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advice on a 10 day trip to Tokyo & Osaka

chcchu
chcchu
over 12 years ago
2 answers

While we are getting excited to celebrate our 10th anniversary with this 10-day Japan trip, the train travel planning is something that I have never experienced before. Would you help to suggest the best JP Pass option for our itinerary below:

Mar 10 - Narita Airport to Ueno (hotel)
Mar 11 to 13 - Sightseeing within Tokyo and surrounding (suggestions?)
Mar 13 - Tokyo to Osaka (hotel near Juso)
Mar 14 - Sightseeing within Osaka
Mar 15 - Day return trip to Kyoto
Mar 16 - Day return trip to Kobe
Mar 17 to 18 - Day trip to surrounding places (suggestions?)
Mar 19 - Juso to Kansai Airport

A 7-day JP Pass seems relevant to the last 7 days but I'd like your professional advice. Thank you so much!

chcchu
chcchu
2 posts
over 12 years ago

Please also suggest the types of train that I should or can take. Much appreciated!

avatar
mari
1950 posts
over 12 years ago
Expert

Hi there!

Sounds like a great trip! For a 7 day rail pass to be worth it you'll need to spend over ¥28,300 on individual tickets. Lets take a look at the legs you mention, and then see if adding day trips makes it worthwhile:

  1. Narita airport terminal 1 > Ueno: ¥2940, (81mins, 82km)
  2. Ueno > Osaka: ¥13750, (212mins, 560km)
  3. Osaka > Kyoto: ¥540, (29mins, 42km)
  4. Kyoto > Osaka: ¥540, (28mins, 42km)
  5. Osaka > Kobe: ¥540, (28mins, 42km)
  6. Kobe > Osaka: ¥540, (28mins, 42km)
  7. Osaka > Kansai airport: ¥3140, (57mins, 64km)

TOTAL: ¥21990 for 7 legs

The base cose of the travel you list means that in it's basic form it will not be worth purchasing a 7 day rail pass.

For day trips, I really recommend a trip to Nikko from Tokyo if you can make it, and if possible an overnight stay in a Japanese hot spring (onsen). As you have 2 days free in Kansai towards the end of your trip, how about an overnight stay at Kinosaki Onsen. It's around 3hrs from Osaka, but is a fantastic little town with many Onsen, a great atmosphere and routinely described as the best Onsen town in the area of Hyogo. Here's a good forum post with more, and you can also book many onsen online.

If we include these day trips into your itinerary, the value of a japan rail pass becomes a little more clear:

  1. Narita airport terminal 1 > Ueno: ¥2940, (81mins, 82km)
  2. Ueno > Nikko: ¥5230, (115mins, 146km)
  3. Nikko > Ueno: ¥5230, (111mins, 146km)
  4. Ueno > Osaka: ¥13750, (212mins, 560km)
  5. Osaka > Kyoto: ¥540, (29mins, 42km)
  6. Kyoto > Osaka: ¥540, (28mins, 42km)
  7. Osaka > Kobe: ¥540, (28mins, 42km)
  8. Kobe > Osaka: ¥540, (28mins, 42km)
  9. Osaka > Kinosakionsen: ¥5450, (160mins, 183km)
  10. Kinosakionsen > Osaka: ¥5450, (170mins, 183km)
  11. Osaka > Kansai airport: ¥3140, (57mins, 64km)

TOTAL: ¥43350 for 11 legs

If you choose to do these day trips I would certainly recommend a 7 day rail pass over separate tickets.

The trip will have a mixture of normal JR trains and Bullet trains, making travel interesting! You can look up exact train timetables, types and costs at the Hyperdia travel planning website and learn how to use Hyperdia for Japan Rail Pass holders through our video blog.

Hope this helps!


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