Originally Posted by
kzap
Is it really not worth the cost if you are not taking the N'EX to get the 7 day JR pass if you are just going to be in Kyoto and Tokyo?
Should one get this Japanican voucher to be able to use Nozomi with non reserved seats?
http://www.japanican.com/en/tour/det...31MKC/?aff=EXJ
Where else would one be able to use the JR Pass on their Tokyo/Kyoto trip? Wont it be useful if going to Hakone, Nikko, or Nara?
Round-trip tix on Nozomi between Tokyo-Kyoto is ~26,000yen. JR Pass is ~29,000 yen. If you're going to Hakone (using bullet train to Odawara) and/or Nikko (using Spacia train), it would be worth getting the pass. Kyoto-Nara is only <1500yen return, on the other hand.
The bad thing about the JR Pass is that it forces you to take Hikari trains and it's becoming harder to get reserved seats on Hikari trains. I don't think it'll be a problem if you're traveling solo but, if you're a family of 3 or something, it's not a slam dunk that you'll be able to get reserved seats together. Plus Hikari trains seem to be magnets for gaijins traveling with large suitcases. So if you're only talking a couple thousand yen difference, I think I've concluded that I'd rather not get JR Pass and instead have the greater flexibility of traveling on Nozomi.