Japan trip - JR pass or not?

[kevviek]

I'm planning a 11-day family trip to Japan at the end of the month with my wife and two adult kids (18 & 21). First time there, apart. from a very brief work trip to Tokyo 20 years ago. I've read the Hakkaido thread which has a lot of useful info.

We fly into Haneda, have 3 days in Tokyo (staying in Shinjuku), then bullet train to Kyoto for 3 day (staying in Nagakyo), then go to Osaka for 3 days (staying in Chuo-ku) before heading back to Tokyo for one night (also Chuo) and depart following evening from Narita.

We understand it's likely to be hot, humid and likely rainy. We have no choice with the travel dates because of uni breaks for the kids.

Just a few clarifications if someone can advise...

We were thinking of doing a day trip to Hiroshima from Osaka. Is that viable?

We had thought about a stop at Fuji on the way back from Osaka to Tokyo, but figured it probably isn't practical, and maybe not that much to see/do in a few hours anyway. Interested to know if anyone has done it.

The rail ticket options are very confusing. I thought initially JR Pass if it would cover airport transfers as well, but it seems there's no benefit over buying individual tickets since the price went up, is that right? Even if we included the trip to Hiroshima, which would all fit within a 7 day window. Is klook a good way to buy the rail tickets? Or just buy once there?

Suica card seems like a good idea - assume everyone will need their own?

 

[drron]

It will be borderline if you do the Hiroshima side trip.
A standard 7 day JR pass is 50000 yen -$A500.
Without the JR pass Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka-Tokyo is 30000 yen $A300.
Osaka - Hiroshima costs 22000 return using the Shinkansen. So total 52000 yen so a saving of $20 plus local trains you use.
Hiroshima will take a bit over 1.5 hours each way.

Best to look up JR regional rail passes. they still can be good value and if going to Hiroshima worth it.

Kansai-Hiroshima Rail Pass

Discover the wonders of Japan with the Kansai-Hiroshima Rail Pass. Explore Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, and more. Learn all about this regional pass.

www.jrailpass.com

 

[rbjhan]

Also note with National JR pass you can't take the fastest Nozomi Shinkansen between Tokyo & Osaka.
So I'd say No to that.

Agree with @drron look into a JR West pass.

 

[Himeno]

Also note with National JR pass you can't take the fastest Nozomi Shinkansen between Tokyo & Osaka.
So I'd say No to that.

Agree with @drron look into a JR West pass.

One of the changes that were made along with the price increase late last year was that the highest speed Shinkansen options (such as the Nozomi) were now able to be used with the pass, with a surcharge.

We were thinking of doing a day trip to Hiroshima from Osaka. Is that viable?

I did that with a JR pass in Oct 2019. Quite doable. The pass (at least in 2019) was also valid on one of the local Hiroshima tourist bus loop routes.

The rail ticket options are very confusing. I thought initially JR Pass if it would cover airport transfers as well, but it seems there's no benefit over buying individual tickets since the price went up, is that right? Even if we included the trip to Hiroshima, which would all fit within a 7 day window. Is klook a good way to buy the rail tickets? Or just buy once there?

JR Passes were good value before the price increases in October last year. Now they are much harder to justify their use. They can still be useful, you just have to be more careful as to what your plans and checking costs are before deciding to get one.
The pass is valid on the monorail from HND, but not the Keikyu line.
For NRT, the pass is valid for the normal JR line or the JR Narita Express, not valid on the Keisei lines or Sky Access.

Suica card seems like a good idea - assume everyone will need their own?

Suica, or another IC card, are useful. Though it can be hard to get the Suica or Pasmo cards at the moment due to a chip shortage. (Suica is issued by JR East, Pasmo by the other Tokyo area transport operators).
They sometimes have limited Suica cards available at JR ticket offices (not from the ticket machines), and limited Welcome Suica (only available for tourists with some limitations to the normal cards) available at the airports.
You can also sometimes get TOICA (JR Central IC card) from the JR Central (Shinkansen) ticket offices at Tokyo or Shinagawa stations.

Yes, everyone in your party will need their own IC card or paper ticket.
You can get digital Suica on your phone/smart device, but for people not living in Japan, this only works for Apple devices. For Android, it requires that the device be purchased in Japan.

The majority of IC cards in Japan are interchangeable and can use them in other regions. You can use a Suica in Osaka (JR West's area). It's like being able to use an Opal card in Melbourne. There are still some transport operators and regions that don't have IC card based ticketing or that are linked to the interoperation network where you'll need paper tickets.
Shinkansen also don't accept the normal IC cards, so you'll need to get paper tickets for those as well (unless you get a JR pass and use unreserved seats)

For my first Japan trip (2006), I just got paper tickets as I needed them and a subway pass in Osaka.
During my next trip (2007), I got Suica and ICOCA (JR West IC card). They hadn't completely linked the two systems then.
Since then, I've just reused those cards and gotten paper tickets as needed. Have used JR Passes twice for trips in 2019 and 2023, before the price went up.

