We arrive this Thursday and bought two 21 day passes (~$1000AUD each). We have around 40hrs of train travel planned so it was the right decision. Interestingly, the fare cost of all our train trips (excluding reserved seat fees) was almost equivalent to the JR pass. Edit: the calculator didn't have some of our routes so I had to calculate it by hand
Yes we reckon you have made the right decision! Sometimes it's also worth considering the time it takes to figure out the ticket you need to buy and the hassle of not being able to just use your JR pass and jump on the train. You made the right decision we agree! Have a fantastic time there!!
Thank you guys! I will be traveling to Japan in a few months with my family. We are going to Tokyo, then taking the train to Kyoto. Still trying to figure things out and your videos sure help us a lot!!
Hey Victor! So glad we could help with your planning! You must be getting excited for your trip! We have some Kyoto vlogs yet to be edited, so hopefully we get to it in time for your trip! 🥰🫶🏼
Personally, I calculate only using Shinkansen fares and not the regular trains. As long as it pays for a round trip from one location to another and gives me even at least 1yen over an individual ticket, it’s a yes for me. Cause you could still have up to at least 6 extra days with the pass on a minimum 7 days RP.
Great video, however it should be noted that the JR pass is not valid for the fastest and most frequent Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka (the Nozomi). You need to pay extra to board it...from memory an extra Y4950.
Hey! So glad it helped. Yes that calculator is actually amazing, this is the official JR website and where we ordered ours: www.jrpass.com/buy-the-japan-rail-pass-online?trans=10286763e34340983d859bc0261595&offer_id=15
I'm looking to spend the first few days in Tokyo, then stay in one of the towns around Mt Fuji, then Kyoto and end up in Osaka. I'm looking to get the 14 day one. But it's around $850 AUD. Is it worth it? Or should I try to use buses if I want to travel cheaper?
If you're traveling long distance, and have the pass for 7 days, can you get on and off at will? Do you need to reserve seats each time (or choose unreserved)?
If you do not have a reserved seat there probably will be no place for your large luggage unless it fits between your legs at your seat. There is limited luggage space on shinkansen trains. If you have a reserved seat there may be some space at the end of your rail car unless someone else with a reserved seat and large luggage has boarded at an earlier stop. If you can avoid large luggage or use one of the convenient hotel to hotel shippers in Japan that may be better. On subway trains in cities large luggage is just a super inconvenience. How much stuff do you really need? When I was there last month there were two unreserved seat cars per shinkansen and the rest were reserved seat cars. And remember hotel rooms are small so again, how much stuff do you really need to carry around?
There's a stack of online information about this. If you have large luggage (over 160cm dimensions), you will need to reserve seats and note you have oversized luggage. If you take oversize luggage on board without doing this, you will be charged an oversized luggage fee of Y1000.
My wife and I were just in Japan for 20 full days. Of those 20, we used a 14-day pass and went from Sapporo down to Beppu (and other places in between). The one way alone would have cost $230USD so yes, the pass was worth it.
@@TwosomeTravellers We are train enthusiasts and had a chance to ride the original train to Hokkaido BEFORE the Hayabusa Shinkansen (the green one) was connected to the island. (We’ve taken JR to Hokkaido at least 10 times.) About 10 years ago, we took the very last midnight train from Sapporo back to Tokyo. That was a once in a lifetime experience. Enjoy your planning and future trips!
We actually recommend buying them via Klook. You can then pick them up directly from the station which is very convenient! (You can use TWOSOME code which will also give you 10% off)
JR Pass is no longer convenient. I will buy only single ticket because JR pass is mandatory use a train every day for long travel ( kyoto - tokyo ecc ). Is it more cheap buy a single ticket ?
We would recommend using the fare calculator in our description. It’s really useful to find out the costs for individual journeys like these ones. We totally understand, it can be really tricky to figure out the best way to save $$!
JR pass is not worth it in most cases. They are a lot of other passes who cost way less and also give option that JR pass will not give you. I just hope people are more aware of of that, will save money and discover more option in the meantime. It's like peoples only know 2 options: JR pass and no pass at all!
It is very common to use a mask while in Japan, and it always has been :) where we feel it is common courtesy to we always pop one on, it's no fuss to us.
We arrive this Thursday and bought two 21 day passes (~$1000AUD each). We have around 40hrs of train travel planned so it was the right decision. Interestingly, the fare cost of all our train trips (excluding reserved seat fees) was almost equivalent to the JR pass. Edit: the calculator didn't have some of our routes so I had to calculate it by hand
Yes we reckon you have made the right decision! Sometimes it's also worth considering the time it takes to figure out the ticket you need to buy and the hassle of not being able to just use your JR pass and jump on the train. You made the right decision we agree! Have a fantastic time there!!
Thank you! This made traveling in Japan less stressful!
Love your Japan series, this would be perfect for us as a first timer, would love to see more! We're planning to take the Hokuriku arch pass
Thanks so much for watching. Glad we could help 😊 That journey sounds amazing! So many good spots along the way!! 😍 🚄
Great video guys. Love it. I didn't know they posted the JRpass, so good to know. Going to Tokyo in March so using your videos as my tour guide
Thanks so much, that’s awesome and we’re so glad our videos can help plan a great trip for you! 😃
Thank you guys! I will be traveling to Japan in a few months with my family. We are going to Tokyo, then taking the train to Kyoto. Still trying to figure things out and your videos sure help us a lot!!
