To JR Pass or Not?
 

For upcoming JPN trip, the only real train travel we think we need is Shinakansen service to Tokyo-Kyoto, RT. It looks, from hyperdia.com, like the RT Nozomi price is just a shade lower per pax than the JapanRail 7-day pass. Is there any reason to spend the few extra bucks and go for the unlimited JR pass? We'll be in Tokyo for 7 days, and Kyoto for 3, it looks like.

Shinakasen. Love it. A highspeed water-buffalo.

JR pass is also valid on the Narita Express and local trips you make on JR trains, so it might end up costing you a few pennies less than individual ticket fares... but since you don't appear to have many long-distance plans, it won't be a big saver.

Advantages of pass -
- Some people like to have the freedom to jump on and off trains at will - Make a quick trip to Karuizawa for the hell of it etc. If that's not your style, then that's not a meaningful benefit.
- Some people like not having to calculate fares or think about how much journeys are costing them. If you use a SUICA for local trips, you can more or less do the same.
- Some people like having the freedom to make reservations and then not use them (but I don't think that's a nice thing to do).

Disadvantages of pass -
- You can't ride the Nozomi trains, so you're limited to a couple of departures per hour between Kyoto and Tokyo
- You have to go to the manned gate at the ticket gates, which can be a bit of extra walking

Thanks, jib71. And whoops about the typo!

Don't miss the important part of jib-san's post. If you are going back out to NRT at the end of your trip, the Rail Pass will cover that expense as well, making the total saving pencil out. Otherwise, maybe not but remember that with the Pass, you don't have to buy tickets for day trips such as Kyoto-Nara, Kyoto-Osaka or Tokyo-Nikko, etc. In my mind, that pays for itself just in less hassle. Don't worry about the "extra walking," as the manned gates are at the end of the wicket line - about 4 or 5 extra steps. Also, the attendants are very good about pointing out the way to your next platform.

deleted - misunderstood quoted post

Plus you can do silly things like ride the shinkansen from Ueno to Tokyo and such.

I mentioned it because someone recently said that this bothered them - but I agree with you that it really isn't a big deal.

For the trip you describe, you can save 7,300Y (about $94) by buying the Tokyo-Kyoto Open Ticket Package -- 21,000Y for that package, compared to 28,300 for the JR pass. Plus, you can use the faster Nozomi trains, but you will travel in the unreserved rather than reserved cars.

True, you'd lose 1 NEx trip, but you can pretty much make up the difference with a r/t NEx/Suica package.

Info: http://www.japanican.com/tours/tourd...mm%2fdd%2fyyyy

Good call.