Japan Itinerary - 11 Days - Japan Rail Pass, Accommodation Recommendation

benstella on 28/09/2023 - 19:19
Last edited 29/09/2023 - 23:04

Visiting Japan with friends 13 Dec Tokyo Narita evening - 24 Dec evening flight back to Australia, not interested in renting car and driving in Japan.

Need fellow ozbargainers suggestion for JR pass, accommodation, what to buy (souvenirs, whisky).
Been through forums, tripadvisors, and expats and came with few options as below:

Need to cover main destinations:
Tokyo
Osaka
Kyoto
Mt. Fuji
Hiroshima

Which option is good:
Accommodation Option 1:Staying in Tokyo and commuting to other destination by JR pass on daily trips.
Accommodation Option 2: spreading accommodation over the destinations. Traveling light with 10-15 kg luggage)

I am looking between JR pass or JR Central pass but need to figure out when to activate it so I can get maximum out of it.

Option 1:

Buying JR Central Pass throughout the trip. Cost for 5 day pass is $150 till 30 Sept. Not sure which one is official site to buy them. May need to buy twice to extend it to 10 days costing $300+

Day 1: Tokyo

Arrive in Tokyo and start exploring the city. Visit areas like Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Harajuku.
Use your JR Central Pass for local travel within Tokyo.

Day 2: Tokyo

Explore Asakusa, including Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Shopping Street.
Take a Sumida River cruise for a different perspective of Tokyo.

Day 3: Day Trip to Nikko

Use your JR Central Pass for a day trip to Nikko.
Visit Toshogu Shrine and enjoy the natural beauty of the area.
Day 4: Nagoya

Travel to Nagoya using your JR Central Pass (approximately 1.5-2 hours from Tokyo).
Explore Nagoya Castle, Osu Kannon Temple, and the Sakae district.

Day 5: Kyoto

Take a Shinkansen from Nagoya to Kyoto (approximately 35 minutes).
Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine and explore the Gion district.

Day 6: Kyoto

Explore Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Monkey Park, and other attractions in the area.

Day 7: Nara Day Trip

Use your JR Central Pass for a day trip to Nara.
Visit Todai-ji Temple, Nara Park, and other historic sites.

Day 8: Osaka

Travel to Osaka from Kyoto (approximately 30 minutes).
Explore Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi Shopping Street, and Osaka Castle.

Day 9: Day Trip to Mount Koya

Use your JR Central Pass for a day trip to Mount Koya.
Visit Okunoin Cemetery and explore the serene mountain town.

Day 10: Himeji Day Trip

Use your JR Central Pass for a day trip to Himeji.
Explore Himeji Castle and Kokoen Garden.

Day 11: Return to Tokyo

Travel back to Tokyo using your JR Central Pass (approximately 2-3 hours from Himeji).
Spend your last day in Japan revisiting favorite spots or doing any last-minute shopping.
Remember to activate your JR Central Pass on the first day you plan to use it. Also, check the train schedules and availability in advance. Enjoy your trip!

Option 2:
JR Pass covering most of the Japan. 14 day cost $500 , 7-day $318 till Sept 30th (can use Klook 5% discount to bring it down)

Here's an 11-day itinerary using the Japan Rail Pass, covering various iconic destinations in Japan:

Day 1: Tokyo

Explore Shinjuku and Shibuya districts.
Visit Meiji Shrine and Takeshita Street in Harajuku.
Enjoy shopping in Shibuya or Shinjuku.
Day 2: Tokyo

Explore Asakusa area: Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise Shopping Street.
Take a Sumida River cruise.
Visit Ueno Park and its museums.
Day 3: Day Trip to Nikko

Use your Japan Rail Pass for a day trip to Nikko.
Visit Toshogu Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and enjoy the natural surroundings.
Day 4: Kyoto

Take a Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto (approx. 2.5 hours).
Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine and Gion district.
Day 5: Kyoto

Visit Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and Ryoan-ji Temple.
Explore Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park.
Day 6: Day Trip to Nara

Use your Japan Rail Pass for a day trip to Nara.
Visit Todai-ji Temple, Nara Park, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Day 7: Osaka

Travel to Osaka (approx. 30 minutes from Kyoto).
Explore Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi Shopping Street.
Visit Osaka Castle and its surrounding park.
Day 8: Day Trip to Himeji

Use your Japan Rail Pass for a day trip to Himeji (approx. 1 hour from Osaka).
Explore Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Day 9: Hiroshima and Miyajima Island

Use your Japan Rail Pass to take a day trip to Hiroshima (approx. 1.5 hours from Osaka).
Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum.
Take a ferry to Miyajima Island to see the famous Itsukushima Shrine and the floating torii gate.
Day 10: Kanazawa

Take a Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Kanazawa (approx. 2.5 hours).
Visit Kenrokuen Garden and the Nagamachi samurai district.
Day 11: Return to Tokyo

Travel back to Tokyo from Kanazawa (approx. 2.5 hours).
Use the afternoon to revisit any favourite spots or do some last-minute shopping.

