Not sure if 14day pass would work

Hi there,

Here is a little overview of costs:
Tokyo --> Takayama ¥ 14,300
Takayama --> Kanazawa ¥ 5,840
Kanazawa --> Kyoto ¥ 6,710
Kyoto Osaka 1,080
Kyoto --> Kinosaki Onsen ¥ 4,710
Kinosaki Onsen --> Tokyo ¥ 15,890
Tokyo --> Narita Airport ¥ 3,140

For a total of ¥51,670 the 14-day JRPass is 45,100 So it would certainly be worth it. This is even excluding a trip to Nikko/Hakone and Nara.

Looking at ticket the numbers you put up above, I think you looked at the fare only in Hyperdia. This price you would pay for local trains only. Shinkansen and limited express trains also require a so called seat fee.
For instance look at this example trip from Kinosaki Onsen --> Tokyo. The total amount is the following ¥ 15,890 and includes (Fare:¥ 9,560 Seat Fee:¥ 6,330). Just for fun: Here is the same trip by local train only. As you can see the total amount now is Total:¥ 9,560(Fare:¥ 9,560 Seat Fee:¥ 0) but the travel time is a lot longer and the amount of transfers is rather high too!

Hope this clears things up for you somewhat. There are a lot of numbers in Hyperdia so it can be somewhat confusing at times.

All the best,
Daniel

Ok fabulous thank you so much for that !
Will definately go for the pass....thanks again.
This forum is so helpful for travellers trying to work out what to do !

Gretta

Hello Again,

I need to ask another question on our above itinerary. I am trying to decide weather to get a 14day pass for our 4yr old son as well. I know he travels for free but on the longer trips it would be too uncomfortable for him to sit on our lap for more than an hour or so.
Is it exactly 50% of the exact fare as you quoted above for the sectors if we buy him individual tks as we travel ??

I am thinking that is the best way of working out if we should get the pass - assume the trains are busy on the long sectors and therefore we need to buy him a seat.
We travel between 24 March - 9 April.
Would appreciate your advice....thanks again.
Gretta

Hi Gretta,

You may already have read it but here is our blog post about traveling with children.

If seats are free you are allowed to place your son in one, as long as no other customers need it. Otherwise you can buy him a ticket at 50% of the normal ticket price (as quoted before).

I would recommend asking the JR-Staff is the train is busy when you are reserving your tickets and if it is buy a ticket for your son.

Hope this helps,
Daniel