Sample itinerary Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hokkaido 10 days by JR Pass 7-day

Night view form Mt.Hakodate ©Hokkaido Tourism Organization/© JNTO10 to 13 days
Night view form Hakodate mountain (C) Hokkaido Tourism Organization / JNTO
Clock Tower is Sapporo’s icon.

In this post, I would like to share the itinerary which covers Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hokkaido. It is 10 days trip plan but you can make this trip by JR pass 7-day. Some local deals are added at the beginning and the end of the trip to shrink the total cost. But JR pass covers all long distance trips. Actually JR Pass 7-day gives you huge saving. Please find the itinerary below.

Day 1 Narita or Haneda to Tokyo

Keisei Railway Skyliner
Keisei Railway Skyliner is the fastest train other than the Shinkansen. This is the best way to get Ueno from Narita.

There are many kinds of deals available. Before you choose the deal, you have to make sure which airport, Narita airport or Haneda airport, you will arrive and which place in Tokyo you will stay. The following links shows you the deals for airport to Tokyo and airport Tokyo with subway ride combo.

Ueno is very convenient if you arrive in Narita. You can access to Ueno directly by Keisei railway from Narita airport. Especially limited express “Skyliner” is the fastest way to get downtown Tokyo. Ueno is Keisei railway’s terminal station. Ueno is also accessible to Akihabara, Shinjuku, Asakusa, Tokyo Skytree. Average hotel rate is more reasonable than most of places in downtown Tokyo.

Shinagawa is most accessible place in downtown Tokyo from Haneda. You can get Shinagawa from Haneda by Keihin Kyuko railway directly. Average hotel rate is not so reasonable actually. But you can catch the Shinkansen to Kyoto at Shinagawa. This is a big asset to stay in Shinagawa. There is no subway station but you can catch JR local trains, such as Yamanote line. You can get Akihabara, Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku Yurakucho (Ginza) directly by Yamanote line.

Day 2 Tokyo

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

You may use the airport access + subway 24 hours ride pass. In this case, you can use subway pass for sightseeing in Tokyo. You may learn the train route and system in downtown Tokyo in the link below:

If you want to stay in Tokyo more, you can extend to stay as many as you want. You start using JR pass when you leave Tokyo and use other deal before that anyway.

Day 3 Tokyo – Kyoto

Kinkakuji temple in Kyoto ©Akira Okada/©JNTO
Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto ©Akira Okada/©JNTO

This is the first day of using JR pass. JR pass can be exchanged in advance. You can exchange JR pass on day 1 when you arrive in Narita or Haneda airport if you want. There are service counters and you can exchange and book a seat. Once you turn in the actual pass, you can start booking your seat. I recommend you to exchange in advance.

You can take Hikari on the Tokaido Shinkansen. Hikari is second fastest train on Tokaido Shinkansen. Nozomi is the fastest but it is not covered by JR Pass. Please see the timetable in the link below.

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

If you want to spend the time in Kyoto as much as you can, please try to take the train as early as possible. It takes 3 hours to get Kyoto by Hikari. But when you take the Shinkansen, you have to get the Shinkansen terminal station which is Tokyo station or Shinagawa station. If you stay near one of these stations, you can take the Shinkansen very smoothly. But if you do not stay near these stations, you have to take a local train or subway. You might know how crazy a local train is in downtown Tokyo during the morning peak hours. Please try to avoid to take local trains between 7:30 and 9:00 if you leave Tokyo on weekday. If you leave there on Saturday, Sunday or holiday, it is not an issue.

If you stay in Ueno, you may take the Shinkansen for the short ride to get Tokyo station. It takes only 5 minutes. You have JR pass and it covers. Some commuters use the Shinkansen but it is not crazy busy. You can avoid to take a crazy packed commute train even if you depart in peak hours. However the Shinkansen platform is located at the deep underground in Ueno. Please expect to spend extra 5 minutes.

