itiniary for a week - is it possible with the pass?

Hi there,

Yes this is certainly possible and travel times are decent enough that you will have most of the day for sightseeing but I do think that you should ask yourself if you want to be on the move every day.

Here is a approximate list of travel times.

Tokyo --> Odawara: 35 Minutes (Shinkansen station for Hakone)
Odawara --> Nara: 225 Minutes
Nara --> Kyoto: 45-75 Minutes
Nara --> Hiroshima: 180 Minutes
Nara --> Kanazawa 202 Minutes
Kanazawa --> Tokyo 265 Minutes

If you do make all these trips, than you will be making really good use of the JR-Pass. If you can consider changing your accommodation from Nara to Kyoto, this because most destinations you plan to visit have a transfer at Kyoto in any event. So you would be able to cut travel times by around an hour to most places.

Local transport in most of the cities you plan to visit (except for Tokyo) is done by other methods that the train, so you won't be able to use the JR-Pass for them.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Hi Daniel and good morning (In Israel. I suppose that with it will be like noon or evening)
Thank you so much for the quick reply.
Indeed I also thought this would be too much.
I have a place to stay with friends in Nara - so I prefer to make it my base
So how about that (in terms of prices and sensibility)?

23.4 - Tokyo - Nara (leaving early morning)
24.4 - touring Nara 25.4 - Nara - Kyoto and back 26.4 - Nara - Kyoto and back
27.4 - Nara - Hiroshima and back
and then:
Option 1:
28.4 - Nara - somewhere else in a reasonable distance (or going to Kyoto again(
29.4 - Nara - Kyoto (touring Kyoto during the day) - Narita airport on a train that leaves as late as possible but before midnight so my pass will still be available and I can use the time to sleep on it. I have to be at the airport around 9.00. Flight leaves at 11.15.)

Option 2: (I have a friend who will host me in Kanazawa)
28/4 - Nara - Kanazawa
29/4 - touring Kanazawa during the day. Leaving from Kanazawa -to Narita airport (on a train that leaves as late as possible but before midnight so my pass will still be available and I can use the time to sleep on it. I have to be at the airport around 9.00. Flight leaves at 11.15.)

Are any of these plans worthwhile to do with the pass in terms of money and time?
Thank you so much for your help - it makes planning the trip much easier.
Varda

Hi Again
To make things clear - my flight leaves Narita airport, Terminal 1 on 30th of April at 11.15.
Thanks
Varda

Hi Varda,

Yes it is evening now here in Japan!
I would stay in Nara with your friends if you can! The JR-Pass does cover all the trips but it will add some extra traveling time. Great additional trips you could make from there include, Wakayama, Himeiji and Kobe offers a lot to do too!

Between the two options, I personal would go to Kanazawa because it really is a nice place (was there just 3 days ago). The problem is that there are no night trains between Kanazawa and Tokyo, it general there are only a few in Japan. I would recommend returning to Tokyo or Narita to stay your last day there so you can take your time to get to the airport the next morning.

The train trip from Tokyo station to Narita Airport by the Narita Express is about 1hour so if you want to be at the airport at 9 take the train around 8 at the latest.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Hi Daniel
Thanks a lot again.
I think these are my last questions before I order the pass:
A. will buying the pass and doing the above itinerary be worthwhile money wise?
B. Is there a night train from Nara/Kyoto to Narita? I can reschedule my itinerary so I can do Nara - Kyoto - Narita on 29th and arrive at the airport in the morning.

Thanks again for your patience
Varda

Hi Varda,

The 7 day JR-Pass is about the same price as a return Tokyo Kyoto, you will be using it for much more than that, so it will be well worth the money.

There is not a night train directly from Kyoto but you could try to Sunrize-Izumo that stops at Okayama / Himeji. The train is very popular and sells out quickly, I would try to reserve a seat for it the moment that you arrive in Japan and have a plan B ready. Night trains in Japan are very limited I think there are less that 10 trains riding nation wide during the night.

Let me know if I can help in any other way.
Daniel

Thanks a lot. Yoiu helped very much
Varda

Hi again
I want to understand how the 7 days of my pass are calculated:
a. If I start using it on 23ed at 9.00 in the morning - what is the last time I can go on a train?
b. If I start a jeurney at 23.00 29th can I use the pass untill I arrive at my last destination even if it means changing tains? Can I do this with the pass that ends on 29th?:
19:12 (29th of April)
NARA Station timetable | Add to favorite

Map
Hotel
[75 Min]

JR Nara Line Local
Train timetable | Interval timetable

20:27
20:38
KYOTO [ Arrival track No.10 / Departure track No.11 ] Station timetable | Add to favorite

Map
Hotel
Rent-a-car
[145 Min]

SHINKANSEN HIKARI 536
Train timetable | Interval timetable

23:03
23:14
SHINAGAWA Station timetable | Add to favorite

Map
Hotel
Rent-a-car
[11 Min]

JR Keihin-Tohoku/Negishi Line Local
Train timetable | Interval timetable
¥9,350 23:25
23:37
TOKYO [ Departure track No.4 ] Station timetable | Add to favorite

Map
Hotel
Rent-a-car
[40 Min]

JR Sobu Line Rapid Service
Train timetable | Interval timetable

00:17 (this is already 30th of April)
05:46
CHIBA [ Arrival track No.10 / Departure track No.10 ] Station timetable | Add to favorite

Map
Hotel
Rent-a-car
[44 Min]

JR Sobu/Narita Line Rapid
Train timetable | Interval timetable

06:30
NARITA AIRPORT TERMINAL 1

Thank you
Varda

Hello again,

The validity of the JR-Pass is 7 consecutive days, the first day of use is counted as a full day no matter what time you use it. So take care when planning this. We have a blog post about this too, explaining it better. It will be valid until the 29th 23:59, if you activate it on the 23rd.

If you take a train on the 29th and board it before midnight you will be allowed to finish the ride without paying extra, however if you want to board a new train after midnight you will have to pay the full fare for it.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Hi Daniel
The explenation was super
Thank you
Varda