Oct 6, 2016, 11:40 pm
Last edit by: muji
About Japan Rail Pass
JAPAN RAIL PASS, a joint offering of the six companies comprising the Japan Railways Group (JR Group).
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Eligibility
(1) You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing, under the entry status of "temporary visitor" or
(2) You are a Japanese national living outside of Japan who has both their Japanese passport and written proof—obtained from the embassy or legation of Japan in the foreign country where they live—that they have been living legally in the country for 10 consecutive years or more.
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Validity Period
The validity period of a JAPAN RAIL PASS is the consecutive 7, 14, or 21 days period beginning on the date the PASS is first used.
Within three months from the date the Exchange Order was issued, you must turn in your Exchange Order to obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS
(for example, an Exchange Order issued on April 15 would have to be turned in by July 14).
more information: http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/index.html
JAPAN RAIL PASS, a joint offering of the six companies comprising the Japan Railways Group (JR Group).
__________________________________________________ _____________
Eligibility
(1) You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing, under the entry status of "temporary visitor" or
(2) You are a Japanese national living outside of Japan who has both their Japanese passport and written proof—obtained from the embassy or legation of Japan in the foreign country where they live—that they have been living legally in the country for 10 consecutive years or more.
__________________________________________________ _____________
Validity Period
The validity period of a JAPAN RAIL PASS is the consecutive 7, 14, or 21 days period beginning on the date the PASS is first used.
Within three months from the date the Exchange Order was issued, you must turn in your Exchange Order to obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS
(for example, an Exchange Order issued on April 15 would have to be turned in by July 14).
more information: http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/index.html
Japan Rail (JR) Pass questions (consolidated)
Feb 3, 2017, 3:48 pm
#211
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
Not being able to use Nozomi really sucks. I found it very difficult to get 3 or even 2 reserved seats together on Hikari throughout the last week of Dec, so most of the days were not even peak travel days. Hikari also seems to be a magnet for foreign tourists these days.
Feb 5, 2017, 11:50 am
#212
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
Answer is no. Even if you decide to stop over at every single Shinkansen (Bullet train) stations between Shin Osaka and Tokyo (there are actually 16 stations) fares for paying individually will be 22,510 yen total. 7 days regular car JR Pass is 29,110 yen.
- Local JR trains in Kyoto (Day 1 of the pass)
- Thunderbird service to Kanazawa (Day 2)
- Hokuriku-Shinkansen to Tokyo ( Day three)
- JR in Tokyo (day 4,5 & 6)
- Narita Express on day 7
Am I correct in assuming that I can activate the pass at 10:00 in Kyoto on the first day and use it on a Narita Express after 18:00. Otherwise, I will activate it earlier, as I won't be needing it in Tokyo (except for the express).
Feb 5, 2017, 12:18 pm
#213
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
You are better off buying tickets for the trips you will take.... trains in Tokyo and Kyoto are cheap, no use waisting a pass on those days.
You can easily find individual fares on Hyperdia. In general these 7 day passes only pay for themselves if you do Tokyo-Osaka return! They are valid for calender days.....
You can easily find individual fares on Hyperdia. In general these 7 day passes only pay for themselves if you do Tokyo-Osaka return! They are valid for calender days.....
Feb 5, 2017, 12:21 pm
#214
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 536
I've amended my travel plans and it seems that the "Osaka-Tokyo Arch Pass" (this pass) is a great deal for me. Am I correct that the 7 day pass would cover:
Am I correct in assuming that I can activate the pass at 10:00 in Kyoto on the first day and use it on a Narita Express after 18:00. Otherwise, I will activate it earlier, as I won't be needing it in Tokyo (except for the express).
- Local JR trains in Kyoto (Day 1 of the pass)
- Thunderbird service to Kanazawa (Day 2)
- Hokuriku-Shinkansen to Tokyo ( Day three)
- JR in Tokyo (day 4,5 & 6)
- Narita Express on day 7
Am I correct in assuming that I can activate the pass at 10:00 in Kyoto on the first day and use it on a Narita Express after 18:00. Otherwise, I will activate it earlier, as I won't be needing it in Tokyo (except for the express).
Feb 5, 2017, 12:29 pm
#215
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
I'm aware of that, but if I end up paying roughly as much for the pass and roughly as much for individual tickets, I prefer taking the pass (as I can potentially get additional trips for free).
