help in itinerary & JR rail pass

Hi Cathy,

I just replied to your previous post and had not seen this one yet, this clears up a lot!

What I would do is purchase a 7 day JR Pass and activate it on day 2 (14th of October) than you can use to JR Pass to cover the rest of your itinarary, including the way back from Tokyo - Kansai Airport.

I think that your itinerary looks very good for the rest!
-Daniel

hi Daniel,

thank you for this. Does this mean that the 7-day JR rail pass is enough for our travel from day 2(oct.14) till on the 8th day (oct.20) right? even if we rode the shinkansen 4 times? Do we still need to buy additional local cards like ICOCA for Kansai/Osaka area & Suica in Tokyo?

thank you,
cathy

Hi Again!

The JR Pass allows for unlimited travel on the Shinkansen! So you could do so 10 days on a gives day without problems :)

You don't have to buy an IC card like Suica or ICOCA but they are pretty convenient and can be a cool souvenir so I would surely recommend buying one. IC cards can now be used nation wide so you would have to buy only one and not one for each area.

I hope this helps!
Daniel

thank you so much!!!! :)

hi Daniel,

i got 1 more question: we have a friend who will follow us & her itinerary will be:

ITINERARY:
Oct 17-Kansai Airport (arrival 8pm) to Tokyo (she'll go directly to Tokyo since by this time we're already there)
Oct 18-Shin-Okubo to Fuji Q highlands
Oct 19-Shin-Okubo to Disneyland
Oct 20-Tokyo to Kansai Airport

what kind of RAIL PASS can you suggest should she buy for all her trip? considering she only have shorter stay..

thank you,
cathy

Hi Again!

It's a shame that the JR Pass does not come in a shorter amount than 7 days but I do think that a 7 day JR Pass would also benefit your friend. This because she will make a return trip between Kansai Airport and Tokyo, which will already result in savings with the JR Pass.

A return between Kansai Airport and Tokyo alone is ¥ 31,640 and the JR Pass is ¥ 28,300.

Do note that the last train from Kansai Airport - Tokyo leaves at 19:16, so it will be better for your friend to stay near Kansai Airport or Osaka and take an early train to you the next morning.

I hope this helps!
Daniel

thank you Daniel!

hi Daniel,

regarding my last question on my friends trip. I found from Hyperdia this route from Kansai to Tokyo.

Route5 Take time: 520 Minutes Transfer: 1 Times Distance: 613.4 km
Total:¥ 12,700(Fare:¥ 9,560 Seat Fee:¥ 3,140) Commuting ticket(1mon:¥ --- 3mon:¥ --- 6mon:¥ --- )

22:28 KANSAI AIRPORT

[75 Min] JR Kansai Airport Rapid Service

23:43
00:34 OSAKA ¥9,560
[ Arrival track No.2 / Departure track No.11 ]

[394 Min] LTD. EXP SUNRISE SETO

07:08 TOKYO
[ Arrival track No.9 ]

Does this mean that she can still catch a train heading to Tokyo using this route even if she arrives at Kansai Airport at 8pm? pls. advise.

thank you,
cathy

Hi Again!

The Sunrise Express is indeed a possibility and is also covered by the JR Pass, however the downside is that this train sells out really quickly (sometimes weeks in advance), meaning that there's almost no change that your friend will be able to book it the day that she lands.

Your friend could of course try to book it and stay in Osaka if it does not work out but it would mean finding a Hotel after arriving in Japan.

Good luck if you wish to try it!
Daniel

if indeed it's sold out already, can my friend stay at the airport instead till the next train arrives at 5:47am? is it allowed in Kansai Airport to sleep overnight? if yes, where do you suggest can she stay & sleep for awhile (can you recommend a particular/specific area at the Airport where she won't be a problem with the airport personnel) . Thanks!

Hi Again!

Kansai Airports stays open all night and I actually stayed in the main hall myself last April without any trouble. There's an area with a 24H McDonalds and an internet lounge. You can just take a seat anywhere in the airport or relax a little/sleep in the internet lounge. There are a couple of desks available on the ground floor (near Starbucks) with Lan access, so you can just sit there and do some work if you have a laptop. There's also Free Wifi available throughout the airport.

I would recommend staying on the ground floor and find a comfortable seat there if you wish to catch some shut-eye as this area is visited less frequently by staff and other travelers.

thank you Daniel!