[Iphone]

Hi All,

I'm going to Japan (for a month) and of course organising to minimise my travel costs. I will be sticking around Tokyo and the Yokohama area. However, during my travel, I will want to visit Kyoto and Osaka and perhaps stay in each city for a week. I just would like to know, has anyone caught the shinkansen there recently? From Yokohama or Tokyo that goes to Kyoto? I would like to know the cost in yen for a single ticket and a return ticket.

I know that I can get those Foreign JR Rail passes for heaps cheaper and I know the costs - but of course I'm trying to work out whats best at the moment.

Thanks,
Kendo Padawan

[gagagaridze]

What's the cost of the rail pass?
You can check train fees and times by using www.hyperdia.com (they have an english page). Residents of Japan can't buy the pass, but when my family comes to visit, they always buy the pass if we plan on going anywhere far. Tokyo to Kyoto I imagine would be far enough to justify the cost (you can use it for local trains around Tokyo as well.)
Good luck!

[Sydneyfonzi]

Thanks for that.. Wow, that website is really good..

The Rail pass prices can be found at this website:

http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en003.html

What do you think?

[Sotmoigma]

Thanks for the link.. Its really useful..

The rail pass costs can be found at this website:

http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en003.html

What do you think?

[UMATURLIN]

By the way, does anyone know if the rail pass can be used in Kyoto and Osaka?

Kendo Padwana

[fujitsusi]

The rail passes are used on JR lines, which is a specific train company, so its usefulness for local travel will depend on where you go. Kyoto works pretty much solely with the chikatetsu (subway), which is a separate line and doesn't recognize the pass. Tokyo is primarily JR train lines so the pass would often be sufficient for getting anywhere. Osaka's kind of in-between. As most every city is connected by the main JR lines, though, inter-city travel can all be done with rail passes.

The tickets can get you just about anywhere, but they put limiters on what shinkansen lines you can ride. Usually that only restricts you to the trains that are a little more infrequent (1 hour between trains as opposed to 10 minutes, or thereabouts) so it's nothing to worry about. You get to Kyoto just as fast.

It's always better to get the rail pass. Always always always always always. You would be saving money from the trip to kyoto alone, compared to round trip shinkansen ticket prices.

[Inenuedbabnor]

The first time I cam to Japan on a holiday I bought the Japan Rail Pass before arriving and found it very good. I travelled from Kyoto to Hiroshima, Himeji, Kanazawa, Nagoya and Osaka within one week.

The last time I travelled from Tokyo to Osaka it cost 13,920yen each way. You can save a little by now having a reserved seat. You can always catch the local train between Kyoto and Osaka which is quite cheap.

There is also a new airport at Kobe which has some good deals. My flight from Kobe to Haneda (Tokyo) only cost 10,000 yen on Skymark.

[Quality4Qty]

hhhmmm... ok, I'm thinking it from this perspective

I checked out the website so from Tokyo to Kyoto is 13520 yen. So return would cost 27040 yen. Rail pass for only 7 days cost 28300 yen for an ordinary ticket. Considering I'm likely to be staying in Kyoto for one week as well, I'm only going to be using the special railpass as a return ticket. Hmmm.... I suppose I'm saving 1260 yen not buying the special railpass..

And besides, when I get the railpass converted to my currency, I'm actually paying like nearly 8000 yen difference for the railpass.

Kendo Padwan..

[ClapekDodki]

The rail pass' fee is a flat fee in yen, which you pay for in your country at whatever the conversion rate of that day is. So, there's nothing to worry about in terms of conversion or exchange fees. If the math adds up to a difference of 1260 yen, the difference is always going to be the equivelant of 1260 yen.

And that small difference is why I would recommend getting the pass. If you ride any JR line besides the shinkansen while you're there, it will either even itself out or become (slightly) more cost effective. I'll be getting a pass for myself when I'll be going in June for 6 days.

[Uciaucrx]

JBouch,

I hear u - But it doesnt seem that way.. For example it costs 28300 yen for an actual 7 day pass. In my currency it equates to around $335. However, if I was to buy the 7 day ticket from an issuer here, theyre charging me $428 - which is $93 difference. So that's about 7870 yen difference. Considering I'm going to spend a week in Kyoto and not travelling else where and I cant use the Rail pass for the local travel in Kyoto - i think I'm better off buying a return ticket while I'm there.

KendoPadawan

[rarpAcconavox]

I'm flying from Tokyo to Osaka next week on ANA and it only cost 10,600 yen. Check out the site in English. It's really easy to book as well.

https://www.ana.co.jp/eng/

Cheers

[AdobeCreativeSuite]

Thanks for the link...

How long does it take to fly there? I'm just thinking that if the Shinkansen costs more than plane tickets, why wouldn't you fly?

[Elaltergephah]

I'd prefer to go a bit slower and see the countryside but it depends upon how much time you have.

[picinaRefadia]

the Kyoto/Tokyo countryside is all the same from the train window...houses and fields. You get bored after a while on that route. Go North or farther out West and it gets better as you get into the mountains. One trip, on a train/ plane, dont bother with the pass... you can get a slower connection for a lot less. Multiple trips and you are getting value for money...