Can you advise if purchasing a 14 day JR pass is the best option

Hi there,

A 14-day pass won't be your most cost-effective option as you'll be staying in major cities for extended periods of time. It is still worth considering as an option, but note that travel to Hakone isn't directly covered by the JR Pass.

Kind regards,

Alexis

Thank you, so regarding the trip from Osaka to Odawara/Hakone if the Tokaido Shinkansen is not covered, is there another option on a slower train covered by the JR Pass and how much travel time would it add for the trip from Osaka to Hakone and the trip from Hakone to Tokyo. I read about needing to purchase a special complementary ticket for the Tokaido Shinkansen, what is the price of that ticket.
What are the semi-fast options between Osaka and Hakone and Hakone to Tokyo, are they covered?

Hi there,

The only ways to travel between Osaka to Odawara are via the Tokaido Shinkansen, or via Hokuriku Shinkansen and another limited express train, and then Tokaido Shinkansen again from Tokyo Station - so the only viable way to travel is to take the Tokaido Shinkansen. To put it into perspective, the time to travel via Tokaido Shinkansen is about 2 hours, whereas going via Hokuriku Arch would be upwards of 5/6 hours.

If you purchase a JR Pass, you can ride all Shinkansen lines with it without having to pay extra, unless you want to use an extra-fast service called the Nozomi, which honestly isn't that necessary as the Shinkansen is already super-fast and is mainly used by commuters.

Kind regards,

Alexis