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21-day rail pass value for money for non-round trip?

Dnicol
Dnicol
over 8 years ago
2 answers

Hi there,

I'll be visiting Japan in April for 25 days in total. I am flying into Osaka and travelling down to Hiroshima before heading to Kyoto, Hakone, Tokyo, Nagano, and Sendai, (in that order) before ending in Tokyo again.

I understand for most trips that aren't a round trip from Tokyo the pass often isn't worth while but once you include day trips around Kyoto, Nagano, and Sendai it will surely be worth while.

Also, am I right in thinking that the Jigokudani Yaen-koen Snow Monkey Park in Nagano can only be reached from Tokyo and I would have to visit for the day and return to Tokyo before heading to Sendai separately.

Currently, I believe the 21-day pass would be value for money as I would activate it after 2 day in Osaka so that it would include all of my cross country journeys.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Drew

avatar
Daniel-san
19375 posts
over 8 years ago
Expert

Hi Drew,

You will cover a lot of distance and as you say, a JR Pass could definitely be worth while using. Especially since most travel will be on the Shinkansen. To cities like Kyoto, Odawara (Hakone) Nagano and Sendai, as well as returning to Tokyo.

You can visit Jigokudani via Nagano, is this separate than the visit to Nagano mentioned above? In either case you'd come via Nagano so may as well visit Jigokudani while you are there.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

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Dnicol
Dnicol
2 posts
over 8 years ago

Hi Daniel,

Thanks for getting back so quickly. The visit to Jigokudani is part of the same trip and will be the primary reason I will go to Nagano. Given that I'm doing several cross-country trips I believe the cost will work out cheaper to get the pass, plus the added convenience.

One final question, does the pass help at all with the shorter day trips around Kyoto or Tokyo, or even within cities, or is it just a long-distance ticket? For example could it be used to visit the bamboo forest near Kyoto?

Thanks,

Drew

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