Japan - Sanyo JR West pass

I'm in between the JR pass and the JR west pass. JR pass gives me all the flexibility for my trip and I won't be paying above what the pass cost me (28300 YEN, and I can get 5% off at some agents. but then again, I do get discount for both passes)

Sanyo JR West pass cost me less. However, there are 2 problems. 1) out of pocket cost on D2, Namba-Kyoto and D3, Kyoto-ShinOsaka. The cheapest OOP cost is around 1500 yen. Which is what tilts me towards using this. (approx 6500 yen savings) 2) I'll have to activate my pass @ Shinosaka on D3 instead of the "direct" train from Kyoto.

This is where the pain hits and I'd like to ask if 1) Can I make free reservations using the Sanyo pass (like the full JR pass) and 2)could I ask to activate my pass on D3 when I'm in Osaka earlier (D1/2) as I understand I could not redeem the pass at Kyoto. Also, can I top up the unpaid Kyoto-Shinosaka fare on Shinkansen in Kyoto, and have my pass in effect "automatically" when i get to shinosaka?

PS: My schedule
D1 Itami-(bus)-Namba-Koyasan
D2 Koyasan-Namba-(JR)-Kyoto
D3 Kyoto-Hiroshima (Evening)
D4 Hiroshima-Miyajima
D5 Miyajima-Hiroshima-(Kobe?)-Osaka (Late afternoon)
D6 Osaka-KIX

PPS. I've forgotten to mention about the JR lines in the Kyoto region that I might take, that may add on little to the OOP cost as compared to reservation fees /logistics.

I'm in between the JR pass and the JR west pass. JR pass gives me all the flexibility for my trip and I won't be paying above what the pass cost me (28300 YEN, and I can get 5% off at some agents. but then again, I do get discount for both passes)

Sanyo JR West pass cost me less. However, there are 2 problems. 1) out of pocket cost on D2, Namba-Kyoto and D3, Kyoto-ShinOsaka. The cheapest OOP cost is around 1500 yen. Which is what tilts me towards using this. (approx 6500 yen savings) 2) I'll have to activate my pass @ Shinosaka on D3 instead of the "direct" train from Kyoto.

This is where the pain hits and I'd like to ask if 1) Can I make free reservations using the Sanyo pass (like the full JR pass) and 2)could I ask to activate my pass on D3 when I'm in Osaka earlier (D1/2) as I understand I could not redeem the pass at Kyoto. Also, can I top up the unpaid Kyoto-Shinosaka fare on Shinkansen in Kyoto, and have my pass in effect "automatically" when i get to shinosaka?

PS: My schedule
D1 Itami-(bus)-Namba-Koyasan
D2 Koyasan-Namba-(JR)-Kyoto
D3 Kyoto-Hiroshima (Evening)
D4 Hiroshima-Miyajima
D5 Miyajima-Hiroshima-(Kobe?)-Osaka (Late afternoon)
D6 Osaka-KIX

PPS. I've forgotten to mention about the JR lines in the Kyoto region that I might take, that may add on little to the OOP cost as compared to reservation fees /logistics.
A1 : No you cannot reserve seat on shinkansen, but on Haruka
http://www.westjr.co.jp/english/travel/jrp/index.html
With the Sanyo Area Pass, the pass holder may use standard reserved seats on limited express Haruka trains. If the pass holder wishes to use a standard reserved seat on any other limited express train, the pass holder must purchase a separate limited express ticket.

A2: I guess it's best to ask the officer at Kyoto to figure it out (but me as a lazy guy, I will go with the Kyoto Osaka "新快速" train or just get a separate Shinkansen ticket which likely what ending up, and the go though the human gate when exiting at Hiroshima, showing him the pass), for Kyoto --> Shin-Osaka it cost 1,380 yen

For me I will take Kansai Pass for D1 - D3 and Sanyo Pass for D3+

For Kansai Pass, It covers all the way (Itami mono + Hankyu + Nankai + ..... )
It comes to more convenient when Kansai Pass cover part of Kyoto Bus and Kyoto Subway, for 5000 yen 3 days.

http://www.surutto.com/conts/ticket/3dayeng/index.html

Assuming no stop-over in between
Itami --> Koyasan : Itami > Yamada > Tengachaya > Koyasan
Koyasan --> Kyoto : Koyasan > Tengachaya > Awaji > Karasuma (From Tengachaya there are train go direct to Takatsuki which makes your transfer even less pain)


You can travel Kyoto ==> Shin-Osaka on Hankyu + Osaka Metro (Change at Mina Mikata), then Sanyo Pass to Hiroshima

This option provides cheaper option, and also chances are that you won't able to use much of your JR pass at Kyoto. Also as a bonus Sanyo Pass can ride on Nozomi.


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I think you can collect and activate the Sanyo Pass in JR West region, with the activation date set to later days (e.g. exchange today and activate tomorrow), and you can still book ticket when you activate it.

thanks

more to this: IF i do a reserved seat along with a Sanyo JR West pass, do i pay the supplement less the price of the unreservd seat, or do I have to pay the full amount, in effect giving up by unreserved seat ticket?

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thanks

more to this: IF i do a reserved seat along with a Sanyo JR West pass, do i pay the supplement less the price of the unreservd seat, or do I have to pay the full amount, in effect giving up by unreserved seat ticket?

From what I understand it means the Sanyo pass will act as basic fare ticket, while you have to buy a seperate limited express reserved seat ticket

A lot of seats should free up at Kyoto and ShinOsaka so I don't think you would have a major problem getting a unreserved seat if you showed up and waited in line.

For your Kyoto to ShinOsaka problem, you can:
1. take a regular train from Kyoto to ShinOsaka which would be cheaper, or 2. if you want to add to your cost, buy a regular unreserved shinkansen ticket from Kyoto-ShinOsaka, this probably works out quite nice as you can probably get a free seat from the people getting off at ShinOsaka if you didn't already at Kyoto.

I do not think you can top it off or pay the difference, you probably need to actually buy a ticket for that portion.

You can also take advantage of all Nozomi Shinkansen's with the JR west sanyo pass, something you can't with the JR pass.

A lot of seats should free up at Kyoto and ShinOsaka so I don't think you would have a major problem getting a unreserved seat if you showed up and waited in line.

For your Kyoto to ShinOsaka problem, you can:
1. take a regular train from Kyoto to ShinOsaka which would be cheaper, or 2. if you want to add to your cost, buy a regular unreserved shinkansen ticket from Kyoto-ShinOsaka, this probably works out quite nice as you can probably get a free seat from the people getting off at ShinOsaka if you didn't already at Kyoto.

I do not think you can top it off or pay the difference, you probably need to actually buy a ticket for that portion.

You can also take advantage of all Nozomi Shinkansen's with the JR west sanyo pass, something you can't with the JR pass.

thanks for all the input. and guess that could secure a seat for 1300ish yen:rolleyes: the problem is i'm travelling with a mate who is for sure getting a full JR pass (and in that he wont be taking the nozumi yet could secure a seat) and i am keep on saving some 8000 yen since i'm not going to tokyo with him. IF the consensus is it's quite likely we'd get a seat from Shinosaka, we'd might do that. how about the likelyhood of having a seat from hiroshima to shinosaka on a wkday early evening? (boarding ~4-5pm)