

Holders of the JR East Rail Pass, on the other hand, may use the service to Nikko at no additional charge; the trip is fully covered. Unlike the regular Japan Rail Pass, the JR East Pass also covers local Tobu trains between Shimo-Imachi and Tobu-Nikko, and Shimo-Imaichi and Kinugawa-Onsen. You will have to pay separate fares for any services that are not covered.

If you plan on taking this service in both directions, consider the JR Tobu Nikko Kinugawa Free Pass (¥7800), sold to Japanese and foreigners alike. Valid for three consecutive days, it includes one round-trip on the joint JR/Tobu limited express service and unlimited travel on local Tobu trains and buses within that area. It does not include admission to the Nikko temples.

There are luggage lockers at Tobu-Nikko Station and JR Nikko Station. </i>

Aloha Qe!

answer to all these questions: select your train, go to ticket window, plop down credit card, make your request, sign and walk away to the track...

you know you want to go, you know you want to go on the train, so who cares how much it costs????????????????????

Good point, Bob!

Peter, you have to make sure <u>every day</u> that he has a ¥5000 note in his pocket, lodging address, and knows how to pronounce takushi.

>>just going to leave from Tokyo station with my JR pass<<

shellyk, that confirms that you are, actually, an intelligent person. Going on JR will give you more options and you don't to have to get up so early.

Mara, I understood you.

thanks, mrwunrfl...

And now we have an authoritative source for the correct pricing if someone wants to take that train with a JR pass, assuming we can believe the wiki....