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Golden Week problems? Ordering pass too late? Tokyo-Hirosaki-Kyoto-Tokyo

Stowaway
Stowaway
over 11 years ago
2 answers

I know you answer variations on this question all the time, but I find the Hyperdia site hard to use for some reason. I have 3 questions:

  1. Is a 21-day pass more economical than a 14-day pass for what I hope to see?
  2. Is it too late to order, if I am landing at Narita on April 26 from Vietnam? (Yes, I know I left this very late! And I need the ticket shipped to Hanoi instead of the States.)
  3. Will I have problems reserving seats up to Hirosaki and back since it is Golden Week?

Here's where I hope to go, from April 26 through my flight out on May 15:
Hirosaki (must try to see the blossoms!)
Saitama (must include this, staying with friends)
Tokyo
Nikko
Yokohama
Kamakura
Kyoto
Nara
Osaka (not a must for me, but would be nice)

Here are the legs that I need priced in order to see if it's worth it, I think:
Narita->Saitama
Saitama->Hirosaki->Saitama
Saitama->Nikko->Saitama
Saitama->Tokyo
Tokyo->Yokohama
Yokohama->Kamakura
Kamakura->Kyoto
Kyoto->Nara
Nara->Osaka
Osaka->Tokyo

Thank you in advance for your response! This site is super helpful!

avatar
mari
1950 posts
over 11 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

So I'm kind of guessing on some of your stations as there are many in the saitama area (I will use urawa). Here are your costs:

  1. Narita airport terminal 1 > Urawa: ¥1,450 (119mins, 81km)
  2. Urawa > Hirosaki: ¥16,490 (249mins, 723km)
  3. Hirosaki > Urawa: ¥16,490 (249mins, 723km)
  4. Urawa > Nikko: ¥4,510 (114mins, 125km)
  5. Nikko > Urawa: ¥4,510 (114mins, 125km)
  6. Urawa > Tokyo: ¥380 (30mins, 24km)
  7. Tokyo > Yokohama: ¥1,460 (23mins, 28km)
  8. Yokohama > Kamakura: ¥330 (24mins, 22km)
  9. Kamakura > Kyoto: ¥12,270 (194mins, 471km)
  10. Kyoto > Nara: ¥690 (45mins, 41km)
  11. Nara > Osaka: ¥780 (51mins, 48km)
  12. Osaka > Tokyo: ¥13,550 (194mins, 556km)
  13. Tokyo > Narita airport terminal 1: ¥3,140 (58mins, 79km)

JR ticket cost: ¥76,050 for 13 legs

It really depends on your exact dates whether a 14 day pass is better than a 21 day pass, but I will say that because your trips to Hirosaki and from Osaka to Tokyo are at the beginning and end of your trip, a 21 day pass is likely to be the better choice for you.

Our delivery to Vietnam is 2 business days (+1 processing), so if you were to order today, you should have your rail pass on Wednesday 24th - just in time!

You may have some problems reserving the exact train you want, however as long as you are flexible on exactly which train you use you should be fine.

Hope this helps!

Useful!1
Stowaway
Stowaway
2 posts
over 11 years ago

Ah the Saitama stop is called Shinrin-koen, on the Tobu Tojo Line, which I fear isn't covered by the JR Pass?

Thank you, this is great.

Useful!0
avatar
ayako
21 posts
over 11 years ago

Hi there!

Yes, as Shinrin-koen is operated by the Tobu company (non-JR), it will not be covered by the JR Pass I'm afraid.

Hope this helps!

Useful!0
nthanhvan87
nthanhvan87
1 post
almost 10 years ago

Hi Stowaway, I am also from Vietnam and is planning a trip very similar to yours. I am traveling from Apr 24 - May 3 (Tokyo - Hirosaki - Kyoto - Nara) and is planning to by JR Pass 1 week .... Since it is golden week, I am quite worry about the transportation as well as other accommodation for this trip. I would like to connect and ask your experience with using the pass during this time and what I should do to prepare for the trip. May I connect with you? Thank you

Useful!0
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