Jin Travels Japan: budget travel

Shinkansen Hayabusa (Tohoku Shinkansen) and Komachi (Akita Shinkansen) meets!

For many visitors to Japan, we would definitely love to try to board a Shinkansen, right?

But how do we know if we should just buy a single shinkansen ticket, or should we purchase a JR Pass?

If you didn't know what a JR Pass is, it's basically the most economic and time-saving pass that you can use in long distance travel in Japan! You use the shinkansen (bullet train) under Japan Railway (JR) unlimitedly within the pass validity period.

But there are so many types!

So, if we are getting a JR Pass, what kind of JR Pass should we choose? The standard Nationwide Japan Rail Pass, or should we get regional passes, such as JR East Tohoku Area Pass, Kansai Hiroshima Pass, or something else?

Previously I've written about the different types of JR Passes, and today, I'll write a tutorial to walk you through the decisions!

How do I know if I should buy a JR Pass?

The decision can be a little overwhelming with a lot of information online, so I'm here to help!

First we need to know the prices of JR pass, and also our itinerary in Japan - where do we plan to go, how long do we want to spend in each region, etc.

Prices of Japan Rail (JR) Passes - and what they are

I've listed of the different types of JR Passes, making a brief explanation of what they are, and their prices (as of 9 June 2019) previously (click here if you needed the list) in case if you needed an idea on how much they would cost.

Note that child price is valid for those who are age of 6-11. Anyone age of 12 and above will be requiring an adult fare. Your age is determined by date of birth.

Example, if your 12th birthday is 20 September but you are traveling in 20 April, you can purchase a child JR Pass since you'll be considered as 11 years old.

Calculating the need of a JR Pass

Assuming you've known the prices of JR Pass, it's time to calculate whether a JR Pass would be worth it.

Generally, I recommend using Hyperdia for your route information. This website shows the route information of the trains in Japan and is pretty easy to read.

The answer of how to know if you need a JR Pass (or any other pass in general) is just a simple formula:

The cost of your journey within the pass' time limits > Cost of the pass itself

Yes, it's THIS simple! As long as the total amount of your journey exceeds the pass cost in JPY, it's a huge YES for getting a pass!

Getting to know how to use Hyperdia - Case Study 1

Hyperdia is a fairly easy, yet a little overwhelming to navigate for first-time users.

"How do I know which station I would need to board from?" is a very common question and here is when Google helps!

Let's take an example of the following case:

Landing in Narita Airport (starting journey in Tokyo) on 1 August 2019
Returning from Narita Airport (journey ends in Tokyo) on 7 August 2019
All hotels booked in Tokyo are nearby Tokyo Station.
On 3rd of Aug, wants to visit Osaka for 2 days.
On 5th of Aug, will return to Tokyo, will spend most of the time in the city
On 7th of Aug, return to Narita Airport.

1. From the above case we know that the furthest part of the journey is Tokyo-Osaka, so we can find the price for shinkansen (bullet train) on hyperdia.

2. If you don't know the station names, look for the Shinkansen station in Osaka on a search engine (Google/ Yahoo, etc.). You'll get 'Shin-Osaka' as an answer.

3. Consider the type of pass you plan to use. For this case scenario, they can have two options: JR Pass Nationwide (29,110 JPY), or Hokuriku Arch Pass (24,000 JPY).

4. Visit hyperdia.com to start searching for the route, you should see the following site on PC. If you're an iOS user, you can find their app in the AppStore.

website of hyperdia.com

For the mobile version, you can see the search bar. A little different from PC in terms of layout, but the usage is the same.

5. Enter 'TOKYO' at the 'From' part and 'SHIN-OSAKA' at the 'To' part. You can define the date and time if you want to check the timing of the traveling date itself.

Select 'TOKYO' from the drop down list.

Do remember to select from Hyperdia's list so you won't see error messages.

Search conditions entered in Hyperdia

6. Here's the tricky part: If you've decided that you don't mind a transit and will be using a Hokuriku Arch Pass, you will need to have a little step: Going via Kanazawa station. Here you will need to click on 'More options' to see the following additional search options:

Additional search options

The above screen is the expanded options by default. This part is also helpful for JR Nationwide users, as you cannot board on a Nozomi train too.

For Hokuriku Arch Pass users, enter 'KANAZAWA' in 'via 1'. For JR Nationwide users, you will not need to enter anything in the 'via' segments.

However, you will need to make sure to adjust the trains that you wish to ride as follows (for JR users):

Additional search options

Why the above options?