After arriving Kyoto, you can take JR trains in Kyoto by JR pass. Please see the link below to get the coverage information in Kyoto at the link below:

Please remember that JR pass does not cover subway, city bus and non JR trains in Kyoto. You can get Arashiyama, Nijo, Fushimi and Uji. by JR pass. But you have to take city bus, subway and/or non JR trains to get other places in Kyoto such as Gion, Kiyomizu-dera temple, Kinkaku-ji temple (Golden Pavilion), Kurama. Please see the link below to find the information about local deal in Kyoto.

Sample itinerary
Ueno 08:31 (Yamabiko 204) 08:36 Tokyo 09:03 (Tokaido Shinkansen Hikari 465) 11:49 Kyoto
Or
Shinagawa 09:10 (Tokaido Shinkansen Hikari 465) 11:49 Kyoto

Hikari between Tokyo and Kyoto runs every 30 minutes in daytime.

After arrival at Kyoto station, drop off your baggage at your hotel and eat lunch. And then you can start to explore Kyoto. I recommend you to stay near Kyoto station.

Kyoto 13:37 (JR Nara line local train) 13:42 Inari
Inari station is located just in front of Fushimi Inari shrine.

Fushimiinari 15:08 (Keihan Railway / 210 yen extra) 15:14 Kiyomizu-Gojo (Walk 1.7 km / 20 minutes) Kiyomizu-dera temple
Even if you take a bus from Kiyomizu-Gojo station, you need to walk about 1 km. There is no buses to get Kiyomizu-dera directly. If you do not walk or travel with senior, do not hesitate to take a taxi. It costs less than 1,000 yen.

Kiyomizu-dera temple (walk about 2km) Gion
There are sightseeing spots, like Sanneizaka, Ninenzaka between Kiyomizu-dera and Gion. I highly recommend you to walk to Gion. It is very scenic and lots of shops along this route. You may have dinner at Gion area. Gion is one of the biggest downtown core in Kyoto. Enjoy the atmosphere of Kyoto in Gion!

Gion (city bus 15 to 20 minutes ride / 230 yen extra) Kyoto

Day 4 Kyoto – Osaka

Autumn in Arashiyama is breathtaking. ©Akira Okada/©JNTO

You can enjoy sightseeing in Kyoto until late afternoon. After sightseeing in Kyoto, proceed to Osaka. It is very short trip from Kyoto to Osaka. Even if you take the commute rapid train, “Special Rapid Service”, it takes only 30 minutes. You can catch even Shinkansen for this short trip. It takes only 10 minutes from Kyoto to Shin-Osaka.

Shin-Osaka is most recommended place to stay in Osaka in my opinion. It is only one station away from Osaka (Umeda) by JR train.

You can catch subway to get Namba directly. But subway is not covered by JR pass. Please see the link below to find the coverage of JR pass in Osaka:

Umeda Sky Building is one of popular spots in Umeda area. ©JNTO

I show you the sample itinerary that include Arashiyama, Kinaku-ji temple (Golden Pavilion) and Umeda.

Sample itinerary
Kyoto 09:03 (JR Sagano line local train) 09:12 Enmachi 09:21 (city bus #204 / 230 yen extra) 09:30 Kinkakujimichi (walk 5 minutes) Kinaku-ji temple
You have one hour to view Golden Pavilion.
*Leave your baggage at your hotel and pick up when you leave Kyoto later.

Kinkaku-ji temple (walk 5 minutes) Kinakujimichi 10:59 (city bus #204 / 230 yen extra) 11:08 Enmachi 11:15 (JR Sagano line local train) 11:19 Saga-Arashiyama

You have 4.5 hours in Arashiyama for sightseeing and lunch time. If you want, you can squeeze Sagano Scenic Train (Torokko train). Sagano Scenic Train is not covered by JR Pass.

Saga-Arashiyama 15:48 (JR Sagano line local train) 16:04 Kyoto
Pick up your luggage before you take Shinkansen train when you leave Kyoto.

Kyoto 16:49 (Tokaido Shinkansen Hikari 475) 17:03 Shin-Osaka

You can take earlier or later train. Even if you take Special Rapid train (commute rapid service train), it takes less than 30 minutes to get Shin-Osaka from Kyoto and it runs every 15 minutes. Of course you can take this train by JR pass. However Special Rapid is always busy.

