kuro 0 Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 Hiya, I will be staying in Ikebukuro in Tokyo for 3days in January, then need to get to Nagano, Nozawa Onsen where I will be for 10 days, then back to Ikebukuro for one night before I fly out of Narita. From what I can gather from different websites, the JR East pass is the rail pass I need? Will this pass let me check out places around of the Tokyo loop and also let me get up to Nozawa Onsen? Can anyone please let me know the best thing to do? Thank you. Jason Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 If you are not planing to go to Kyoto, then that is the one you need. Link to post Share on other sites
kuro 0 Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 cheers. Link to post Share on other sites
daver 0 Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 if you only intend to travel up to nozawa and back i think the jr east 4 day pass deal is the best option. it is the cheapest and unlike the other passes which give you a certain number of days after you activate it, this pass gives you 4 separate day passes valid on all trains. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 Just on the subject of rail passes. How do they stop people like us (ie. people living in Japan) from just getting one overseas and using it here? Not that I would ever contemplate doing such a naughty thing of course. Link to post Share on other sites
daver 0 Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 you have to show your passport when you activate it. your passport, like mine, will have some form of residence visa. Link to post Share on other sites
ausi ski bum 1 Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 I had to show my passport to buy my reail pass and activate it in Japan, the JR Rail Pass is an excellent deal and a great way to travel as a tourist. Your trains are amazing. Link to post Share on other sites
sunrise 0 Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Is there a link somewhere for the rail pass info in English? My sisters are coming to visit in December for about 10 days and we had been wondering about that.... Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Here you go sunrise. http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass/index.html Link to post Share on other sites
SirJibAlot 0 Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 There is also a new Suica version that includes the NEX ticket. Handy if you are just hanging in Kanto - especially with the passmo angle... Link to post Share on other sites
kuro 0 Posted June 26, 2007 Author Share Posted June 26, 2007 Heres my rough itinerary: Arrive Narita > Ikebukuro (3nights) > Nozawa Onsen (9 nights) > Somewhere around Tokyo (1 night) > Depart Narita So if I want to travel around a few places in tokyo for a few days, then catch the shinkansen to Nagano and use the Iiyama line to get to Togari-Nozawa Onsen, maybe spend a day looking around Nagano City, then come back to Tokyo then get to Narita will the JR East 10 day pass should let me do all of this? Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 If you are just going to Nosawa I dont think you need the 10 day pass to begin with. From Tokyo to Nozawa with the sink and local trains is only 17000 yen rountrip. So you will be paying an other 15000 yen just for short distances in Tokyo. If you are eligible for the youth 10 day ticket then maybe its cheaper to get the pass. Link to post Share on other sites
kuro 0 Posted June 26, 2007 Author Share Posted June 26, 2007 oh ok, nearly every travel website says i have to apply for the rail pass before come to Japan. So are you saying that it would be ok for me to just buy the shinkansen tickets when i get there? Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 If you go to a ticket counter in Japan to buy a ticket, you will most probably hear: “WE DONT SHELL SHINKASEN TICKETS TO THE LIKES OF YOU AROUND HERE!” If you are planning to use the sink just once, which is the most expensive train by the way, you don’t need the pass. I guess the travel agencies abroad recommend the pass because it worth’s its money if you plan to use the sink more than 1 time. For example got to Kyoto, Osaka, Nagano,Yamagata, etc all in one trip. Also its 17000 to Nagano if you get a reserved sit, if you stay in line before you board the train at the Tokyo/Nagano station for the free sit (first come first served), then its only 16200 roundtrip. If you said that you also wanna go to Yamagata Zao (21200 roundtrip) then the pass wins hands down. Link to post Share on other sites
sunrise 0 Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 thanks tsonda. sir jib I will look for the suica pass too. Link to post Share on other sites
kuro 0 Posted June 26, 2007 Author Share Posted June 26, 2007 cheers thanks for the replies! Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Originally Posted By: kuro oh ok, nearly every travel website says i have to apply for the rail pass before come to Japan. So are you saying that it would be ok for me to just buy the shinkansen tickets when i get there? If you go to the JR East website, it states explicitly that you can buy a railpass on arrival. When I first came and tried that, the lady said I needed to have booked. When I pointed out she was wrong, she immediately sold me the pass. I'd print out the relevant page and carry it, in case they try to stiff you. Link to post Share on other sites
SirJibAlot 0 Posted June 27, 2007 Share Posted June 27, 2007 Booyakasha.... http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-nex/index.html Link to post Share on other sites
sunrise 0 Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 kool. ta. Link to post Share on other sites
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