Hey Victor! So glad we could help with your planning! You must be getting excited for your trip! We have some Kyoto vlogs yet to be edited, so hopefully we get to it in time for your trip! 🥰🫶🏼
I love public transport. We really need to up our game here in the UK since we’re still very car dependent outside the major cities.
Yes that is so true! And UK transport is extremely expensive now!
Good description of a train and the pass, thanks
Personally, I calculate only using Shinkansen fares and not the regular trains. As long as it pays for a round trip from one location to another and gives me even at least 1yen over an individual ticket, it’s a yes for me. Cause you could still have up to at least 6 extra days with the pass on a minimum 7 days RP.
Great video, however it should be noted that the JR pass is not valid for the fastest and most frequent Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka (the Nozomi). You need to pay extra to board it...from memory an extra Y4950.
Great video, thanks!
❤ thank you for advice sir
No worries hope it helps!
My wife and I have bought the regular full JR Pass via the official JR website and have traveled as far as Sapporo and Isahaya on the opposite end.
When purchasing on the official website, do I receive a voucher by courier?
The price on the website says £292 for a 14 day ordinary pass but then when I go to book it says £418! What's that all about?
Hi, thanks for the video. Calculator helped loads. What website is best for buying tickets/reserving seats? Thanks
Hey! So glad it helped. Yes that calculator is actually amazing, this is the official JR website and where we ordered ours: www.jrpass.com/buy-the-japan-rail-pass-online?trans=10286763e34340983d859bc0261595&offer_id=15
I'm looking to spend the first few days in Tokyo, then stay in one of the towns around Mt Fuji, then Kyoto and end up in Osaka. I'm looking to get the 14 day one. But it's around $850 AUD. Is it worth it? Or should I try to use buses if I want to travel cheaper?
If you're traveling long distance, and have the pass for 7 days, can you get on and off at will? Do you need to reserve seats each time (or choose unreserved)?
is it true that you can no longer bring large luggages on trains?
Hey! We have always travelled with large luggage on Japanese trains... we haven't heard of this change?
If you do not have a reserved seat there probably will be no place for your large luggage unless it fits between your legs at your seat. There is limited luggage space on shinkansen trains. If you have a reserved seat there may be some space at the end of your rail car unless someone else with a reserved seat and large luggage has boarded at an earlier stop. If you can avoid large luggage or use one of the convenient hotel to hotel shippers in Japan that may be better. On subway trains in cities large luggage is just a super inconvenience. How much stuff do you really need? When I was there last month there were two unreserved seat cars per shinkansen and the rest were reserved seat cars. And remember hotel rooms are small so again, how much stuff do you really need to carry around?
There's a stack of online information about this. If you have large luggage (over 160cm dimensions), you will need to reserve seats and note you have oversized luggage. If you take oversize luggage on board without doing this, you will be charged an oversized luggage fee of Y1000.
Where can we buy individual tickets if not buying the jr pass?
You can purchase tickets at any ticket counter and/or ticket machine at each station 🚉🙏🏼
My wife and I were just in Japan for 20 full days. Of those 20, we used a 14-day pass and went from Sapporo down to Beppu (and other places in between). The one way alone would have cost $230USD so yes, the pass was worth it.
Oh wow! Definitely worth it. You took the new tunnel from Sapporo to mainland Japan!
@@TwosomeTravellers We are train enthusiasts and had a chance to ride the original train to Hokkaido BEFORE the Hayabusa Shinkansen (the green one) was connected to the island. (We’ve taken JR to Hokkaido at least 10 times.) About 10 years ago, we took the very last midnight train from Sapporo back to Tokyo. That was a once in a lifetime experience. Enjoy your planning and future trips!
@phillydisco We stayed in the hills of Kannawa, Beppu which was even less crowded.
Can u pick the date when to activate it? Or does it activate only during the day you get the vouchers exchanged ?
My wife and I bought ours via the official JR Pass website. It allows to set the start day.
we have just made the last minute decision to buy rail passes, any great advice on how to have them delivered to our hotel in japan? thanks.
We actually recommend buying them via Klook. You can then pick them up directly from the station which is very convenient! (You can use TWOSOME code which will also give you 10% off)
JR Pass is no longer convenient. I will buy only single ticket because JR pass is mandatory use a train every day for long travel ( kyoto - tokyo ecc ). Is it more cheap buy a single ticket ?
We would recommend using the fare calculator in our description. It’s really useful to find out the costs for individual journeys like these ones. We totally understand, it can be really tricky to figure out the best way to save $$!
@@TwosomeTravellers This site is fantastic :D thanks for everything
JR pass is not worth it in most cases. They are a lot of other passes who cost way less and also give option that JR pass will not give you.
I just hope people are more aware of of that, will save money and discover more option in the meantime. It's like peoples only know 2 options: JR pass and no pass at all!
What other passes would you reccomend?
@@WheresAshia Depend on where you want to go/where you wanna go.
If you give me some details on that, i can explain : )
外国人を異常に優遇するパスを早く廃止するべきです。昔の国鉄ならしょうがないが。いまは民間会社のJRに格安に外国人に乗車券を販売するのは株主に対して背信行為です。
why u using masks?
It is very common to use a mask while in Japan, and it always has been :) where we feel it is common courtesy to we always pop one on, it's no fuss to us.
after the price hike it's worthless unless you spend all your time on trains, it's just saving time to buy at machine
@4:58 touched that
How else do you sit on a toilet? By touching it with your skin 😂 p.s. I washed my hands.
@@TwosomeTravellers I mean you touched the toilet seat to demo if it's hot or not