After you arrive in Shin-Osaka, drop off your baggage at your hotel and go to Umeda. Umeda is same location as JR Osaka station. It is only one station away from Shin-Osaka and it takes 5 minutes. Train runs almost every 5 minutes until midnight.

Day 5 Osaka – Tokyo

Dotonbori(道頓堀) is most popular spot in downtown Osaka.
Dotonbori(道頓堀) is most popular spot in downtown Osaka.

You enjoy full day sightseeing in Osaka. You have to leave Osaka for Tokyo because Hokkaido is very far to access from Osaka. But you can stay in Osaka until dinner time. I show you the sample itinerary that includes Kaiyukan Aquarium, Osaka Castle, Dotonbori and Namba. But you can build your own day plan.

Sample itinerary
Before starting trip, purchase Osaka Kaiyu ticket (2,550 yen) at subway Shin-Osaka station. This deal includes admission of Kaiyukan aquarium and 1 day subway unlimited ride.

Trip to Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium by Osaka Kaiyu Ticket

Shin-Osaka 09:25 (Osaka Subway Midosuji line) 09:36 Hommachi 09:42 (Osaka Subway Chuo line) 09:53 Osakako (walk 10 minutes) Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium
Enjoy Aquarium and eat lunch at Tenpozan Marketplace.
*Leave your baggage at your hotel before you leave for Tokyo.

Osakako 13:26 (Osaka Subway Chuo line) 13:41 Tanimachiyonchome
Tanimachiyonchome station is located beside Osaka Castle Park. But this park is quite big. You have to walk around 20 minutes to get the castle.

Osaka Business Park 15:41 (Osaka Subway Nagano/Tsurumiryokuchi line) 15:51 Shinsaibashi
Osaka Business Park station is also located beside Osaka castle park. You can get Shinsaibashi directly. After arrival at Shinsaibashi, enjoy eat and shop in Dotonbori and Namba.

19:40 (Osaka Subway Midosuji line) 19:53 Shin-Osaka 20:37 (Tokaido Shinkansen Hikari 482) 23:36 Tokyo
Pick up your baggage before you go to Tokyo.
*Hikari runs almost every 30 minutes. This above train is the last Hikari to Tokyo. You can take earlier train if you want to get Tokyo earlier. I just maximize to stay in Osaka. You stay in Tokyo on day 5 but you just stay there and prepare to take early train to Hokkaido next morning.

Overnight train option from Osaka to Tokyo

JR pass covers “Nobi Nobi seat” of the overnight train Sunrise Izumo and Sunrise Seto fully. If you use this train, you can save the cost of hotel in Tokyo and you also can maximize your time in Osaka. Because this train departs from Osaka after midnight. Please find the timetable and the information of Sunrize Izumo and Seto in the link below:

As I mentioned in the post above, it is not easy to book a space on Sunrise Izumo or Seto. You must book it after you arrive in Japan. All spaces may be booked out. You must have a back up plan if you plan to take this train. For example, you book a hotel which you can cancel in 3 days without any cancellation charge. You may try to book a space when you arrive in Japan. If you can make it, cancel a hotel. If you cannot make it, just hold the space at the hotel in Tokyo. It is not hard to find the hotel which allows you to cancel without any charges in 3 days.

Day 6 Tokyo – Lake Toya

Lake Toya has nice Onsen resort (C) Toyako Tourist Association / JNTO

It is such a long trip by train. You spend 6 hours on board. After arriving Toyako Onsen (Lake Toya), enjoy lake cruise or walk along the lake shore. Lake Toya is one of the popular hot spring resorts. There are lots of hotels along the lake shore.

You can skip Lake Toya and stay in Noboribetsu if you want. You make a stop at Noboribetsu next day. But if you stay in Noboribetsu, you can leave Noboribetsu earlier and make some extra time in Otaru or Sapporo.

