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Only need the train for 8 days -- will the 14 day JR pass be worth it?

cmchan
cmchan
over 12 years ago
2 answers

Hi,

I have sketched out an itinerary for my trip to Japan, and would like some expert advice :)

I plan to arrive in Narita airport on April 21, and immediate take JR to Osaka. Then my plan is as follows

April 23 - Osaka > Hiroshima > Osaka
April 24 - Osaka > Nara > Osaka
April 25 - Osaka > Kyoto
April 27 - Kyoto > Hakone
April 29 - Hakone > Tokyo

If I activate my JR Pass on the evening of the 21st, it is good until the evening of the 27... right?

There are three options I can think of:
1. Purchase the 7 day JR, and pay the individual costs of the train ride after the 27th (Hakone > Tokyo)
2. Purchase the 14 day JR pass
3. Trim my trip dates down to squeeze into a 7 day JR pass

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

avatar
mari
1950 posts
over 12 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

Lets take a quick look at your real ticket costs to get a handle on your spend:

  1. Narita airport terminal 1 > Osaka: ¥16650, (272mins, 635km)
  2. Osaka > Hiroshima: ¥10150, (104mins, 345km)
  3. Hiroshima > Osaka: ¥10820, (109mins, 345km)
  4. Osaka > Nara: ¥780, (59mins, 48km)
  5. Nara > Osaka: ¥780, (55mins, 48km)
  6. Osaka > Kyoto: ¥540, (29mins, 42km)
  7. Kyoto > Odawara: ¥11950, (177mins, 429km)
  8. Odawara > Tokyo: ¥1450, (36mins, 83km)
  9. Tokyo > Narita airport terminal 1: ¥3140, (58mins, 79km)

TOTAL: ¥56260 for 9 legs

Based on this, you will get good value out of either a 7 day (¥28300) or 14 day (¥45100) rail pass.

However, I think I would recommend you use the 7 day rail pass until Hakone and from there use normal tickets back to Tokyo and Narita. This would bring your overall spend to:

1 x 7 day pass (¥28,300)
1 x Odawara > Tokyo (¥3,840)
1 x Tokyo > Narita (¥3,140)

Total: ¥35,280 (saving ¥20980 over normal tickets)

For Hakone you should travel to Odawara with the JR Pass and from there purchase the Odakyu Hakone Freepass which will give you free travel up to and around the lakes on all the rail, funicular and cable cars that travel around the area. You can read more about the Odakyu Hakone Freepass online.

Hope this helps!

cmchan
cmchan
2 posts
over 12 years ago

Mari,

I've seen your replies to many other people here on this question board.

You are a perfect example of what good customer service is supposed to be these days.

Thank you so much for your expert and timely advice!

Chris

avatar
mari
1950 posts
over 12 years ago
Expert

No problem! Hope it helps!


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