Some japan tips needed

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

I'm heading over to Japan end of August and am planning to get out of Tokyo for a few days.

I've decided I will stay in Kyoto for 3 nights - plan to get an early train down and a late train back to Tokyo so i get close to 3 days time there.

I've read about the 500 yen bus pass and that seems to be the best way to get around Kyoto. Is there something like a go card or city pass like they have in the USA, that covers entry to a lot of sites? I've done a few google searches and not uncovered anything, but i might not be using the right terms.

I'm also thinking of doing a day trip to Hiroshima from Kyoto. Can anyone tell me if it's worth the extra effort. If so i think I'm stay an extra day.

Last question is about the japan rail pass. I'm thinking to get 1 if I go to Hiroshima. Do these also cover travel on the standard trains in Tokyo - like the metro system?

 

[kamchatsky]

I'm heading over to Japan end of August and am planning to get out of Tokyo for a few days.

I've decided I will stay in Kyoto for 3 nights - plan to get an early train down and a late train back to Tokyo so i get close to 3 days time there.

I've read about the 500 yen bus pass and that seems to be the best way to get around Kyoto. Is there something like a go card or city pass like they have in the USA, that covers entry to a lot of sites? I've done a few google searches and not uncovered anything, but i might not be using the right terms.

I'm also thinking of doing a day trip to Hiroshima from Kyoto. Can anyone tell me if it's worth the extra effort. If so i think I'm stay an extra day.

Last question is about the japan rail pass. I'm thinking to get 1 if I go to Hiroshima. Do these also cover travel on the standard trains in Tokyo - like the metro system?

I just came back from Japan in April. The Kyoto bus pass is 500 Yen. That's all you really need for going around Kyoto. No need to catch the subway as most of what you needed can only be reached by bus.

Kyoto City Web / Access / Public transport in Kyoto

I also suggest you download the bus map at the bottom of the webpage above. It is also available at tourist information centre at JR Kyoto station.

Your JR pass covers all JR trains only. It does not include other private trains. All Shinkansens are JR trains, and JR trains have normal local trains as well.

I also suggested that you go to Nara and Osaka rather than Hiroshima. It is very close to Kyoto (30 mins to 1 hour from Kyoto on normal train). All reachable by JR trains. In fact, Osaka is more fun than Kyoto at night. I have written up a TR if you are interested.

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

oh..thanxs

the TR would be great

I always find the 1st time to a country the most dififcult as you just dont know the quirks of way things are done.

 

[kamchatsky]

oh..thanxs

the TR would be great

I always find the 1st time to a country the most dififcult as you just dont know the quirks of way things are done.

My TR is:

The Good Food, Good Time Japan (and Korea) Tour from Down Under: SQ/NH Y, OZ C - FlyerTalk Forums

Still not yet completed, but already covered Shinkansen as well as Osaka/Kyoto/Nara. No Hiroshima though.

I have to say Japan is a fantastic country to visit in. You will be overwhelmed by their multitudes of transportation options

 

[kamchatsky]

Another tip: if you do use the JR 7-day pass (tourist only), you have to pay extra for Nozomi trains (the ones very few stops) between Tokyo and Kyoto on Shinkansen. You can catch Hikari or Kodama trains. Take the Hikari one as Kodama is all stops and is very slow.

Also depending on your route sometimes it is not worth it to have 7 day JR pass. but I think it is OK for you given you are catching shinkansen multiple times.

 

[dajop]

Did a similar trip to this 5 years ago.

Actually did a day trip to Hiroshima. It was quite a long day, but managed to visit Himeji (castle) on the way to Hiroshima, then spent some time in Hiroshima, in the large a very sobering time, before continuing on to Miyajima and spending some time on that island before heading back to Kyoto in the evening, was definitely worthwhile.

 

[Homer]

We also did a sort-of day trip to Hiroshima last year and I would highly recommend it. In our case we left Kyoto in the morning for Hiroshima, had about three hours there which was plenty of time (IMHO) for the Peace Memorial Museum and then took the Shinkansen back to Tokyo, arriving at about 6pm (we had a flight out the next morning). That may sound like a huge day - particularly as we had our three year old in tow - but in fact the efficiency of the Japanese transport system made it a breeze.