I do not recommend you to stop at Lake Toya and then move to Noboribetsu on day 6. There are express bus running between Lake Toya and Noboribetsu. But no bus is available after 15:00. If you use train from Lake Toya to Noboribetsu, you have to take local bus to Toya station and then take train. And then you need to take local bus to Noboribetsu. You need to spend extra minutes and waste your time.

Sample itinerary
Tokyo 08:20 (Hokkaido Shinkansen Hayabusa 5) 12:22 Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto 12:34 (Limited Express Super Hokuto 11) 14:09 Toya 14:20 (Donan Bus / extra 330 yen) 14:40 Toyako Onsen

If you skip Lake Toya and stay in Noboribetsu, the itinerary is the following:
Tokyo 08:20 (Hokkaido Shinkansen Hayabusa 5) 12:22 Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto 12:34 (Limited Express Super Hokuto 11) 14:50 Noboribetsu 15:20 (Donan Bus / extra 340 yen) 15:34 Noboribetsu Onsen

You will change trains at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. You can find some more information about this station in the link below:

I traveled Lake Toya and Noboribetsu before. You can find my trip report in the link below:

Day 7 Lake Toya – Noboribetsu – Otaru – Sapporo

Noboribetsu Jigokudani means hell valley (C) Noboribetsu Tourist Association / JNTO

Leave Lake Toya by express bus for Noboribetsu Onsen. You have a quick stop at Noboribetsu Onsen and see the valley of hell. It is just step away from the bus stop in Noboribetsu Onsen. You also spend a few hours for sightseeing in Otaru.

Otaru Canal (C)Y. Shimizu
Otaru Canal is the highlight of Otaru city. (C)Y. Shimizu

You stay in Sapporo and enjoy the evening there.

Sample itinerary
Toyako Onsen 09:06 (Donan Bus “Express Iburi” / extra 1,700 yen) 10:11 Noboribetsu Onsen 12:00 (Donan Bus / extra 340 yen) 12:12 Noboribetsu 12:35 (Limited Express Super Hokuto 7) 13:48 Sapporo 14:13 (Rapid Airport) 14:45 Otaru 18:30 (Rapid Airport) 19:02 Sapporo

If you skip Lake Toya and stay in Noboribetsu on day 6, you can leave Noboribetsu earlier. The itinerary is the following:
Noboribetsu Onsen 09:45 (Donan Bus / extra 340 yen) 09:57 Noboribetsu 10:09 (Limited Express Hokuto 3) 11:27 Sapporo 11:43 (Rapid Airport) 12:15 Otaru 17:30 (Rapid Airport) 18:02 Sapporo

You can skip Otaru and spend more time in Sapporo if you like.

Day 8 Sapporo – Hakodate

Night view form Mt.Hakodate ©Hokkaido Tourism Organization/© JNTO
Night view form Hakodate mountain (C) Hokkaido Tourism Organization / JNTO

You spend the time in Sapporo until late afternoon. The last train to Hakodate is 20:00 departure. However night view from Hakodate mountain is marvelous. I recommend you to arrive Hakodate by 20:00 because Hakodate mountain gondola is operated until 21:00 in winter time and 22:00 in summer time.

The train in the following sample is the latest train to see the night view from Hakodate mountain. And also I recommend you to stay in the hotel near Hakodate station. You can drop off your luggage right after arrival in Hakodate. And catch the taxi to get Hakodate mountain ropeway station.

Sample itinerary
Sapporo 15:39 (Super Hokuto 18) 19:24 Hakodate
Hakodate (10 minutes by taxi / extra fare about 2,000 yen) Hakodate mountain gondola station
*You can take tram to Jujigai from Hakodate station and walk from there to gondola station. You spend 210 yen only but you spend 10 minutes for tram and 15 minutes to walk.

When I visited Hakodate, I stayed in Hotel Route Inn Hakodate.

hotel route inn hakodate
Hotel Route Inn Grantia Hakodate Ekimae

It was not a high-end hotel but the rate is very affordable and the location is just next to Hakodate station. This hotel is highly recommended.

