If you get the Japan Rail Pass?
In today Japan Travel Q & A we a question about the Japan Rail Pass by Jon Answer in thunder Bay, Ontario:
"How can I find out if I should get the Japan Rail pass"
do not feel watching a video, how? Read below for today's answer!
The Japan Rail Pass is an amazing way to get around Japan, but most people do not know that it is not always the best option.
Depending on the route Japan, the JR Pass You can save a lot of money and be fantastic comfortable. On the other hand, in some cases, the Rail Pass is actually more expensive - and less comfortable
So how do you find out if the rail pass will be the best choice.? Before we delve into the details, we want for those that do not begin with him with a little background on the Japan Rail Pass
. Note: The Japan Rail Pass must be ordered your trip to Japan, so if you decide before to the JR Pass, make sure to use it to buy well in advance.
Japan Rail Pass Basics
Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass)
the Japan Rail Pass is a discounted train developed great pass from the Offer Japan Railways (JR) group for tourists, travelers to explore Japan cheaper.
JR has an extensive network of trains and speed trains ( shinkansen ) across the country, and if you have the JR pass you have access to almost of all -. make it a great value in many cases
JR Pass is 7 available 14 and 21 days and if the value of Buy it, you can choose between standard class choose (also known as ordinary ) or the first class (also known as green )
While the prices vary depending on the exchange rates -. and also to increase from time to time - the approximate prices are:
- $ 300 for the 7 day JR Pass ($ 400 for green class)
- $ 450 for the 14-day JR pass ($ 0 for green class)
- $ 0 for the 21-day JR pass ($ 800 for green class)
Ordinary class is quite comfortable in Japan, but also for luxury travelers, we recommend an evergreen that has more spacious seating and an overall relaxed atmosphere.
Based on all of this can be that the Rail Pass sounds think pretty well so far. So why is not the best option in every case
The shinkansen (Bullet Train)? (Photo Credit: Kossy @ FINE DAYS on Compfight cc)
, when the Japan Rail Pass is not the best option
In most cases, if you several trips on the high speed train are making, the Japan Rail pass will be a tremendous value.
However, the Japan Rail Pass not be the best option for you if:
- you are a luxury traveler and do not mind a little spend more not contain many long train / ball train
- Her long train / ball travel for added comfort
- during a particularly stressful journey time
- your Japan itinerary schedules do not fit neatly in 7-, 14- or 21-day periods
NOTE: as a customer you do not need to worry about, just as we do all the legwork for you.
The following are more details on each scenario you whether for you or not the JR Pass is out to help correct.
There is nothing like a bento on shinkansen (Bullet train) (Photo Credit: kadluba over Compfight cc)
They are a luxury traveler
If you are a luxury traveler and do not mind spending a little more for extra comfort, the Japan Rail pass can not be the best option for you.
Would you rather have made all your train reservations in advance, and tickets sent directly to your hotel? Or would you rather time during your trip to visit spend waiting in line ticket office, and make seat reservations after you arrive in Japan?
One of the few drawbacks of the Japan Rail Pass is that it requires to pay to you arrived to visit a JR ticket office by in Japan. You must go in person and present their passport to exchange your Rail Pass voucher for the Rail Pass itself.
Another disadvantage is that for you to do not train / seat reservations for all your trips to have done so. This means that with the Japan Rail Pass, it is never possible to book all train tickets after you have exchanged your voucher at a JR ticket counter.
If you have a limited amount of time in Japan or would simply rather not do so, a better option is (whether us or Japan travel specialist) to book through a travel agent. This way you can arrange all your train tickets have sent properly to your first hotel. Then all you have to do is show your trips as everything is already set up for you.
Even if you are not a luxury traveler is to do things so you can save time and effort.
The shinkansen (bullet train)
you are traveling during the peak season
If you are traveling during a particularly busy travel period can not for the Japan Rail pass is be the best option.
during non peak periods, always have a place in the trains and high-speed trains is not usually a major problem. In addition, for most routes (for example, Tokyo to Kyoto) leave trains at certain intervals.
However, during peak travel periods when domestic travel tips drastically trains often sell out and it can be a hassle to make last-minute seat reservation.
since (as described above) of the Japan Rail Pass does not allow any train / make seat reservations until you arrive in Japan, you may be best off to get your tickets in advance if you during Japan's peak travel season on the road. One way to do this is through the trip through a travel agent booking (whether us or another destination specialist Japan).
While domestic travel spikes during three-day weekends, the busiest travel times of the year Japan:
- New Year (especially in the first days of January)
- Golden week (usually during the first week in May)
- Obon (mid-August)
It is not absolutely necessary, but if you at one of these holidays we usually travel recommend having to do without for single tickets for the JR pass.
