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JR Rail Pass Anonymous
I'm going to Japan for a month soon. I'll stay in Osaka for the first week and Tokyo for the last 2 weeks (return flight will be from Osaka though) and the 10 days between I'll just travel in kyoto, nagoya and wherever I feel like it.

Anyway, my question is about the JR Rail Pass.
http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en003.html they state here you can take one for 3 weeks. I'm going to call them today and ask if it's possible to take one for the whole month, or do I need to buy a 3-week one plus a week one.

Or what should I do? I can only use the JR lines with the pass, is it worth buying the pass for everyday?
>> Anonymous
You MUST buy seperate passes. No such thing as a 1 month pass exist. I bought a 3+1 as the best deal, slightly superior to 2+2.

Also, keep in mind you get your money back by just taking the shinkansen TWICE. But also, JR does not have lines everywhere in large cities other then loop lines and those crossing it.

In Osaka you'll be using the Osaka loop most likily. Take the Special Rapid (Limited Express) Haruka or the Yamatoji Kaisoku (Rapid) to get around. The Osaka Loop Line is not very speedy.
>> Anonymous
oh thanks.

I guess we'll take 3+1 weeks pass, and try to use it just as much as we can.
>> Anonymous
Also, having spent a month vacation there myself, I wouldnt spend that much time in just the big cities. You miss out on the natural beauty and rustic parts of japan. I was happiest when at a hot springs resort or some crazy place known for some speciality.
>> Anonymous
>>21756

That's what I'm talking about.

Got some suggestions? I'd like to check out some of the more rural areas and would like to know some places to visit there.
>> Anonymous
First, around Osaka, assuming you fly into Kansai International Airport.

Kobe, Nara, both easily reachable by JR West's Urban Network. Kobe has delicious beef, Nara is like a different Kyoto but with deer all over the place.

Further along the San-yo coast (west of Osaka), there is the Castle town of Himeji and Hiroshima with delicious Okonomiyaki.

Take some time to visit Miyajima, with its large red tori in the middle of the water.

For the San-in coast on the otherside of the area, see>>21445

If you like somewhere rustic, head across the Seto-Ohashi bridge to Shikoku, where you can visit the 4 very unique cities of each preficture (one of which being the hot springs resort town of Matsuyama), and stop by a famous sex shrine in Uwajima.

Be warned, JR Shikoku trains can be few and far in between in the most remote parts of Shikoku.
>> Anonymous
Also, if you need to know what trains to take, stop by in /n/
>> Anonymous
>>21813
>>Also, if you need to know what trains to take, stop by hyperdia
fixed.

I doubt you need a 3 week and a 1 week pass except if you travel really much. Your basic plan doesn't seem to fit that pattern. Perhaps a two week pass for the ten days in between will do. Hyperdia also shows you the cost of your trip, so better check beforehand. There are also regional JR passes.

Furthermore, you should take note that for some destinations especially in the Kansai and Kanto regions private railway companies might be a better alternative such as but not limited to Kintetsu for south of Osaka and Kyoto, Odakyu for Hakone and Tobu for Nikko. In Osaka the subway is far superior, in Kyoto busses are. The only city in which you can pretty much get around with JR trains alone is Tokyo and even there are some exceptions.
A ticket within the Yamanote circle normally doesn't exceed 200 Yen. Even the ~700 Yen day ticket normally barely pays off. A ~3000 Yen/day Japan Rail Pass sure won't as well.

Don't take the JR Pass because it makes taking trains easier. It's a hassle to always need to go through the staffed gate (it's no problem to find them, though, look for the fare adjustment machines). More importantly, if it's lost that's it. Gone is gone.
>> Anonymous
>>21841
>>Kyoto busses are
Enjoy being stuck for HOURS in traffic

>>Tokyo and even there are some exceptions
i.e. Roppongi. But unless you're a gigantic faggot who enjoys being hustled by niggers, stay away

>>It's a hassle to always need to go through the staffed gate
Lies. When you're running late for connecting trains (i.e Shinkansen to Special Rapid), not having to stop and buy a another ticket before boarding ticket is a godsend

>>Osaka the subway is far superior
This is true. Also, its the only way you can access the Osaka Kaiyukan. However, if you're willing to walk a few blocks, its no big deal.

>>if it's lost that's it. Gone is gone
That's why you hold on to it like money instead of being some careless faggot
>> Anonymous
>>21940
Well, if you focus on high frequency lines the busses depart so often it doesn't really matter when they are late and the driving times aren't that long. At least shorter than taking trains or the subway, because the stations are so far away in most cases.

Two of the other exceptions besides Roppongi are Odaiba (Rinkai/Yurikamome Line/Water Bus) and Asakusa (Ginza Line).

Ever heard of buying tickets the day before? The express fare can also be paid on board to the conductor.