Day 9 Hakodate – Tokyo

Goryokaku is one of the best spots to see cherry blossom in Hokkaido. (C) JNTO

Enjoy sightseeing in Hakodate and leave for Tokyo by Hokkaido.

This is the last day of JR pass. You have to get Tokyo by midnight. There is no overnight trains available either.

Sample itinerary
Hakodate 18:01 (Rapid Hakodate Liner) 18:23 Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto 18:36 (Hokkaido Shinkansen Hayabusa 38) 23:04 Tokyo
I picked the last train to Tokyo. But you can take earlier train. Please check the timetable in the link below:

JR East official site – the timetable

You can get off the train at Ueno if you go to Narita on next day.

Day 10 Tokyo to Narita or Haneda

If you use round trip deal on arrival day, you can use the remaining portion. Otherwise single fare is your choice to get the airport.

How much you can save

The total fare during 7 days when you use JR pass is more than 90,000 yen. You can save more than 60,000 yen.

Even if you use 14-day pass, you still can save about 50,000 yen. In this sample itinerary, I use 7-day pass and I recommend you to use other deal for day 1, 2 and 10. The extra cost for these 3 days is around 5,000 yen. It is not a good idea to use JR pass 14-day.

If you want to make the trip be longer

As I mentioned, even if you use JR pass 14-day, you have already to get the worth of that by this trip. So you can use 14-day JR pass and add any places. But if you just want to extend your stay in Tokyo, simply add subway ticket on this trip plan. 14-day JR pass is not very efficient in Tokyo and just wasting money.

I hope you have got some idea from this post.

Comments

  1. Selphia says:

    Hi Takeshi-san.

    I want to ask some things if u dont mind. I plan to travel to japan by february next year for about 12 days (minus 2 days for travel between country). My rough initial itinerary as follows:

    -Land at tokyo then straight to sapporo
    -Sapporo maybe about 3 days
    -Back to tokyo, stay about 2 days
    – I haven’t decide how many days i would stay but i plan to go to see kawazu sakura, shirakawago, and takayama
    – Kyoto day trip
    -Osaka 2 days
    – Nara+Kobe day trip

    My questions are:
    1. I plan to buy 7 days JR pass. I’m still not sure whether to use it on the first day or to use it later when I travel back to Tokyo from Sapporo. Assuming that if I have to use it later, means I have to spend extra to buy domestic plane ticket to Sapporo. But if I use it on the first day, I’m still not sure how to travel around for the rest of the days without spending too much money on transport. Any suggestions?

    2. I still haven’t bought my plane ticket, but I make this itinerary with starting at Tokyo and end at Osaka in my mind. If I somehow ended with return ticket to Tokyo, how would u suggest my travel route? With my intention to still going Sapporo on first day since I want to see the snow festival there

    That’s all the questions I have in mind at the moment. Might ask again later if I still have question. Hope u can help me. Thanks!

  2. stella says:

    Hi,Takeshi-san

    My family and I are plainning to go to Japan around late-May orJune, I would like to ask you the most effective way to use my 7-day JR Pass.

    Here’s my itenary:
    Day 1 – Osaka
    Day 2 – Kyoto-Nara
    Day 3 – Kobe
    Day 4 – Toyama
    Day 5 – Tokyo
    Day 6-10 – Hokkaido

    I will go back by Shin-Chitose airport. Is my itenary effective enough to use my JR Pass? If you know a better way to use my JR, please do tell me.

    Thank you.

    • Hi Stella san,

      JR pass covers your trip and most cost effective way. Even if you leave from New Chitose airport, it’s no problem. You can get a great saving by JR pass.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi

  3. Murtuza says:

    Hi, I’m planning a trip to Japan in June for 15 days with my family of 4 ( Kids 3 & 9 years old).. The places that I would like to cover is Tokyo, Mt.Fuji, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima & Hokkaido.. Please can you suggest if 15 days are enough for this and how should I plan my itinerary using JR pass?

    Thanks in anticipation.