JR Pass is not valid on the Tokyo Metro
Your itinerary has many train travel not participate
If your Japan route is not many long train / ball train rides can not for the Japan rail pass is be the best option.
As shown above, the 7-day ordinary JR Pass costs about $ 300. This means that, for example, if you take only $ 0 worth of trains, would the Rail Pass is expensive on end than to acquire only individual tickets.
Let's look at a real example of
Set in Tokyo are to fly and your trip in Kyoto ends. This is a fairly common scenario as Osaka (the very near Kyoto is) two major airports, has and many travelers flying in Tokyo but run from Osaka.
When in Tokyo are a few days spending, followed by a few days in Kyoto, your list of major train rides could be as follows:
- Narita 1. Airport to Tokyo station on JR Narita Express train
- 2. Tokyo station to Kyoto station via the JR bullet train
- 3. Kyoto station to Kansai International Airport, via JR Haruka Express train
In order to see if the rail pass would be worth, the next step is to determine what would be the cost of these trips without the Japan Rail pass. You can use two online tools you use to help them do. Hyperdia and Google Maps
Note: As mentioned above, as a customer you do not need on the implementation of these calculations for concern, as we do all the legwork for you
as from the example is to look down ($ 139 more than US) the journey from Tokyo station to Kyoto station ¥ 13,910 cost .:
with Hyperdia:
Tokyo to Kyoto by bullet train with Hyperdia
with Google Maps: with
Tokyo to Kyoto the bullet train with Google Maps
to the cost of the other two trips to give, you will find that the cost is
- as follows
- 1. Narita airport Tokyo station: ¥ 3,020 (approx US $ 30)
- 2. Tokyo station Kyoto station: ¥ 13,910 (approx US $ 139)
- 3. Kyoto Station to Kansai International Airport: ¥ 3,370 (approx US $ 34)
The total cost of these train arrives at ¥ 20,300 (approx US $ 203). Since the 7-day Japan Rail Pass will cost about $ 300 you would cash. By waiving the Rail Pass favor of individual cards
Two of our most popular travelers had a similar Routing and save individual train tickets in her case was to be much cheaper and more convenient, considering its itinerary.
, the Rail Pass Some will argue nevertheless would be beneficial, as it gives you access to local trains in cities like Tokyo and Kyoto. While it is true that you can use the JR pass on some trains in Tokyo - as the ubiquitous JR Yamanote Line (Tokyo loop line) - unfortunately you can not use it on other trains in Tokyo, such as the subway lines Tokyo Metro. It is also not valid in many Kyoto trains.
However, if you are planning to or longer relatively long day trips from Tokyo and / or Kyoto (for example by Nikko), can make the cost of this the Rail Pass is worth, so make sure that this will consider
. Note: If you just look to be for the convenience of being able to hop on and to buy from trains and subways without having ticket every time we recommend IC cards that are purchased in Japan and have been specially developed for this purpose ,
JR pass does not apply to certain forms of public transportation
Your rail travel does not fit neatly in 7-, 14- or 21- day periods
If your long train / ball schedules do not fit neatly into the 7- Japan Rail pass can not be, 14- or 21-day periods, the best option for you.
One of the most important things is to be observed on the JR pass, that it is only valid for consecutive days, which means you can not in days "skip". For example, start when you with your 7-day Japan Rail Pass on January 1, it will be valid through January 7.
In practice this means that if you have two bullet trains, but they are isolated and unable to do within a 7-day window, you can would then not use the 7-day Rail Pass to cover it.
on the other hand, if you are crisscrossing Japan and several long train / ball take train, then a 14- or 21-day pass can really come in handy.
Special Note to non-tourists
The JR pass is available only to short-term visitors to Japan, so if you're visiting a friend or family member who lives in Japan, it is important to remember that he or she can not be granted for the Japan Rail pass.
It is safe to go out in general that the person you are visiting is not eligible for the Japan Rail Pass into consideration when he or she fits into one of the following categories:
- he / she is a Japanese citizen
- he / she is in Japan on a work or working holiday visa
- he / she is a student on a semester abroad in Japan
If you do not travel in the high season, this may not be much of an issue.
But if you are traveling during the peak season, it may be worthwhile to get to all of you train / seat reservation in advance. This will be the chances of your party is broken in several trains and minimize your travel easier and more relaxing.
Tokyo Skyline
to rail pass or not to Rail Pass?
While JR Pass is often one of the best ways for travelers to explore Japan, we hope this article has helped you figure out whether or not you it should get!
0 Response to "If you get the Japan Rail Pass?"
Posting Komentar