Guide to plan your trip. Fare Calculation

dentaku calculatorFare table
2010.08.29
a0002_003051

This website shows you a lot of the train passes. But some of you plan to buy a regular ticket. Even if you will use the rail pass, you may have to compare the price of the pass and the regular fare to make sure that you can get the worth of it or not.

In this post, I would like to share the information about the fare calculation with you.

Hyperdia

You can get a fare very easily. (click to view larger image)
You can get a fare very easily. (click to view larger image)

This is the easiest way to get the fare and the timetable of most trains in Japan. Please refer the link below to learn more:

Hyperdia perfect guide, train timetable and route search engine
If you want to build your itinerary by yourself, Hyperdia will help you a lot. This site is transportation search engine. You can search the timetables and routes of all trains, flights and airport shuttle bus. But this site is a bit tricky and too many functions and options to you. This guide will help you to find the way to use this site.
jprail.com
2013.11.26

Google map

Google map can show you the train and the public bus routes. It also shows you the fare.

JR’s rule on passenger’s ticket

JR companies have the biggest train network in Japan. If you travel between major cities, you will take JR train in most cases.

The fare rule is so difficult to understand for the tourists from overseas. Even some travel agents in Japan do not understand the rule completely.

I wrote about this rule as simple as possible in the post below. You can learn the rule of purchasing and using a regular ticket.

For non JR pass travellers. Guide to use JR single ticket, basic rules, validity and stopover
The train ticket rule is very complicated in Japan. But you may have to use the regular fare ticket because it is cheaper than the rail pass. This post explains you the basic ticket rule as easy as possible.
jprail.com
2013.07.04

JR company’s official site

Some JR companies have the timetable and fare search engine in their official sites.

JR Hokkaido official website

This website offers you the fare and timetable search of most JR trains.

JR West English website

This website offers you the fare and timetable search of most JR trains.

JR Shikoku English website

This website shows you the fare table of most of JR Shikoku lines.

Comments

  1. Sook Yi says:
    March 3, 2014 at 3:32 am

    Hi, Takeshi san.

    I would appreciate some advice on which type of passes I should use during my trip to Japan in June. I’m arriving at KIX and departing from HND. I’ll be based in Osaka for the 1st half of my trip and in Tokyo for the 2nd half. My tentative itinerary is as follows:

    1 june
    – Arrive KIX at ard 4 p.m.
    – travel to Osaka
    – Visit Osaka Station City
    – Visit Dotombori

    2 june (day trip to Kyoto)
    – travel Osaka to Kyoto
    – Visit Kinkaku-ji, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Arashiyama, etc.
    – travel back to Osaka from Kyoto

    3 june (day trip to Nara)
    – travel from Osaka to Nara
    – Visit Todaiji Temple, Nara Park, etc
    – travel back to Osaka from Nara

    4 june (day trip to Hiroshima)
    – travel from Osaka to Hiroshima
    – visit Miyajima
    – travel back to Osaka

    5 june – Sightseeing in Osaka city & Rinku Premium Outlet (maybe)

    6 june
    – travel from Osaka to Tokyo
    – arrive Tokyo afternoon
    – some sightseeing in Tokyo

    7 june
    – Tokyo Disneyland

    8 june
    – travel from Tokyo to Niko
    – Sightseeing in Niko
    – travel back to Tokyo from Niko

    9 june
    – sightseeing in Tokyo
    – depart HND at 11.45 p.m.

    I would appreciate your advice whether I should:

    1. Buy a 7 day JR Rail Pass and purchase ICOCA card in Osaka?
    2. Or should I purchase Kansai Thru Pass and purchase single tickets for Shinkansen to Hiroshima (return) and to Tokyo and in Tokyo use Suica?

    Or is there another option better than above?

    Can you also tell me about Nara Tourist Local Bus Free Pass issued by Nara Kotsu Bus Lines? I can’t find any information about this pass in English.

    Appreciate your help.

    Thank you very much.

    Sook Yi

    • JPRail says:
      March 3, 2014 at 8:42 pm

      Hi Sook,

      You can use ICOCA and Haruka for the first 2 days and JR pass 7 days for the rest of your trip. And also you should purchase Kyoto city sightseeing card or all day bus pass for sightseeing in Kyoto. Because ICOCA e-money 1500 yen may not be enough for day trip to Kyoto from Osaka. You will spend 1080 yen for round trip to Kyoto. And you can save 420 yen for taking subway in Osaka.
      http://www.city.kyoto.jp/koho/eng/access/transport.html

      Regarding Nara, I think you mean Nara city free pass at 500 yen. You can visit most of temples in Nara. It’s too much to explain in English.
      You can purchase this ticket if you like. But most of places in Nara can be accessed by walk from the station.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

      • Sook Yi says:
        March 3, 2014 at 9:40 pm

        Thank you very much, Takeshi san.

        That is very helpful. One more question. Can Suica card be used in Kansai? I have been given a Suica card. So I would like to know whether the Suica card can be used in Osaka, Kyoto, etc or just in Tokyo.

        Thank you.

