Please help with Japan travel planning!
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2024
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Please help with Japan travel planning!
Hello!
My wife and I are going on a trip to Japan. The plan is:
Tokyo>Hakone>Kyoto>Tokyo with some day trips in the middle.
My questions is how to use the rail system and what makes the most sense. Should we just get the JR pass? Or is there another option that makes more sense like the Romancecar? Anything would be helpful. There’s so many different recommendations out there.
My wife and I are going on a trip to Japan. The plan is:
Tokyo>Hakone>Kyoto>Tokyo with some day trips in the middle.
My questions is how to use the rail system and what makes the most sense. Should we just get the JR pass? Or is there another option that makes more sense like the Romancecar? Anything would be helpful. There’s so many different recommendations out there.
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The JR pass is no longer worth it for your itinerary. The Romancecar is only a good way to get from Shinjuku to Hakone or Enoshima. The Japan guide is a good source for information about visiting Japan
#4
Join Date: Mar 2024
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For your itinerary, the JR Pass would be highly beneficial as it covers the majority of your travel between Tokyo, Hakone, and Kyoto. Additionally, consider purchasing Hakone Free Pass for local transportation in Hakone and utilizing the Romancecar for a scenic and comfortable journey between Tokyo and Hakone
#5
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It used to be that the cost of a one week JR pass was about the cost of a round trip ticket between Tokyo and Kyoto so worth it for an itinerary like yours as you could also use it in Tokyo for local trains. Unfortunately the cost of a one week pass just increased in cost about 70% this month so no longer worth it for most people. Also the JR pass does not cover the Romancecar.
#6
Join Date: Jul 2023
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From the discussion it seems like the JR Pass may no longer be the best value given the recent price increase. I'd recommend just buying point-to-point tickets as you go. Definitely get a Hakone Free Pass though to cover buses/trains there. For Tokyo-Hakone, the Romancecar is a nice way to go. And for Hakone-Kyoto take the shinkansen. You can look up schedules on Jorudan. Have a great trip! Japan's rail system is super easy to navigate.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 786
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wrote a webpage on these topics. See if you find it useful:
https://adumbrate.org/pics/traveltips.html#trains
Excerpts: There are many kinds of train passes in Japan. There's a description here: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357.html
https://www.klook.com sells discounted train tickets. I've not used them myself and don't know how reliable they are, so you'll need to do your own research on that.
The low-cost airlines in Japan (e.g., Peach, a subsidiary of ANA) can be very cheap (much cheaper than train for, say, Tokyo-Osaka), and frequent flyer tickets on JAL and ANA are usually readily available and are a very good deal (typically only 5,000 miles or points from One World or Star Alliance, respectively). ITM is the in-town Osaka airport (cf. Haneda for Tokyo) and KIX the distant one (cf. Narita).
I'd suggest flying one way between Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto or vice-versa to connect up with your international flight (possibly overnight at an airport hotel). Or just book an open jaw ticket.
https://adumbrate.org/pics/traveltips.html#trains
Excerpts: There are many kinds of train passes in Japan. There's a description here: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357.html
https://www.klook.com sells discounted train tickets. I've not used them myself and don't know how reliable they are, so you'll need to do your own research on that.
The low-cost airlines in Japan (e.g., Peach, a subsidiary of ANA) can be very cheap (much cheaper than train for, say, Tokyo-Osaka), and frequent flyer tickets on JAL and ANA are usually readily available and are a very good deal (typically only 5,000 miles or points from One World or Star Alliance, respectively). ITM is the in-town Osaka airport (cf. Haneda for Tokyo) and KIX the distant one (cf. Narita).
I'd suggest flying one way between Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto or vice-versa to connect up with your international flight (possibly overnight at an airport hotel). Or just book an open jaw ticket.
#8
klook is good. I booked a couple of regional rail passes and a sim card through them. Cancelled the JRK pass and got a prompt refund. I forget why I cancelled the Kyushu pass. Was able to use the klook-booked JR East pass to reserve a seat on the JRE website.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
cmstraf
Asia
5
Mar 28th, 2008 11:34 AM