If you do get JR Passes, there are two ways to get them. either via a travel agent or directly from the JR website.
Both options have the same collection process in Japan. Going via an agent gives you more time to exchange the voucher. Going via the JR site allows you to prebook Shinkansen tickets, but you have less time to collect the pass after ordering.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Though it can be hard to get the Suica or Pasmo cards at the moment due to a chip shortage.

Virtual Suica is option on Apple devices.

1. Go to Apple Wallet.
2. Click the + symbol top right.
3. Click “Transit card”
4. Search for “Suica” and follow the prompts.

 

[trendwhore]

Definitely get a suica/pasmo/whatever kind of card is available. Thinking about the JR Pass based purely on money maybe it's not the perfect choice but you have to also take into consideration additional stress/getting lost/losing time etc for arranging tickets each time. That has some value. Someone mentioned the JR West pass, maybe that would be the best choice. Also yes 100% can do Hiroshima day trip from Osaka; I've done it a couple of times. Early start, late finish.

I've also used Klook to buy JR Pass and it arrived quickly.

 

[Himeno]

Virtual Suica is option on Apple devices.

1. Go to Apple Wallet.
2. Click the + symbol top right.
3. Click “Transit card”
4. Search for “Suica” and follow the prompts.

You can get digital Suica on your phone/smart device, but for people not living in Japan, this only works for Apple devices. For Android, it requires that the device be purchased in Japan.

There has been reports of some people having problems refilling Suica's on their apple devices, but it seems to be related to using amex cards to do the payments.

 

[rbjhan]

with a surcharge.

Have you checked the "surcharge"?
I have, and quite frankly that's bloody ridiculous. I'm not sure they actually want people to do it!

 

[Captain Halliday]

There has been reports of some people having problems refilling Suica's on their apple devices, but it seems to be related to using amex cards to do the payments.

I thought you made an excellent point. It was worth repeating.

Or I was multi-tasking and not paying enough attention.

You be the judge.

 

[ausfox]

I redeemed our JR online pass bookings at the Narita airport two days ago. The great people there booked 4 long distance sectors for us on the spot. We are making our way from Tokyo to Sapporo and return. Excellent service and with a smile. Any small cost savings are outweighed by the service.

 

[drron]

JR agents are really good. I bought tickets in Osak for travel for travel Kanazawa,tokyo and change to go to Shinagawa. It was just one ticket with 4 trains over 4 days. No problems.
Then at a suburban JR station in Yokohama bought tickets to Kawaguchigo to see fuji then back again to Shinagawa. 5 trains over 4 days with just 2 tickets plus the reserved seat ticket.

As for Mt. Fuji when you take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto get reserved seats on the right hand side of the carriage. Coming back from Osaka the left hand side. Some people get very good views of Fuji.

 

[kevviek]

Have you checked the "surcharge"?
I have, and quite frankly that's bloody ridiculous. I'm not sure they actually want people to do it!

It seemed like a lot

 

[Himeno]

I redeemed our JR online pass bookings at the Narita airport two days ago. The great people there booked 4 long distance sectors for us on the spot. We are making our way from Tokyo to Sapporo and return. Excellent service and with a smile. Any small cost savings are outweighed by the service.

Just don't try that at the HND office. It's a small office and gets busy in the mornings (at least before the pass price increase). They don't like booking Shinkansen seats there unless they are for same day travel.


If you are booking Shinkansen tickets and have large bags (anything that doesn't fit on the overhead storage rack), you'll need to reserve a baggage ticket. Doesn't cost any extra, but it gives you space to store large bags. It's something they added during the pandemic.

 

[Himeno]

JR agents are really good.

During my trip last year (mid summer), I was at Numazu station booking shinkansen tickets to Tokyo.
The JR Pass QR code wouldn't scan on their scanner due to heat related damage, so they pulled out their manuals and looked up how to reprint the pass (something the pass T&C says they can't do - at least in cases of lost/stolen passes), then gave me the reprinted pass and the tickets to Tokyo.

During my first trip to Tokyo, back when there were only limited ticket machines in each station with an English mode, I wasn't able to get the ticket I needed because the English ticket machine was broken.
I went to the station ticket gate line and found a staff member. Pointed at the train map at where I wanted to go and said "English machine broken". The staff member asked for the cash needed to get there, then went over to the working JP only ticket machines and got the ticket for me.

 

[kevviek]

During my trip last year (mid summer), I was at Numazu station booking shinkansen tickets to Tokyo.
The JR Pass QR code wouldn't scan on their scanner due to heat related damage, so they pulled out their manuals and looked up how to reprint the pass (something the pass T&C says they can't do - at least in cases of lost/stolen passes), then gave me the reprinted pass and the tickets to Tokyo.

During my first trip to Tokyo, back when there were only limited ticket machines in each station with an English mode, I wasn't able to get the ticket I needed because the English ticket machine was broken.
I went to the station ticket gate line and found a staff member. Pointed at the train map at where I wanted to go and said "English machine broken". The staff member asked for the cash needed to get there, then went over to the working JP only ticket machines and got the ticket for me.