        • JPRail says:
          March 3, 2014 at 11:36 pm

          Hi Sook,

          Yes, you can. All IC cards (Suica, ICOCA, Pasmo, many more) can be used in most of city area. Only thing that you have to care is “Charge”. You can use Suica in Kansai. But it is very limited to add more fund into Suica in Kansai area. If you use ICOCA in Kansai, you can add everywhere because it’s issued in Kansai area.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JP Rail

  2. Biljana says:
    February 19, 2014 at 4:24 pm

    Dear Takeshi-san,

    I need your help! I will be traveling with my brother from Tokyo to Tottori city on March 17. We have to stay in Tottori city for two days. Then we would like to visit few businesses around Osaka (on our way back to Tokyo) and stay in Osaka for one or two days as well. After that return to Tokyo. What kind of train tickets should we get? A friend said we should get the Shinkansen ticket for one week. Would that ticket take us all these places and back to Tokyo? And would this ticket be valid for other trains to take around Osaka? I hope you will be able to help me with some information. Thank you very much.

    Kindly waiting for your reply,

    Biljana

  3. Jeff says:
    February 12, 2014 at 7:21 am

    How is it possible to travel by train from Osaka to somewhere near Mt Fuji for sightseeing and photography. I will be arriving in Osaka in April.

  4. Jann Masaki says:
    February 11, 2014 at 10:17 am

    My family of 4 will be traveling to visit Tokyo from July 1 to July 15. We plan to visit Hakone and Mt Fuji and wanted to stay on both areas, total 4 days. The Fuji Hakone free passes are only valid for 3 days, so it won’t be good for us. Are there other economical ways to travel from Tokyo to Fuji-Hakone area without purchasing the free pass? Should we purchase the JR East pass?

    Thank you!!

  5. Wai Kheng says:
    January 14, 2014 at 4:36 am

    Hi,
    I would like to visit Tateyama Kurobe Route in May. I will arrive either in Tokyo or Osaka (should be morining flight) and am thinking of taking a train instead of domestic flight to Toyama. Could you please tell me how to go about taking the train from Tokyo/Osaka to Toyoma? Should I stay 1 night in Tokyo/Osaka before taking the train? Does JR pass cover the Tateyama Kurobe Route?
    I will be travelling from 10May.

    Many thanks.

  6. Kenvi says:
    January 11, 2014 at 8:02 am

    Hi, I have the following Itinerary. I would be very grateful if you can advise us the best and most cost-effective travel methods. Thank you.

    Day 1 Sunday
    Osaka Castle Museum
    Osaka Castle Park
    Peace Osaka

    Day 2 Monday
    Abeno Life Safety Center
    Tennoji Station
    OSTEC Exhibition Hall
    Utsubo Park
    KEPCO Electric Power Exhibit

    Day 3 Tuesday
    Floating garden observatory
    Taikimikoji (basement of floating garden)
    Osaka science museum
    Nakanoshima

    Day 4 Wednesday
    Satsukiyama Zoo
    Momofuku instant ramen museum
    Hashimototey bar
    Osaka Prefectural Mino Park (Meiji-no-mori Mino Quasi-national Park)

    Day 5 Thursday
    Osaka Museum of natural history
    Nagai Botanical Garden

    Day 6 Friday
    Tempozan Harbor Village
    Santa Maria cruise
    Kaiyukan Aquarium

    Day 7 Saturday
    Seven slopes of Tennoji – Ikutama, Reienji, Ginzaji, Manpukuji, Kuchinawazaka, Oe Jinja, Shomanin/Aizendo, Kiyomizuzaka, Yasui Jinja, Isshinji

    Thank you very much!

  7. dewi lina says:
    January 5, 2014 at 8:08 pm

    Hi,

    I am planning to visit Japan and will be around Wakayama (Kumano kodo) and use W-Pass for 3 days. Then I will buy JR Pass as I am going to Kyoto (maybe stop for a day trip at Osaka) and roaming around Kyoto for 4 days. My questions is:
    – Is it better to buy JR Pass Kansai region only? noted that 4 days pass is USD59
    – Can I use this pass from Singu/Nachi/Katsuura? I will also drop by at Shirahama city for few hours before continuing to either Osaka or direct to Kyoto.

    Appreciate very much for your reply.
    Arigato 🙂
    Dewi

  8. Mary says:
    January 4, 2014 at 6:18 am

    Hello! Like to seek your advice on transport, I really clueless, please help to provide should it be bus or train if train what type.

