Route advice please

Hi Patricia,

I was reading your itinerary but it was not completely clear if you would want a JR Pass as well for tralve between Tokyo - Kyoto - Osaka? Could you please clarify? This would help me find the best pass for you. I recommend looking at a JR West pass if travel to Osaka is not included.

Three great options are:

5 day Kansai - Hiroshima Pass. This also includes travel to Takamatsu by train from Hiroshima.

5 day Setouchi Area Pass, this pass also covers the ferry to Matsuyama and is likely your best option.

7 day Sanyo-San'in Area Pass. This also includes travel to Takamatsu by train from Hiroshima.

All passes also cover the Ferry to Miyajima.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Hi again Daniel

I do not need any rail travel from Tokyo and Kyoto to Osaka as that is covered by our tour. I just need to know if the 7 day JR pass is the most economical pass to get for the itinerary I listed starting and ending in Osaka. We will be travelling in western Honshu and Shikoku only. I wasn't sure if JR West pass covered Shikoku or if the JR Pass for 7 days would be cheaper for the trips I listed.

Also does any rail pass cover the ferry trip from Hiroshima to Matsuyama on Shikoku as we would prefer not going back to the bridge on the train.
Thank you
Patricia

Hello Daniel

I was expecting another reply from Daniel now that I have confirmed my travel.
Itinerary
Osaka - Hiroshima
Hiroshima - Miyajima
Hiroshima - Matsuyama (does JR Pass cover a ferry crossing?)
Matsuyama - Takamatsu
Possible short trips around Takamatsu including to Naoshima
Takamatsu - Kobe
Kobe - Osaka (this day of travel might be on the 8th day so we may have to purchase this separately)

Thank you for the information about the other passes but can you confirm if the JR 7 day pass would be more convenient and affordable?
Thank you
Patricia

Hi Patricia,

Sorry for the delay in reply - our office was closed over the weekend and it's been rather busy.

That said, I'll take some extra time to reply in detail to your questions. I reviewed your itinerary and I do think that the JR Pass is the best pass in terms of convenience. It does not cover the ferry from Hiroshima - Matsuyama but you could use the train instead. The JR Pass also covers the train from Matsuyama, something not all the other local passes do. A good alternative could also be a 5 day Setouchi Area Pass and then buy a one way Ferry ticket from Takamatsu to Kobe. Which would cost less.

Information on the Kobe - Takamatsu ferry can be found here:
https://ferry.co.jp/pdf/jumbo-ferry-guide-book.pdf

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Thank you Daniel

Your response has been very helpful. We have decided on the JR 7 day pass for convenience.

Patricia