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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Hi Takeshi!
I am planning a trip and was hoping you could take a quick look at my itinerary and help me with some of my questions
May 19-22 – Tokyo
May 22-23 – Hakone (Hakone Free Pass)
May 24-25 – Kyoto
May 26-27 – Osaka (Day trip to Nara)
May 28 – Tokyo
1) Would the JR pass be the cheapest and most efficient option?
2) Are there any edits to this you would recommend? Additional locations/day trips?
Hi Kevin,
JR Pass is the best option. You can use 7 days pass for the last 7 days of your trip.
You may use other deal in Tokyo before starting to use JR pass.
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/airport_bus/index.html
If you want to add some more places, you can visit from Tokyo only. You don’t have enough time to visit other places when you are in Osaka and Kyoto. But if you want to visit many places in Tokyo, you don’t have any extra time either in Tokyo. Kamakura, Nikko and/or Yokohama are easy to add.
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/yokohama-and-kamakura-access-guide-find-the-right-deal-and-route-from-your-place-to-stay.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/world-heritage-destinations/how-to-access-to-nikko-from-tokyo-there-are-three-ways-from-tokyo-shinjuku-and-asakusa.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi
We are a group of 4 adults trying to tour Japan on our own on a low cost budget.
24-27 March 2018 …..Tokyo, Shinjuku
27 March …. Shinjuku to Hakone ( sightsee for half a day plus onsen experience)
27 March …… Hakone to Kyoto
27th, 28 th. …..Kyoto
29th….. Osaka
30 th… fly out of Osaka international
Please can you advise how we could save on base fares, etc on this routing. Any other suggestions. Just wondering how much time is needed for the loop in Hakone.
Hi Kas,
Actually the best way is shown in the post above. As long as you take a train, the plan in the post above is the best in my opinion.
About the trip to Hakone, please see the link below to find the info:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1to3-days/how-to-build-the-trip-plan-to-hakone-various-sample-itineraries-of-hakone.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi takeshi
I plan to travel to Japan fr 23rd feb to 3rd mar 2018. My plan is below:
23rd feb (D1) arrive at Haneda airport at 10.30pm
24th feb (D2) tokyo
25th feb (D3) tokyo
26th feb (D4) yamagata
27th feb (D5) hakone
28th feb (D6) Kyoto
1st mar (D7) osaka
2nd mar (D8) osaka
3rd mar (D9) depart at 11am fr osaka-kansai airport
When is the best time for me to activate the 7 day JR pass. And kindly advice the additional pass that i should get.
Also I am not sure if about the Yamagata or Hakone first fr Tokyo before proceed to Kyoto.
Thanks.
Hi Marina,
You may use 7 days JR pass for the last 7 days of your trip. You can add Haneda access + subway pass combo ticket for the first 2 days.
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/airport_bus/index.html
I recommend you to visit Yamagata first. Hakone is on the way to Kyoto from Tokyo. If you intend to stay there, you can drop by on the way to Kyoto. If you want to visit Hakone as day trip, you can go there on day 4 before visiting Yamagata.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
I have the following itinerary :
3 nights in Tokyo
1 night in Sounzan
3 nights in kyoto
1 night in Hiroshima
Train back to airport in Tokyo
Does it make sense to get the JR pass?
Thanks for your help,
Sonia
Hi Sonia,
7 days JR pass gives you lots of saving. You may start using it when you leave Tokyo.
For your stay in Tokyo for the first few days, you may use the deal in the link below:
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/airport_bus/index.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you for your quick reply.
No worries, Sonia.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi!
I will be travelling to japan in the following itinerary :
Tokyo (3 days)
Yokohama(day trip)
Hakone (2days)
Kyoto (4days)
Osaka (3days)
1. You mentioned taking the shinkansen from odawara to kyoto and osaka by buying the Shinkansen reserved seat surcharge (Odawara-Kyoto) and Base fare ticket (Odwara-Kansai airport), and then reactivating it when i travel from kyoto to osaka. Does the reactivation work if i am staying in kyoto and osaka for more than one day each?
2. You also mentioned that for going to Kansai airport i can reactivate base fare and take Kansai airport rapid, i don’t have to pay for anything else?
3. Same as point 2, for travel from kyoto to osaka if i take the special rapid i don’t have to pay anything else if have the shinkansen base fare?
3. Can Pasmo or Suica be used in all the places i am travelling to?
4. Can i purchase any of the above tickets online before my trip? if yes, where can i purchase them?
Apologies for the long inquiry! I am intending to travel alone for the first time so i am a little worried.
