I’m planning to travel after finishing my master program, before returning to my country. I’m wondering if Japan Rail Pass is a good option for me. I’m currently a resident and still have student status. I’m planning to go to Kyoto first and then to Aoshima (Nagahamacho Aoshima, Ōzu, Prefectura de Ehime 799-3470), cause I love cats and it’s my dream after meeting yuzuru hanyu (which unluckily won’t happen). I see that a recommended route is taking the shinkansen from Kyoto to Osaka, then the Jr Matsuyama Shiten bus from Osaka to Matsuyama, following the Jr Josan line from Matsuyama to Iyo-Nagahama.
Other way is from Kyoto to sannomiya station using tokaido-sanyo line, then from sannomiya to Matsuyama Eki using JR Matsuyama Shiten bus, and following the JR Yosan line from Matsuyama to iyo-magahama. (Before taking the ferry)
Does the rail pass is useful for these means of transportation? Can it be bought in ikebukuro or I must do an online reservation first? My japanese is bad and I get feustrated easily…I’d appreciate any help you could give me…お願いいたします!
1 comment
It’s like a 10 minute shinkansen ride from Kyoto to Osaka at ¥3000. You can take an express train from Kyoto to Osaka for like less than ¥600 and less than a half hour.
Same with Kobe: you can take a direct train from Kyoto to Sannomiya Kobe. It’ll be way cheaper than taking the shinkansen.
What you could do though, is take the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Okayama and then take the Yosan line to Matsuyama and then to Iyo-Nagahama station before transferring to the ferry for Aoshima. The JR pass would probably be good for that.
Also, the Rail Pass no longer covers highway busses, so you should stick to trains if you’re going to buy the rail pass.