JR pass

[bluecanopy]

Hey guys.

I was wondering which JR pass I should get. I intend to travel from Osaka to Tokyo. I assume it would be the JR central pass? There are so many types and it's a tad too confusing with the wealth of information online.

I also plan to make day trips to Kyoto and Kobe from Osaka. It looks like traveling time to these 2 places are quite short, an hour at the most (correct me if I'm wrong), and transport fare is fairly reasonable, as cf. to using Shinkansen to reach there. Is it advisable to get a JR pass for this? Or is a one-day JR pass enough?

Thanks in advance!

 

[samtcy]

Hey guys.

I was wondering which JR pass I should get. I intend to travel from Osaka to Tokyo. I assume it would be the JR central pass? There are so many types and it's a tad too confusing with the wealth of information online.

I also plan to make day trips to Kyoto and Kobe from Osaka. It looks like traveling time to these 2 places are quite short, an hour at the most (correct me if I'm wrong), and transport fare is fairly reasonable, as cf. to using Shinkansen to reach there. Is it advisable to get a JR pass for this? Or is a one-day JR pass enough?

Thanks in advance!

Will you be travelling from Osaka to Tokyo, and then back to Osaka again? Or will you be flying out from Tokyo?

If you will be travelling from Osaka/Kyoto to Tokyo, and then returning to Osaka/Tokyo again, then you should probably get the 7day JR Pass (28300yen) since it will also cover the Haruka Express train from Kansai Airport to Shin-Osaka/Kyoto station.

FYI, a 1 way Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo already costs 13750yen for reserved seat (or 13240yen for unreserved seat). Therefore a return trip between Osaka and Tokyo would cost 13750x2 = 27500yen.

The 7day JR Pass is 28300yen, so it's just an additional 800yen...but you can use the JR Pass for all JR trains (including Shinkansen) throughout Japan for those 7days. If you want to, you could even travel to as far as Kyushu (south of Japan) or Hokkaido (north of Japan).

Only the 7day (or 14day/21day) Nationwide JR pass will cover the Shinkasen journey between Osaka/Kyoto to Tokyo. The other types of JR passes don't.
For more info on the various types of JR passes, go here:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357.html

What do you mean by "JR Central Pass"? Don't think there's such a pass.

Remember, if you are getting the 7day JR Pass, you should buy it when you are still in Singapore (I usually get mine from JTB or Pricebreaker..depending on which place's exchange rate is better) before you fly to Japan. Because this 7day JR Pass is not sold anywhere in Japan, you can only buy from overseas, bring the voucher to Japan, then use the voucher to exchange for the actual JR Pass when you arrive at Japan from 1 of the JR offices.

 

[alchemist_acid]

Osaka to Tokyo is on the Tokaido Shinkansen, the only JR pass you can use is the Nationalwide JR pass.

Nationalwide JR pass is 28300yen for 7 days.

Without pass usage, 1 way travel from Osaka to Tokyo cost roughly 13000yen. 2 trips between Osaka and Tokyo + other JR rides within the 7 days may be enough to cover the cost of the pass.

Use Hyperdia | for calculating train fares

 

[socrates]

HAs anybody ever bought a JR pass from online like JR Pass, Japan rail pass : Book your Japan Rail Pass

Their quoted price in Singapore dollar is S$ 336 which 'seems' cheaper than JTB. any hidden costs here ? relaible?

 

[dimitri_can]

HAs anybody ever bought a JR pass from online like JR Pass, Japan rail pass : Book your Japan Rail Pass

Their quoted price in Singapore dollar is S$ 336 which 'seems' cheaper than JTB. any hidden costs here ? relaible?

Pls buy from Fly and Self Drive in Hokkaido-Follow Me Japan-

They allow u to buy the pass in Yen. That's even cheaper right?

 

[DouBleB]

Pls buy from Fly and Self Drive in Hokkaido-Follow Me Japan-

They allow u to buy the pass in Yen. That's even cheaper right?

What are the rates after buying using yen ??

 

[samtcy]

What are the rates after buying using yen ??

It probably means you use yen (in cash) to pay for the JR Pass.
So the exchange rate would be whatever the rate is when you go money changer to purchase those yen.

Problem is that usually money changer only have big notes (10,000yen notes) and seldom have 1000yen notes.
So you probably have to hope for the agency to have spare small change to give you back when you use big notes to pay for the railpass.

 

[socrates]

If I use the current exchange rate of 1000Y to 12.295 and buy at Fly and Self Drive in Hokkaido-Follow Me Japan-. The costs of a JR pass would be about $348

However If order from JR Pass, Japan rail pass : Book your Japan Rail Pass
it is $337.

It seems cheaper to get from online and I still wonder why everybody seems to buy from a travel agent in Singapore. Is there any hidden costs etc?

Any comments?

 

[feryl]

If I use the current exchange rate of 1000Y to 12.295 and buy at Fly and Self Drive in Hokkaido-Follow Me Japan-. The costs of a JR pass would be about $348

However If order from JR Pass, Japan rail pass : Book your Japan Rail Pass
it is $337.

It seems cheaper to get from online and I still wonder why everybody seems to buy from a travel agent in Singapore. Is there any hidden costs etc?

Any comments?

online, you've to pay shipping, so it totals ard $360 in the end. Furthermore, some ppl just prefer to apply for these things in person since it feels more immediate, rather than waiting for it to arrive in the mail.

 

[socrates]

Thanks feryl for your comments.