Hi Janice,
You cannot use one base fare ticket from Odawara to Kansai airport because this ticket is valid for only 4 days. You need to add another ticket for Kyoto to Osaka. These tickets cannot be purchased online. You have to buy it at the window in JR station.
You can use other deal for Osaka to Kansai. Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-choose-the-deals-for-access-tofrom-kansai-airport.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
This is such a helpful service. Thank you!
We are arriving Yokohama by cruise ship Apr 1.
Apr 2 to Hakone.
Apr 3 to Kyoto.
Apr 5 (morning) to Osaka
Apr 5 (evening) Osaka to KIX-Kansai.
Can we use JP 7 day pass for entire itinerary?
Can we use Bullet train on pass?
Yokohama to Tokyo included?
Hi Carol,
Yokohama is very closed to Tokyo. So basically you can follow my sample itinerary above. JR pass does not work. You cannot get the worth of it.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
My husband and I are going Japan.
Arriving in osaka – Kanazawa – kagaonsen – Kanazawa – shirakawago – takayama – gero onsen – takayama – Toyama – Shibu onsen
Then we will be meeting my family in Tokyo
Shibu Onsen – Tokyo (7days) – Lake Kawaguchiko – Hakone – Kyoto (5-6 Nights)- Hiroshima day trip – Osaka (2nights)
Would buying the 21 Days JR pass be suitable?
Hi Angelica,
21 days may be more expensive than regular fares total. But there is no other deals available to cover your trip. If you want convenience, 21 days pass is okay. Or if you can get back to Kyoto in 14 days and can include day trip Hiroshima in 14 days period from arriving days, you may use 14 days pass. If you can’t, 21 days pass is your choice.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi there,
I will be travelling from Tokyo to hakone to Kyoto then to Osaka from the 12 December to the 20th December. I will be using the exact transportation method as per your itinerary.
However, I would like to ask if there is an expiration date for the odawara-kansai base fare ticket? This is because I will be stopping for 3 days in Kyoto and 3 days in Osaka before finally heading to Kansai airport.
My itinerary is as follows:
12 – arrive at Tokyo, head to hakone
13 – Hakone
14 – arrive at Kyoto
15 – Kyoto
16 – Kyoto
17- Arrive at Osaka
18 – Osaka
19 – Osaka
20 – Head to Kansai airport
Also, as I will be buying single tickets instead of the Japan railway pass, can I get all the tickets for my trip at Shinjuku station so I don’t have to buy them individually at different stations?
Thank you very much.
Hi,
You can purchase Odawara-Kyoto, Kyoto-Osaka separately. Total cost is not much different. And from Osaka to Kansai, there are lots of deals. You may use one of these in the link below:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-choose-the-deals-for-access-tofrom-kansai-airport.html
You can purchase Odawara to Kyoto in Shinjuku. But you need to purchase on the spot for Kyoto to Osaka and deal for Osaka to KIX.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi!
Planning a family trip to Japan on April. Our itinerary starts from Tokyo- hakone- kyoto- tokyo. Is it best to purchase the 7 days JR pass or buying singles tickets instead? Which is more convenient to this trip?
Thanks,
Sari
Hi Sari,
JR pass is better choice than single fare ticket. But you need to add Hakone Free Pass from Odawara and may need to add single fare or other deal in Kyoto and Tokyo. Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-kyoto-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Thanks for the information and deals. Just to clarify again, if we are not going to kyoto do we still need to buy the 7 days JR pass or just single fare tickets for tokyo-hakone? The 7 days JR pass is good for outside the cities is’nt?
Thanks,
Sari
Hi Sari,
Tokyo-Kyoto round trip fare is very closed to 7 days pass price. So if you exclude Kyoto, JR pass does not work. Just use Hakone Free Pass from Shinjuku.
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/deels/freepass/hakone/
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi –
I think I would need to follow your posted itinerary but just want to be sure.
I would be traveling from Tokyo to Hakone , Hakone to Kyoto, Kyoto back to Tokyo.
Could you please advise? Thank you so much.
Hi Dori,
You can use JR pass if you can complete in 7 days.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/japan-rail-pass-user-guide-how-to-use-jr-pass-to-its-maximum.html
In this case, you can use Shinkansen from Tokyo to Odawara, Odawara to Kyoto and Kyoto to Tokyo by JR Pass. It’s cheaper. This itinerary is designed as one way trip. Therefore I don’t use JR pass for this sample. But you will go back to Tokyo and JR pass gives you better deal.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com