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
Hello Takeshi san,
We are travelling as a family of six. This is our planned itinerary:
1 Narita to Tokyo
2 Tokyo sightseeing
3 Tokyo to Hakone
4 Hakone to Kyoto
5 Kyoto
6 Kyoto to takayama via Nagoya
7. Takayama
8 Takayama to Shibu Onsen via matsumoto
9 shiga kogen
10 Shiga kogen
11 Shiga Kogen
12 travel back to Tokyo
13 sightseeng and then flight out in evening from Narita
Do you think we should get a JR 7 day pass or should we just buy day passes and shinkansen tickets?
Do you have to pay cash for all the tickets? Considering we are travelling as a party of six is it going to be a big hassle to have to buy tickets all the time? Thank you for your help
Hi Carla san,
You may use 7 days JR pass but it does not cover whole part of your trip. You may use it for day 2 to 8.
You can add other deal on day 1 and 13.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/narita/the-list-of-deals-for-access-to-downtown-tokyo-from-narita-airport.html
You need to add Hakone Free Pass at Odawara on day 3 even though you use JR Pass.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1to3-days/how-to-build-the-trip-plan-to-hakone-various-sample-itineraries-of-hakone.html
And you have to add a regular fare ticket for day 12, Shiga Kogen to Tokyo.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi-san
Will be planning a japan trip from 28 Nov (arrived 8am at NRT) and depart on 7 Dec (11pm NRT). I am planning to cover areas including Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Mt Fuji, Miyajima.
Can you give me some advise how should I best fit in Mt Fiji and Miyajima between the route Tokyo – Osaka – Kyoto – Tokyo?
If I am using a 7 day JR pass, which section of the trip should I be using it?
Many thanks for your help
Hi yupgi san,
You can use JR pass 7 days. In this case, do not include Tokyo and Fuji in 7 days period.
You can put Fuji between Tokyo and Osaka or Kyoto and Tokyo. You can make a day trip from Tokyo if you like. Please see the link below to find more info:
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
So if you put Fuji between Tokyo and Osaka, you can start using it when you leave Fuji. If you put Fuji on the way back to Tokyo, you can use it until you get Fuji.
You can squeeze Miyajima between Osaka and Kyoto. You can make a day trip there from Osaka as well. You can find the sample itinerary in the link below. You can use this for overnight trip too.
https://jprail.com/destinations/world-heritage-destinations/day-trip-to-hiroshima-and-miyajima-from-osakakyoto.html
For the access to/from Narita and deals in Tokyo, please see the link below:
https://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/airport_bus/index.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Below is my proposed itinerary for our first trip to Japan from Singapore.
3 nights Thur 29 Nov until 02 Dec – Arrive at Kansai Osaka transfer to Fraser Residence.
Trip plan to castle , nara, Hiroshima &Miyajima.
3 nights 02 Dec until 05 Dec- stay at Kyoto Hotel Gracery
Trip to Inari shrine,kiyomuzi,bamboo,
2 nights 05 Dec until 07Dec – Stay at Hotel Green Plaza Hakone
Trip to Mt Fuji &lake kawaguchi
2 nights 07 Dec until 09Dec- APA Hotel
Karuizawa ekimae
Trip to snow at Karuizawa
1 nights 09 Dec – Hotel Keio
1 nights 10 Dec- hotel Disneyland
4 nights 10-14Dec- back hotel Keio
Trip to
14 Dec afternoon back Singapore.
Kindly help add Any the popular place to arrange to visit ? Any to change ?need to buy any Jr pass? Passmo or icoca or passmo ? Or any card recommend? First time visit Japan . Please help , I’m travelling 2 adult with 1kid .thanks
Hi Jamie,
Your option is 14 days JR pass only at this point. You may use it for the last 7 days. You may add other deals for the first several days in Osaka.
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
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-choose-the-deals-for-access-tofrom-kansai-airport.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-osaka.html
Because the pass must cover the trips to Hiroshima/Miyajima and Karuizawa. 7 days pass is too short to cover these. If you can make a trip to Hiroshima/Miyajima from Kyoto on 4th or 5th, you can use only 7 days JR pass because both trips are within 7 days period. Actually this is more cost efficient way. You don’t need JR pass much when you are in cities, such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. You can use other deals, such as subway pass. Subway is not covered by JR pass and subway has much bigger coverage than JR trains in these cities. Even if you have JR pass, you still need to add some fare to take subway and/or city bus. Please see the links below to find the coverage of these passes in the cities.