At JR Pass, Japan rail pass : Book your Japan Rail Pass, the shipping costs is listed free and by fedex.

Any other ideas?

 

[DouBleB]

Bought from JTB $357 I prefer to buy from shops since online delivery may delay or lost mail etc... up to individual preference

 

[feryl]

Thanks feryl for your comments.

At JR Pass, Japan rail pass : Book your Japan Rail Pass, the shipping costs is listed free and by fedex.

Any other ideas?

Haha just saw T&c, it's free for 2 passes and above. So it sucks to be forever alone.

 

[bluecanopy]

Will you be travelling from Osaka to Tokyo, and then back to Osaka again? Or will you be flying out from Tokyo?

If you will be travelling from Osaka/Kyoto to Tokyo, and then returning to Osaka/Tokyo again, then you should probably get the 7day JR Pass (28300yen) since it will also cover the Haruka Express train from Kansai Airport to Shin-Osaka/Kyoto station.

FYI, a 1 way Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo already costs 13750yen for reserved seat (or 13240yen for unreserved seat). Therefore a return trip between Osaka and Tokyo would cost 13750x2 = 27500yen.

The 7day JR Pass is 28300yen, so it's just an additional 800yen...but you can use the JR Pass for all JR trains (including Shinkansen) throughout Japan for those 7days. If you want to, you could even travel to as far as Kyushu (south of Japan) or Hokkaido (north of Japan).

Only the 7day (or 14day/21day) Nationwide JR pass will cover the Shinkasen journey between Osaka/Kyoto to Tokyo. The other types of JR passes don't.
For more info on the various types of JR passes, go here:
Rail Passes in Japan

What do you mean by "JR Central Pass"? Don't think there's such a pass.

Remember, if you are getting the 7day JR Pass, you should buy it when you are still in Singapore (I usually get mine from JTB or Pricebreaker..depending on which place's exchange rate is better) before you fly to Japan. Because this 7day JR Pass is not sold anywhere in Japan, you can only buy from overseas, bring the voucher to Japan, then use the voucher to exchange for the actual JR Pass when you arrive at Japan from 1 of the JR offices.

Thanks! It's great help.

Well, it will only be a one way trip from Osaka to Tokyo since I plan to leave from Tokyo. In this case, I guess it makes more sense for me to just get a one way ticket.

By the way, can I buy the Shinkansen ticket here or do I have to get it in Osaka? I'm going during Christmas so I'm worried I might not be able to get a seat.

 

[samtcy]

Thanks! It's great help.

Well, it will only be a one way trip from Osaka to Tokyo since I plan to leave from Tokyo. In this case, I guess it makes more sense for me to just get a one way ticket.

By the way, can I buy the Shinkansen ticket here or do I have to get it in Osaka? I'm going during Christmas so I'm worried I might not be able to get a seat.

Hmm, if you need only 1 way Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka/Kyoto, then you probably have to just buy single trip Shinkansen tickets.

Alternatively, there are some 1 way Shinkansen ride + 1N Kyoto hotel packages which you can consider too:
JAPAN TOURS: Enjoy Your Japan Vacation With These Travel Packages - JAPANiCAN

And other Shinkansen+hotel packages (usually return trips):
Train & Hotel Packages: Discount Bullet Train with Hotel - JAPANiCAN.com

No, you cannot buy Shinkansen tickets from Singapore.

 

[socrates]

Just to share with everybody I finally ordered 3 JR passes at $337 from JR Pass, Japan rail pass : Book your Japan Rail Pass
last Thursday night.

It arrived on Monday delivered by Fed EX. Free delivery for more than 1 pass ordered. Checked my credit card charges and after rate conversion it came up to be $339 per pass. Still some savings from buying from an agent in Singapore especially if buying more than 1.

 

[dimitri_can]

It probably means you use yen (in cash) to pay for the JR Pass.
So the exchange rate would be whatever the rate is when you go money changer to purchase those yen.

Problem is that usually money changer only have big notes (10,000yen notes) and seldom have 1000yen notes.
So you probably have to hope for the agency to have spare small change to give you back when you use big notes to pay for the railpass.

they will have small change for u. =)

 

[Kaltong]

Hi, need some advice here. Can i utilize the 7 days JR Hokkaido pass for the subway in Sapporo as well?

Thanks

 

[castafarian]

Pls buy from Fly and Self Drive in Hokkaido-Follow Me Japan-

They allow u to buy the pass in Yen. That's even cheaper right?

Just bought from there recently, paid using yen

 

[hoshiyume]

Sorry to hijack your thread... but can anyone tell me if i should get jr west pass for travelling from rinku to my hostel around nijo castle in Kyoto or is there a better/cheaper alternative?

Apparently hyperdia and me dont click - totally dun uds hyperdia.

 

[evilerniex]

Sorry to hijack your thread... but can anyone tell me if i should get jr west pass for travelling from rinku to my hostel around nijo castle in Kyoto or is there a better/cheaper alternative?

Apparently hyperdia and me dont click - totally dun uds hyperdia.

there are 2 ways to get to kyoto from rinku town:
1) take train to KIX or Hineno, then Ltd. Exp Haruka to kyoto.
this will cost 3000+yen and takes 80+min. in this case, the JR west kansai area pass will be worth it at 2000yen

2) take train into osaka, then JR special rapid to Kyoto.
this will cost less than 2000yen and takes about 100+min. JR pass is not worth it if going by this route

which part about hyperdia u cant understand? maybe we can help explain