Japan Rail pass

Hi

I had a rail pass when I went to Japan a couple of years back. But I chose to get that because we took the train quite a lot...from Tokyo to Nagoya and back, from Tokyo to Kyoto, from Kyoto to Hiroshima etc. But I think you can find the prices for single tickets if you search and then you can evaluate if you can save money with a rail pass or not. Here is my trip report with pictures and links by the way. Maybe you can find some useful info there :-)

the 7-day JR pass cost about same/hardly morea s a SKS return TYO-KYO, so any additional ride is hen 'frree/included' on JR only!
IF you howeevr choose the cheapo way and use nightbus [dreambus: nightbus.info.jp or so), then the total price is less
the pass canNOT be bought IN JPN

The advantage of the railpass is that you could make additional daytips, e.g to Hiroshima/Himeji from Kyoto or even to Sendai from Tokyo.

if you want to determine how much a particular leg/trip costs here is a good site to check

http://www.hyperdia.com/<BR><BR>just click on the english link enter your destination and off you go... i've been using it and its pretty good... i can determine which will be more effective.. getting a rail pass or doing it like every other japanese person :)

enjoy. i hope it comes in handy.

You can also get the Suica pass when you get there if you decide to opt out of the JR Rail Pass, which will allow you on most rail systems in Tokyo.
Mind you this is for only Tokyo as far as I am aware. If you're coming in from Narita airport, there is a pass called Narita Express & Suica pass which is a cost savings for the express. I believe you have to be non-Japanese (foreigner) to qualify for this Narita/Suica combo much like the JR Pass. The Suica pass alone is for everyone.

perhaps if your dates work out the Seishun 18 Kippu is cheaper for you?

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2362.html

We are in Kyoto on vacation. If you are going to take one trip directly to and from Tokyo>Kyoto I recommend the bus. Unless of course a few hours of time difference is of concern. We took the JR Bus and loved the trip. It was a double decker with only 4 other passengers. It was very confortable, extremely clean and only 81 USD roundtrip. The ride was beautiful and went through the Japanese Alps during the day, we prefer the day as oppsed to night buses. Anyway we really enjoyed it and it saved us nearly 170 USD. We left Shinjuku station at 920 am and arrived at Kyoto Station around 500 pm, same on the return....just my 2 cents. The bus also stops at a convience store/rest area for 10 minutes every 2 hours.