 

[medhead]

Last question is about the japan rail pass. I'm thinking to get 1 if I go to Hiroshima. Do these also cover travel on the standard trains in Tokyo - like the metro system?

I was just over in tokyo 2 weeks ago. As mentioned the JR pass only includes JR trains. In relation to the Tokyo metro most of the train lines are not JR trains. But there are a limited JR train lines in Tokyo. There is a 1000 yen day pass for the Tokyo metro which is unlimited travel for all trains except JR trains. This might combine with a JR pass for a limited number of days. Or just buy trips on the jr line around Tokyo if needed. Otherwise there is also the pasmo or suica cards which are good for all Tokyo trains.

 

[whereishome]

Fantastic you're going to Japan

Kyoto Bus pass here - Kyoto Visitor's Guide-Transportation System-

JR Pass only covers JR trains and not subways or private railway lines.

Use Hyperdia.com to look at your main long distance train ideas - it may work out to be cheaper to just pay the regular costs rather than the pass if you aren't going to be taking too many long trains. Usually works out cheaper for me.

Also as an option look at overnight buses - JR has them and so do other operators. I used to travel overnight (well 5-6 hours) for ¥2500 on a discount carrier as opposed to paying ¥11000 for the same 2hr trip on the bullet train.

 

[tuapekastar]

Did a similar trip to this 5 years ago.

Actually did a day trip to Hiroshima. It was quite a long day, but managed to visit Himeji (castle) on the way to Hiroshima, then spent some time in Hiroshima, in the large a very sobering time, before continuing on to Miyajima and spending some time on that island before heading back to Kyoto in the evening, was definitely worthwhile.

Agree this is a worthwhile sidetrip from Kyoto. After so many temples I found the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, as did dajop, very sobering and also very interesting. Miyajima is intersting for the floating temple gates and the roaming deer.

 

[kpc]

Another +1 for the day trip to Hiroshima from Kyoto. The train trip is included in the Japan rail pass if you get it (can't use the Nozomi trains as indicated above), so on the way back from Hiroshima to Kyoto we had to change train at Himeji; literally got off, stood on the platform for 5-10 minutes, then caught the next train. I thought the day trip was worthwhile to see the Atom Bomb building and the Peace museum. We took a taxi from Hiroshima train station to the Atom bomb building for not vey much ?AUD$8 (Just pointed on the map to the taxi driver:idea, and later that afternoon took a leisurely 40 minute stroll back to the train station, stopping at a Dept store to pick up a bento box for lunch.

 

[moa999]

Also if you aren't buying the 7-day pass, consider one way Shinkasen down and JAL First ITM-HND (Osaka Itami - Tokyo Haneda)
You will never have better service on a 45-min flight (particularly if you go at dinner time).

Advance purchase TOKUBIN can be had for Y23100 (about A$300)
On QFF earns - 251pts and 60SCs

See report and photos on flight here:
http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...es-advice-and-some-luck-20022.html#post272611

 

[Holly]

+1 also for the day trip to Hiroshima from Kyoto. We left early morning, caught the shinkansen and arrived in Hiroshima ~11am. We then caught the local train to Miyajima-guchi before taking the ferry across to Miyajima. All transport including the ferry are JR-operated so they are alll covered by the JR pass.

We spent a couple of hours exploring Miyajima before heading back to
Hiroshima in the late afternoon. The trams aren't covered by the JR pass but are really convenient to get from the Hiroshima station to the memorial peace park and the museum. Coming from MEL, we're acquainted with catching trams but the ones in Hiroshima are quite different!

We then walked back towards Sogo department stores via Hiroshima castle. This wasn't originally on my "to visit" list but saw it on the tourist map I picked up at the station. As such, we were too late for entrance inside the castle, so we instead wandered around the grounds and admired the castle, up-close, from the entrance outside. This was pretty special too.

If you happen to be in Kyoto on the 21st of the month, I'd also highly recommend going to the Toba-san market at Toji temple (~10-15min walk from Kyoto station). Get there early and enjoy the many different fresh produce stalls, preserved fruits and veggies (lotsa samples!), and kimonos, antiques, etc.

Have a great time!

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

great

am really thinking i might have a night in Hiroshima. might as well make the most of the JR pass