Best way? With JR Rail pass and without?
Posted by
Seattle, WA
10 posts
Go to Japan-Guide.com. It shows several options on how to get there from Kyoto. Great resource for planning a trip to Japan. They have a forum where you can ask questions also.
Posted by
Columbus, OH, USA
2026 posts
You might look at hyperdia.com for Japan travel information. We were there in September. We had only two train journeys, Yokohama to Kyoto and Kyoto to Tokyo. For us, it was just about break even (JR pass or no pass). The JR pass, if I recall correctly, is not applicable to all Shinkansen trains, so for about the same price we opted for complete flexibility to pick whichever departure time suited us. Check prices of each journey to determine if the pass is a good deal for your itinerary. We had no difficulty buying tickets at the manned desks. The trains adhered to the schedule by seconds...be on time. Check too about smoking vs nonsmoking cars....you could have cured hams in the smoking car....it was one gigantic blue gray cloud of choking smoke. I'd never seen anything quite like it.