We are trying our best not to use any railways besides JR.
We can't board Nozomi/ Mizuho on JR Nationwide.
We're trying to reduce the walking (if you're ok with it you can keep the check for walk)
Sleeper Limited Express/ Express isn't something that we are quite looking at since we want to focus on Shinkansens this time.

When all is good, hit the Search button! You should get this result for going pass Kanazawa, and this result for a direct travel.

Tokyo to Shin-Osaka via Kanazawa (suitable for Hokuriku Arch Pass users)

Tokyo to Shin-Osaka, direct train via Nozomi Shinkansen (suitable for JR Pass Nationwide users)

If you forgot the additional options, you can scroll to the bottom to search again when the results are out.

On the above screens you would have noticed that the details:

Total fare for reserved seats (you can change the seat fee to unreserved/ green in under 'Seat Fee').
Number of transfers required
Departure (blue) and Arrival time (pink)
Time required for travel
Transfer spots (yellow Tra.)
If transfers are required: Arrival and Departure tracks

7. Knowing the price above, we shall start calculating. Following the case scenario, we are doing a round trip between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, we can multiply the fares (on reserved seats):

If going via Kanazawa using Hokuriku Arch Pass: 21,770 JPY x 2 = 43,540 JPY > Hokuriku Arch Pass' 24,000 JPY. Hence, worth buying.

If going via JR Pass Nationwide of 29,110 JPY: 14,340 JPY x 2 = 28,680 JPY < JR Pass Nationwide. > Not entirely worth buying? Read more!

8. So with the calculation we can conclude that we know that Hokuriku Arch Pass is definitely worth it for a round trip (although more time-consuming). But for JR Pass Nationwide, we save time if it's a direct trip!

9. Additionally, both of these passes can be used for 7 days, and this trip is only for 2 out of 7 days, so we can calculate other fares that can be covered in these two JR Passes, and the most important: Narita Express!

Knowing that we are staying nearby Tokyo Station and will be heading to and from Narita Airport, and JR Pass is valid for the transfer, we can use Narita Express!

Sample search from Tokyo to Narita Airport T2 via Narita Express

A round trip to and from Narita Airport to Tokyo would be 3,220 JPY x 2 = 6,440 JPY.

Adding it onto the amount we will be using for HIKARI, it'll be a total of 35,120 JPY > more than JR Nationwide's pass value of 29,000 JPY!

Hence, without calculating for the usage of JR trains on other days, both JR Pass Nationwide and Hokuriku Arch Pass is worth buying!

10. So now we know that both are worth buying, the decision-making to choose between two passes are just:

Your traveling budget (let's be real: with about 5000 JPY extra we can eat a very much decent meal in a Japanese sushiya!);
Your willingness to spend more time on the road (people say: time is gold and we have limited time in Japan!);
If you are not going to visit other areas outside of the valid areas in Hokuriku Arch Pass (How sure are you that you will visit X area only? Will you go to Okayama? Hiroshima? Nagoya? etc.).
Do you want to consider domestic flights in Japan too? (but hey, more time spent to go to airports and check-in luggages, and less on-the-road views)

How I decide for this case scenario: I'd personally choose JR Nationwide if I'm not heading to the Hokuriku areas, but if I am stopping by the Hokuriku areas (Kanazawa, Toyama, etc.) without straying out from the valid regions, I'll pick Hokuriku Arch Pass!

Case Study 2: Open Jaw Flights

Let's take another example:

Landing in Narita Airport (starting journey in Tokyo) on 1 August 2019
Returning from Kansai International Airport (journey ends in Tokyo) on 8 August 2019
On 1 Aug, hotel is booked near Tokyo Station
On 2nd of Aug, will travel to Sendai
On 4th of Aug, travel from Sendai to Ichinoseki
On 6th of Aug, return to Tokyo
On 8th of Aug, depart to Narita Airport

For this case, we have known that this journey is a journey up to Tohoku region only, so there .

So, one-way journey (direct) via Hikari is about 14k JPY, less than half of a JR Pass.

At this case, it's better to buy a one-way ticket rather than a JR Pass (overnight buses, if that also interests you, check willer out!), especially when you are not visiting anywhere other than Tokyo and Osaka.

What if I have an open jaw flight like above, but will also visit other regions?

I definitely have heard from different people wanting to visit other regions of Japan.

Hiroshima is a good day trip from Osaka, and some people even do day trips to Sendai!

As usual, we can see where we want to do day trips/ overnight at.

Case Study 2.1: Day trip from Osaka to Hiroshima

One way fare between Shin-Osaka & Hiroshima:

10,430 JPY via Sakura, Kodama; Round trip: 20,860 JPY.
10,640 JPY via Nozomi (Round trip: 21,280 JPY).