Feb 5, 2017, 12:33 pm
#216
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 536
That Hokuriku Arch Pass cost 24000 JPY purcased outside Japan. Kyoto-Kanazawa-Tokyo-Narita using Thunderbird, Shinkansen, and NEX is 24040 JPY.
Feb 5, 2017, 12:48 pm
#217
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,438
I've amended my travel plans and it seems that the "Osaka-Tokyo Arch Pass" (this pass) is a great deal for me. Am I correct that the 7 day pass would cover:
Am I correct in assuming that I can activate the pass at 10:00 in Kyoto on the first day and use it on a Narita Express after 18:00. Otherwise, I will activate it earlier, as I won't be needing it in Tokyo (except for the express).
- Local JR trains in Kyoto (Day 1 of the pass)
- Thunderbird service to Kanazawa (Day 2)
- Hokuriku-Shinkansen to Tokyo ( Day three)
- JR in Tokyo (day 4,5 & 6)
- Narita Express on day 7
Am I correct in assuming that I can activate the pass at 10:00 in Kyoto on the first day and use it on a Narita Express after 18:00. Otherwise, I will activate it earlier, as I won't be needing it in Tokyo (except for the express).
Due to length of validity of base fare () you have to buy entirely separate ticket for Tokyo – Narita Airport.
Kansaki Airport – (Kyoto) – (Kanazawa) – Tokyo:
Base Fare (乗車券): 11,020 yen
Kansai Airport – Kyoto:
Express Surcharge (特急料金): 1,290 yen
Kyoto – Kanazawa:
Express Surcharge (特急料金): 1,350 yen
Kanazawa Tokyo:
Shinkansen Express Surcharge (新幹線特急料金): 6,580 yen
Tokyo – Narita Airport:
Base Fare (乗車券): 1,320 yen
Express Surcharge (特急料金): 1,500 yen
Grand Total: 23,060 yen
Hokuriku Arch Pass bought outside of Japan is 24,000 yen. So during your stay at Tokyo you need to ride JR trains worth 940 yen to break even. If you buy Hokuriku Arch Pass in Japan then you need to ride JR train worth 1,940 yen at Tokyo to break even.
Feb 5, 2017, 1:18 pm
#218
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 536
Grand Total: 23,060 yen
Hokuriku Arch Pass bought outside of Japan is 24,000 yen. So during your stay at Tokyo you need to ride JR trains worth 940 yen to break even. If you buy Hokuriku Arch Pass in Japan then you need to ride JR train worth 1,940 yen at Tokyo to break even.
Hokuriku Arch Pass bought outside of Japan is 24,000 yen. So during your stay at Tokyo you need to ride JR trains worth 940 yen to break even. If you buy Hokuriku Arch Pass in Japan then you need to ride JR train worth 1,940 yen at Tokyo to break even.
Feb 5, 2017, 1:29 pm
#219
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
I was expecting 7k for the Thunderbird, 14k for the Shinkansen and 3k for the Narita Express, hence ending up +/- on the cost of that pass. I would however be able to use JR metal while in Tokyo as well.
Feb 5, 2017, 1:46 pm
#220
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,438
No. I'm arriving in Kyoto from Osaka (not ITM) and won't need the rail pass before getting to Kyoto. I would activate it in Kyoto for the sake of not losing a day of my pass.
I was expecting 7k for the Thunderbird, 14k for the Shinkansen and 3k for the Narita Express, hence ending up +/- on the cost of that pass. I would however be able to use JR metal while in Tokyo as well.
I was expecting 7k for the Thunderbird, 14k for the Shinkansen and 3k for the Narita Express, hence ending up +/- on the cost of that pass. I would however be able to use JR metal while in Tokyo as well.
Feb 5, 2017, 3:10 pm
#221
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
I have checked everywhere now. Google Maps, JR West and multiple sites offering "Japan Rail Pass Calculators" say that I will pay 21,5k and 24k for the three tickets (Thunderbird to Kanazawa, Shinkansen to Tokyo, Narita Express to NRT).
Feb 5, 2017, 3:54 pm
#222
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,438
Your travel on JR will be Kyoto – Kanazawa – Tokyo – Narita Airport.