Update:
Thanks to my ozbargain community support.

Cutting my trip down to main destinations, picking from @dtc comment:
Tokyo (3 nights), Activate JR pass and go to Hakone (Mt Fuji five lakes) (1 night), Kyoto (2 nights), Osaka (3 nights), Himeji (day trip from Osaka on way to Hiroshima), Hiroshima (1 night) and back to Tokyo NRT
Buying JR 7-day pass ($320), plus Tokyo subway pass ($16 for 3 days), $27 airport transfer

Travel Asia Japan Japan Railways Group Rail Pass Rail Travel

Comments

  • SmashedMango on 28/09/2023 - 19:38
    +4

    Hi there, just a reminder that you need to get your pass this month to avoid a massive price increase.

    • benstella on 28/09/2023 - 22:23

      Thanks for heads up. I have mentioned it under Option 2 that JR 7-day pass costs $318 until 30th Sept :)

    • eltito on 29/09/2023 - 13:30

      Sorry to hijack - but if I was planning on traveling in March 2024 (6 months out), would I still be able to purchase the pass prior to the price increase? It seems that you need to travel within 3 months after purchasing the pass, however looking at Klook it says the following:

      • Travelling before the 28 of December? Beat the price hike and purchase before 1st of October. Your JR Exchange Order will confirmed and delivered to you within 70 days of your planned participation date (departure date to Japan) to ensure a valid JR Exchange order for your travels
      • -If you purchase your JR pass with Klook before the end of 30th September, Klook will honour the 'original' price
      • benstella on 29/09/2023 - 18:51
        +3

        As per Klook website:
        all JR Passes are only valid for 90 days from the booking date. The exchange order will expire at 2359hrs on the last day. So do ensure that you book only up to 3 months ahead of your Japan trip.
        https://www.klook.com/blog/jr-pass/

  • Slinky0111 on 28/09/2023 - 19:42
    -2

    How invested are you in seeing all those castles/shrines/temples? Most of them are half hour attractions and after you see a couple I feel like I'm seeing the same thing over and over. Sure they are all different but once you see one you have seen them all IMHO.

    Add on your list to go visit a onsen, can be a little intimidating the first time you go, especially if you know other people in your group, but it is such an amazing experience.

    My brother and I ended up having a snow ball fight butt naked outside an onsen bath. Was slightly frowned upon but eh. You feel so clean and cleansed afterwards.

    I would also go the JR pass option, much more flexibility where and how fast you can travel.

    • benstella on 28/09/2023 - 22:26

      Thanks @Slinky0111
      Your comment reminds me of someone who told me about Cairns beaches. They're half and hour apart and same beach one after the other. You see one and you feel like you have seen the same one over and over again. Each to its Own :P
      BTW, I didn't neg you mate!

      • Slinky0111 on 29/09/2023 - 06:36
        +1

        Thanks heaps. Not to sure why all the negs, but each to their own. Japan is an amazing country, I lived there for a year and have been back 3 times since.

        Also you have listed Tōdai-ji temple. This one I highly recommend.

    • ForkSnorter on 29/09/2023 - 07:41
      +1

      How invested are you in seeing all those castles/shrines/temples? Most of them are half hour attractions and after you see a couple I feel like I'm seeing the same thing over and over. Sure they are all different but once you see one you have seen them all IMHO.

      You just have to know which ones to see. Some are entirely different from each other, and some require a few hours to really appreciate. For example, Himeji Castle and Matsumoto Castle are two of my favourite places in Japan. They're both beautiful, but very different from each other. I'd set aside an entire day or half a day to do Matsumoto or Himeji as a day trip. However, if you've seen these two castles, you might finding Matsuyama Castle is not as interesting, even though it's quite good. Also, I would not consider a trip to Kyoto complete without doing Kiyomizudera. It takes a whole morning to wander around the temple and gardens. However, some places like Ginkakuji and Kinkakuji are literally bombarded with tourists, and only take half an hour to wander around.

      Add on your list to go visit a onsen, can be a little intimidating the first time you go, especially if you know other people in your group, but it is such an amazing experience.

