I will be in Japan from 19th December 2022 until 5th January 2023.
My basic itinerary would be as follows:
Day 1 (19/12)
– arrive at Tokyo Narita
– head to accommodation in Shinjuku
– explore Shinjuku/Shibuya
– Hachiko Memorial Statue
– cat cafe
Day 2 (20/12)
– head to Disney SEA
Day 3 (21/12)
– kimono rental day
– explore Asakusa
– Sensoji Temple
– Nakamise Shopping Street
– try Kibi Dango, Kagetsudo Kaminarinon, Kurikoan
– Asakusa Jinja
– Tokyo Skytree
Day 4 (22/12)
– head to Nozawaonsen
Day 5 (23/12)
– ski activities at Nozawaonsen
Day 6 (24/12)
– ski activities
– Christmas Eve with friends
Day 7 (25/12)
– Christmas with friends
– check out asa-ichi in Nozawaonsen (if any)
Day 8 (26/12)
– just explore Ilyama
– traditional onsen / soto-yu
Day 9 (27/12)
–
Day 10 (28/12)
– depart to Kyoto
– accommodation at Higashiyama
Day 11 (29/12)
– Sanneizaka (before 9am)
– Ninen-zaka
– Yasaka Pagoda (best shot at sunset/sunrise)
– authentic Kyoto tea ceremony at Kiyomizu-dera
– Yasaka Koshindo temple
– Kennin-ji / Kodai-ji
Day 12 (30/12)
– Arashiyama Bamboo forest
– Gio-ji Temple
– Adashini Nembutsu-ji
– Kinkaku-ji Temple
– (if feeing lazy, go in Arashiyama Rickshaw Tour)
Day 13 (31/12)
– explore Gion (Geisha area)
– Sanjo Ohashi Bridge
– Sanjo-kai Shotengai
– Nishiki Market
– Shijo-dori
– Gion Tatsumi Bridge
– New Year’s Eve at Yasaka Shrine
Day 14 (1/1)
– head to Tokyo
Day 15 (2/1)
– Tsukiji Market
– TeamLab
– explore Ginza
Day 16 (3/1)
– explore Akihabara
Day 17 (4/1)
– Daiso
– Don Quixote
Day 18 (5/1)
– head to Narita and leave Japan
My main question is:
should I buy a JR Pass since I’m doing multiple cities, or should i just get a SUICA card and individual shinkansen tickets?
If you have any suggestions or comments to my rough itinerary, it is very welcomed and appreciated.
(Note that after Nozawaonsen on 28th December, I would be travelling alone)
5 comments
https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/wiki/advice/transport/jrpass/#wiki_should_i_buy_a_jr_pass.3F
2 to 4 weeks lead time
You never *need* a JR pass. It’s always a matter of math whether it saves money or not.
Plug the trips into an Excel sheet and count them up, or use the following calculator to get a rough idea for example:
https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/
At a very quick glance, it doesn’t look like a 1 or 2 week pass would pay off, since your first and last major trips are over a week apart.
You’re in luck. The prices are in google maps. Model your journeys, and see which is cheaper..
The rule of thumb is that a round-trip from Tokyo to Kyoto breaks even.
Been wrestling with this myself. I think a 7 day pass would be worth it if your entire time in Kyoto took place closer to your narita train. The 14day is definitely not worth it