Finally, it's not like you'd normally walk around with about or more than 50.000 Yen.
>> Anonymous
>>21944
>>Asakusa (Ginza Line)
I walked from Ueno to Asakusa once. Then I said fuck it and took the mtero back.

>>Ever heard of buying tickets the day before?
LOL not if youre always on the go

>>The express fare can also be paid on board to the conductor
yes, that is also true.
>> Anonymous
Durrr, Suika Cado anyone?

Who the fuck buys single tickets?
>> Anonymous
>>21960
Tourists motherfucker, have you seen them?

Also, using FeliCa in your phone is superior
>> Anonymous
How do you use the pass itself? I guess you can't use it at the automated gates but have to show it to the attendant? How much do they bother with checking?
>> Anonymous
>>22632
they take a brief look and have you go ahead. They mainly want to see the expiry date.
>> Anonymous
>>21948I walked from Ueno to Asakusa once. Then I said fuck it and took the mtero back.
Seriously, it's barely over a mile. Are you really that fat and lazy?
>> Anonymous
>>22683
Seconded. Just walk the damn distance, I've did it once or twice, takes you twenty minutes on a stroll.

>>21960
I've got a Pasmo for commuting to and from the university. Pretty conveniant.
>> Anonymous
>>21778
Miyajima and Himeji are must-sees.

Matsuyama castle is very nice, and the view from it is great. The hot spring is ok.

Uwajima has a resonable castle, although quite small. The sex shrine is the main reason to visit - it is a private collection rather than a professional museum, but it is a huge private collection.

There's another town in between Matsuyama and Uwajima - I forget the name at the moment. That has great traditional Japanese buildings. It became rich a couple of hundred years ago through trading dyes, but lost it's money and escaped modernisation. Well worth a visit - but just for 1 day.

The best way to go around Shikoku is to rent a car, if you can read maps. The roads are all good condition (because of pork-barrel politics) and the trains really are infrequent. If you're travelling by train only, make sure you read the train timetable **very** carefully.

Travelling by car around Shikoku is a great way to experience going back in time. Also you can get to places that aren't accessible by train.

Another great place to go is Tono. It is north of Tokyo, about halfway between Tokyo and the top end of Honshu. Tono is "Japan's countryside" - there is a famous collection of old Japanese folktales that was collected from the area, and there are several amazing examples of traditional Japanese farm houses. Go there, stay at the Youth Hostel, and spend a couple of days cycling around. Absolutely wonderful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tono,_Iwate
>> Anonymous
>>22706
Finally - don't stay in Tokyo for 2 weeks. 1 week max, but really, 2 or 3 days is enough. There is too much in the rest of Japan for you to waste 2 weeks there. Apart from a few shrines (Yasukuni shrine's museum is good to see some crazy nationalist shit) and some mediocre museums, there isn't much in Tokyo that you can't find in the US. Perhaps if you have friends there, stay, but if not, then get the hell out of there.

Osaka might be ok for a week - you can do Himeji, Nara and Kyoto easily while staying in Osaka. You might even manage a daytrip to Miyajima.

Spend a week in Northern Honshu - Tono and some other scenic spots. A week around Osaka is fine, and you can stop in Toyko for a couple of days.

Go down to Nagasaki for a couple of days, stop over night in Kumamoto, visit Aso-san, and then visit the hot springs in Beppu. But read the train-timetable very carefully - the trains between Kumamoto and Oita are infrequent.
>> Anonymous
>>22661
>>they take a brief look and have you go ahead. They mainly want to see the expiry date.

So, it would be easy to make and get through with a fake one?
>> Anonymous
>>22715

We don't support your thieving kind here.
>> Anonymous
>>22715
we deport niggers like you. just try pulling that shit off on the shinkansen and watch what happens.
>> Anonymous
trains are for pussies.
>> gatasa
cars are for pussies, try riding a bike see if you can manage to exert your fat ass
>> Anonymous
>>23838
Lol angry fat weeaboo obsessed with his dreamland Japan is angry fat weeaboo.
>> Anonymous
This isn't related to the JP Rail Pass, but I didn't want to start a new thread just for this.

I'll be taking a Nozomi on the Tokaido line from Tokyo to Osaka, and I need to eventually reach "Sakaisuji-Honmachi" (Chuo line I believe) station in Osaka.

So once I arrive in Shin-Osaka, which trains would I need to take/transfer to reach Sakaisuji-Honmachi station?

Thanks.
>> Anonymous
>>24648
Really, use hyperdia: http://grace.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperWeb.cgi

Basically you should take the Midousuji subway (from Shin-Osaka) to Honmachi - south bound - and transfer to the Chuo subway - east bound - to reach your destination.
>> Anonymous
>>24651
Thanks.
>> Anonymous
>>22706
This anon knows what he's talking about when it comes to Shikoku. I did this two years ago in Golden Week, and it was excellent.

This year i'm doing the same sort of thing, but in Kyushu. Any must-see places in Kyushu that y'all can suggest?