Why buying Japan Rail Pass will help you save money
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- Cost-saving
Take unlimited rides at a low cost that local Japanese can only dream of! - Time-saving
Skip the queues and the hassle of paying per ride. - Free / Discounted Admission to selected places of interests
Key benefits of using a Japan Rail Pass / Regional Rail Pass
(Kansai Thru Pass/Kintetsu Wide/Yokoso Osaka Pass ONLY!)
A JR Pass is definitely worth the cost. In general, a return trip from Tokyo to Kyoto would make the purchase of a Nationwide Japan Rail Pass worth your money. Any distance less than that, you might be better off with single-trip tickets purchasable in Japan, or other Regional Japan Rail Pass would suit you, based on your itinerary.
A sample Free & Easy Golden Route 5D4N itinerary and transportation cost
By Tokyo Monorail & JR Line, via Hamamatsucho, 30 min: JPY 650
By Shinkansen (HIKARI), 131 mins: JPY 13,600
By JR Line, 29 mins: JPY 560
By Shinkansen (HIKARI), 153 mins: JPY 14,140
By Narita Express, 70 mins: JPY 3,020
Total cost using single tickets: JPY 31,970
Total cost using JR National Pass ordinary, 7 days: JPY 29,110
You save: JPY 2,860 with JR Pass
It is worth buying JR Pass if you make round trip to/from Tokyo
2-way from Tokyo to Osaka/Kyoto
By Shinkansen (HIKARI), 131 mins: JPY 13,600
By JR Line, 29 mins: JPY 560
By Shinkansen (HIKARI), 153 mins: JPY 14,140
Total cost using single tickets: JPY 28,300
Total cost using JR National Pass ordinary, 7 days: JPY 29,110
You save: JPY 810 with JR Pass
1-way from Tokyo to Osaka/Kyoto
By Shinkansen (HIKARI), 131 mins: JPY 13,600
By JR Line, 29 mins: JPY 560
Total cost using single tickets: JPY 14,140
Total cost using JR National Pass ordinary, 7 days: JPY 29,110
You will save more when you travel using single-trip tickets
Insider tips: You can check the optimum routes and the train timings with this third-party website Hyperdia
If you only travel around Tokyo and make day trips to cities nearby, Japan National Rail Pass might not be a good choice for you. Otherwise, you can benefit from other Regional rail passes.
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