How was the weather?

 

[Himeno]

How was the weather?

last summer?
Temp 32-37C, humidity 70+% every day, some rain but not enough to cool things down for long.
was there 4 days in mid June and 6 days in mid Aug. Same weather both times.

weather was such that I got the bus to Tokyo Tower, rather then walk the 15 minutes from the JR line. Took the subway more in Osaka for trips I would normally walk, didn't go far from Numazu station and the hotel rather then get the bus around the bay to Uchiura and Awashima.

 

[MJ_/\_]

I know this thread is a month old, but just wanted to add a few points for others looking at going to Japan soon (I was there late May) and hopefully OP can let us know how his trip went (and how bad the heat was!).

1. I don't think IC card availability is a problem any more from what I've seen, especially as a foreign tourist (locals might still have some SUICA issues), the major JR stations in Tokyo should be able to provide them.

In saying that, we didn't bother with an IC card in Tokyo, we used the 72h Metro Pass (bought through Klook and just scanned the QR code at the station on the day we wanted to activate it). 1500y - can't use it on JR lines and some other private lines, but we stayed in Ginza (near Shimbashi Sta) and we went everywhere and there were only two trips we couldn't use it (monorail to Odaiba, and some cat-themed tram car out near the cat (Gotokuji) shrine). Metro lines go everywhere, plan your trips out in Google maps before you go and if you can take metro lines it is well worth it.

We got an IC card when we got to Kyoto, a special version of the ICOCA card, the Kansai One Pass... just the same as any other IC card, but it has a cool picture of Astro Boy on it, so had to get it, lol... you do have to go into a JR office at one of the main stations to collect it, but worth it just for the souvenir! (it also never expires apparently, other IC cards expire after 10 years).

2. While the main 'JR Pass' probably isn't worth it anymore for most people, do investigate the smaller area passses. We had 7-day JR West Sanyo-San'in Area Pass, which covers all the way from Kyoto to Fukuoka basically. It is 23,000y, but doing a return trip from Osaka to Hiroshima just about covers that by itself. we also used it on the Miyajima ferry, for day trips to Nara/Uji, Himeji/Kobe a couple of JR trips in Osaka and it also covered the express train out to KIX airoport in Osaka... individual tickets for everything we used it for would have been around 40,000y, so well worth it.

It also has the added benefit that having a current JR pass will let you skip the queue at Osaka Castle and go straight to the ticket booth... just show it to the ticket security guard and he'll wave you into 'line 2' which will save you at least 20min+

We bought the passes online via the JR West website before we left and collected the passes when we were in Kyoto. You have to collect them at least 1 day before you want to activate it, so don't book them to start the same day you arrive in the region you're getting the pass for. Worth noting that 'JR West', 'JR Central', 'JR East' etc. are all different companies... you can't just go to a 'JR office' and collect it, you need to go to the right one. Places like Kyoto station have multiple JR offices, if you go to the wrong one the staff are always very helpful and will point you in the right direction.

3. Yes, the ticketing system can be rather confusing at times, but it is also very forgiving - don't stress about it, you'll be fine.

 

[kevviek]

In the end, we just got a mobile Suica card. Added it to mobile phone wallet and updated any time it got low, and it worked on the trains and trams everywhere. Used it for shopping as well. Our mastercard and visa worked pretty much everywhere as well, cash easy to get from ATMs. Next time though I’ll look for a fee-less credit card as you get hit 4% on every transaction regardless of currency used.

From a cost perspective, I think it was line ball or maybe cheaper to not use the JR Pass. Key was booking the Shinkansen Green car more than three days in advance, which gave a big discount. If you have a JR Pass, the excess to use the fast trains is excessive ;-)

Booking Shinkansen was very easy using the app, or direct website. 【Official】Shinkansen Online Reservation

We were there last week of June and first week of July. It was hot, but not unbearable and a nice break from Melbourne winter. We had rain on 1-2 days and umbrellas are everywhere which makes it easy. Only the last day in Tokyo 34 degrees and over 80% humidity was uncomfortable. We walked long distances every day.

The day trip to Hiroshima from Osaka was enough, but an overnight stay may have been better, and the island was a highlight, but we also saw deer at Nara. Loved Kyoto.

 

[ausfox]

We used the JR East pass and had no excess on the Shinkansen trains. Some special expresses required extra.

 

[Himeno]

We got an IC card when we got to Kyoto, a special version of the ICOCA card, the Kansai One Pass... just the same as any other IC card, but it has a cool picture of Astro Boy on it, so had to get it, lol... you do have to go into a JR office at one of the main stations to collect it, but worth it just for the souvenir! (it also never expires apparently, other IC cards expire after 10 years).

The IC cards expire 10 years after last use. I've had my Suica and ICOCA cards since 2008 and both are still usable.