Shibuya to Osaka and back again

Hi there,

If you want to travel by rail, then a 7 day JR Pass would work rather well. The price of a 7 day JR Pass is about the same price as a normal return ticket Tokyo - Osaka. Now you get 7 days of unlimited travel for the same price.

If you are really low on budget, then you could consider using a night bus. These are pretty cheap and get you from one place to the other overnight. The downside is that it is hard to sleep on the bus and you may just be too tired the following day to do anything.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Hi,

If you want cheap, then instead of a bus the best way would be getting a discount air ticket such as on Jet Star or Peach. The downside to that would be if you have a lot of baggage; they generally charge for it with lower allowances than the major carriers. Plus getting to/from the airport takes times as well.

If you are traveling for pleasure, a rail pass really gives the most freedom and allows you to see a lot more places. The Kansai area is one of the best places in Japan for sightseeing, with many of the country's top sights - including Dotonbori in Osaka, the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, and the Todaiji Great Buddha in Nara. Plus other worthwhile places like Himeji Castle, Hikone, and Kobe. The pass can save you money as well as offer a lot of convenience in that you don't have to constantly buy train tickets.

Best of luck.

We're travelling for leisure and if we do get a rail pass would love to use it for a day trip for somewhere as well

Hi,
If you'd really like for a rail pass to pay off, you could go to Hiroshima/Miyajima for a day and preferably with an overnight. It is one of the best places in Japan and there is a lot to see.
If that is still not enough, there are many places between or close to Hiroshima. Just a bit past Miyajima is Iwakuni with its iconic historical bridge and mountaintop castle. Onomichi is famous for its temple tour and wildly ornate Kosanji Temple. Nearby Kurashiki is a famous own city for its canals, and Okayama also has its own castle and one of Japan's other Top 3 gardens, Korakuen. If you are itching to explore, then in Kagawa there is the Konpirasan Shrine in Kotohira, with a marvelous paved half day mountain hike.

Good luck!