JR Pass Need to buy it ahead of time?

Question

Hello,

We are leaving for Japan in 2 weeks and I have a couple of logistics question as I can't seem to find the answer...

Our Itinerary is as follows (a bit ambitious) .  We are 2 adults and 2 kids - trying to limit the hotel movement.

Question 1 - Do I need to buy a JR Pass and reserve seats ahead of time? I have not bought this yet.

Question 2 - I think buying the JR Pass is the most economical and fastest, and then we would buy the city train pass in Tokyo, and Kyoto.

Question 3 -Do we each need our own suica card (even for kids)?

Question 4 - What is the best way to get to Haneda to Tokyo Bay?

Thank you for helping with the logistics.  And If I don't buy the JR Pass, what do you recommend?

Day 1 - 3/31/24 – Land (Night in Tokyo)

Day 2 – 4/1/24 – Full day in Tokyo (Night in Tokyo)

Day 3 – 4/2/24 – Full day in Tokyo (Night in Tokyo)

Day 4 – 4/3/24 – Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto (Morning) (Night in Kyoto)

Day 5 – 4/4/24 – Day in Kyoto (Day trip Arashiyama, Romantic train) (Night in Kyoto)

Day 6 – 4/5/24 – Day trip Hiroshima Miyajima Himeji (view the castle outside) -  (Night in Kyoto)  (LONG DAY)

Day 7 – 4/6/24 – Day trip to Uji & Nara (Night in Kyoto)

Day 8 – 4/7/24 – Day in Kyoto -  a Depart Hakone in Evening(Night in Odawara/Hakone)

Day 9 – 4/8/24 – Day in Hakone (Night in Odawara)

Day 10 – 4/9/24 – Depart Odawara to HND (Flight at 3pm)

Shibuyakko · Accepted Answer

The 7-day JR Pass probably won't pay off with your itinerary, but the JR West Hiroshima Area Pass will.

Your Hiroshima day is too much. You cannot do Hiroshima/Miyajima and Himeji in one day. Your Kyoto stay has too many day trips to begin with. You have left almost no time for Kyoto itself. If I were you, I'd save Hiroshima/Miyajima for the next trip. Also, consider cutting Hakone to one night and stay in Kyoto longer.

Everybody needs an IC card. Kids 6-12 can get a child IC card at a ticket counter by showing their passports—kids 6 and under travel free unless s/he occupies a reserved seat.

goalistotravel · Answer

Thank you!

I was considering traveling as late as possible from Kyoto to Hakone to spend a full day in Hakone. Or do you think I should do as you suggested? Would you consider going from Miyajima to Hakone or stay in Kyoto (do a round trip)?

I still do need to get from Tokyo to Kyoto, and Kyoto (or Miyajima to Hakone) and Hakone to HND. You would just buy single tickets on the Shinkansen?

DLi_hk · Answer

agree with Dr. S. in #1.

Better skip Hiroshima/Miyajima but focus more on Kyoto when sakura is forecasted to reach peak blossom from 1st April, re local forecast today on 20th March.

https://tenki.jp/sakura/expectation/#sakura-forecast-area-title-6

Kyoto sakura spots.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3951.html

You'd waste a lot of money buying JR passes for a round trip b/w Tokyo and Kyoto as mentioned. Just buy single train tickets after arriving in Japan. Train tickets can be purchased at automated vending machines or at manned counters, though expect much longer queuing time at large JR stations in latter.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2018_tokaido.html

D9 - if your hotels can be cancelled consider staying in Tokyo or Yokohama prior to departure. Either is more interesting than Odawara.

Dave R · Answer

https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/ = rail pass calculator

goalistotravel · Answer

Thank you. I was thinking of spending the whole day in Kyoto and taking an evening train to Odawara. The Reason for Odawara is so that it gives us easy access to depart on 4/9 and head straight to the airport. Then we would have 2 days or so in Kyoto. What do you think is the best app for train tables?

Do we need a SUICA card?

If we were to proceed with early morning departure to Hiroshima, how would you go about to plan this day? I know it a lot, and we may not go in Himeji castle but would love to see it and get dinner in the city before heading to Kyoto.

Dave R · Answer

As noted in reply #1 to you, it's always best to have a Suica/IC card for your local train and bus travel in Japan.

DLi_hk · Answer

use navitime to search for routes, fares in Japan. https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/route/

goalistotravel · Answer

Thank you will get a Suica Card for all of us. Thank you! Can you buy tickets for the Romantic Train in Arashiyama,? Also isn't Odawara near Hakone and we can do the circuit?

Dave R · Answer

You can buy tickets online = https://www.web-odakyu.com/e-romancecar/?language=en&country=&utm_source=odakyu_en&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=en-romancecar_float

goalistotravel · Answer

Hello - First of all thank you for your help! I used the calculator and I am close to buying the JR Pass. Question 1 - Is the Kansai Pass (West) cover the fast train to Hiroshima (Based on the recommendations will will probably cut out HImeji) and go to Hiroshima.

(Question 2) Do I need to buy the JR Pass BEFORE arriving to Japan?

Question 3 - In Hakone - Do you need to buy another pass to do the circuit?

Thank you!

JR Pass Need to buy it ahead of time? - Japan Forum

JR Pass Need to buy it ahead of time?

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