  4. Kimberly says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,
    I be traveling to Japan for 16 days for honeymoon from 27Mar to 11Apr. Shall we get the 14 day JR or 21 day JR pass ? Or get only 7 day JR plus Kansai pass ?
    Our tentatively planned itenary is as follows :
    -27 Mar 16:55 reach Sapporo
    Planning to stay in Sapporo from 27 Mar to 29 Mar ( Any recommendation on must visit / to do)
    – And will travel to Hakodate by train to stay from 29 Mar to 30 Mar (Any recommendation on must visit / to do)
    Hakodate to Tokyo by train on 30mar
    – Tokyo to stay for 2 days 30 mar to 1 Apr (Any recommendation on must visit / to do)
    Qn: can JR pass be used in Tokyo subway ?
    – travel to Kyoto via train 1 Apr to 3 Apr (Any recommendation on must visit / to do)
    Qn: can JR pass be used in subway ?
    -travel to Osaka 4 Apr to 11Apr? should we have side trip to Kobe / Himeji or stay at the individual place ? ( is it too many days ? Or shall we explore other parts of Japan that we had missed in planning ?
    Qn: can JR pass be used in subway ?
    Our departure flight is in Osaka on 11Apr 3.30pm.
    Wondering if we can catch Sakura ?

  5. chermaine says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I will be going to Japan for the first time in end March, Ive read a lot about the transaportation cards/ passes available and I am still very confused.. This is my itinerary and hope to get your advice on the type of passes I should use for each day.. thank you..

    Day 1:
    _ From KIX to Osaka (I am thinking of using the Nankai Railway 890yen)
    – Namba area (I stay at a hotel near namba station)
    – Tennoji – abeno harukas
    – Tennoji – shinsekai
    – Back to hotel

    Day 2:
    – From namba to Osaka castle
    – Umeda sky building (should I use amazing Osaka pass here)

    Day 3:
    – Osaka aquarium
    – Tempozan giant ferris wheel

    Day 4:
    – Kuromon ichiba market
    – Minami area
    – Dotombori

    Day 5:
    – Day trip to Nara from namba

    Day 6:
    – OSJ

    Day 7 to Day 9 (staying at kyoto station):

    Day 10:
    – Osaka shopping (thinking of using rainbox card, but can i get a refund for the amount not used?)

    Day 11: from Namba station to KIX

    thank you for your time and hope to hear from you soon!

  6. Maricon says:

    Follow up questions:

    Can you please suggest a place to visit in those area with the amount of time that we have?

    Thank you so much!

  7. Maricon says:

    Hi Takeshi!

    I would like to ask for some help. We will be traveling to Japan on December.

    Dec 26- 3:30pm arrival in Osaka. But we have to depart from Haneda on January 3 as we want to celebrate our new year in Tokyo.

    Places that we want to visit are: Osaka, Kyoto, Sapporo and Tokyo. We have to be in Tokyo on Dec 31 to celebrate new years eve.

    Any suggestions on how are we going to plan the trip? And do you think we need to buy the JR pass for this trip? Been trying to make an itinerary but i am having a hard time.

    Thank you in advance!

    • Hi Maricon,

      Sapporo is quite far from Tokyo by train. Please see the link below:
      https://jprail.com/destinations/hokkaido-area/how-to-get-sapporo.html

      I recommend you take a domestic flight from Osaka to Sapporo and Sapporo to Tokyo. So move from Sapporo to Tokyo on 31 Dec and spend the rest of the day in Tokyo until the end of your trip. So you need to manage Osaka, Kyoto and Sapporo from Dec 26 to 31.

      I don’t recommend you to put Sapporo at the last of your trip, If you do so, you need to go back to Tokyo on Jan 3. All domestic transportation will be super busy on this day.

