My wife and I intend to visit end of April-beginning of May 2025 together with our 11 year old daughter. We prepared an itenerary with the help of some AI which indicated that early reservations are advisable considering that part of our trip coincides with the Golden Week. Can you confirm that the suggested JR Pass period is indeed the most economical for the planned trip. We would also like to know if it is possible to make the reservations in advance.
Kind regards,
Roel & Inez
JR Pass Period: April 27 - May 10, 2025 (or other if more economical)
Passengers: 2 adults, 1 child (11 years old)
Complete Train Journey Overview Japan 2025
JR Pass Period: April 27 - May 10, 2025
Passengers: 2 adults, 1 child (11 years old)
Journey Schedule
| Date | Departure Station | Arrival Station | Preferred Time | Train Type | Journey Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 25 | Fukuoka Airport | Hakata Station | 19:00 | Subway | Airport Transfer | Not covered by JR Pass |
| April 26 | Hakata | Soeda | 08:00 | Local Train | Daytrip | Not covered by JR Pass |
| April 27 | Hakata | Hiroshima | 15:30 | Sakura Shinkansen | Main Route | Reservation recommended |
| April 28 | Hiroshima | Miyajimaguchi | 06:00 | JR Sanyo Line | Daytrip | Includes ferry service |
| April 28 | Miyajimaguchi | Hiroshima | 17:00 | JR Sanyo Line | Daytrip | Return journey |
| April 29 | Hiroshima | Iwakuni | 08:30 | JR Sanyo Line | Daytrip | Golden Week - book early |
| April 29 | Iwakuni | Hiroshima | 16:00 | JR Sanyo Line | Daytrip | Return journey |
| April 30 | Hiroshima | Kyoto | 13:30 | Hikari Shinkansen | Main Route | Golden Week - book early |
| May 4 | Kyoto | Nara | 08:30 | JR Nara Line | Daytrip | Golden Week - book early |
| May 4 | Nara | Kyoto | 17:00 | JR Nara Line | Daytrip | Return journey |
| May 5 | Kyoto | Osaka | 11:00 | Special Rapid Service | Main Route | Golden Week - frequent service |
| May 8 | Shin-Osaka | Tokyo | 09:00 | Hikari Shinkansen | Main Route | Reservation recommended |
| May 9 | Tokyo | Odawara | 08:00 | Shinkansen | Daytrip | For Hakone access |
| May 9 | Odawara | Tokyo | 17:00 | Shinkansen | Daytrip | Return journey |
| May 11 | Tokyo | Narita Airport | TBD | Narita Express | Airport Transfer | Not covered by JR Pass |
Important Notes:
- Dates in italics indicate Golden Week period (extra busy)
- All times are departure times
- Local trains (like Special Rapid Service) run frequently and usually don't require reservations
- Airport transfer times should be adjusted based on flight schedule
- Narita Express runs every 30 minutes to/from airport
Booking Priority:
- Golden Week journeys (April 29 - May 5)
- Long-distance Shinkansen trips
- Day trip reservations
- Local train segments (usually not necessary)
JR Pass Coverage:
- Not Covered:
- April 25: Airport transfer
- April 26: Takasumi shrine visit
- May 11: Airport transfer
- All other listed journeys are covered by the JR Pass
