Hey there! Hope you're well. How are the kids? Oh okay, excellent.
Now, I'm going to Japan and I'm looking to pick up one of these 14 Day JR Passes.
I note that there are a number of agents here in Sydney, but has anybody out there managed to get themselves a cheap pass in some way, shape or form?
They're currently $504.00 for a 14 day standard pass, which is the ideal pass for my travel purposes.
Open to any suggestions or experiences from the use of the pass.
Cheers,
QW3RTY
There is a standard price from JTB (the only supplier in Australia) for all agents and they pay a small commission on top. I think from memory it was around 5-10% so there isn't much room to move on price. You might get it a bit cheaper purchasing from an overseas site due to currency fluctuations but then you have the added hassle/risk of getting a physical ticket sent from overseas.
hmm strange considering the dollars fluctuation, that $500 for 14 days are the same price as when i bought it 4 years ago. i remember that time i got 1 AUD =105 YEN
anyway, that is cheap, and price is standard. just make sure you use them alot like travelling interstate often.
Asian dude on holiday in aus walks into a currency exchange and hands over US$500 and receives back AU$620.
A week later he returns and hands over US$500 and receives back AU$590.
He looks at the teller and asks "why the different amount? last week $620, now $490"
the teller looks at him and says "fluctuations"
the asian dude looks back at him and say "fluc you aussie boy"
I bought mine on Monday for $498 for the 14 day pass….its the cheapest one i could find. But you are seriously only saving a few dollars…..
http://sachitours.com.au/Japan_Rail_Pass.html
I am basing myself in Nagoya and saving money on hotels by staying there and day tripping to other places, thats how i am justifying the JR pass cost….
Depends on how many locations you want to travel to and doing the cost benefit of buying individual vs rail pass. for me I only went to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka (taking the local train between Osaka and Kyoto). Sometimes the Rail pass ends up being a money grab for the rail company as tourists think its the cheapest for their needs (kind of like the city attraction passes around the world, where often its under utilised and over paid).
Best to look at your circumstances. I used www.railguru.com.au and did individual train mock bookings to see prices and they compared it to the rail pass price.
Keep in mind with Shinkansen services there are different types of rail service - nozomi being the fastest then tiers down to lower speeds and lower prices (with longer travel times).
Happy travels
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Echoing most of the comments above, I hunted around the first time I went and it was the same everywhere.
I normally split my time up in a way that will allow me to get away with only using a 7 day pass, but then again I am usually there for 2 weeks max and try to organise my travels around the pass.
Mainly in Tokyo, if you are booking hotels, try and score a hotel deal close to JR line station to maximise the use of JR pass. Otherwise, you will end up paying for the local trains and they all add up.
Thanks homeslice.
I went ahead and got them at $504 each and am not regretting the decision.
Leave in 13 days, happy as Larry. Would be better if the Aussie could surge and get to AUD 1 = JPY 100.
….pls finance gods, pls
Just got back from Japan. Currency fluctuations seriously suck!
I think there last time this question was asked there was only a small spread in the price across agents. I think JR charges a standard price and the agents add a premium on top. All other things being equal, pick a local agent that's convenient to you.