Narita-Tokyo-Nikko-Hakone-Narita

Hi there!

Lets check your JR tickets costs to see if a JR Pass is a good idea:

1. Narita airport terminal 1 > Tokyo: ¥3,140 (62mins, 79km)
2. Tokyo > Nikko: ¥5,630 (121mins, 150km)
3. Nikko > Odawara: ¥8,990 (160mins, 233km)
4. Odawara > Narita airport terminal 1: ¥4,600 (107mins, 163km)

JR ticket cost: ¥22,360 for 4 legs

As you can see a 7 day JR Pass may not be the best option for you. Looking at your travel I recommend you look into the Kanto Area Pass which will give you good discounts on your travel.

Hope this helps!

Thank you so much Mari.
I checked and found that Kanto Area covers Tokyo, Nikko and Hakone. So understand that I can travel around these 3 cities with Kanto Area Pass which is valid for 3 consecutive days.
However, although I tried my best to check the information on several website, I am not sure if the Kanto Area Pass can help me with the below schedule or not. I make up the schedule by following your links above. Kindly advise if I need to buy other kinds of ticket.
My schedule is as follow:
1. Narita – Tokyo: 12 Nov 2012
Time: 8:13AM
NARITA AIRPORT TERMINAL 1 – Narita Express 6(74 mins)-> TOKYO 9:27AM
I will spend 5 days in Tokyo. What tickets should I buy so that I can visit nice places of Tokyo? Is it included in the Kanto Area Pass or Suica & N'EX?

1. Tokyo-Nikko:
   Time: 8:08AM on 17 Nov 2012:
   TOKYO - Shinkansen Yamabiko 127 (50mins) –> UTSUNOMIYA (arrival track 1-departure track 5) – JR Nikko Line(42 mins) -> NIKKO (9:54AM)
   Within Nikko: I will be in Nikko 1 day only. Should I travel by bus of Kanto Area Pass can help somehow?

2. Nikko-Odawara (Hakone)
   Time: 19:03 on 17 Nov 2012
   NIKKO-JR Nikko Line (45 mins)-> UTSUNOMIYA(arrival track 5-departure track 4) – shinkansen yamabiko 156 (50 mins) -> TOKYO (arrival track 23-departure track 16) – Shinkansen Kodama 701(37 mins) -> ODAWARA.
   Within Hakone: should I travel by bus of Kanto Area Pass can help somehow?

3. Odawara-Narita
   Time: 16:11 18 Nov 2012
   ODAWARA –shinkansen KODAMA 658 (36 mins) -> TOKYO (arrival track 9-departure track 4) – Narita Express 43(54 mins)-> NARITA AIRPORT TERMINAL 1.
   For the trips between Narita-Tokyo and Odawara-Narita, can I use the Kanto Area Pass for shinkasen or any fast train? If not, I should I buy the Suica & N'EX for Narita Express?

Thank you in advance
Nga

Hi there!

For your initial travel into Tokyo, the Suica+NEX deal will offer you good savings (airport transfers + ¥1500 of Tokyo metro travel), but you may also want to look into the Keisei skyliner + 2 day unlimited metro pass. This will grant you unlimited travel in Tokyo for a 2 day period as well as your airport transfers. You can also buy additional 1 or 2 day passes at Narita to further cap your travel in Tokyo if you wish. Please note these unlimited metro passes only cover the Tokyo Metro system which although extensive will not give 100% coverage. If the Kanto Pass is still valid at the end of your trip, then only purchase the single trip from the airport as the Kanto Pass will cover the NEX return to Narita.

Please note that the Kanto Area pass will not cover the train to Odawara, but will cover the train to Nikko. Within Nikko you'll need to use local non-JR buses to travel - pay as you go here is the best approach.

For Hakone, I recommend you purchase the Hakone Free Pass that departs from Shinjuku station inside Tokyo. This will give you travel up to and around Hakone, as well as transfer from and to Tokyo.

Hope this helps!

You are great, Mari. Base on your advice, my re-schedule my journey as follow:

1.Narita – Tokyo: 12 Nov 2012
Time: 8:13AM
NARITA AIRPORT TERMINAL 1 – Narita Express 6(74 mins) (2940 Yen ) -> TOKYO 9:27AM
-1st day: if travel a lot: buy Tokunai Pass: JR one-day pass in Tokyo –750Yen -following 4 days: travel a little – buy separate tickets -16 Nov 2012: Buy Kanto Pass at Tokyo Station, valid from 16 Nov -18 Nov (3 days)- price: 8000 Yen.

2.Tokyo-Nikko:
Time: 8:08AM on 17 Nov 2012:
TOKYO - Shinkansen Yamabiko 127 (50mins) (covered by Kanto Pass)–> UTSUNOMIYA (arrival track 1-departure track 5) (covered by Kanto Pass)– JR Nikko Line(42 mins) (covered by Kanto Pass)-> NIKKO (9:54AM)
Within Nikko-1 day: use local non-JR buses to travel - pay as I go.

3.Nikko-Odawara (Hakone)
Time: 19:03 on 17 Nov 2012
NIKKO-JR Nikko Line (45 mins) (covered by Kanto Pass)-> UTSUNOMIYA(arrival track 5-departure track 4) – shinkansen yamabiko 156 (50 mins) (covered by Kanto Pass)-> TOKYO station (arrival track 23-departure track 16)
Travel to Hakone using Odakyu express train or Romancecar(covered by Hakone pass)
Within Hakone: use Hakone pass

4.Odawara-Narita
Time: 16:11 18 Nov 2012
Hakone-Yumoto – take the train/Romancecar to Otemachi (covered by Hakone pass)- walk to Tokyo station to take NEX to Narita Airport Teminal 1(covered by Kanto Pass)

Could you please advise me of
- For the trip from Tokyo to Hakone: Since I will arrive at Tokyo from Nikko, is it possible to take the train/Romancecar by Odakyu Line to Hakone-Yumoto (covered by Hakone Pass+ limited express surcharge 870 yen) from Tokyo Station or Otemachi Station nearby? (it is said that some of Romancecar on weekend goes through Tokyo Metro Subway Chiyoda line (東京メトロ千代田線) to Kitasenju (北千住) so that I can catch the train directly to Hakone from Omotesando (表参道=near Shibuya), Kasumigaseki (霞ヶ関=near National Diet Building), Otemachi (大手町=close to JR Tokyo station) and Kitasenju. Is it correct? - Can I buy the Hakone Pass at Tokyo Station or Otemachi station or else where? - I wish to use the Hakone pass for 2 days (5000Yen) 17 & 18 Nov, is it possible to buy it beforehand (i.e. 15 or 16 Nov and start using it from 17 Nov?)

I am sorry if I have too many question but this is my first time to Japan and I will travel alone so that I am quite confused and nervous.
I am looking forward to hearing from you,
Regards
Nga

Hi there,

The Hakone Free Pass is valid from travel between Hakone and the Odakyu station at Shinjuku so you'll need to travel to Shinjuku station first using your Kanto Pass.

The Hakone Free Pass is available to purchase at all Odakyu stations or major travel agencies. I recommend you visit Odakyu Shinjuku and purchase your ticket from the Odakyu sightseeing centre.

Hope this helps, looks like a great trip!