Sample itinerary of Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto and Osaka classic route in 7 days

7 to 9 days
Senso-ji temple and Tokyo Skytree in Asakusa ©Yasufumi Nishi/©JNTO
Highest mountain, Mt. Fuji from Lake Ashi, Hakone  ©Odakyu Electric Railway/©JNTO
Highest mountain, Mt. Fuji from Lake Ashi, Hakone ©Odakyu Electric Railway/©JNTO

Some of you are wondering if you should use JR pass or not for one way trip from Tokyo to Osaka via Hakone and Kyoto. Actually JR pass does not meet this trip. The price of 7-day JR pass is 29100 yen. One way base fare from Tokyo to Kyoto or Shin-Osaka plus Shinkansen surcharge is around 14000 yen. As long as you have one way trip from Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka, JR pass is way more expensive than single fare. Even if you use JR pass when you stay in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, it is not realistic to spend another 15000 yen. Base fare in these cities is 200 to 500 yen.

In this post, I show you the sample itinerary and some deals in these cities.

*When you follow this sample itinerary, please check the updated timetable. You can find more information about timetable at the link below:

Guide to plan your trip. How to find Japan Railway’s timetables

Day 1 Narita or Haneda airport to downtown Tokyo

New train E259 series Narita Express
JR’s airport express train, Narita Express

Suggested deals for Narita passengers

There are many deals available. Please refer the following link about Narita deals:

Suggested deals for Haneda passengers

Please refer the following links:

Day 2 Tokyo

Senso-ji temple and Tokyo Skytree in Asakusa ©Yasufumi Nishi/©JNTO
Senso-ji temple and Tokyo Skytree in Asakusa ©Yasufumi Nishi/©JNTO

Enjoy sightseeing in Tokyo.

You can find the detailed information of train system in downtown Tokyo in the link below. You also can find the information about the deals:

In Tokyo, the single fare is very reasonable because of a short trip. The regular fare may be cheaper if you visit one or two places. You may use IC card, such Suica or Pasmo instead:

Day 3 Tokyo to Hakone

Owakudani is one of Must-See spots in Hakone.  ©Odakyu Electric Railway/©JNTO
Owakudani is one of Must-See spots in Hakone. ©Odakyu Electric Railway/©JNTO

Suggested itinerary
08:53 Shinjuku
Odakyu railway’s limited express “Romancecar” Hakone 9
10:35 Hakone-Yumoto

Leave your baggage at hotel or locker at the station. Enjoy sightseeing Hakone all day.

Odakyu Railway is most convenient to get Hakone and cheaper than JR trains. You can purchase base fare ticket and Hakone Free Pass Odawara departure at Odakyu Sightseeing Service Center at Shinjuku station.

Suggested deals

Base fare ticket (Shinjuku – Odawara) and Hakone Free Pass (Odawara departure 2 days)

You may find more information about Hakone Free Pass and Odakyu Railway in the link below:

Hakone Free Pass official site

Shinjuku departure Hakone Free Pass (5140 yen) is not required for this itinerary. Because it includes round trip to/from Shijuku. But you do not come back to Shinjuku and leave Hakone then go to Kyoto next day. Of course single fare for Shinjuku-Odawara is cheaper than the difference between Shinjuku departure Hakone Free Pass and Odawara departure Hakone Free Pass.

Once you get Hakone, use Hakone Free Pass as much as you can. You can get most of places in Hakone by this pass.

I recommend you to stay in Hakone for at least one night. But if you want to visit Hakone as “luggage free” day trip from Tokyo, Hakone Free Pass Shinjuku departure is the best deal.

