11 days mid October 23

Hi Eli,

The sky is the limit, the JR Pass will get you anywhere in mainland Japan. If you let me know what kind of things you are interested in, then I can give you some personal recommendations.

A good starting point is also our Blog, where we have different sample itineraries.

Kind regards,
Daniel

Thank you for your reply.
We want to enjoy the most of the 7 days pass in the end
of October beginning November, including of course Kyoto.
Tokyo is on top of the 7 days pass.
Any input what we should do without traveling
every day Is welcome
Thx
Eli

I have some ideas, but could you also tell me how many days in total you will be in Japan?

11 days
Thx

Hi Eli,

My recommendation would be something like this:

Day 1-3 Tokyo
Day 4 day trip from Tokyo to Nikko (start of the JR Pass)
Day 5 Tokyo - Kyoto
Day 6 - 7 Kyoto
Day 8 - visit Hiroshima/Miyajima (stay in Hiroshima the night or take a late train to Osaka)
Day 9 - Osaka
Day 10 - return to Tokyo (end of the JR Pass)
Day 11 - Last day Tokyo / return to airport

This will both give a diverse range of experiences in Japan, get your very good value out of the Japan Rail Pass and travel is well spaced without having to travel every day.

You could also swap Nikko for almost any other day trip from Tokyo, like Kamakura, Yokohama, Hakone, Nokogiriyama, Karuizawa, Mt. Takao and so on.

Same for Hiroshima, you could change it for places like Himeji, Kobe, Naoshima, Kurashiki and so on. Personally, I've always enjoyed both Nikko and Hiroshima as some of the top destinations but understand this can be personal.

Hope this helps!
Daniel

Thank you Daniel San,

I’ll learn your suggestions and allow
me to come back to you if I’ve more
questions
Thx
Eli

Hi Daniel,

Thank you for your reply. I wish to consult with you. On Sturday we don't use public transporation.
We can only walk and enter palces which are free.
So please let me know if my plan is fine:
Tuesday- Nikko (1st day of the pass). Is it a full day? Night in Tokyo.
Wednesday- early moring to Kyoto. Visit Kyoto
Thursday- Kyoto
Friday- travel and visit Nara (how long it will take?) and heading to Osaka.
Saturday- Osaka. Staying in the center.
Sunday morning- travel to Hiroshima and Miyajima. Back to Osaka
Monday- your recomendations before in late train to Tokyo (last pass day).
Thank you in advance
Eli

Hi Daniel,
Please refer to my previous correspondence

Thank you
Eli

Hi Eli,

Yes, looks good!

Nikko can be done in half to a full day's trip. It depends really on how much you want to see/try/eat. Same with Nara, you can see the main sights in half a day, but there is days of fun if you include smaller places as well.

As for your last day in Osaka, personally I really like the Shinsaibashi/Dotonbori/Namba area - in case you won't visit it earlier, this is a great place to enjoy the local atmosphere and plenty of street food.

If you prefer more in the north (Umada) then the Umeda Skybuilding is really cool!

Hi Daniel,

Thank you.
Another question please- can I visit Nikko until let’s say early afternoon and then travel to Hakone, stay overnight, visit around in the morning and around noon travel to Kyoto?
Should I pass via Tokyo or there is a direct line?
All is covered by the JRPass?
Thanks
Eli

Hi Eli,

Yes, Nikko - Hakone (Odawara) would be possible. The route would be Nikko - Utsunomiya - Tokyo - Odawara (so 2 transfers) and is covered by the JR Pass.

Hi Daniel,
If my plan is to visit Narra on my way back
from Osaka to Tokyo on the 7th pass day,
when is the latest time to get on the train from Nara
via Kyoto to Tokyo? Are there enough lockers in Nara JR station?
Best Regards
Eli

Hi Eli,

It might depend on the day that you travel, therefore I recommend using Navi time to check.

There are plenty of Lockers around Nara station and Nara in general.

Kind regards,
Daniel

Hi Daniel
We are planning that the first JRPass day will be as follows:
Tokyo- Nikko. Half day visit and then to arrive early evening to our hotel in Hakone. In Gora station we need to take the cable car for 3 station. From you experience, is it feasible?
Any recommendations when to leave Tokyo and Nikko?
Thanks a lot
Eli

Hi Daniel San,
Probably you missed my previous question

Best Regards

Eli

Hi Eli,

When it comes to Nikko, I'd at least set 5 hours aside for sightseeing and having something to eat/drink. Nikko - Odawara (Hakone) is faily doable. Take the JR Nikko line to Utsonomiya from where you can use Shinkansen trains to Odawara (with a transfer at Tokyo station). It is feasable to travel to Hakone after, but I do not think you'll be able to do anything else that day, asit will be a good trip to Odawara and onwards to Gora. Maybe not a bad thing if your accommodation has an onsen where you can unwind.

Kind regards,
Daniel

Hello,

I plan next spring (1/4-11/4) to visit Japan with my daughter and granddaughter as she celebrates 12 years old.
We’ll start in Tokyo and leave from Osaka.
The focus is Japan for my granddaughter.
Can you please recommend a schematic visit with the best attractions for her?
Thx
Eli

Hi,
Be so kind and try to answer to the above
and how is the best to travel

Thx

Eli

Hi Eli,

Thank you for your question. I have to say that the review is very broad and it's impossible for me to answer without knowing more about your granddaughter.

Can you tell me about her interests, and what the goal of the trip is?

As a start, I recommend looking at USJ universal studios, Disney land and sea and the Ghibli Museum.

Kind regards,
Daniel

Thanks Daniel,
It’s my granddaughter 12 birthday so I need to focus on attractions for her age. We’ll arrive on 31/3/26 early afternoon to Narita and leave from Osaka on the 11/4 afternoon. I plan to use the train and maybe buy one week pass. So any combination of attractions on top of what you already recommended is very welcome.
Thx
Eli

Hi Eli,

Here are a few recommendations:

Tokyo:
Go to Odaiba for: teamLabs Planets, LEGOLAND Discovery Center and Miraikan (museum of the future)
Go to Ochanomizu: for Tokyo Dome: family oriented theme park and arcade
Go to Toyosu for: KidZania Tokyo, here you experience real work like being a pilot or firefighter.
Asakusa: For Sensoji temple, and cool place to rent a kimono

For Kyoto:
Arashiyama for the bamboo grove and monkeys, river boat ride and the old Sagano Romantic railway.
Fushimi Inari for fun at the endless tori gates.
Kyoto Aquarium!
Toei Kyoto Studio Park (become a ninja, geisha, samurai and learn to act, lots of fun!)

For Osaka;
Dotonbori: Bright neon lights, giant food signs and countless small shops to explore.
Osaka castle: because you should at least one in Japan ;)

Hope this helps for inspiration!
Daniel

Hi Daniel,
I need please your advice- I plan a follow on trip with my partner. I’ll meet her in Narita.
We plan the following: Tokyo- Takayama- Kyoto- Hakone-Tokyo- Narita. Can you advise the 7 days pass?
The long distances are within 7 days.
Thx
Eli