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. Heng Ou says:

    Hello Takeshi san,

    I will be traveling alone with my 3 children July 24-Aug 31st.

    We arrive into Tokyo July 24th, 3:20 PM and would like to go to Kyoto and Hokkaido to explore the food.

    We are flexible and would like to travel to the locations as quick as possible. Your suggestions are welcomed.

    Thank you,
    Heng

    • Hi Heng san,

      Are you staying in Japan more than 1 month? If so, you can do whatever you like. You have lots of time. If you meant you will stay in Japan from July 24 to July 31, you should move among the cities as quick as possible. You should take the flight. Please see the link below to find the trip time to Hokkaido.
      https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7to9-days/sample-itinerary-of-staying-in-osaka-kyoto-and-osaka-8-days.html

      And also you should make sure which part of Hokkaido where you go. Hokkaido is a big island. If you intend to visit eastern and/or northern Hokkaido, such as Kushiro, Abashiri, Shiretoko, Wakkanai, you have lots of time.

      If you want to save your cost and do not mind to spend many minutes, you can use JR pass to move among Kyoto, Tokyo and Hokkaido. But if you want to save your time, you should take a domestic flight among Tokyo, Osaka and Sapporo (or other airports in Hokkaido).

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Heng Ou says:

        Thank you for your quick reply.

        No, we are only there for 7 days. I just purchased the 7 days J Rail pass. I would like to know the stations to catch the trains and to use the rail pass.

        July 24 – Tokyo – Kyoto (arrive into Narita 3:20 PM)
        July 24 – 27 – Kyoto
        July 27 – 29 – Hokkaido
        July 29 – July 31 – Tokyo

        Thank you for your time,
        Heng

        • Hi Heng san,

          You can take Narita Express from Narita airport to Shinagawa, Shinkansen (Hikari) from Shinagawa to Kyoto. It take about 4 hours in total. But you will spend other 1.5 to 2 hours to clear custom and immigration, baggage pick up and exchange JR pass. You can get Kyoto anyway but it may be late.

          As per my previous reply, Kyoto to Hokkaido is such a big trip. You will spend one whole day on July 27. And you go back to Tokyo on July 29. So you have only 1.5 days in Hokkaido. Probably Sapporo and Hakodate are enough. Even one place, Hakodate or Sapporo is more comfortable.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Putra says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    We (3adult + 3 teen+ 1child) will traveling to Japan june 23 – july 5..

    Please give me a suggestion about my itinerary and pass require which cover the trip :
    Day 1 : KIX – Hiroshima – Miyajima – Hiroshima
    Day 2 : Hiroshima – Osaka
    Day 3 : Osaka Seightseeing
    Day 4 : Osaka (USJ)
    Day 5 : Osaka – Shirakawago – Osaka
    Day 6 : Osaka – Kyoto
    Day 7 : Kyoto – Tokyo (Sumida)
    Day 8 : Tokyo – Hokone – Gotemba – Tokyo
    Day 9 : Explore Tokyo
    Day 10 : Tokyo (Disneyland)
    Day 11 : Explore Tokyo
    Day 11 : Departure From Narita Int Airport

  3. Koko says:

    Hello! I’m wondering if getting a 7 day JR Pass would be best for my trip in June? 2 Adults, we would get a JR Pass and then in Tokyo pay extra fares after the 7 days.

    Itinerary:
    June 7: Arrive at Haneda, Tokyo 6:20pm
    – Stay the night in Tokyo
    June 8: Start in Tokyo, End in Kyoto
    – Sight Seeing
    June 9: Kyoto
    – Sight Seeing
    – Fushimi Inari Taisha
    June 10: Start in Kyoto, End in Osaka
    -Sight Seeing
    June 11: Osaka, Half day trip to Nara
    – Nara-koen park
    – Sight Seeing
    June 12: Start in Osaka, End in Tokyo
    – Sight Seeing
    – Toshima
    – Shinjuku
    June 13:Tokyo
    – Sight Seeing
    – Akihabra
    – Chiyoda
    June 14:Tokyo
    – Sight Seeing
    – Studio Ghibli tour
    – Shibuya
    June 15: Leave Haneda, Tokyo 9:50pm
    – Sight Seeing
    – Tsukiji Fish Market
    – Temples

    Thanks in advance for your help!

  4. Joanne T Rosmarino says:

    Hi!
    Pls feel free re arrange my route if it would maximise our time. I will be with my 2 sons.