I have the post which explains about the access to Hakone and the trip plan in Hakone in the link below:

Day 4 Hakone to Kyoto

Fushimi Inari shrine is most popular spot in Kyoto in these days. ©Kyoto Convention Bureau /©JNTO
Fushimi Inari shrine is most popular spot in Kyoto in these days. ©Kyoto Convention Bureau /©JNTO

Suggested itinerary
09:40 Hakone-Yumoto
Hakone Tozan Railway
09:54 Odawara
10:08 Odawara
Hikari 507
12:13 Kyoto

Odawara station is the nearest JR station to Hakone. You can catch the the Tokaido Shinkansen to get Kyoto. Please find the details about Odawara station at the following:

There are some Shinkansen train, “Hikari” stop at Odawara and takes you to Kyoto without any transfer. I picked 10:08 departure, Hikari 507. Please see the timetable at the link below and find the train what you want to take:

JR Central official site – The Tokaido and the Sanyo Shinkansen timetable

You may find Hikari which stop at Odawara mostly every two hours. Please try to catch this kind of Hikari. This is the fastest and direct way to get Kyoto from Odawara.

There is no deals to cover the trip from Odawara to Kyoto. The base fare ticket and the Shinkansen seat fee ticket are required to take the Tokaido Shinkansen. You can purchase these tickets in advance if you want. The Shinkansen and limited express surcharge tickets can be purchased at most major JR stations that have reservation window, a.k.a. “Midori no Madoguchi”. The base fare ticket also can be purchased with surcharge ticket at same time. If you do so, you can just transfer from Hakone Tozan Railway train to the Shinkansen at Odawara.

If you follow my suggested itinerary, you have half day for sightseeing in Kyoto. I recommend you to visit south part of Kyoto, like Fushimi Inari. It’s just 5 minutes away from Kyoto station by Nara line local train. If you want, you can visit even Nara.

If you need some more information about Kyoto station, please refer the link below:

Day 5 Kyoto

Arashiyama is very popular in any season.  	© soryofu/© JNTO
Arashiyama is very popular in any season. © soryofu/© JNTO

You can enjoy in Kyoto for all day.

Please refer the links below to find the information of train system in Kyoto and deals in Kyoto.

Day 6 Kyoto to Osaka

Osaka castle is very accessible. ©Osaka Government Tourism Bureau/©JNTO
Osaka castle is very accessible. ©Osaka Government Tourism Bureau/©JNTO

Suggested itinerary
09:14 Kyoto
Special rapid
09:43 Osaka

I use JR train, Special Rapid which is the fastest way to get Osaka (Umeda). It is a sort of commute train. Only base fare is required to take this train.

There are many other trains running between Kyoto and Osaka. Please see the link below to find the train network in Kansai area:

After arriving in Osaka, you may add the deal as you need.

Day 7 Osaka to Kansai airport

There are some deals available. Please see the link below:

Summary and total costs

If you have one way trip from Tokyo to Osaka, as you read above, the key is how to combine some local deals and the regular fare ticket. In this itinerary, approximate total cost is 23,000 to 26,000 yen. It is cheaper than JR Pass 7-day. And JR Pass does not cover Hakone area, subway and city bus in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. You might feel the total cost is very close to JR Pass 7-day. But actual different is much bigger.

I show you 7 days itinerary but you can extend staying in Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto or Osaka. And also I have another sample itinerary that includes Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka only. Please see the following post to find it.

I hope this post will help you to build your trip plan to Japan!

Comments

  1. SK says:

    Takeshi….you itinerary is close to what we plan to do and it has been very, very helpful with wonderful links
    Day 1 arrival at Narita airport
    Day 2 tour Tokyo
    Day 3 tour Tokyo
    Day 4 tour Tokyo
    Day 5 Hakone (overnight stay)
    Day 6 Hakone (over night stay?)
    Day 7 Train to Kyoto
    Day 8 Tour Kyoto
    Day 9 Tour Kyoto
    Day 10 Tour Kyoto
    Day 11 Train to Osaka
    Day 12 Osaka
    Day 13 Osaka
    Day 14 Leave via KIX aiport

    Based on your comments on other posts, I am best just getting single fares (not JR) since it is not a rountrip travel back to Tokyo, correct? Another questions is, can you see Mt. Fuji from the Hakone region and is it worth staying in Hakone 2 nights versus one given our itinerary.

