Visiting Japan with friends 13 Dec Tokyo Narita evening - 24 Dec evening flight back to Australia, not interested in renting car and driving in Japan.
Need fellow ozbargainers suggestion for JR pass, accommodation, what to buy (souvenirs, whisky).
Been through forums, tripadvisors, and expats and came with few options as below:
Need to cover main destinations:
Tokyo
Osaka
Kyoto
Mt. Fuji
Hiroshima
Which option is good:
Accommodation Option 1:Staying in Tokyo and commuting to other destination by JR pass on daily trips.
Accommodation Option 2: spreading accommodation over the destinations. Traveling light with 10-15 kg luggage)
I am looking between JR pass or JR Central pass but need to figure out when to activate it so I can get maximum out of it.
Option 1:
Buying JR Central Pass throughout the trip. Cost for 5 day pass is $150 till 30 Sept. Not sure which one is official site to buy them. May need to buy twice to extend it to 10 days costing $300+
Day 1: Tokyo
Arrive in Tokyo and start exploring the city. Visit areas like Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Harajuku.
Use your JR Central Pass for local travel within Tokyo.
Day 2: Tokyo
Explore Asakusa, including Senso-ji Temple and Nakamise Shopping Street.
Take a Sumida River cruise for a different perspective of Tokyo.
Day 3: Day Trip to Nikko
Use your JR Central Pass for a day trip to Nikko.
Visit Toshogu Shrine and enjoy the natural beauty of the area.
Day 4: Nagoya
Travel to Nagoya using your JR Central Pass (approximately 1.5-2 hours from Tokyo).
Explore Nagoya Castle, Osu Kannon Temple, and the Sakae district.
Day 5: Kyoto
Take a Shinkansen from Nagoya to Kyoto (approximately 35 minutes).
Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine and explore the Gion district.
Day 6: Kyoto
Explore Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Monkey Park, and other attractions in the area.
Day 7: Nara Day Trip
Use your JR Central Pass for a day trip to Nara.
Visit Todai-ji Temple, Nara Park, and other historic sites.
Day 8: Osaka
Travel to Osaka from Kyoto (approximately 30 minutes).
Explore Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi Shopping Street, and Osaka Castle.
Day 9: Day Trip to Mount Koya
Use your JR Central Pass for a day trip to Mount Koya.
Visit Okunoin Cemetery and explore the serene mountain town.
Day 10: Himeji Day Trip
Use your JR Central Pass for a day trip to Himeji.
Explore Himeji Castle and Kokoen Garden.
Day 11: Return to Tokyo
Travel back to Tokyo using your JR Central Pass (approximately 2-3 hours from Himeji).
Spend your last day in Japan revisiting favorite spots or doing any last-minute shopping.
Remember to activate your JR Central Pass on the first day you plan to use it. Also, check the train schedules and availability in advance. Enjoy your trip!
Option 2:
JR Pass covering most of the Japan. 14 day cost $500 , 7-day $318 till Sept 30th (can use Klook 5% discount to bring it down)
Here's an 11-day itinerary using the Japan Rail Pass, covering various iconic destinations in Japan:
Day 1: Tokyo
Explore Shinjuku and Shibuya districts.
Visit Meiji Shrine and Takeshita Street in Harajuku.
Enjoy shopping in Shibuya or Shinjuku.
Day 2: Tokyo
Explore Asakusa area: Senso-ji Temple, Nakamise Shopping Street.
Take a Sumida River cruise.
Visit Ueno Park and its museums.
Day 3: Day Trip to Nikko
Use your Japan Rail Pass for a day trip to Nikko.
Visit Toshogu Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and enjoy the natural surroundings.
Day 4: Kyoto
Take a Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto (approx. 2.5 hours).
Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine and Gion district.
Day 5: Kyoto
Visit Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) and Ryoan-ji Temple.
Explore Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Monkey Park.
Day 6: Day Trip to Nara
Use your Japan Rail Pass for a day trip to Nara.
Visit Todai-ji Temple, Nara Park, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Day 7: Osaka
Travel to Osaka (approx. 30 minutes from Kyoto).
Explore Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi Shopping Street.
Visit Osaka Castle and its surrounding park.
Day 8: Day Trip to Himeji
Use your Japan Rail Pass for a day trip to Himeji (approx. 1 hour from Osaka).
Explore Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Day 9: Hiroshima and Miyajima Island
Use your Japan Rail Pass to take a day trip to Hiroshima (approx. 1.5 hours from Osaka).
Visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum.
Take a ferry to Miyajima Island to see the famous Itsukushima Shrine and the floating torii gate.
Day 10: Kanazawa
Take a Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Kanazawa (approx. 2.5 hours).
Visit Kenrokuen Garden and the Nagamachi samurai district.
Day 11: Return to Tokyo
Travel back to Tokyo from Kanazawa (approx. 2.5 hours).
Use the afternoon to revisit any favourite spots or do some last-minute shopping.
Update:
Thanks to my ozbargain community support.
Cutting my trip down to main destinations, picking from @dtc comment:
Tokyo (3 nights), Activate JR pass and go to Hakone (Mt Fuji five lakes) (1 night), Kyoto (2 nights), Osaka (3 nights), Himeji (day trip from Osaka on way to Hiroshima), Hiroshima (1 night) and back to Tokyo NRT
Buying JR 7-day pass ($320), plus Tokyo subway pass ($16 for 3 days), $27 airport transfer
Hi there, just a reminder that you need to get your pass this month to avoid a massive price increase.