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Choosing hotels and rail lines

Somnath
Somnath
23 days ago
5 answers

Hello, why wife and I have JUST started planning a 12-14 day relaxed Japan trip next month. We are hoping to visit Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Shizuoka, Tokyo, and optionally Hiroshima. We have made a bucket list of attractions for each location. Both of us are senior citizens, and the only Japanese word we know at this time is Sayonara. We are mobile, but my wife might not be able to walk for long distances especially on uneven surfaces. We have a few questions that might help us with the planning.

  1. Will a Regular JR Pass might be most convenient and economical for us?
  2. How do we know which Shinkansen / JR Rail trains are available to a Regular JR Pass holder to above locations, and which ones are not?
  3. If we know the attractions we are interested in, is there any App that can help suggest some hotel / Air BNB recommendations within a price range, and close to a JR Rail serviced station?
  4. I could not locate any rail time table on the JR Rail site. Is there any other iOS site/App that will carry this information?
  5. Which is the best English Language Travel App for travel inside Japan?

If anyone has any suggestions on any of these questions, we will much appreciate if you can share with us.

avatar
Daniel-san
18972 posts
18 days ago
Expert

Hi there,

That sounds like a lovely start for your Japan trip, hopefully I can be a bit of help here :)

1.) I can't say 100% for sure without having your timing and days spend in each location. In general, a 7-day JR Pass would be a good option if you can include travel between Tokyo - Kyoto - Hiroshima - Osaka & back to Tokyo with it. If you need longer, then you may be better off buying normal tickets.

2.) We have a map you can use with all lines included: www.jrpass.com/map

3.) Personally I find google hotels a very good way to find hotels close to a location, you won't find it directly on Google but go to https://www.google.com/travel/ and select hotels and it is easy to search by location.

4.) Yes, please see: https://www.jrpass.com/blog/hyperdia-alternatives-how-to-plan-for-jr-pass-travel

5.) For translation, Google translate works well. Here is the list of recommend travel apps by JNTO: https://www.japan.travel/en/plan/useful-apps/

Kind regards,
Daniel

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Somnath
Somnath
5 posts
about 15 hours ago

Thank you Daniel-san. I have been immersed in planning my itinerary and securing a visa document submission appointment. It now appears that I will either get my eVisa just in time for my travel on 21st April, or I will not. If we do get to travel on 21st April, our port of arrival is Narita and then we travel straight through to Kyoto. What is the best option for my wife and I to use JR Pass for our travel from Narita to Kyoto? Can you help with answers to following questions?

  1. JR Pass office says they cannot deliver physical JR Exchange Voucher to any location other than residential address. Is my best option to buy the JR Pass online from Bangalore itself in Indian Rupees, and have it delivered to my home in Bangalore India? Is there a recommended website for me to buy the JR Pass that will automatically do the currency conversion as well?
  2. If I buy the Online Pass today, is there enough time for the exchange voucher to be delivered physically to my home in Bangalore, India well before 21st April deparure date?
  3. Where can I exchange the Voucher and activate the pass at Narita Airport? Can this place also help us booking seats on the Narita Express and Hikari Shinkansen?
  4. 21st April is in the summer season, but it is not Sakura Week or Golden Week. How likely are we to get two coach class seats to Kyoto on the next available train to Kyoto?
  5. If we do not get seats, are there any other options to reach Kyoto same day and how much extra (approximately) could this cost us?
  6. How to go from Narita Japan Airlines Arrival Gate to JR Pass office at Narita to Kyoto? Is there a map or video that can guide us quickly? Fyi we have booked wheelchairs at the airport to help us move faster.

Thank you Daniel-san for your assistance.

Som

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Somnath
Somnath
5 posts
about 15 hours ago

Dear Daniel-san,

p.s. Our current plan is April 21 - 25 Kyoto, 25-27 Hiroshima, 27-29 Osaka, 29 - 4 May Tokyo. We were thinking our best option is to buy JR Pass for 14 days and then Suica Card in Tokyo and some other local commute passes in Kyoto/Osaka/Hiroshima. I just noticed your comment "If you need longer, then you may be better off buying normal tickets." Can you please elaborate?

Thank you

Som

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Somnath
Somnath
5 posts
about 10 hours ago

The other option for us may be to buy a 7 day JR Pass (to be used from 25 April - 1 May), and on the other 7 days (i.e. 21-24 April and 2-4 May) buy normal tickets. That way I can buy the JR Pass directly from any Japan Rail office in Narita, Tokyo or Kyoto. Also, cost wise this might be cheaper. Am I correct in my thinking?
To help me adjust my plan, please help me with the following answers.
1. Approximately how much should a regular ticket cost to travel from Narita International Airport Terminal 2 to APA Hotel in Tokyo Shinjuku Ward Station on 21st April? Will I require prior reservation for this trip? 
2. Approximately how much should a regular ticket cost to travel from Tokyo Shinjuku Ward Station to Kyoto APA Hotel in Shimogyo Ward Station on 22nd April? Can I buy this ticket at Narita Airport and make a reservation on the previous afternoon?3. Is there a comprehensive 3-day pass for Kyoto rail & metro travel that I can buy separately, and how much should it cost us?4. Is there a comprehensive 3-day pass for Tokyo rail & metro travel that I can buy separately, and how much should it cost us?
Thank you
Somnath Sinha

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Somnath
Somnath
5 posts
about 10 hours ago

The other option for us may be to buy a 7 day JR Pass (to be used from 25 April - 1 May), and on the other 7 days (i.e. 21-24 April and 2-4 May) buy normal tickets. That way I can buy the JR Pass directly from any Japan Rail office in Narita, Tokyo or Kyoto. Also, cost wise this might be cheaper. Am I correct in my thinking?
To help me adjust my plan, please help me with the following answers.
1. Approximately how much should a regular ticket cost to travel from Narita International Airport Terminal 2 to APA Hotel in Tokyo Shinjuku Ward Station on 21st April? Will I require prior reservation for this trip? 
2. Approximately how much should a regular ticket cost to travel from Tokyo Shinjuku Ward Station to Kyoto APA Hotel in Shimogyo Ward Station on 22nd April? Can I buy this ticket at Narita Airport and make a reservation on the previous afternoon?3. Is there a comprehensive 3-day pass for Kyoto rail & metro travel that I can buy separately, and how much should it cost us?4. Is there a comprehensive 3-day pass for Tokyo rail & metro travel that I can buy separately, and how much should it cost us?
Thank you
Somnath Sinha

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