Originally Posted by
silentbob1974
Thanks! This was very helpful. If our itinerary is flying into NRT, spending 2 nights in Tokyo, then 5 nights in Osaka (with day trips to Himeji and Miyajima) before taking an LCC flight from KIX-NRT to connect to our trip back to the U.S., does it seem to make more sense to buy (1) a NEX Tokyo Direct Ticket, (2) a one-way Nozomi ticket from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka, and (3) a JR West Hiroshima Area Pass? Unless my math is wrong, that would be cheaper than a 7-day JR Pass.
I don't see that.
The N'Ex Direct discount ends on March 13. Unless you are going before then, the cost will go back up to the regular fare (assuming JR East does not offer another discount of some sort.)
https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/nex_oneway.html
Adding the regular N'Ex fare plus Nozomi to ShinOsaka plus the Kansai-Hiroshima Pass totals more than 30,000 JPY while the 7-day Rail Pass is 29,110.
IIWM, I'd pay cash for the Keisei Skyliner to get into Tokyo on arrival and activate a 7-day Rail Pass before the trip TYO-ShinOsaka. Then I'd forgo the flight KIX-NRT, instead using the shinkansen and N'Ex to get back to NRT for departure, either day of or the night before, depending on time of departure.
Instead of the Skyliner from NRT to Tokyo, you could use the N'Ex but it is more expensive. I suppose the decision there would depend on where your hotel is located and the difference in cab fares from Ueno, Tokyo or Shinagawa. Another choice, perhaps better for a first-timer, might be the limousine bus if one goes to or near your hotel. In that case, you could eliminate the cost of a cab.