      I agree that onsen are one of the best things to do in Japan, especially if you're there long term. So refreshing and invigorating, especially followed by a nice meal in the onsen establishment. And an onsen with a view of nature is just amazing.

  • Mechz on 28/09/2023 - 20:27
    +1

    Get the JR Pass for the whole trip, worth every cent.

    We had to redeem the voucher when we arrived so be prepared to spend 15 minutes to 1 hour depending on crowd volumes. Then you have to navigate your way to your hotel etc. Taxis were expensive when I was there a few years ago, I doubt they would be cheaper now.

    Maybe just aim for 1 of those districts on day 1 so you can actually see the place, unless you land at 4am and have a lot of energy.

    • benstella on 28/09/2023 - 22:33

      JR pass for the whole trip means 14 days one costing around $495 may be 5% Klook BetteronApp code for the first time mobile app booking helps to bring it down to $470. Only caveat is I have max 10 days to use it and I might spend 2-3 days only in Tokyo, leaving me with 7 days. Only issue is if I get it changed on Day 1 of landing then it's useless after Day 7 and I need to fly from Tokyo Narita airport on Day 11. 7-day pass cost $305 with code but I need to plan accordingly FML

  • sumyungguy on 28/09/2023 - 20:29
    +1

    For my first time in Japan I arrived in HND, activated my 7 day pass and headed straight to Kyoto for 5 nights (day-tripped to Hiroshima, Himeji, Osaka). On day 6 I moved to Tokyo (Shinjuku) used the last day of my JR pass around Tokyo then subway passes for the rest of my stay. You're fortunate to enjoy the last days of the old pricing.

    • benstella on 28/09/2023 - 22:37

      That's interesting Itinerary. I like the idea of staying in Kyoto and doing day trips. I am more interested in night life as well. Day trips for attraction and nightlife eat, drink, and be merry!

  • azhazal on 28/09/2023 - 20:57
    +2

    For tokyo i would suggest staying somewhere on the yamanote line.

    You should spend a little more time in osaka, check out den den town and america mura.

    For kyoto you should not miss fushimi inari.

    If you want views of mt fuji then look into fujikawaguchiko

    Buy your jr pass from klook before October. 14 day pass is the only way looking at your itinerary's.
    If you want to get in the nittygritty of JR cost then run your itinery through this JR pass calculator https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/.
    but as far as i can tell, before the prices go up if you are taking the shinkansen to kyoto and back its worth the cost.

    IC card for public transport (and for some restaurant's kombini and even vending machines) are a must. JR pass only applies to JR lines, so most subways won't cover it. Suica and pasmo cards cannot be purchased until 2024 due to the chip shortage, but.. there is a trick. You can purchase a JR central IC card called TOICA. You can pick this up at the JR central ticket office at tokyo station. Not only do i consider an IC card crucial to any japan trip, its also a great souvenir.

    Take your passport everywhere. Tax free purchases can be made with it.

    I also personally love nikko, its my favorite place in all of japan and is a worthy day trip out from tokyo.

    • benstella on 28/09/2023 - 22:50

      Thanks for the TOICA trick!
      Do you think I should get JR central pass and TOICA together instead of JR Japan wide pass?
      Only issue is Tokyo to Kyoto might not be Shinkansen with JR central pass?

      • donga100 on 28/09/2023 - 23:20
        +1

        I would probably get 7 day JR pass and then purchase separate Skyliner ticket (about $27) for airport transfer and Tokyo metro daily pass (about $6) for the time spent in Tokyo. You can use NEX to/from the airport with the JR pass on your first or last day depending on if Tokyo is the start or end of your trip.

      • azhazal on 29/09/2023 - 09:37
        +1

        TOICA will give you access to the train lines that are outside of JR. You will need the JR pass for the rest. As you are traveling through JR east JR west and JR central you should still get the JR japan wide.

  • valuer on 28/09/2023 - 21:49

    Option 1 doesn't stay in Tokyo and commute - it moves. No Hiroshima either.

    Are these from ChatGPT?

    • benstella on 28/09/2023 - 23:00

      Option 1 is JR central pass which don't cover the Hiroshima.
      Hiroshima is covered by JR pass (7 or 14 days) under Option 2.
      Tough decisions made by Generative AI models :P

      • valuer on 29/09/2023 - 04:36

        AI Models? You mean - rubbish aggregated from travel brochures.

        Do some proper research and decide how much you want to cover, and if you jreally ust like to dash about just taking a quick photo.

        • benstella on 29/09/2023 - 07:10

          Thanks for the advice. I’m planning to do an easy going value for money trip and cover as much as I can without compromising my sanity.