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
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
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/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-kyoto.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
My current itinerary plan is:
Arrive at Narita airport 5pm Nov 23, stay in Tokyo
Tokyo to Hakone Nov 24
Hakone to Kyoto Nov 25
Kyoto Nov 25-29
Kyoto to Osaka Nov 29
Osaka to Hiroshima Nov 30
Hiroshima to Tokyo Dec 1
Tokyo Dec 1-Dec 7
Tokyo to Hokkaido Dec 7
Hokkaido Dec 7 – Dec 11
Hokkaido to Tokyo Dec 11
Fly our of Narita on Dec 12
What would be the best travel option to take for all of this?
I have currently compressed Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima into one week to fit in the One Week JR Pass, but it leaves our itinerary rushed for this section and then a lot of time in Tokyo. Is it still best to try and fit the itinerary to this JR Pass? Or is it possible to stretch out Kyoto and Osaka somehow?
Thanks so much in advance for your help.
Hi Will,
The only choice is using 21 days pass. If you go to Hokkaido by train, you need JR pass anyway. If you travel only southern Hokkaido, JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass is okay.
https://jprail.com/destinations/hokkaido-area/jr-east-south-hokkaido-rail-pass-user-guide-perfect-deal-for-the-travelers-who-visit-tokyo-and-sapporo-by-train.html
But 2 x JR pass 7 days or 7 days JR Pass + JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass is almost same cost as 21 days JR pass. If you use JR Pass 21 days, you can stay in Kyoto or other places as much as you want. This is only solution.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi san,
I’m still quite confused after reading your post and comments. Sorry cos it’s my first time to Japan.
I’m not sure to get the JR Pass or not, perhaps you can advise.
Here’s my rough itinerary;
27 Sat Arrive HND @ 10.15pm
28 Sun Tokyo
29 Mon Tokyo Disneyland
30 Tue Tokyo to Hakone
31 Wed Hakone to Kyoto
1 Thu Kyoto
2 Fri Kyoto
3 Sat Nara-Kobe-Osaka
4 Sun Osaka
5 Mon Depart from KIX @ 9.35pm
What are the pass or IC card do I need to get for this trip?
Hi Jess san,
You can follow my sample itinerary in the post above mostly. JR Pass is not required.
The only difference between my sample and your plan is Nara-Kobe-Osaka. You may use regular fare or IC card instead. If you use IC card, you can purchase Kansai one pass in Kyoto. It offers discount at many attractions.
https://kansaionepass.com/en/about.html?info=1
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you Takehi for all the information. I have a similar itinerary as Jess above and it appears that the JR Pass is not necessary.
I do want to ask you what I can purchase in advance prior to being in Japan. I have 2 weeks before I leave and it will be best to pre-purchase anything possible. (I know I can purchase the Romancecar)
Hi Jen,
Unfortunately you cannot purchase JR trains ticket before you come to Japan. Online is basically not available. You have to purchase it after you arrive in Japan at the ticket window in most of major JR stations.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Thanks for the very useful information – it has helped a lot with my planning of our trip to Japan.
We plan to do Tokyo-Hakone-Kyoto-Nara- Osaka where we will fly out of. Reading your post it looks like we would be better off buying single tickets rather than the JR Pass.
One think I noticed with your list of prices is that you bought the base fare ticket from Shinjuku to Odawara for 890 yen and express limited fare for the romance car to Hakone -Yamoto for 1090yen which is 1980yen altogether. I looked on the website and it quoted 2280 – which is 1190 base fare from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yamoto plus the 1090yen. Could we get away with doing what you did and just buy the base fare to Odawara for 890yen and adding the Romance car express limited fare on top?
Leaving Hakone we have about 7 days so we will take the Shinkansen from Odawara to Kyoto and travel to Nara and Osaka. If we purchased the base fare ticket from Odawara to Kansai airport how long can we use it for? If it doesn’t stretch to 7 days, could you please suggest which ticket we should buy? Does it still not make sense to buy the JR Rail pass?
Many thanks for your help!
Hi Lucy,
Hakone Free Pass covers base fare from Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto. So you add only Shinjuku to Odawara.
It’s valid only 4 days if you travel from Odawara. So just purchase a regular ticket for Odawara to Kyoto. And use another tickets for travel from Kyoto to Nara, Nara to Osaka.
There are lots of local deals in Osaka and Kyoto. You may add one of those:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-kyoto.html
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-choose-the-deals-for-access-tofrom-kansai-airport.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-osaka.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi San,
Good day!
I have some doubts when I am doing my planning for Hakone.
