Last minute advice for a 14 day pass!

OK!

So for some simple last minute advice, how about removing some locations and rearranging your trip so you can soak in more of the country and use the rail system effectively. I managed to get most of your must-visits in this route I think:

1. Osaka
2. Kyoto central japan
3. Nara
4. Mount Koya
5. Tokyo
6. Tokyo
7. Mount Fuji
8. Kanazawa
9. Shirakawago day trip from Kanazawa
10. Hiroshima
11. Miyajima -> Fukuoka
12. Aso -> Kurokawa onsen night (bus from Aso station)
13. Kurokawa morning, Nagasaki
14. Nagasaki/Hakata for the JR Beetle ferry (http://www.jrbeetle.co.jp/english/) to Pusan/Busan in S. Korea (ferry is not covered by the JR Pass)

This itinerary has grouped nearby places together, so you spend more time seeing the places than travelling between them. I also removed the Hokkaido leg as it'll just take too much time out of your journey. Kurokawa is a great onsen and you can get the bus from Mt. Aso station - perfect after a day up the volcano!

Hope this helps and gets to you in time!

M

Thanks m,your a star.
Im waiting on my ticket to arrive tomorrow and then pretty much going to follow your IT.
If i have time i think i will shoot up north though as alot of people really recommend it but only if time wil allow.dont want paying for a ticket from up north down south to catch the ferry lol

As you said though i will make more use of my ticket using your IT.

thanks very much for reading and taking the time..

best wishes

w

Not a problem - have a great journey!

Mari,
how are you.
thanks every so much for your advice and i followed your timetable.
I really loved japan and they are miles ahead of korea with manners and kindness and just about everything.
i travel all over asia this past year (20 countries)and japan is one of my favourites.

i recently posted another question about how much i saved if or when you get time check it out.
http://www.jrpass.com/forum/topics/using-the-japan-rail-pass/posts/did-i-save-money
any help welcome.

i found this site very very helpful.its a timetable(excellent) but prices were not accurate:)

http://www.hyperdia.com/en/

thanks once again in advance but just trying to help others who go to:)

Hi William -

Wow - you're travelling across Asia?! that's a dream journey! (and also explains your hop over to Korea)

I've answered your cost question here, and am pretty blown away with your journey - it must've been quite an experience!

Normally Hyperdia is great for pricing information - what did you find different about the costs it shows? (low/high etc)

All the best with the rest of your journey if you are still travelling!

hey Mari,

Yeah it was as you said the fact that sometimes i put in one time and did my check and then another time when i was redoing it as was quite a difference.THose early morning trains are costly:)

Yeah m,I started in russia and really have bin to 80 %of asia and actually just missed india and nepal but maybe at the end i will get to them.

I know i rushed Japan a little bit but in time if i get money i think i will come back and hike right up north and visit the 3000 year old tree not to mention some of the islands so a return is a must someday:)
It really was none stop and was just to get the most of of the pass and budget aswell.

You know im only 70% sure the pass covered me to that lake up north as i cant remeber.i know that when i got to the station i had to get a bus for 20 mins after but nearly sure the pass covered me on local train to toya station but i could be wrong:)

also when you did your great work i actually used the tokyo metro and certain lines JR covered it:)

Back in china now heading to tibet.

I know when you seen the places i went to in japan you were thinking did i just pass tru them lol
but well i did the best i could :)
great place.

Does it sound silly to say if i had not have went up north that maybe that would of bin a huge savings like almost 300 Us??return...doesnt matter anyway as even if i didnt i saved lots.

take care

The itinerary looks really good, but just a word of caution if you plan to go see Mount Aso. Sometimes the area up to 1 km from crater is closed to the public due to higher poisonous gas emissions. Lately it has been closed for months. Always check first to see if the area is open, and if not, have a back up plan.

For Fukuoka, there are many open parks, shopping, seaside historical areas, and urban neon. See this site as a good guide.

For Fukuoka, don't miss the Nanzoin Temple which is one of Japan's finest yet almost totally unknown to the outside world and completely FREE!

Look into a Fukuoka Tourist City Pass also.

You can also see a lot of previews on the best there is to see here.

In terms of history and varied points of interest, Nagasaki is really the most interesting city on the island. It is worth a couple days to see the city, and another day to see areas nearby like Shimabara/Unzen or whatever interests you. Gunkanjima, while it takes 3 hours, will blow your mind.

And for Kumamoto, don't miss the Suizenji Garden - it is stunning.