    Thank you.

  5. Joanne T Rosmarino says:

    Hi!
    I have this route. Pls see if you can help me out:
    Dec 20 – travel to Sapporo/Hokkaido and visit
    Odori Park, Moerenuma Park, Ishiya Factory, Mt. Moiwa, Sappor White Illumination
    Dec. 23 – travel to Tokyo and visit Mr. Fuji, Ramen Museum, Akihabara and shopping
    Dec. 26 – travel to Nagoya and visit Nabana no Sato and Shirakawa go
    Dec. 28 – travel to Osaka and visit USJ
    Dec. 30 – back to my country

    Thank you!

  6. Cozette says:

    Hi! We are planning to go to Japan on Dec. 24-Jan. 2 or 3. My kids want to experience snow so I guess Hokkaido is the place for them. Am I right? Places I wanted to go are Tokyo( including Disneysea), Hokkaido( Sapporo), Osaka(including Universal). Can you help me make an itinerary for our trip? I have one in mind but I really don’t know if it’s possible. I’ll just follow your suggestion since you’re an expert at this. Thanks in advance.

  7. Wai says:

    Hi Takeshi San,

    I have plans to travel to Japan for 11 days. Can you suggest which pass should i use / purchase? My itinerary is as follows : –

    Day 1 – Arrival at Narita and go to Hakodate
    Day 2 – Hakodate
    Day 3 – Hakodate – Tokyo
    Day 4 – Tokyo Disneyland
    Day 5 – Explore Tokyo
    Day 6 – Tokyo – Osaka (day trip to kyoto)
    Day 7 – Osaka (day trip to Nara & explore Osaka)
    Day 8 – Osaka – Tokyo
    Day 9 – Explore Tokyo
    Day 10 – Explore Tokyo
    Day 11 – Tokyo – Narita

    Thank you very much in advance!

  8. Mutuza says:

    Dear Takashi San,

    Hope you are well… I plan to visit Japan in June and this is my Itinerary, could you please suggest the best train pass I should buy, is 7 days JR pass worth?

    Day 1 – Arrive Tokyo at 7 am, explore Tokyo
    Day 2 – Tokyo Site seeing
    Day 3 – Disney
    Day 4 – Mt. Fuji, back to Tokyo in the evening
    Day -5,6,7,8,9 – Explore Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Kobe & Nara
    Day 10 – Depart from Kansai airport

  9. Vani says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    Please give me a suggestion about my itinerary :
    Day 1 haneda (arrived at 08.50) and go to hokkaido (sapporo) using JR
    Day 2 explore sapporo – hakodate
    Day 3 sapporo -> osaka
    Day 4 osaka -> kyoto
    Day 5 explore kyoto
    Day 6 mt. Fuji kawaguchiko/hakone
    Day 7 shirakawa go + shopping time
    Day 8 disney sea -> tokyo
    Day 9 explore tokyo
    Day 10 explore tokyo
    Day 11 departure haneda

    I have plan for using 7day JR Pass from Day 1 – 7 and for last 3 days use Tokyo subway pass. Is it okay? Or any other suggestion??

    Thanks

    • Hi Vani san,

      You may use JR pass for the first 7 days if you get Tokyo on day 7. You don’t need subway pass for day 8. You cannot get Disney Resort by subway. 48 hours pass for day 9 and 10 is okay.

      By the way, it is very hard on day 1 and 3. It will be such a long trip. If you do it, please see the link below and keep it in your mind:
      https://jprail.com/destinations/hokkaido-area/how-to-get-sapporo.html

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Vani says:

        Hi Takeshi-san,

        Please give me a suggestion about my new itinerary :
        Day 1 : Haneda – Tokyo – Osaka (using willer bus – night at bus)
        Day 2 : Osaka (using OAP)
        Day 3 : Osaka – Kyoto – Osaka (using Osaka Kyoto Seightseeing 1 Day Pass)
        Day 4 : Osaka – Tokyo – Sapporo (Day 1 using JR Pass)
        Day 5 : Sapporo – Hakkodate
        Day 6 : Hakkodate – Tokyo
        Day 7 : Tokyo – Kawaguchiko (Shibazakura)
        Day 8 : Hokone – Gotemba – Tokyo
        Day 9 : Explore Tokyo
        Day 10 : Explore Tokyo
        Day 11 : Departure From Haneda Int Airport