1) I will be starting off from Shinjuku direct to Hakone via Romancecar. I will not be returning to Shinjuku anymore hence I should be purchasing the Hakone Free Pass depart Odawara correct?
2) I thought Hakone Free Pass from Odawara can be purchased at Shinjuku Station Odakyu Sighseeing Service Centre West Exit, but after checking, they selling Hakone Free Pass depart from Shinjuku only, meaning it does not sell the 1 way Hakone Free Pass depart from Odawara??
3) If above point 2 is correct, can you advise where can I buy my Hakone Free Pass because I am taking Romance car direct to Hakone Yumoto from Shinjuku Station (I wont be going to Odawara Station)
4) If I am not getting the Hakone Free Pass at Shinjuku Station, can I still reserve seats for the Romance car at Shinjuku Station Odakyu Sighseeing Service Centre West Exit?? How much I need to pay since I dont have Hakone Free Pass as a base fare (cant buy at Shinjuku)
Hi Kathryn san,
1. Correct. But you have other choices.
2. I have purchase Odawara one at Shinjuku before. But I don’t know now. It may not be purchased in Shinjuku anymore.
3. You can purchase Hakone Free Pass in Hakone-Yumoto too.
4. You can take Romancecar by regular ticket. You can purchase and book for Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto. If you have Hakone Free Pass, base fare for Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto is covered. But you may not be able to purchase it at Shinjuku and need to buy it at Hakone-Yumoto. So you need to pay for Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto. You can book it at the link below:
https://www.odakyu.jp/english/romancecar/
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you very much Takeshi San. I will look through and plan.
Correct me if I am wrong. Basically based on the month/date I going, Tsukiji Market is no longer available & moved away. Only left restaurant
That’s right Kathryn san.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you very much Takeshi San. I will look through and plan.
Thank you Takeshi San for your swift reply.
Oh Meaning for Tokyo as long I am taking any JR Lines (Yamanote / JR Keiyo Line / JR Musashino Line etc etc) Tokyo Subway 24/48/72hrs card will be useless. Unless I take other lines (NOT JR) more than 5 times, then it will be worth buying
Q1: Next question is I am super confused (this could be quite silly question) which railway line can use the Tokyo Subway Card & which line is consider JR hence cannot use it. For example can the Tokyo subway card use for Keihin Kyuko line from Haneda Airport to Shinagawa)
Q2: You have any link you can share so that I will know which line can use Tokyo Subway Card so that when I plan my itinerary I will know whether my route actually uses subway more than 5 times or not so to let me decide to get this card or not
Q3: Tsujiki Market I wanna to try the fresh seafood. Do I go to the Inner Market or the outer market? Do you have link to show how to go to the new inner market / outer market?
Q4: I was thinking to get the Osaka Amazing Pass as I thought it cover all subway in Osaka. But did not know it does not cover Umeda to Ikedas to get to Noodle Museum / to USJ. I have read your Osaka Post on the pass to get depending on where we visiting. But I am still confused because some places I going seems like Kansai Thru Pass / Osaka Amazing Pass / Subway Pass can bring me there & give discount as well. Tentatively the places I plan to visit is: USJ / Noodle Museum / Dontobori / Shinsaibashi / Takashimaya shopping/ Osaka Castle etc, do you have any recommendation on what type of pass to get? If my information/Itinerary is not sufficient for your recommendation, do let me know, I will finalize my Osaka Itinerary before checking with you again 😉
I will be getting the Suica Card since the balance amount un-use can be refund end of day and it can be used in Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto but I was thinking each state (Tokyo / Osaka) has its own special pass which can give some discount to tourist so I wish to do some comparison whether to get the Pass on top of suica card or not. Hope you can help on this by recommending.
Thank you for your patience and pardon me on the questions I asked.
Hi Kathryn san,
Tokyo subway
Please see the links below to find subway map:
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/subwaymap/index.html
You also find some more info in the link below:
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
Keihin Kyuko is non JR lines and not subway lines either.
Tsukiji
Inner market will be gone. You cannot go there even if you want. Restaurant will be existed surrounding market.
About Osaka
Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/guide-to-take-trains-in-osaka-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
Noodle museum is not shown in the map in the link above. That is located outside downtown Osaka. That is why you cannot go there by subway. Kansai thru pass covers it but you cannot get the worth of Kansai thru pass by your trip plan. Just use subway pass, amazing pass and/or Suica. Amazing pass is subway pass + attraction. Please make sure which attraction you go. You can find the list of attractions of Osaka amazing pass in the link below. If you visit three attractions, you can get the worth of it.
https://www.osp.osaka-info.jp/en/facility/free
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com