1

You can compare the prices of the pass with individual tickets here :

www.hyperdia.com/en/

There is also a pass for West Japan, but it does not include Kanazawa :
www.westjr.co.jp/english/travel-information/pass/

If you do buya pass, I'd recommend to make 'full use' of it, e.g. going to Hiroshima/Miyajima as well.

2

Yes, a 7 day railpass used for the last portion of your trip should make sense.

Kyoto to Yasugi goes via Okayama, so not sure why you return to Kyoto if you go next day to Okayama anyway.

3

On a probably unrelated topic..your time in Kanazawa is very little.And there is a lot of great stuff to see there!

Also as #2 says...the order is a bit strange.Why do you keep going back through Kyoto?

4

and yes, unless you've been before I'd allow more time for Kyoto

5

Your itenerary of day 8: Kyoto to Yasugi and return.
Kyoto to Okayama on a shinkansen takes one hour and Okayama to Yasugi by
a ltd express train on Hakubi line taking 2 hours, so total 3 hours you will get to Yasugi
from Kyoto.
The nearby city of Yasugi is Matsue that has a original castle, old Samurai houses,
etc. It is a quiet town and the seat of the Shimane prefectural goverment.
If possible, right after visiting the Adachi art musium boasting its No.1 Japanese gardens
selected by American Japanese garden lovers, stay in Matsue and following day you can
get back to Takamatsu stopping at Takahashi and Okayama. As a matter of of fact,
Takahashi is also a castle town, it has a original castle. Take a taxi (half fare subsidized) then
climbe the mountain about 20 minutes to get the castle. Takahashi has also old samurai houses
opened for public. One more thing you can visit is Raikyuji temple that has a very beautiful dry
garden built by Kobori enshuu in edo period. Okayama and Takamatsu have got very beautiful
gardens constructed by feudal lords in edo period (samurai period). You don't need to get back to
Kyoto.

6

Hello everyone

Thanks for all your thoughts and suggestions

Cheers

Darryl

Melbourne

7

I have just returned from Japan, and I utilised J R WEST KANSAI WIDE AREA PASS, 7000 Yen for 4 consecutive days, which took me from Kurashiki to Kii-Katsuura, Kinosaki Onsen to Kyoto. For the itinery you have, you should consider this as well as the Kansai Thru Pass for the remaining days in the area, the only additional fares you need to purchase is Kasugi return from Okayama, and Tsuruga to Kanazawa return. I think it will certainly cost less than 7 days J R Pass for 28,300 Yen.

8

Thank you for this terrific information!

Darryl

Melbourne