Hi Everyone :)
I will be traveling to Japan for about 2 weeks in July, and I would like to get some information or feedback on the Japan Rail Pass. I am considering puchasing the pass, but I firs want to make sure that it will be the best option for me. This will be my first visit to Japan, so I don't yet know how things work.
My plan is as follows (I do not have the precise dates worked out yet):
1. arrive in Tokyo, stay there a few days including day trips to the following places:
- Nikko, and perhaps one of the onsen places in that area
- Mt Fuji climb (I will be getting a round trip bus ticked for this)
- maybe Kamakura
3. take the train to Kyoto
4. stay in Kyoto for a bit with trips to:
- Himeji (day trip)
- Nara
- Koya-san (overnight stay and I'm thinking of going there straight from Nara, or go there first and do Nara on the way back - which way would work better?)
5. go back to Kyoto and stay there a night or two, or perhaps take a train direct to Tokyo and maybe spend the last night there
I know I can use the JR pass to get to any of these places but that it's a bit complicated to get to Nikko. I believe I can also use the pass on some of the train/subway lines in Tokyo, but not in Kyoto. I also know that the price of train tickets Tokyo-Kyoto-Tokyo will be close to what the 7 day pass costs.
I'm not sure whether to go with the 7 day pass and make sure all my day trips are condensed within those seven days, or whether to buy the 2 week pass and have the leisure of going to those places whenever I want to. Which option would you consider better given my itinerary?
Next, I have read that Nikko can get extremely crowded. Is that the case? I'm probably arriving in Tokyo on the weekend, and then a couple of friends are joining me. They're not interested in going to Nikko, so I'd like to go there before they arrive, which would mean the weekend. Does the place get too crowded to enjoy it?
About the Mt. Fuji trip - my friend will be arranging a round trip for us by bus. I'm not sure which company or what the deails are. However, I'm thinking about exploring the area a bit more. Does anyone know about this bus service from Tokyo, and whether it's possible to stay in Mt Fuji area longer? Will the JR pass cover this bus as well? Perhaps in this case it would be better for me to make my own arrangements.
And lastly, can someone tell me more about Japanese trains and getting around the stations? I do not speak Japanese and have never been to any Asian country. Apart from spending a few days in Tokyo with my friend, I will be alone on this trip and I'd hate to get lost!
I am also not sure how to pack - should I take a backpack or a small suitcase? Which would be better for train travel in Japan? II'd prefer to take a suitcase, as my back problems prevent me from carrying a lot. Whenver I travelled in the past, a suitcase was always more convenient - I could just pull it and go wherever I wanted without getting tired. Not sure how that would work in Japan with all the crowds though...
I hope someone will be willing to share their knowledge with me :)
thank you very much in advance :)
TravelingLeaf
Pack lighter than you might expect.
Don't worry about train stations, especially in larger cities. Plenty of English and color-coded things to follow.
Getting to Nikko is not "complicated". Transfer at Utsunomiya and you're in.
Japan has several bus/rail/subway companies and the bus to Mt. Fuji is not included in the pass (same as Tokyo subways).
Best is probably to get a 7-day pass and use it to go to Kyoto on the first day and return on the last. You can check prices for individual tickets here :
www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperWeb.cgi
A good idea might be to send a suitcase/backpack from Tokyo to your Hotel in Kyoto and back, so you do not have to carry many things around.
Backpack is better on trains, as some train/metro stations may not have elevators or escalators. It'll be a lot of efforts to haul a suitcase around. You can use the luggage delivery service from hotel to hotel as an alternative.
If you are spending more than a day in Nikko, it's cheaper to get the Tobu Pass, just google Tobu Pass Nikko for their site. It is more direct compare to JR, and most of the Tobu bus routes in the area are covered.
As suggested by #2, I think you are better off getting a 7-day JR pass.
If you are thinking of staying in a onsen hotel, it is better off to go during the weekday as it's cheaper.
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