      If you take a domestic flight, you don’t need JR pass. At this point, your trip plan has not completed yet. Please make sure how you manage your trip first.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  8. Main says:

    We are travelling to Japan/Tokyo on 23rd March 2018 and leave Japan/Osaka on 1sth Apr 2018.
    What is the best way to plan our trip? We think of visiting these places:
    Tokyo + short trips (any recommendation?)
    Hakone and surrounding (Mt Fuji)
    Takayama/Kanazawa (one or both)
    Kyoto + short trips (any recommendation?)
    Osaka
    Thank you,

  9. Benito says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    Thank you again in advance for your help.

    Below are the trains I am planning to take first using a 7-day JR Pass, then later on a Kansai Area Pass:

    [JR 7-DAY PASS]

    Jan 24, 2018
    Tokyo to Utsunomiya
    Shinkansen Nasuno 253
    Depart 08:28 (Track 23)
    Arrive 09:21 (Track 1)
    Utsunomiya to Nikko
    JR Nikko Line
    Depart 09:32 (Track 5)
    Arrive 10:21

    Nikko to Utsunomiya
    JR Nikko Line
    Depart 14:19
    Arrive 15:01 (Track 5)
    Utsunomiya to Tokyo
    Shinkansen Yamabiko 214
    Depart 15:20 (Track 4)
    Arrive 16:16 (Track 22)

    Jan 25, 2018
    Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto
    Shinkansen Hayabusa 5
    Depart 08:20 (Track 21)
    Arrive 12:22 (Track 12)
    Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto to Noboribetsu
    Ltd Exp Super Hokuto 11
    Depart 12:34
    Arrive 14:49

    Jan 26, 2018
    Noboribetsu to Sapporo
    Ltd Exp Super Hokuto 7
    Depart 12:36
    Arrive 13:46 (Track 5)

    Jan 27, 2018
    Sapporo to Otaru
    JR (various lines)
    Otaru to Sapporo
    JR (various lines)

    Jan 28, 2018
    Sapporo to Hakodate
    Ltd Exp Super Hokuto 4
    Depart 06:53 (Track 4)
    Arrive 10:38

    Jan 29, 2018
    Hakodate to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto
    Ltd Exp Super Hokuto 11
    Depart 12:16
    Arrive 12:33
    Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto to Omiya (Saitawa)
    Shinkansen Hayabusa 22
    Depart 12:44 (Track 11)
    Arrive 16:38
    Omiya (Saitawa) to Kanazawa
    Shinkansen Kagayaki 511
    Depart 16:50
    Arrive 18:54 (Track 12)

    Jan 30, 2018
    Kanazawa to Kyoto
    Ltd Exp Super Thunderbird 46
    Depart 19:47 (Track 1)
    Arrive 22:02 (Track 7)
    Kyoto to Osaka
    JR Special Rapid Service
    Depart 22:09 (Track 5)
    Arrive 22:37 (Track 4)
    Osaka to Himeji
    JR Special Rapid Service
    Depart 22:40 (Track 4)
    Arrive 23:45 (Track 8)

    [KANSAI AREA PASS]

    Jan 31, 2018
    Himeji to Osaka
    JR Special Rapid Service
    Depart 11:42 (Track 5)
    Arrive 12:43 (Track 8)
    Osaka to Nara
    JR Yamatoji Rapid Service
    Depart 12:58 (Track 1)
    Arrive 13:48
    Nara to Tennoji
    JR Yamatoji Line Regional Rapid Service
    Depart 17:42
    Arrive 18:15 (Track 17)
    Tennoji to Kansai Airport
    Ltd Exp Haruka 47
    Depart 18:21 (Track 15)
    Arrive 18:59

    My questions:

    1) Please double check that all my train rides are covered by my passes;

    2) For JR Pass: Do I have to reserve seats for ALL legs of my trip?

    3) For JR Pass: Can I just present my list above to a JR ticket agent and he/she will understand and make reservations for all my train rides?

    3) For JR Pass: If I have 2 options (same day, different time) for same leg of our trip (example Tokyo to Utsunomiya), can I make reservations for both train times at the same time in advance?

    4) For JR Pass: If I make reservations for all my JR train rides in advance, and later on I decide to take a different train time, do I have to cancel the reservation on the train I will not ride on?

