Originally Posted by 360guy
Because the FT Search function is not working,I have to post the question which has probably been answered 1000 times.
I arrive in Tokyo on 29 March(by Limo bus).. On 4 April I will be traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto(by train), and on 8 April I will be travel from Kyoto to Odawara(by train), and on 11 April I will again travel by train from Odawara to NRT.
The question I have is, should I purchase a JR Pass (7 day ?or 14 day?) , Ordinary Pass? or Green Pass?.
Or should I just purchase one way tickets for these three trains?
Thank you.
Unfortunately, you are in that dead area where the 7 day Pass isn't quite long enough. The 11th is the eighth day after your travel would begin on the 4th, so you would need a 14 day Pass to cover all of your planned travel. If you have no other train trips planned, the 14-day Pass might not be cost effective. You could use the 7-day Pass for most of your travel and pay cash for travel at the end of your trip. Or, you could return to Tokyo the evening of the 7th day (on the 10th) and cover everything with the 7-day Pass. It is good up to midnight of the 7th day.
If you are not going to be using any trains other than the 3 you mention, and your dates are firm, it might not make much difference if you use a 7-day Pass for the first 2 trips and pay cash for the ticket from Odawara to Tokyo or buy all 3 tickets and forget about the Pass. If there is any chance you might use any other trains during the 7 day period from the 4th to the 10th (such as a day trip from Kyoto to Nara or Himeji) then the 7-day Pass will more than pay for itself.
Since the Sanyo-Tokaido shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto does not have green cars on the trains you can use the JR Rail Pass for, the standard Pass makes more sense (the green cars are only on the Nozomi, which is not available to Rail Pass users.)
More confused now?
JR