  2. Ryan says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    First of all, thanks for your post. I find it to be amazing and very useful. It would be much appreciated if you could recommend me the best deal based on my simple itinerary below because right now I am thinking of buying two JR passes (21 day pass + 7 day pass) and a Hakone Free pass or two.

    Day 1-6 Arrive in Tokyo and explore Tokyo
    Day 7-10 Arrrive in Hakone (Lake Ashi) and Mt Fuji (Lake Kawaguchi) and explore them
    Day 11-17 Arrive in Kyoto and explore Kyoto
    Day 18-22 Arrive in Osaka and explore Osaka
    Day 22-25 Arrive in Tokyo and explore more Tokyo and surrounding areas (Nikko and Mt. Takao)

    Thanks in advance.

  3. Kelly Mouna says:

    Hello Takeshi,
    Pls advise if I should purchase 7 day rail pass or use single fares for my trip;
    Arrive Tokyo Narita airport
    Day 1-3 explore Tokyo
    Day 4 Tokyo- Hakone. Stay over night Hakone
    Day 5 Hakone – Kyoto
    Day 6-7 explore Kyoto
    Day 8 Kyoto – Osaka
    Day 10 depart Osaka airport

    Many Thnaks,
    Kelly

    • Hi Kelly,

      JR Pass is not your choice. Your trip is almost same as my sample itinerary above. Please follow the post above which local deals/single ticket you need.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  4. Ken says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I’m visiting Japan for the first time and I’m having difficulties in deciding my travel passes (there are so many of them!) and your help would be greatly appreciated.

    Day 1 – Reach Tokyo at noon and head to Osaka directly
    Day 2-3 – Osaka
    Day 4 – Nara (day trip from Osaka/Kyoto)
    Day 5-9 – Kyoto (head to Tokyo on Day 9)
    Day 10 – Hakone (day trip from Tokyo)
    Day 11 – Kanazawa and Shirakawago (day trip from Tokyo)
    Day 12-16- Tokyo

    I’m figuring JR 14 day pass suits me more for the first 14 days of my trip and remaining days in Tokyo I can utilize Tokyo Subway Ticket (24~72 hours) ?

    Is there better option (if I were to use overnight busses to travel between Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto in addition to regional passes)?

    Thanks!!!

  5. Vena says:

    Authum Japan fascinating solo tour
    Hello

    I am traveling to Japan on 27 October 2016 departure at 12:35 am eta around morning as I am taking the red eye flight. Leaving on 2 November 2016 around 4 plus pm .

    My trip will be Tokyo Osaka Nagoya Kyoto etc

    Day 1 Tokyu reach spend a day ecploring around
    Wish to check out shibuya etc

    Day 2 -4 ( want to spend three days out to Osaka / Nagoya Kyoto etc any other suggestion)

    Day 5 back to Tokyo ( Full day to use) want to catch the earliest back to Tokyu.

    Day 6 half day Tokyo before setting off to airport

    All the above hotels not book , could you suggest some interesting places.

    I have been to shindome / ginza/ shinjuku / hakone . Kindly advise where is good to go ..on these places ..
    Hotel accommodation around USD 100 and coach and send me to the airport to and fro

  6. thesa says:

    hello, i’m a bit confuse whether the JRPASS 7 days will be necessary, since the places i want to go is quite similiar with your sample itinerary, but i need to go back to tokyo.
    my ittinerary will be:
    day 1: arrive at narita (night) -go to osaka by express bullet train
    day 2: universal
    day 3: osaka and going to kyoto by noon
    day 4: explore osaka and going to kyoto
    day 5: explore kyoto and going to hakone
    day 6: hakone to tokyo
    day 7: tokyo