          I’m treating it as a planned fun filled holiday not a doctoral research program.

  • jv on 28/09/2023 - 21:58
    +1

    what to buy

    sushi

    • benstella on 28/09/2023 - 23:08

      I would prefer eating it in Japan and not bringing to Australia. $2,664 will buy me worth of two years Sushi supply rather than paying it to the Biosecurity officer ;)

  • debb on 28/09/2023 - 22:48
    +1

    Skip Nagoya, go to Kamakura, eat tempura at Tsunahachi, try Tokyo Banana…

  • donga100 on 28/09/2023 - 23:09
    +1

    Consider replacing your Kyoto/Osaka/Nara stays with just Osaka instead. If you have JR pass you can take shinkansen to Kyoto in only 15 minutes from Shin-Osaka, Nara is about 45 minutes. This way you don't need to worry about checking in/out of hotels and moving your luggage. Osaka also has much better and varied night life and dining scene. If you want to cram in a lot of sights in Osaka consider the Osaka Amazing Pass.

    What do you plan to do at Mt Fuji? You can't climb it in December. If you just want a photo of the view you'll get a good one from the window of your Tokyo-Osaka shinkansen. Hakone could be a good option for an overnight stay if you wanted to see the lake (including Fuji views) and go to onsen.

    Definitely don't skip Hiroshima but you could get away with doing it as a day trip from Osaka as it's only 1.5 hours by shinkansen.

    • benstella on 28/09/2023 - 23:13
      +1

      Thanks @donga100
      Hiroshima is on the list. It's just struggle between JR central pass and JR pass.
      Watching Mt. Fuji from train will save the hassle of spending $49 for Mt Fuji trip (JR central pass don't cover Mt.Fuji) as well.

      • donga100 on 28/09/2023 - 23:29
        +1

        I think your AI may have given you the wrong information about the JR Central pass, you can't use it for travel in/from Tokyo or Nikko as suggested in the itinerary. You can see the areas covered by the different passes at the bottom of this page. JR pass makes much more sense, either 7 days with Tokyo metro day tickets/skyliner or just get full 14 days.

  • benstella on 28/09/2023 - 23:10
    +1

    Thanks @debb
    need to check if Biosecurity loves Tokyo Banana as a souvenir.

    • YadaYadaYada on 28/09/2023 - 23:14
      +3

      I thought Tokyo Banana was packaged pieces of cake. Should be fine?

    • debb on 29/09/2023 - 08:22
      +1

      Yep, little sponge cakes filled with custard.
      Brought some back some years ago, declared and customs officer wasn't fussed.

      Tokyo Banana

  • dtc on 28/09/2023 - 23:50
    +1

    There isnt any such thing as a JR Central Pass. There are 4 different passes offered by JR Central, but I cant see any that allow travel to Nikko and also to Nagoya. Each of those passes is a separate pass, you dont get all of them combined. Nikko isnt serviced by JR Central trains (its JR East). So option 1 doesnt make any sense in terms of travel, although most of the day to day stuff isnt too bad in terms of how it is organised (ie it groups places together fairly well). One of those AI failures…

    You will never get value out of a pass from local (within a city) pass. So dont buy a pass for those trips

    Under the current JR Pass pricing, a trip from Tokyo - Nikko - Kyoto - Osaka - Tokyo + Nara makes the pass worthwhile if you can fit it in within 7 days; but under the new pricing it doesnt, even if you add Hiroshima.

    In terms of where to go

    1. Nikko is not really a day trip, although many people do it. Its about 4 hours return journey once you get to the starting station in Tokyo, so realistically closer to 5+ hours door to door. its a nice place but if you only like temples a little bit, then you can see as many as you want in Kyoto

    2. the Kyoto vs Osaka argument is never ending. I much prefer Kyoto, so much more history and beauty vs Osaka a large concrete city. However, it cant be denied that Osaka has better nightlife, more food choices and the theme parks if you are into those. I would spend 3-4 nights in Kyoto and maybe 2 in Osaka, but depends what you like. You can day trip between them.

