If you are in Japan for a longer period of time than your JR pass would be valid, don't start the JR pass just to use local rail services. Local rail services aren't that expensive. Try to pick the JR pass days so you are using shinkansen on most of them!

Even the ride in from KIX or from Osaka to Kyoto isn't that pricey. Also, many of the services to/from Nara are on private rail lines, wich don't honor the JR pass.

Edited to add: Y14,000 should be a very fair rate for this hotel.


[This message has been edited by RichardInSF (edited Dec 24, 2003).]