Train question: We plan to take the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto, a journey of under three hours. The only other rail travel we’ll do are a couple of day trips out of Kyoto and then from Kyoto to Osaka for the flight home.
We’ve been advised that a seven-day Japan Rail (JR) pass costs not too much different than the one-way bullet-train fare between Tokyo and Kyoto, so getting that could be economical … IF the pass covers bullet-train travel too, which we’re not clear on. Anyone know?
This is the best summary of what the JR passes cover:
I’m not sure if it will be cheaper buying a JR pass for you since you’re only making a single one-way long trip on the bullet train. You’ll have to map it out with a spreadsheet to see if you can use the pass on other trips you plan to make.
N.B. the JR pass covers all bullet trains between Tokyo and Kyoto except for the fastest one, Nozomi, but the others are only slightly slower, roughly 30 mins or so slower)
Thanks. We’ll definitely map it out. Besides the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto – and we don’t have to have the fastest one – we expect roundtrips from Kyoto to Nara and from Kyoto to maybe Himeji, plus one way from Kyoto to Osaka. There’s a JR agent here in Bangkok, a place called HIS Travel, and we’ll check with them.
Depends on what you like to see. For young people, first thing in the morning visit Tsukiji wet market. Then go to Asakusa shrine and mingle in the streets to buy trinkets and street food. Then go to the Akihabara/Ueno district to get your fill of electronic toys, gadgets, models, and anime. Then have a quiet afternoon snack with tea in the park or better yet, go to an actual chado session. In the evening, dine and dance in the Roppongi Hills.
The closest I’ve stayed to Asakusa was in Ueno, at a place called the New Izu hotel, a really comfortable, simple business hotel w very friendly staff. I think it was like $60 a night for a single a few years ago, and maybe a 20 or so minute walk to Asakusa (& of course a lot quicker by public trans). Unless they’ve gone way downhill I wouldn’t hesitate to stay there again. Sorry, I don’t know how to provide a link, but easy enough to Google.
Found it. Thanks, this is a good possibility. I know the big Tokyo National Museum is there, and it’s a big cherry-blossom viewing area. This could be the place for us.
You can pick up a bus and then put it back down as you wade through the buildings towards the center of town.
You have to be kind of tall, though. 
De rigueur in Tokyo, I would think. And I do tower over the Japanese.
Yeah, thanks for that tip. We just booked with the New Izu. It seems perfect. More than $60 of course since we want a double, but we get a 20% discount for staying six nights. They also got back to me in only two hours with the answer to a room question I had, which was impressive.
Well, I mapped it out, and the JR Pass will definitely not be worth it. For the 7-day pass, the cost is 28,300 yen for the Ordinary and 37,800 yen for the Green Car. By my calculations, with the one-way trip from Tokyo-Kyoto, a couple of day trips out of the city and then one way to Osaka for the flight home will come to only 20,540 yen, and that’s figuring the more expensive Green Car rates and the fastest Nozomi bullet train from Tokyo. So we’ll pass on the pass.
But we’re all set otherwise. The trip is in April. We’ve paid for our fligths on JAL. We have reservations in Tokyo and Kyoto. We’re pretty much set now, just have to wait, except the wife will apply for her visa next month or so. (As an American, I don’t need a visa.)
If anyone has more suggestions, feel free to make them. In Tokyo, we will be staying in the Ueno area, at the New Izu Hotel recommended above. I know that’s more on the edge of the city, but I understand there are some good museums and cherry-blossom viewing in that area, plus it’s convenient from Narita airport, where finally it turns out we’ll be flying into. With public transport, there should be no problem getting into the city.
D’oh! :smack: I finally realized I was calculating the seat fee only and not adding in the fare on top of that. So our total is actually higher but still not enough to justify a JR Pass.
We’re just a few weeks away from flying out. I think we’re all set. But if anyone has any further recommendations, feel free to tell them. And thanks for all the suggestions so far.
I’m just adding my name to this thread because my wife and I are visiting Japan shortly. We’re going on Thursday to arrive at Kansai Airport on Friday, spending a week in Osaka, 5 days in Tokyo, then another week in Osaka. (I plan on using Osaka as a base, using a JR pass to make day trips to other places. However, I know that Osaka is attractive in its own right.)
As the visit progresses, assuming that I can get easy web access, I’ll post some pictures on Flickr.
That would be great. Thanks!
Dress warm, it’s not chilly right now but it will be getting colder again in the next few days, but then should start warming up again after the weekend. 
What will it be like early to mid-April?
I’m a hot weather person, so I don’t like any temperature that isn’t between 32 and 40 degrees Celcius (why is Firefox telling me I’m spelling that wrongly?). Accordingly, I don’t want to say it will be ‘nice’ or ‘fresh’ etc.
Weather in Osaka is remarkably consistent year to year, so if you can find last year’s charts it will be very similar, barring freak events, or very short term swings of one or two days.
April is my wedding anniversary, so I have clear recollections that it’s going to be shirt and light jacket weather for me in Osaka. 
I’m more comfortable around 20 to 30 Celsius, so I’m expecting the weather in Honshu to be about right at this time of year.
Psst: Celsius.
Thanks. We were surprised how cool the April weather was in the US last year. We don’t even own coats but will bring a sweater, especially for Tokyo in the early part of the month.
The only thing that come to mind is: flee from monsters, or stand there pointing upwards at one until it comes along and squashes you into jelly. And DON’T get into an elevated train! Those things are like catnip for monsters.