Adding this onto one way fare of Hikari, definitely you should consider JR Pass Nationwide (7 days)! Do remember that JR Nationwide doesn't allow travels on Nozomi!

Another way that I might do if I am going to Hiroshima: Getting 1-way ticket from Tokyo-Osaka, then another Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass (5 days, 13,500 JPY). The price is actually slightly cheaper but I wouldn't be able to go other places outside the Kansai-Hiroshima regional pass. I can also board Nozomi between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima if I do this too!

Case Study 2.2: Day trip from Osaka to Okayama

One way fare between Shin-Osaka to Okayama:

Via Nozomi: 6,430 JPY (Round trip: 12,860 JPY).
Via Kodama, Sakura: 6,220 JPY (Round trip: 12,440 JPY).

If you're heading to Okayama and even to Kurashiki, adding onto the one way fare from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka, JR Pass Nationwide is not worth it.

At this case, I will recommend you to consider the JR Kansai WIDE Area Pass at only 9,000 JPY + Nozomi access between Shin-Osaka to Okayama!

Case Study 2.3: Day trip from Tokyo to Karuizawa, Gala Yuzawa

One way from Tokyo to Karuizawa: 6,110 JPY (round trip: 12,220 JPY)

One way from Tokyo to Gala Yuzawa (Echigo-Yuzawa Station): 6,870 JPY (round trip: 13,740 JPY)

Decision maker: IF you are going to both places within 3 consecutive days, you can consider getting one-way ticket from Tokyo - Shin-Osaka and another Tokyo Wide Pass (10,000 JPY) as it the total of both would still be lower than a JR Pass Nationwide (7 days).

Otherwise, you can consider the JR Nationwide Pass, because Tokyo Wide Pass works for 3 consecutive days only!

Case study 3: Regional Travel

Let's take another example:

Landing in Narita Airport (starting journey in Tokyo) on 1 August 2019
Returning from Narita/Haneda Airport (journey ends in Tokyo) on 8 August 2019
On 2 Aug, visit Sendai from Tokyo, staying 1 night.
On 3 Aug, visit Ichinoseki (Iwate) from Sendai, staying 3 nights.
On 7 Aug, return to Tokyo from Ichinoseki.
Hotels in Tokyo are booked near Shinjuku Station.
Hotels in Tohoku are booked near JR Stations.

Since we know that this will be a journey up to the Tohoku region, it is not necessary to use a JR Nationwide pass.

Why? Because there's a JR East Tohoku Regional pass. (Read here if you want). Plus, with the itinerary as above case scenario, we can utilize the flexible days offered by the pass!

In my previous post I've mentioned about JR East Pass offering 5 days among 14 days of travel. So what we can do is:

1 Aug: Exchange JR East Pass, book Narita Express to Shinjuku Station

2 Aug: Use JR Line to Ueno/ Tokyo Station, board the Tohoku Shinkansen to Sendai

3 Aug: Use Tohoku Shinkansen to Ichinoseki Station

4 Aug-6 Aug: Not using the JR East Pass (consider a SUICA/ PASMO card, or regional bus passes.

7 Aug: Using JR East Pass to return to Tokyo via Tohoku Shinkansen

8 Aug: Using JR East Pass to return to Narita Airport via Narita Express

Why did I not suggest using the Tohoku Area Pass in Iwate?

There are many local bus passes available: Hiraizumi 1 day bus pass, Morioka 1 day bus pass... etc.
One way fare via train from Ichinoseki-Hiraizumi is only 200 JPY (round trip 400 JPY).
One way fare via local line from Ichinoseki-Morioka is 1,660 JPY, 3,820 JPY via shinkansen Yamabiko's reserved seat, 3,920 JPY via Komachi (reserved seat) - JR East Pass is 19,000 JPY so it's still cheaper to buy tickets separately than using a JR Pass Nationwide

Even if a little twist that we might be spending more time in Tokyo itself, there's also Tokyo Subway Ticket that is quite economic and not too pricey! Sometimes I didn't even feel bothered to use Tokyo Subway Ticket and go around with my own PASMO, especially when I am on a shopping spree in Shibuya and Akihabara. I could shop all day that even using Tokyo Subway Ticket is a little wasteful!

Conclusions

After multiple case scenarios listed above, I think it is pretty obvious that we would definitely need to do quite some homework to cut down on our traveling budget (lol). Here are the few things that should be taken note of:

Know where you'll be flying in and out from
Know which cities you'll be visiting, and staying duration
Check the fares of long distance travels
Consider regional passes and see if which is more suitable
Check the usage terms of the pass - are the passes continuous?
Or if you're actually lazy to do all the homework, ask your nearest Japan specialist travel agent (lool).