rail pass for Japan

[SDJ]

does anyone have a link to a website with english info??? our trip consists of 3 nights in tokyo, 7 nights in Hakuba and then 3 nights in Kyoto so were trying to see if its gonna be cheaper to buy individual passes or get a 14 day pass.

any advice welcome

[skijacski]

http://www.japanrail.com/JR_japanrailpass.html

We used it last February and it was excellent, we went green (first) class and pre booked the seats on the trains, also non-smoking. Helped having all the room to put the gear!

We travelled from Kutchan to Kyoto in one day!

I used in the timetable area Hyperdia to figure out all the different times and trains, you need to know some of the towns, but we had a ball. We then travelled all over Japan on the pass, it also gives you JR buses, ferries and some city trains. Everything ran on time and was exactly like the schedule. There are quite a few trains you can use around Kyoto with the pass too.

Don't know about Hakuba.

[eckstar]

As sjs said , I think if your travelling all over japan it makes sense. At 1k aud for a 2 week rail pass ( first class ) , you would want to get your moneys worth.

[Paul Oberin]

We used it to get to Nagano on our way to Hakuba last year, you have to catch a bus from Nagano to Hakuba, the JR pass is also cheaper for certain age groups, I think it was for under 25 years old, that it was about $50 cheaper.

[Donza]

Originally posted by SDJ:
does anyone have a link to a website with english info??? our trip consists of 3 nights in tokyo, 7 nights in Hakuba and then 3 nights in Kyoto so were trying to see if its gonna be cheaper to buy individual passes or get a 14 day pass.

any advice welcome I would buy the tickets invidually.
Considering a 14 day pass is around 45100.
NEX from Narita to Tokyo. around 2940
Tokyo three days. you won't use the pass. Well it would be over kill. Cause you'll only pay 800-1000 a day or so to ride the subways.
Tokyo_ Hakuba is around 8000.
Hakuba you won't use the pass.
Hakuba -Kyoto (on the Shinano - then Shink) is around 7000 or so from what I can tell.
Kyoto. I'm sure there would be cheap tickets.

So thats alot cheaper than 45100.

[Paul Oberin]

Last year the pass was only 20000, where did that figure of 45100 come from, also last year I used it over a month, not just 14 days.
There is no train to Hakuba, you have to catch a bus from Nagano.

I see where those figures came from now, I may have to do more research, that is way over a 100% price increase on last year, in fact by the time you convert the Dollar to Yen, the airfare with Jetstar to Japan is cheaper than the JR pass now. that is more than a 200% price increase in Australian dollars for this year.

[ 06.11.2008, 12:42 PM: Message edited by: Paul Oberin ]

[Paul Oberin]

I see you can't buy it in Japan, it now has to be purchased outside Japan, I wonder why it has gone up so much in one year.

[Donza]

Originally posted by Paul Oberin:
Last year the pass was only 20000, where did that figure of 45100 come from, also last year I used it over a month, not just 14 days.
There is no train to Hakuba, you have to catch a bus from Nagano.

I see where those figures came from now, I may have to do more research, that is way over a 100% price increase on last year, in fact by the time you convert the Dollar to Yen, the airfare with Jetstar to Japan is cheaper than the JR pass now. that is more than a 200% price increase in Australian dollars for this year. Youre thinking of the 4 day non consectutive pass. That works on JR east trains only. Kyoto is another region so you'd need a all Japan pass- hence the 45100. Its all regions every day.
Its overkill in SDJ's case

Yeah its still the same price. (they actually had one for three days for 10,000).

[Donza]

There is a train to Hakuba too. Its slower than the Shink to Nagano. Though its ideal to go to Kyoto (via nagoya)

[Tobi]

Originally posted by Donza:
There is a train to Hakuba too. Its slower than the Shink to Nagano. Though its ideal to go to Kyoto (via nagoya) I was just about to say this.

Gasboy & I did the slower way on the way to Hak and then the fast way back.

[Paul Oberin]

Originally posted by Donza:
There is a train to Hakuba too. Its slower than the Shink to Nagano. Though its ideal to go to Kyoto (via nagoya) I did see trains at Hukuba and we even caught them to the other close by ski resorts, but I was fairly sure to get from Tokyo to Hakuba by train was not that easy to do, and you had to go via some other routes which was the long way round.