    Thank you so much 🙂

    • Hi Thesa,

      You may use JR pass 7 days. The reason why I don’t use JR Pass for this sample is one way trip between Osaka/Kyoto and Tokyo. As long as you have round trip, JR pass will work.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  7. Lydiana says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I am so glad that i found this article. I will visit Japan for 10 days with my husband as honeymoon in Mid June. This is also our first time to Japan. None of us been there before.
    Please kindly take a look at my itinerary to Japan as follow:
    Day 1. Arrive Haneda airport in morning
    Day 2. Osaka-Kobe (half day in Kobe)
    Day 3. Osaka
    Day 4. Kyoto
    Day 5. Hakone
    Day 6. Yokohama
    Day 7. Tokyo
    Day 8. Explore Tokyo again
    Day 9. Explore Tokyo again
    Day 10. Haneda back to hometown
    I have 2 questions:
    1. I plan to buy JR pass 7 days and start to use it at day 2, and end at day 8, do you think that i have the correct choice?
    2. Which place at Hakone and Yokohama that have a good review from most of the tourist? Is it cover by JR Pass?
    Please kindly advice with this itinerary. I am very appreciate your response to this post.

    Regards,
    Lydiana

  8. hweifang says:

    hi,
    your itinerary of tokyo, hakone,kyoto and osaka in 7 days trip are good enough. but how if i need to add one more itinerary that is lake kawaguchi . can you please recommend which pass suitable?

  9. Kartika says:

    Hi can you help me to check my ittinerary and about transportation, i have a lot of question.
    Day 1. Arrive Osaka at night
    Day 2. Universal Studio all day
    Day 3. 1 day trip at Osaka, using osaka amazing pass
    Day 4. Explore Osaka/Nara
    Day 5. Hirosima 1 day trip, stay at Osaka
    Day 6. Going to Kyoto
    Day 7. Explore Kyoto
    Day 8. Explore Kyoto again
    Day 9. Going to Takayama stay one night at Takayama
    Day 10. Morning going to Shiragawa Go, afternoon going to Toyama, stay one night at Toyama
    Day 11. Tateyama Kurabe Dame 1 trip, end Nagano, next going to Tokyo, stay at Tokyo
    Day 12. The Kawaguchi mt Fuji 1 day trip, stay at Tokyo
    Day 13. Explore Tokyo
    Day 14. Explore Tokyo again
    Day 15. Explore Tokyo again
    Day 16. Disney Sea 1 day
    The question is:
    1. I maybe arrive at 10:30 pm, if there is any transportation from Kansai airport to city Osaka?
    2. Which place at Osaka that have a good review from most of the tourist? should stay near with subway or JR station?
    3. I plan to buy JR pass 7 days and i start to use it at day 5, and end at day 12, do you think that i have the correct choice? Do i need to buy JR pass for my trip day 5-day 12? Or i need to buy the reguler?
    4. Can you tell me what transportation that i can get when i am going to Takayama?
    5. What is the rute from Takayama to Toyama?
    6. When i take Tateyama Kurabe Dame, I bring a lot of lugges, can the hotel (in toyama) send my bag to the hotel in tokyo?
    7. Can I ask the route from Tokyo to the Kawaguchi? Is it cover by JR Pass? Because that day is my last day using JR pass.
    8. Where should i stay in tokyo (which must be near with the subway and also near with the tourist attraction) ?
    Thank you for answering my question.

  10. Sarah says:

    Hi!

    I’m having difficulty figuring out whether a JR pass will be necessary,

    Day 1-5: Tokyo,
    Day 6 – 7: Kyoto
    Day 8 – 10: Osaka with a day trip to Hiroshima
    Day 10 – 12: Nara
    Day 12 – 14: Hakone
    Then back to Tokyo for the remainder.

    We were thinking of purchasing the JR 7 day as soon as we leave Tokyo until we get to hakone and then grab a hakone free pass, Is the JR pass justifiable in this case?

    Thanks!

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