    20 March:
    • From Kanzai Airport to Kyoto Station:
    Do I use JR Karuka Kansai Airport Limited Express via Haruka and ICOCA Card Package
    (thus this pass cover the return trip from Osaka Station to Kanzai Airport?)
    • From Kyoto Station to Nishiki Market (single trip?)
    • From Nishiki Market to Kyoto Station (single trip?)
    21 March:
    • From Kyoto Station to Kyoto University (single trip?)
    • From Kyoto University to Kyoto Station (single trip?)
    22 March:
    • From Kyoto Station to Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum
    (I need more help here as I can’t find much information on how to get to the museum? Also should I travel from Kyoto to the Musuem or from Osaka to the Musuem?)
    23 March:
    • From Kyoto Station to Kiyomizu-dera Temple + subterranean Tainai-Meguri + Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka
    • Return to Kyoto Station Then to OSAKA Station (exit Shinsaibashi)
    • From Osaka Shinsaibashi to Osaka Kid Plaza or Osaka Castle (both way)
    24 March:
    • From Osaka Shinsaibashi to Osaka aquarium Kaiyukan
    • From Osaka aquarium Kaiyukan to Dotombori
    • From Dotombori to Osaka Shinsaibashi
    25 March:
    • From Osaka Shinsaibashi to Kanzai Airport (using the return ticket I purchased from ICOACA Pass)
    Should I take Kanzai Thu Pass 2 day for 24 and 25 March? I assume it cover my fare from Kyoto to Osaka?
    May I know if the above planning on transport fare will be the most economy way?

    Thank you!

    • JPRail says:
      January 4, 2014 at 8:00 am

      Hi Mary,

      I recommend you the following:

      20 March:
      • From Kanzai Airport to Kyoto Station:
      Do I use JR Karuka Kansai Airport Limited Express via Haruka and ICOCA Card Package
      (thus this pass cover the return trip from Osaka Station to Kanzai Airport?)
      • From Kyoto Station to Nishiki Market (single trip?)
      • From Nishiki Market to Kyoto Station (single trip?)

      You can use ICOCA and Haruka round trip ticket. Trip to Kyoto station will be covered fully. And you can use ICOCA e-money card to get Nishiki Market by city bus single fare.

      21 March:
      • From Kyoto Station to Kyoto University (single trip?)
      • From Kyoto University to Kyoto Station (single trip?)
      Just take city bus by single fare. ICOCA cannot be used for Kyoto city bus.

      22 March:
      • From Kyoto Station to Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum
      (I need more help here as I can’t find much information on how to get to the museum? Also should I travel from Kyoto to the Musuem or from Osaka to the Musuem?)

      You can take JR limited express Thunderbird to Fukui and take Echizen Railway from Fukui station to Katsuyama station. After that you have to take bus to the museum at 100 yen.
      Map from Kyoto to Katsuyama station via Fukui
      https://goo.gl/maps/dkYy3
      Bus departs at 11:00 and 11:21 for 15 minutes.
      You can find bus timetable at the following link:
      http://www.dinosaur.pref.fukui.jp/guide/access.html
      The first table (white and pink) to to Museum. Next one is to Katsuyama station. You can find the schedule to use Google map as I share link above. Or you can use Hyperdia.
      https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html

      23 March:
      • From Kyoto Station to Kiyomizu-dera Temple + subterranean Tainai-Meguri + Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka
      • Return to Kyoto Station Then to OSAKA Station (exit Shinsaibashi)
      • From Osaka Shinsaibashi to Osaka Kid Plaza or Osaka Castle (both way)

      Take city bus from Kyoto station to the spots in Kyoto. You may be able to use Kyoto City All Day Pass at 500 yen.
      http://www.city.kyoto.jp/koho/eng/access/transport.html

      For Kyoto – Osaka – Shinsaibashi, you can use ICOCA e-money.
      You can use ICOCA to take subway in Osaka as well.

      24 March:
      • From Osaka Shinsaibashi to Osaka aquarium Kaiyukan
      • From Osaka aquarium Kaiyukan to Dotombori
      • From Dotombori to Osaka Shinsaibashi

      Use Osaka Eco Card.
      http://www.kotsu.city.osaka.lg.jp/foreign/english/ticket/convenient.html
      And you can find some more info about Osaka at the following:
      https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-osaka-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html

      25 March:
      • From Osaka Shinsaibashi to Kanzai Airport (using the return ticket I purchased from ICOACA Pass)
      You can take Haruka from Tennoji. Tennoji-Kansai airport trip is fully covered. But you have to take subway to get Tennoji from Shinsaibashi.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  9. Sue says:
    January 4, 2014 at 2:12 am

    Hi Takeshi San,

    We are planning a 7 day trip in Japan the very first time with our 6 year old daughter in/out of Narita airport via N’EX in late May, 2014. Tickets are purchased.

    Staying 5 nights in Shinjuku and 1 night/ 2 days on that weekend in Oasaka just to meet my college friends. Is it worth it to obtain the 7day JR pass in our case?

    Not sure if we still need to get some kind of unlimited metro/subway pass getting around the cities and the 1-2 days of unlimited pass in Osaka in addition to the JR pass. If so, what would you suggest us to get?

    Thank you!

  10. RM says:
    December 25, 2013 at 3:25 am

    Hey Takeshi,

    I hope you can shed some light for me. I’ll reach narita airport on the 16th of Jan 2014, after exchanging my JR pass, i NEED to make seat reservation for the trip from UENO – SAPPORO right?

    After consulting hyperdia,com i found out that it has basic fare and seat fare, does my JR pass covers both of it? and do you think it’ll be hard to reserve a seat a day before my departure date to SAPPORO?

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