1.
Posted by
Qokoon
(Budding Member 31 posts)
11y
Star this if you like it!
Hi Everyone! I'm back! It has been a while since I have posted!!! I hope all of you are doing well in all of your travelling adventures!
My fiancee and I will be visiting Japan for our Honeymoon in November. We are trying to keep it relaxed, visiting only 2 cities during our 10 day stay. Many people have suggested obtaining a JR Pass to travel within Japan. However now that we are looking up these passes we are finding that the minimun per pass is 7 days. We will only need the pass to go from Tokyo to Kyoto, we will be leaving from the Osaka airport and we'll need transportation from Kyoto to Osaka as well. This will only count for 2 or 3 days at most. Therefore buying 7 days is a bit redundant since they are quite pricey. Are there any alternatives of tickets to travel by train within Japan? Also, anyone who has used a JR pass, does this count for public transportation within the city (metros in Tokyo etc)? Any tips?
Thank you all so very much!! 
2.
Posted by
GregW
(Travel Guru 2635 posts)
11y
Star this if you like it!
Check the prices on the individual journeys. I found when I went in 2006 that the JR pass was cost effect even if you were only taking two journeys on the bullet trains - the JR pass is quite cheap as opposed to the individual journeys.
Enjoy Japan. It's a very interesting place.
3.
Posted by
bex76
(Moderator 5413 posts)
11y
Star this if you like it!
The JR pass can be used for the local trains in Tokyo but not the subway. I used it quite a lot on the Yamamoto line in central Tokyo.
My pass saved me loads of money, but I did a lot of travelling on the Shinkansen over 2 weeks. It's possibly not going to be worth it for you.
[ Edit: Edited on 27-May-2012, at 01:52 by bex76 ]
4.
Posted by
pavotrouge
(Budding Member 3 posts)
11y
Star this if you like it!
The JR pass is valid for the JR trains within Tokyo, not for the subway - that's another $25-30 just for a day ticket.
As your'e only going one way from Tokyo to Kyoto, you could also take the Willer Express highway bus - buses are comfy with plenty of stops, often with TV screens with English movies, and you'll see a lot of Japan on the way and eat amazing food at the wonderful rest stops. They are very foreigner-friendly and a one way trip costs around $50. From Tokyo to Osaka should take around 8 hrs.
From Kyoto to Osaka and to the airport, there's no need to get a pass - a ticket is around $15 as the trains only take 30-35 minutes - I think there's a line that goes right from Kyoto station to the airport, too, that should be around $25 (but IMHO it's really worth spending at least a few hours or a day in Osaka).
There also is the Kansai Thru Pass which you can get for 2 or 3 days and takes you everywhere in the Kansai area (around Kyoto and Osaka) on the subway, buses, non-JR trains (there are many private rail lines which are often even more convenient) and covers the fare to Osaka Kansai airport, too.
5.
Posted by
SA-Tokyo
(Budding Member 32 posts)
11y
Star this if you like it!
Hello and welcome to Japan !
I live & work in Tokyo. I'm a Japanese.
Anyway ,
Tokyo to Kyoto by Nozomi super express Shinkansen.
Its one way price is 13,320 yen per person.
This price is reserved seats.
It takes about 2hours and 21minutes.
You know JR Pass for non-Japanese travelers can't use Nozomi super express
Because it's the fastest Shinkansen for this line
6.
Posted by
Qokoon
(Budding Member 31 posts)
11y
Star this if you like it!
Quoting SA-Tokyo
Hello and welcome to Japan !
I live & work in Tokyo. I'm a Japanese.
Anyway ,
Tokyo to Kyoto by Nozomi super express Shinkansen.
Its one way price is 13,320 yen per person.
This price is reserved seats.
It takes about 2hours and 21minutes.
You know JR Pass for non-Japanese travelers can't use Nozomi super express
Because it's the fastest Shinkansen for this line
Hello, thank you for replying. Is the Nozomi super express for Japanese only? I am a bit confused with the whole JR pass, my future husband and I will be traveling out of Miami Florida. So as far as I have been told, foreigners cannot travel in Japan without a JR pass.
7.
Posted by
onetravelgirl
(First Time Poster 1 posts)
11y
Star this if you like it!
I would say you should look at a travel site called Japanican- they have reasonable tours from Tokyo to Kyoto for overseas visitors, including the Shinkansen (bullet train) trip. It is your best bet.
Most people I know who buy the train passes do not really use them. It is super hot this summer...and muggy too, so take care!
8.
Posted by
joseph2012
(Inactive 16 posts)
11y
Star this if you like it!
What is the full name of JR? I think these information will useful to people who really did not know these things before.
9.
Posted by
bex76
(Moderator 5413 posts)
11y
Star this if you like it!
Quoting Qokoon
Hello, thank you for replying. Is the Nozomi super express for Japanese only? I am a bit confused with the whole JR pass, my future husband and I will be traveling out of Miami Florida. So as far as I have been told, foreigners cannot travel in Japan without a JR pass.
You can travel without one but the JR pass often works out much cheaper if you're going to be using the Shinkansen a lot.
Quoting joseph2012
What is the full name of JR? I think these information will useful to people who really did not know these things before.
JR stands for Japan Rail.