    5) For Kansai Area Pass: Please confirm I do not have to make any reservations for this.

    Sorry for the long message. And again, thank you.

    Regards,
    Benito

    • Hi Benito,

      1. Yes. I just want to mention you one better train connection. On Jan 30, you can take Thunderbird to Shin-Osaka and catch Shinkansen Kodama to Himeji.
      Kanazawa 19:47 (Thunderbird 46) 22:26 Shin-Osaka 22:37 (Kodama 370) 23:20 Himeji

      It’s faster and you can avoid busy train. Special rapid is always busy. Even near midnight, there are still huge number of passengers on board.

      2. Recommended.

      3. Yes. But you can book online for all trains until you get Kanazawa on JR East online site:
      https://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/English/wb/common/Menu/Menu.aspx?_ga=1.4778995.1325107855.1421419524

      You need to book for Thunderbird and Kodama when you exchange the pass.

      4. Technically it’s possible but if you do so, you will take other passengers’ chance. I don’t recommend. Especially Tokyo to/from Utsunomiya is very easy to book.
      You can cancel anytime without any penalty. Just return your ticket and rebook other train. You can do it at any major JR stations’ reservation window.

      5. No. Even if you want, you cannot.
      Kansai area pass can be purchased in Himeji station. However you cannot purchase it online because you cannot exchange the pass at Himeji station. So you have to purchase it at higher price. (Online 4300 yen, window price 4500 yen)
      You need to pay 4500 yen.
      http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/kansai/

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Benito says:

        Hi Takeshi,

        Thank you as usual for the quick and detailed reply.

        Some follow up questions according to previous numbers:

        1) Thank you for the better connection on Jan 30. It’s good we can take Shinkansen instead of Special Rapid. You are even better than Hyperdia!

        3) Yes, I saw I could make the online booking at JR East website. Please confirm that I can make the booking using the “Exchange Order for JR Rail Pass” I have now even though I am not yet in Japan.

        5) That’s right. I couldn’t purchase Kansai Area Pass online because Himeji is not one of the stations that I can claim the online reservation. But please clarify the price, doesn’t the Kansai Area Pass 1-day cost 2,300 yen if I buy from Himeji (compared to 2,200 yen if online).

        Regards,
        Benito

        • Hi Benito,

          You can book your seat even if you don’t have anything yet. You will show your exchange order or JR pass when you collect your ticket. It doesn’t matter at the time of booking.

          One day pass is 2300 yen. You’re right. I mentioned you two days pass price.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

          • Benito says:

            Hi Takeshi,

            My trip is coming up in 2 days. I have some more questions for clarification :

            1. If I have 2 options for 1 leg (example below), can I do reservation on JR East website and claim both at Narita airport?

            Tokyo – Utsunomiya
            Shinkansen Nasuno 253
            Depart 08:28 (Track 23)
            Arrive 09:21 (Track 1)
            /
            Shinkansen Yamabiko 123
            Depart 07:12 (Track 22)
            Arrive 08:03 (Track 1)

            2. If yes to #1 above, how do I cancel the other reservation later, on the actual day/time of travel?

            3. Am I right? I don’t need reservations / no option of reservation in the ff:

            JR Nikko Utsonomiya
            Hakodate Liner SHH Hakodate

            4. Am I right? I need to make reservations for the ff:

            Ltd Exp
            Special Rapid Service
            Rapid Service
            Regional Rapid Service

            5. For some trains (example JR Rapid Airport travel between Sapporo & Otaru). I have no idea what time I will go. Can I just go into the train whenever I want? Or once I’m in the station, i am required to go to ticket counter and get a seat reservation?

            Sorry to have so many questions, it’s just that Japan train and pass system is quite complicated.

            Thank you again in advance.

  10. NGC says:

    Hi Takeshi-san

    I am planning to visit Japan from 22 December 2017 to 2 January 2018 and was wondering if the places mentioned in your sample itinerary (especially Lake Toya and Hokkaido area) will be worth visiting during this period. Would love to get your thoughts on any alternative places as well.

    Thank you.

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