    3, I think Kanazawa is a great place, very laid back, much calmer and different environment. Is there a lot to do? Not really; a great garden, interesting castle, a few historical districts. Cool bars if you do some research. You dont have time to go

    1. Mt Fuji is bit overrated as a destination. Go to Hakone and stay in a ryokan for a night and look at Mt Fuji from a distance, much better views

    2. My Koya isnt really a day trip either, despite what the computer told you. Again, 2 hours each way minimum once you are at the starting station. Worth staying overnight though. Except you dont have time

    Anyway my suggestion, given you only have 11 days, is

    2 days Tokyo - stay in Shinjuku or Shibuya area
    1 night Hakone
    3 nights Kyoto
    2 nights Osaka
    1 night Hiroshima/Miyajima (stop in Himeji on the way)
    2 days Tokyo - stay in Asakusa or ueno area. Note that the train ride Hiroshima to Tokyo is 5 hours

    Skip Hakone if you want some more time elsewhere; skip Hiroshima if you want to reduce the cost

  • altomic on 29/09/2023 - 00:28
    +1

    personally (as a former resident of Tokyo) I'd recommend tokyo for 3 days - overnight bus to Osaka and stay for 3 days- overnight bus back to tokyo for 5 days.

    stay in different locations in tokyo - just airbnb it.
    tokyo has so much stuff to do. and many day trips. - kamakura is nice - check out this page for 25 suggestions of day trips,
    osaka is cool. do a day trip to kyoto.

    11 days is nothing, so don't try to cram it in by trying to see a lot. spend some time time walking aimlessly down residential streets. check out random shopping centres. buy a shit tonne of inexpensive supermarket whisky and get shit faced sampling it (i never had a terrible whisky in Japan) , eat at a saizeriya restaurant a couple of times. get a local train to some random station and then walk in a random direction and see what happens, etc.

    i spent 4 years there and travelled heaps but feel like I barely touched the surface

  • ForkSnorter on 29/09/2023 - 08:02
    +1

    
>Accommodation Option 1:Staying in Tokyo and commuting to other destination by JR pass on daily trips.


    I would definitely not do this. You will be paying extra to stay in Tokyo, and wasting time on the train every day. This is the worst option I can think of.

    Accommodation Option 2: spreading accommodation over the destinations. Traveling light with 10-15 kg luggage)

    Yes, I agree with this.

    Option 1:
    Day 1: Tokyo
    Arrive in Tokyo and start exploring the city. Visit areas like Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Harajuku.


    I like the walk from Tokyo station around the Imperial Palace and into the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace. It’s such a nice first day in Tokyo, and you feel a sense of awe with the super-wide tree-lined streets, modern skyscrapers, ancient-looking palace and gardens. It’s so different from everywhere else in Tokyo, and it’s the first thing I’d do upon arriving in Tokyo.

    Day 3: Day Trip to Nikko
    Use your JR Central Pass for a day trip to Nikko.
Visit Toshogu Shrine and enjoy the natural beauty of the area.


    I wasn’t impressed with Nikko, and felt like it was very over-rated, especially the shrine, which was a mixture of concrete and overly colourful plastic-looking parts, although to be fair I went on one of the busiest days of the year.

    Day 4: Nagoya
    Travel to Nagoya using your JR Central Pass (approximately 1.5-2 hours from Tokyo).
Explore Nagoya Castle, Osu Kannon Temple, and the Sakae district.

    Not sure why you’d go to Nagoya with other options available. Unless you are just spending a few hours there on the way to Kyoto.

    Day 5: Kyoto
    Take a Shinkansen from Nagoya to Kyoto (approximately 35 minutes).
Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine and explore the Gion district.
    Day 6: Kyoto
    Explore Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Monkey Park, and other attractions in the area.

    You can’t do Kyoto without doing Kiymozudera in my opinion. It should be the first thing to do in Kyoto. You can actually walk there from Kyoto Station, and it's a nice walk although a bit long. It’s a million times better than the over-rated Fushimi Inari Shrine. I find the 10,000 red Torii gates at Fushimi to be a bit of a gimmick. They look good in photos when nobody is there, but with thousands of tourists wandering through, it’s nothing more than red painted pieces of wood lined up in a row.

    Also, I find Arashiyama is now a bit over-rated, only really worth seeing in cherry blossom season in my opinion, and maybe when red autumn foliage is in full swing. It used to be nice, but it’s now so commercial and too much concrete infrastructure there now. It's kind of outside Kyoto, so it's not walking distance from anything central. Also can be very, very, busy.

    Day 10: Himeji Day Trip
    Use your JR Central Pass for a day trip to Himeji.
    Explore Himeji Castle and Kokoen Garden.

    I definitely agree with including a Himeji day trip. Himeji Castle is amazing.

  • Nutrino on 29/09/2023 - 17:39

    You are doing way to much.

    • benstella on 29/09/2023 - 19:07

      Yep, that's why I got my ozb friends advice.
      Cutting down the trip and including main ones like Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka, Himeji Hiroshima and back to Tokyo. Thanks to dtc.

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