This will be my first solo trip internationally. I have been looking at a 14-day JR Pass, and am not sure if it’s worth it. I checked the JR calculator, and it sounds like it is, but wanted to some more eyes on it. Any advices, tips, would be greatly appreciated!
**Day 1: Arrival in Tokyo Haneda Airport**
* Currency exchange facility, Purchase IC card: Suica or Pasmo, Purchase Sim card, JR Pass
* Rest and recover from the flight
* Stay in Shibuya
**Day 2: Tokyo – Shibuya**
* Explore Meiji shrine and Yoyogi Park
* Explore Harajuku & Omotesando
* Walk Shibuya Crossing and see the Hachiko dog statue
* Visit Shibuya Observatory Deck
* Stay in Shibuya Hotel
**Day 3: Tokyo – Asakusa**
* Visit Sensoji Temple
* Walk by Sumida River to view Tokyo Skytree
* Head to Akihabara Station
* Stroll around Akihabara; weeb town
* Visit Odaiba Seaside Park
* Visit the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower for views of the city and Tokyo Tower
* Stay in Asakusa Hotel
**Day 4: Tokyo – Hitachi Seaside Park**
* Explore Hitachi Seaside Park
* Return to Asakusa Hotel
**Day 5: Hakone**
* Take a train to Hakone and visit Hakone Shrine and Lake Ashi
* Owakudani volcanic valley (Take cable car/ropeway)
* Stay in a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) in Hakone
**Day 6:** **Mt fuji Five Lakes**
* Take a train to the Fuji Five Lakes area and enjoy the views of Mount Fuji
* Take a cruise on Lake Kawaguchiko, which offers stunning views of Mount Fuji.
* Visit the Chureito Pagoda, which is famous for its panoramic views of Mount Fuji.
* Stay in a hotel or ryokan in the Fuji Five Lakes area
**Day 7: Kyoto** (Hakone to Kyoto is about 4 hours)
* Take a bullet train to Kyoto
* Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine and hike up the mountain for great views of the city
* Visit Kiyomizu-dera temple
* Explore the traditional streets of Higashiyama and the bustling markets of Nishiki Market
* Stay in a hotel in the Kyoto area
**Day 8: Kyoto**
* Check out the bamboo groves Arashiyama (potentially monkey park)
* Togetsukyo Bridge
* Kinkakuji Temple, Nijo Castle
* Stay in a hotel in the Kyoto area
**Day 9: Kyoto**
* Tetsugaku No Michi (Philosopher’s Path)
* Stay in a hotel in the Kyoto area
**Day 10: Osaka**
* Take a train to Osaka and visit Osaka Castle
* Start at Shinsaibashi station area, and try to end at Namba
* Check out the food and nightlife in the Dotonbori district
* Shitennoji Temple
* Kaiyukan (Osaka Aquarium)
* Visit the Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine
* Stay in Osaka Hotel
**Day 11: Osaka** (Osaka to Nara is about 45-60 minutes)
* Universal Japan (Super Nintendo World)
* Visit Himeji Castle
* Explore the Shinsekai neighborhood, which is known for its retro charm and delicious food.
* Stay in Osaka hotel
**Day 12: Osaka**
* Take train Kintetsu-Nara Station to Nara
* Visit Nara Park to see the famous deer and Todaiji Temple
* Stay in Osaka hotel and Head back to Tokyo in the morning
**Day 13: Tokyo** (Osaka to Tokyo is about 3hr 15 min)
* Free day to explore any remaining Tokyo attractions or revisit favorites
* Shop for souvenirs or try out new restaurants
* Stay in a hotel in the Tokyo
**Day 14: Departure Tokyo**
* Back to Haneda Airport for departure
5 comments
I would check the calculator again. Many of the train/metro lines in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto are not JR operated, not to mention the busses. If your only Shinkansen rides are from Tokyo to Osaka and back, a 14 day pass seems a bit tough to me.
Edit: If you did 7 days you might just breakeven, but no way for 14 days.
No, it won’t be worth it at all. Even if you did everything in 7 days, you may just breakeven.
Also the JR pass doesn’t cover Osaka to Kintetsu Nara only to JR Nara, but there is a Nara loop bus that’ll take you from either to Todai-ji
In Japan at the moment and would recommend the JR pass. Its so nice to glide through ticket gates with no need to worry. Queues hear for most things including tickets are long, plus changed my plans a couple of times and again no worries with pass. It’s not just a cash decision.
if it’s even close don’t do it. The exchange counter to get the physical pass is extremely slow. It took us almost two hours and we barely made the last train to Kyoto.