        Or

        Day 1 : Haneda – Tokyo
        Day 2 : Tokyo – Kawaguchiko to see Shibazakura Festival (using Fuji Hakone Pass 2 Days)
        Day 3 : Hakone – Gotemba – Tokyo
        Day 4 : Tokyo – Sapporo (Starting using 7Days JR Pass)
        Day 5 : Sapporo – Hakodate
        Day 6 : Hakodate – Tokyo
        Day 7 : Tokyo – Osaka
        Day 8 : Osaka – Kyoto – Osaka
        Day 9 : Osaka – Tokyo
        Day 10 : Explore Tokyo
        Day 11 : Departure Haneda Int Airport

        1. Is it okay for the second option we are not using our JR Pass but buy Fuji Hakone Pass starting from Odawara?
        2. The last day we go to Haneda airport is not covered by JR Pass, any suggestion the way to go there?

        Thanks for response.

        Regards.

        • Hi Vani san,

          I think option 2 is better. Option 1 is too much day 4 and 5. You don’t have enough time to see Sapporo.

          If you do option 2, why don’t you use Fuji Hakone Pass from Shinjuku? You don’t have any passes to get Odawara. You should use it from Shinjuku.

          There is no deals to get Haneda. It’s very close and use regular fare to get there.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

          • vani says:

            Hi Takeshi san,

            Thanks for your quick response.

            How about if I change the itinerary like this :

            Day 1 : Haneda – Tokyo
            Day 2 : Tokyo – Sapporo (Starting using JR Pass)
            Day 3 : Sapporo – Hakodate
            Day 4 : Hakodate – Tokyo
            Day 5 : Tokyo – Kyoto – Osaka (stay in Osaka)
            Day 6 : Osaka – Tokyo
            Day 7 : Tokyo – Lake Kawaguchi to see Fuji Shibazakura
            Day 8 : Lake Kawaguchi – Gotemba – Tokyo
            Day 9 and 10 : Explore Tokyo
            Day 11 : Tokyo – Haneda

            Honestly I am little bit confused to make this itinerary. So please help me to give the suggestion which route more effective.

            In Day 7 and 8, Is there any Bus Pass we can use that cheaper than we using Fuji Hakone Pass? I have read that Bus 1 day pass price around ¥550. Could you please tell me what kind of Bus Pass it is? How can we buy it?

            Or could you mind to give me the calculation with or without using Fuji Hakone Pass if we follow your sample itinerary 2 Days in Kawaguchi and Hakone.

            Thanks you very much for the response.

            Regards,
            Vani

            • Hi Vani,

              I recommend you to change the itinerary as follows:

              Day 6 Osaka – Odawara – Gotemba – Lake Kawaguchi
              Day 7 Lake Kawaguchi – Shibazakura – Tokyo

              Odawara is the gateway to Gotemba. It is located on the way to Tokyo. You don’t need to go to Tokyo before visiting Gotemba and Lake Kawaguchi. You can save your time.

              I have never heard the bus pass at 550 yen. It’s impossible to cover Gotemba and Lake Kawaguchi at 550 yen. Fuji Hakone Pass from Odawara is your choice. You can use JR pass after visiting Lake Kawaguchi because Fuji Hakone Pass Odawara does not cover Lake Kawaguchi to Tokyo.

              Cheers,

              Takeshi / JPRail.com

  10. mi_nt says:

    Hello Takeshi-san,
    I want to ask some questions. I plan to travel to Japan from mid-May to early of June (for 13 days). My rough initial itinerary is:

    Day 1 (22 May – Tuesday): Land at Osaka’s Kansai airport, ride JR train to Tokyo, stay there for 6 days

    (I read somewhere that JR trains from Osaka-Tokyo may not run on Tuesdays, it makes me worry as I’m set to arrive at Kansai aiport on Tuesday and want to board the train to Tokyo maybe just one hour after my arrival, can you make that clear for me?)

    Day 6 (27 May – Sunday): Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto by JR train
    Spend another 4 days in Kyoto

    Day 9 (May 30 – Wednesday): Go to Osaka (by normal train)

    Day 13 (June 3): Go to Kansai airport, return to my country

    I intend to buy 7-day JP pass to save money. Though I travel at a pretty tight budget, if possible, I want to visit other cities/sights in addition to those 3, especially while I’m in Tokyo. Do you have any suggestions?

    Thank you very much in advance!

Copied title and URL