JR fares are consisted from two components. One is base fare (乗車券) and this is calculated by distance travel regardless of type of train you will ride. One rule of this base fare is that you can buy as one through ticket on Kyoto – (Kanazawa) – (Tokyo) – Narita Airport because base fare rule allows unlimited stop over for journey of 100 km or more as long as you do not reverse the direction of travel. For local commuter train rides, distance will be often less than 100 km so you will not be allowed to do stop over.
Kyoto – (Kanazawa) – (Tokyo) – Narita Airport is 754.5 km in distance, means base fare is valid for 5 day. However, your schedule is more than 5 days from departing Kyoto and arriving at Narita Airport. Which means you cannot use one through base fare ticket to travel from Kyoto – (Kanazawa) – (Tokyo) – Narita Airport. Base fare ticket needs to be divided into two segment of Kyoto – (Kanazawa) – Tokyo and Tokyo – Narita Airport.
Then your plan is to ride on Thunderbird express train on Kyoto – Kanazawa, Shinkansen (Bullet train) on Kanazawa – Tokyo, and let say you will take Narita Express on Tokyo – Narita Airport. Each train requires additional Express Train surcharge (特急料金) and here I am assuming you will have reserve seating.
Express Surcharge has transfer discount if you transfer to another express train in same day, but that is not your situation. Hence, you must purchase express Surcharge for individual trip you are taking.
Following is what you will pay if you buy tickets individually:
Kyoto – (Kanazawa) – Tokyo base fare: 9,830 yen
Tokyo - Narita Airport base fare: 1,320 yen
Kyoto – Kanazawa express surcharge: 1,350 yen
Kanazawa – Tokyo Shinkansen express surcharge: 6,580 yen
Tokyo – Narita Airport express surcharge: 1,500 yen
Grand Total: 20,580 yen
Google maps, Hyperdia etc. only consider sum of individual trips and does not follow fare rules of through ticketing, number of days specific ticket is valid, etc. For multi trip on JR have to know how fare and ticket rules work under that specific routing, and often still require looking up charts and calculating fares manually, not by using some websites.
Feb 6, 2017, 9:28 am
#223
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
[QUOTE=WorldLux;27868772]I've amended my travel plans and it seems that the "Osaka-Tokyo Arch Pass" (this pass) is a great deal for me. Am I correct that the 7 day pass would cover:
Local JR trains within Kyoto won't get you very far. Nijo Castle and Arashiyama are the only major sightseeing spots they go to. Now, if you wanted to take JR trains to Nara and even Koya-san (it's circuitous, but it can be done), that would be a different story, but for travel within Kyoto for one day, a 24-hour bus card is your best option, because the buses do go to every major sightseeing destination.
- Local JR trains in Kyoto (Day 1 of the pass)
- Thunderbird service to Kanazawa (Day 2)
- Hokuriku-Shinkansen to Tokyo ( Day three)
- JR in Tokyo (day 4,5 & 6)
- Narita Express on day 7
Local JR trains within Kyoto won't get you very far. Nijo Castle and Arashiyama are the only major sightseeing spots they go to. Now, if you wanted to take JR trains to Nara and even Koya-san (it's circuitous, but it can be done), that would be a different story, but for travel within Kyoto for one day, a 24-hour bus card is your best option, because the buses do go to every major sightseeing destination.
Last edited by ksandness; Feb 8, 2017 at 3:30 pm
Feb 6, 2017, 10:39 am
#224
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,438
Long story short (I will not bore you with JR fare rules) the total you will pay by purchasing ticket individually will be 22,330 yen.
My bad...
Feb 8, 2017, 6:56 am
#225
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Between Seas
Posts: 4,750
The Hokuriku pass isn't bad at all for the difference in price of a nice meal or two. At the minimum, you won't have to keep figuring out the ticket machines or booths except for seat reservations.
From Tokyo, you could use it to day trip back up the Arch to Karuizawa and other onsen areas using the same Hokuriku Shinkansen. It can also come in handy if you encounter issues at any point that might compel you to move around, or if you need to retrieve things.
From Tokyo, you could use it to day trip back up the Arch to Karuizawa and other onsen areas using the same Hokuriku Shinkansen. It can also come in handy if you encounter issues at any point that might compel you to move around, or if you need to retrieve things.