[Donza]

Originally posted by Paul Oberin:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Donza:
There is a train to Hakuba too. Its slower than the Shink to Nagano. Though its ideal to go to Kyoto (via nagoya) I did see trains at Hukuba and we even caught them to the other close by ski resorts, but I was fairly sure to get from Tokyo to Hakuba by train was not that easy to do, and you had to go via some other routes which was the long way round. </font>[/QUOTE]Oh yeah for sure. It goes the long way round through Matsumoto. Though if youre going to Kyoto after, its perfect. Its lines up with that line.

[Paul Oberin]

So for just going to Hakuba you need this link.

http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass/prices.html

[Donza]

Yeah and it would be great if they extended the three day deal.

Thats so cheap.

[Sandy]

Originally posted by Donza:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Paul Oberin:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Donza:
There is a train to Hakuba too. Its slower than the Shink to Nagano. Though its ideal to go to Kyoto (via nagoya) I did see trains at Hukuba and we even caught them to the other close by ski resorts, but I was fairly sure to get from Tokyo to Hakuba by train was not that easy to do, and you had to go via some other routes which was the long way round. </font>[/QUOTE]Oh yeah for sure. It goes the long way round through Matsumoto. Though if youre going to Kyoto after, its perfect. Its lines up with that line. </font>[/QUOTE]It's not actually the long way around, the train is just slower. However, there is a couple of times a day when the Azusa express form Shinjuku goes all the way to Hakuba, no changing trains, no buses.

Regarding the Japan Rail Pass. Individual fares Tokyo-Kyoto-Tokyo costs 27,000 yen. A one week Japan Rail Pass will cost 28,000yen(all Japan). Tokyo-Nagano one way costs about 8000yen.

So you can do this:
Instead of buying a TWO WEEK JR Pass buy a ONE WEEK pass. Take the train Nagano-Tokyo-Kyoto-Tokyo-Narita Airport (plus any other train trips, e.g. down to Himeji, or Nara) and you get 38,000yen+ value for 28,000yen. When you go Tokyo-Hakuba, don't take the train, take the bus with all your gear out of Shinjuku directly to Hakuba. Costs 4700yen one way.

[John Deere]

Will the one week pass work on the subway in both Tokyo and Osaka?? I thought they were not JR. Maybe I have it wrong.

[John Deere]

It also excludes Nozomi Shinks, this would make it a bit restrictive, I think I only ever caught Nozomi's between Osaka/Nagoya/Tokyo when I was there.

[Sandy]

Originally posted by John Deere:
Will the one week pass work on the subway in both Tokyo and Osaka?? I thought they were not JR. Maybe I have it wrong. They are not JR, so no, they will not work on a JR pass.

[Sandy]

Originally posted by John Deere:
It also excludes Nozomi Shinks, this would make it a bit restrictive, I think I only ever caught Nozomi's between Osaka/Nagoya/Tokyo when I was there. It's not really all that restrictive...

There are three different types of Shinkansen on the Tokyo to Shin-Osaka route:
Kodama - Stops pretty much all stations. Takes around 4 hrs
Hikari - 2hr 50min
Nozomi - 2hr 35min

15 min extra is not much. An hour and a half extra on the Kodama is.

[John Deere]

but dont Nozomi's run more often?

[SDJ]

thanks heaps for all the info people its really appreciated

[Sandy]

Originally posted by John Deere:
but dont Nozomi's run more often? Yes, but Hikari Shinkansens run every 30 min, which is a schedule of whole days, is not too painful. It all depends whether you want to save money or not.

If you're only going to do ONE return Tokyo-Osaka-Tokyo, then single fares is the way to go. If you travel, say, Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka-Himeji-Hiroshima-Takayama-Tokyo, you will save 17,000 yen (about $250)

[SDJ]

OK so im doing all the research a bit last minute but hopeing for some help. cause im afraid the language barrier may make thing interesting.

ok so here is a map of the Nagano station can someone point out on it where i need to head to to get the bus to hakuba please

nagano station map (http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/stations/e1105.html)

thanks

also does anyone no which bus or have a link???

[SA]

Bus stop no. 6, east exit (not Zenkoji); Alpico bus


http://www.alpico.co.jp/kbc/bus/station/images/nagano_sta.gif

Timetable here - http://www.alpico.co.jp/access/express/index_e.html

[SA]

When you come out of the JR station, the ticket office is on your right. Turn left (away from the ticket office). Walk to the end of the concourse. A Lift and stairs are on your left. Go downstairs/down to street level. The bus terminal is in front of you. Find bus stop no. 6...

[SDJ]

Thanks SA ur a champ


also does anyone have a linky for me to look at a train from nagano?hakuba to kyoto???

[SA]

Try www.hyperdia.com (http://www.hyperdia.com) or www.jorudan.co.jp/english (http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english)