they love tentacles ???

I went during silver week last year and it was crazy trying to book hotels. I didn't know it was silver week at the time, and I was planning on going to hiroshima...but couldn't find any hotels <$300 CAD a night. So we ended up just going for a day trip from Osaka.

Golden Week I can only assume is worse.

Golden Week in Tokyo is the opposite of what I'd expected. When I went in '07 it was empty as many people left the city to go on vacation. However, I wouldn't take this as scripture, YMMV.

Anyone have recommendations for AirBNB or hotels in Japan? Specifically Kyoto and Tokyo? Also, any traditional type of accommodations with private onsens and stuff, if so where in Japan?

Thinking of going in Mid November, would weather already be colder there?

Thanks!

Highly recommend Hakone Ginyu for a ryokan experience. We went in the winter and the climate was perfect for an experience like that. Spring or summer may be too hot. November would be nice.

For airbnb we stayed at:
Osaka:
https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/4813116
and
https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/3929000
Both are a lot roomier than other places I staying in Japan.

In Tokyo, they've all been tiny cramped units and i couldnt really recommend any.
We stayed here:
https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/3530743
and it was convenient as it was a 2 min walk from Meguro station on the Yamanote line.

I went late October last year and it was still very warm but not uncomfortable. Like mid-high 20's.

cheapest place locally to pick up an exchange order for JR rail pass?
looks like there's no online option through official channels...they only list travel agents.

Both have Vancouver offices:
KIE Canada | Travel
JTB CANADA WEB

Also heard most travel agencies can get it like Silkway etc. pricing will vary depending what exchange rate they want to use.

got it at silkway
they said they process all the JR passes in lower mainland so if you get it another agency it'll still get processed at the JTB head office so this ended up being the fastest route in case anyone's ever in a bind.

got mine from here

went back for a visit in march

https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/?cur...hs4aAttH8P8HAQ

JAL has just realized the "Explorer Pass". 10800JPY per flight.
JAL Japan Explorer Pass

Might be a good option if you're not going to utilize the train.

Hey guys,

Would you guys recommend getting a JR pass if I am just travelling within the Tokyo Region (around 4-5 days), and also the Kyoto region (around 2-3 days)?

I am trying to figure out if its worth it given I will need bullet train to Kyoto from Tokyo and also transit to NRT airport.

Would the pass be worth?

Yes. Pass is definitely worth it if you take the bullet train half way across the country and back. You can also go to hiroshima, and osaka with JR Pass. It starts paying for itself if you can find and use JR designated Lines. Yamanote line can get you to the most important parts of Tokyo and the JR pass lets you ride that line without extra charge (Shibuya, shinjuku, ueno, tokyo station [connects with bullet train and has those awesome bento box lunches], Akihabara, ikebukuro and shinagawa are the most important stops imo).

Thanks for the info!

Do you know if the 7 day pass is based on the actual day?

So if I started using it on the 12th, would I be able to use it the whole day on the 19th? or is it calculated like 168 Hour duration nothing more nothing less?

Thanks!

Based on actual day. If it's your first time there you'll notice how everything is very exact there. When I go visit for 10 days, I activate my JR pass at the JR booth on the 3rd day there for my 7 day pass so I can get back to tokyo from osaka on my last day via shinkansen.

The timing of all the trains are pretty exact down to the minute.


Also, JR pass will not work for most lines that go to and from NRT. I think there was one line that JR pass can be used but takes a long time. I usually go through HND. Faster, more accessible. I only went to NRT once to fly home. Sunday trains were on and off so it took a long time to get there. Will always go HND from now on.

The JR pass is based on the actual day so lets say u started using it at 10pm on the 12th, that would still count as a day and would expire on the 19th at 11:59pm

There is a direct line u can use the JR pass to get to and from NRT which is a express train that would take u to tokyo station and some of the other stations along the JR yamanote line.

If I am staying in tokyo only for 3 days, is it better to jsut use suica only?

My hotel is at shiodome .. train or bus limo from NRT?

Suica card is sufficient if you are purely transiting within tokyo. If you are leaving from NRT to your hotel, prices vary a lot. From 2300¥ up to ¥6000 for a train depending on the speed you choose. Obviously, the faster the more expensive. All I know is the weekend trains are very infrequent and takes a long ass time. Sometimes the train will switch out and you have to get off. My cousin asked me why the hell I cheaped out and it eats up like an extra hour or more of time over the faster express lines.

Word of advice, take the express. JR pass is only not worth it if you do not take the shinkansen.

Wow, thanks for all the feedback.

So if I were to go from NRT to Tokyo, then travel around Tokyo, then bullet train to Kyoto and bullet train back to Tokyo and in the end NRT. The JR pass should be #worth right? :thumbs:

you would be able to ride the NEX from narita to tokyo, and tokyo to narita with the pass(4000yen round trip). the pass is only good for the slowest of the 3 bullet trains(10,000ish yen each way), it is also not good for some of the railway lines in the cities, and buses. kyoto doesnt really have any jr lines going to tourist attractions. so you might want to get kyoto city bus and subway pass. 1200yen for 1 day or 2000yen for 2 days
also check for renovations prior to going to places. kiyomizudera was under construction for a year, not sure if its done yet

So rough estimate, 24,000 yen based on NEX and Bullet Train. I think the pass is around $350ish, would you recommend getting it if I am in Tokyo for around 4-5 days and Kyoto for 1-2 days? Roughly around 7 days to fully utilize the JR pass if its worth it. If it's not really that worth it we might stay an extra 1-2 days in Tokyo...

You will probably spend over $50 in Tokyo in 4-5 days, but depending on where you go, much of that may be via Metro and other lines not covered. Still it's probably worth it overall.

JR Pass is useless once you get to Kyoto, except maybe for a day trip to Osaka or Kobe, but you're only there 2 days so...

Thanks!

Yea, Kyoto has a couple things on our list that we want to see/do and it will most likely take 2 days 1 night max.

Most of our time would spent in Tokyo exploring all the usual touristy spots.

Thanks for everyone's input! Now the question is.... wheres the best place to buy the JR pass in Van? I saw a couple links in this thread, but the only place that stuck out was Silkway?

I got mine from here 2 years ago:
https://canada.kiecan.com/en/japan-rail-pass/

Office on W Pender Street downtown. Prices had pretty much no markup, you only lose on the exchange rate.