Japan Trip. Still Unsure about Transportation

Lfokmaster on 07/10/2018 - 03:04

Hi fellow ozbarginers. I'm sure you have all seen assistance requested from other topics but I'm still stuck on whether to get the Jrpass and if not to get which pass I can use in several city.

My trip is with my missus for 10 days and were arriving in Narita airport terminal 1. We will the head into Shinjuku and plan to stay there for 4 nights discovering tokyo. then we wil go to osaka and into on the suburbs where were will have 2 nights at a hotel and sneak in a day trip to Kyoto. We will then come back to tokyo and stay at another hotel close to Disney sea for 2 nights and back to Narita airport.

Please give me your suggestions. Thanks!

Travel Asia Japan

Comments

  • atris17 on 07/10/2018 - 03:21
    +1

    Planning my trip to Japan too

    I am thinking, once your arrive to Tokyo, you should head straight to Osaka/Kyoto ASAP

    Take a nap on the bus/train/etc ?? If there any

    Then work your way up to Tokyo City, stopping by all the tourist spot

    So less back and forth

    • fokmaster on 07/10/2018 - 19:54

      Hi! I've booked the hotel for Osaka already and does not occur until day 5. Plan to take borocca to pump out a day trip in Kyoto and Day trip in Osaka. Since we're staying 2 nights in Osaka, i will need to come back to the hotel after day trip in Kyoto…

      Instead of lugging our luggage around.

  • Flanders on 07/10/2018 - 03:59
    -2

    Have a sumo carry you round… Just 1 catch, the only way to hold on is by utilising his sumo loincloth :/

  • Bargainbag on 07/10/2018 - 08:57

    Have a look at the JR Railpasses, I've used these a few times and they are great.

    https://www.insidekyoto.com/japan-rail-pass-is-it-worth-it

  • CyberMurning on 07/10/2018 - 09:04
    +3

    Buy jrpass. No questions. Normal fare 2x trips of Shinkansen are expensive.

    • JimmyF on 07/10/2018 - 11:13
      -1

      Yep, pretty simple math isn't it, but most people struggle on.

      Is cost of train to/from airport via NEX + 2 x Shinkansen tickets more or less than the JR railpass. Buy which one is cheaper?

      OP Unsure of the single trips costs? Google maps public transport routes have all the costs (in yen, so convert).

  • Thorn69 on 07/10/2018 - 09:24
    +2

    if your doing a round trip on shinkansen a rail pass its worth it, they can also be used to reserve a seat on the NEX (narita express) that will get you to shinjuku station id i remember correctly shinjuku can go directly to shin-osaka station by shinkansen or a few other main stations fast as a guy said a few posts back its better to do Osaka first its less hassle

    • Broke-Ken on 07/10/2018 - 13:30
      +1

      IIRC, despite being the biggest station in the world, the shinkansen doesn't go through Shinjuku station, you will need to go to Shinagawa station to board the shinkansen to shin-Osaka.

  • samp e on 07/10/2018 - 10:03
    +1

    This thread will help you with your JR Pass question:
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/406711

  • MTWallet on 07/10/2018 - 10:50
    +1

    I recommend the Rail Pass. To get the most bang for buck, you could get away with a 7 day Pass. As you are in Tokyo for the first 4 days, just pay for the transfer from the airport to Shinjuku. Then just buy Tokyo Metro Day Passes for getting around Tokyo.

    Activate your JR Rail Pass at day 3, or at a time so it allows you to return to the airport on your day of departure before expiry.
    An advantage of the Rail Pass is that you can cover long distances very quickly, so once there you may find you use it more than you thought you would for side/day trips in spare time. Plus you get through the stations quickly by just showing the pass to gate staff. You can, if you like, reserve seats. But it's usually not necessary.

    • fokmaster on 07/10/2018 - 19:50

      I checked out the website and there many to choose from i.e common or the 24 hours one ….. what a headache

      • MTWallet on 07/10/2018 - 21:00

        No stress, you can purchase it on the day at all Metro station ticket machines. In most cases you only need the cheaper 24 hour one, 600 Yen. The common one may be needed depending on where you want to go. Use Hyperdia to research your journeys. Make use of the wisdom offered by Ozbargainers who have taken the time to respond to your post. You'll have a great time.

  • Caped Baldy on 07/10/2018 - 11:01
    +1

    Get the JR pass 7 days. Get the bus from and to Narita. Surprisingly very little traffic in Japan so it'll be quick. You'll need an IC card which are mostly compatible across major cities.

    • altomic on 07/10/2018 - 12:02
      +4

      Access narita bus. ¥1000. Leaves every 20 minutes from narita terminal 1 bus stop 31. No booking required. Pay the driver direct - cash. Takes ~40 minutes in good traffic (it's expressway /elevated highway the whole way) stops at Tokyo station. Take subway to shinjuku. Return trip -from Tokyo station yaesu south exit stop 7 (20 meters from the ground floor McDonald's) . You actually walk pass the Tokyo station bus area when dropped off from the narita bus.

      In comparison (for trains) the cheapest train is ¥1380, takes ~90 minutes and requires several changes. An express train takes 25 minutes and costs ~¥2500.

      • nandystam on 07/10/2018 - 13:27
        +1

        I've also used the Access narita bus. Cheap and easy. Activate the JR Pass when you decide to leave Tokyo. Use the subway / private railways in and around Tokyo.

      • mmd on 19/10/2018 - 13:31

        Is it easy to access? I.e luggage friendly from another train station.
        Took jr last time and was carrying 2 X +20kg luggage as there were no escalator.

        • mmd on 22/10/2018 - 15:27

          Easy to access, hence the name.

      • mmd on 22/10/2018 - 15:30

        Thanks altomic! Took this route from Tokyo station to Narita.
        So easy and cheap.
        No need to lug luggage up n down train platforms
        You also get to see the city too.

  • sal78 on 07/10/2018 - 13:41
    +2

    You are only going to Kyoto. How much is the trip return? Subways are more convenient in Tokyo and they are cheap and not on JR line.

    We caught the train to central tokyo from airport which didn't cost much but took over 1 hour. I recommend luggage forwarding service. You just ask the hotel and fill in a form. Our luggage arrived at our destination before we did. I think it's $10 a suitcase

  • Sinful on 07/10/2018 - 18:20
    +3

    Put a poll up dude.

    +1 JRpass, I know from experience.
    From memory it works out cheaper than buying a return ticket on the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka.

  • petestrash on 13/10/2018 - 05:58

    If you want to compare costs use hyperdia.

    http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/search.html?dep_node=TOKYO…

    A return trip Tokyo to Osaka costs the same as a 7 day JR railpass ~A$355.

    All your other train trips on JR are then free in the 7 day period Like Kyoto Osaka return, and the trip to Disney and Narita.

    Pete.

  • tighty on 15/10/2018 - 14:06

    I found this calculator http://japan.aoimirai.net/jrpass_calculator.html from this thread https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/373236

  • amyperkins9 on 23/10/2018 - 16:41

    The JR pass is great! If you get it then you should definitely stop by Osaka as it's super close to Kyoto. You can go to Osaka for the day and then go to Kyoto. If you get the JR pass then you can also use it for the local JR trains as well which is useful. The JR and metro lines are a bit confusing so you should do some research on it before you go to Japan. Here's a guide for the metro in Tokyo: https://www.youcouldtravel.com/travel-blog/understanding-the…

    And then here's a JR train guide: https://www.genkimobile.com/blog/jr-train-map-guide.html

    I would also get an IC card in case you need to take the metro. The IC card can be used anywhere in Japan so it's really helpful. You can also get your money back when you return the card at the green counter.

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