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| Japan Rail Pass Route |
- To read about my recommendations of affordable, Reasonable, Convenient hotels in Tokyo, visit: Affordable Cheap Reasonable Hotels in Tokyo
- To read about my recommendations of affordable and reasonable hotels in OSAKA, visit: Osaka Reasonable Affordable Hotels
- To read about the most famous ramen franchise in the world, visit: The origin of Ippudo Ramen: Quest for world's first Hakata Ippudo restaurant
- To read about my recommendations of reasonable, affordable, and convenient hotels in KYOTO, visit: Kyoto reasonable, affordable, and convenient Hotels
- To read about how to plan your trip to Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe, visit: Planning your trip to Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe in Japan
- To read about basic information of the JR rail pass, visit: Japan Rail Pass
- To read about Kobe beef in Kobe, visit: Kobe Beef in Kobe: My Kobe Beef experiences
Recommendations on planning your Japan Railway Pass trip
1. Plan ahead
Revise your itinerary a few times; have plan B ready in case of possible weather change
Revise your itinerary a few times; have plan B ready in case of possible weather change
2. Book your hotel ahead of time
To ensure vacancy for better value and convenience of accommodations.
To ensure vacancy for better value and convenience of accommodations.
3. Avoid Japan's holiday and Golden Weekend
Sightseeing spots will be overcrowded with tourists. Difficult to make hotel reservation. Difficult to reserve seats on the bullet train despite of the use of JR pass.
Sightseeing spots will be overcrowded with tourists. Difficult to make hotel reservation. Difficult to reserve seats on the bullet train despite of the use of JR pass.
4. Avoid changing hotels too frequently
Stay at the same hotel for two or more nights; use the same hotel as a base so you can take day trips to neighboring cities. checking in and out of the hotel will waste precious vacation time and carrying luggage from one place to another should be minimized.
5. Stay at hotels near JR or bullet train station.
JR train travel will be covered by your JR rail pass. Staying near bullet train station will also ensure high mobility. I would recommend paying slightly higher price for convenience of proximity to major JR train stations.
6. Activate your JR rail pass on Day 0 (or prior to your starting day) for Day 1.
So you are able to take the earliest train on Day one.
7. Buy your JR rail pass ahead of time.
JR rail pass is only sold outside of Japan. You will not be able to buy it after arriving in Japan. If you are fortunate enough to be living in a city where there is Japanese travel company, you can purchase and pick up a JR Rail pass directly from their office. If you do not have easy access to a Japanese travel agency office, I recommend ordering JR pass online. JR pass will then be shipped to you by the online sellers.
8. Plan your trip AFTER you purchase JR rail pass.
Maximize the potential of JR rail pass while planning. Try not to purchase the JR pass after you already have your itinerary written out, you might end up sacrificing parts of your plan.
Japan Rail Pass Journey Itinerary May 2010
Stay at the same hotel for two or more nights; use the same hotel as a base so you can take day trips to neighboring cities. checking in and out of the hotel will waste precious vacation time and carrying luggage from one place to another should be minimized.
5. Stay at hotels near JR or bullet train station.
JR train travel will be covered by your JR rail pass. Staying near bullet train station will also ensure high mobility. I would recommend paying slightly higher price for convenience of proximity to major JR train stations.
6. Activate your JR rail pass on Day 0 (or prior to your starting day) for Day 1.
So you are able to take the earliest train on Day one.
7. Buy your JR rail pass ahead of time.
JR rail pass is only sold outside of Japan. You will not be able to buy it after arriving in Japan. If you are fortunate enough to be living in a city where there is Japanese travel company, you can purchase and pick up a JR Rail pass directly from their office. If you do not have easy access to a Japanese travel agency office, I recommend ordering JR pass online. JR pass will then be shipped to you by the online sellers.
8. Plan your trip AFTER you purchase JR rail pass.
Maximize the potential of JR rail pass while planning. Try not to purchase the JR pass after you already have your itinerary written out, you might end up sacrificing parts of your plan.
Japan Rail Pass Journey Itinerary May 2010
I finalized the itinerary after 1 to 2 months of revision. Hotels were reserved 3 to 5 weeks prior to my actual travel dates.
Day 0: Tokyo Arrival
*Prince Hotel Park Tower
Teppanyaki Dinner
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| Shinjuku Kabukicho, Tokyo. |
*Prince Hotel Park Tower
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| Prince Hotel Park Tower. Best view of Tokyo Tower. |
Teppanyaki Dinner
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| Teppanyaki (Sizzling Plate) |
Day 1: Fukuoka/Hakata and Kumamoto
Route: Tokyo - Hakata (Fukuoka) - Kumamoto (Kyushu) - Hakata (Fukuoka)
Visit: Kumamoto Castle; Kumamoto Downtown
Food: Convenient store rice ball (Onigiri); "Sakura" Meat Curry; Hakata(Fukuoka) Nakasu area street food stall Ramen
Hotel: Comfort Hotel Hakata
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| Fukuoka/Hakata Street food stall. |
Visit: Kumamoto Castle; Kumamoto Downtown
Food: Convenient store rice ball (Onigiri); "Sakura" Meat Curry; Hakata(Fukuoka) Nakasu area street food stall Ramen
Hotel: Comfort Hotel Hakata
Day 2: Nagasaki
Route: Hakata (Fukuoka) - Nagasaki - Hakata (Fukuoka)
Visit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Site and Museum; Nagasaki downtown stroll; Nagasaki Chinatown; Nagasaki Inasayama Night Scenary
Food: Comfort hotel breakfast (included); Nagasaki Champon Ramen; Tenshinhan rice bowl; Beef bowl.
Hotel: Comfort Hotel Hakata
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| Nagasaki Peace Park. |
Visit: Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Site and Museum; Nagasaki downtown stroll; Nagasaki Chinatown; Nagasaki Inasayama Night Scenary
Food: Comfort hotel breakfast (included); Nagasaki Champon Ramen; Tenshinhan rice bowl; Beef bowl.
Hotel: Comfort Hotel Hakata
Day 3: Hiroshima and Miyajima
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| Itsukushima Shrine Torii. Hiroshima Miyajima |
Visit: Miyajima Island; ; Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome; Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Park.
Food: Comfort hotel breakfast (included); Miyajima Oyster; Hiroshima OkonomiMura.
Hotel: Comfort Hotel Hakata
Food: Comfort hotel breakfast (included); Miyajima Oyster; Hiroshima OkonomiMura.
Hotel: Comfort Hotel Hakata
Day 4: Hakata and Osaka
Route: Hakata - Shin Osaka - Doutonbori area
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| Street vegetable vendor in Hakata/Fukuoka. |
Visit: Hakata Morning and Traditional Market; Osaka Doutonbori
Food: Comfort hotel breakfast (included); Nagahamake Ramen in Hakata (original store); Kushikatsu (Osaka)
Hotel: Doutonbori Hotel
Food: Comfort hotel breakfast (included); Nagahamake Ramen in Hakata (original store); Kushikatsu (Osaka)
Hotel: Doutonbori Hotel
Visit: Fushimi Inari Shrine; Arashiyama; Yoshimura Restaurant; Yasaka Shrine; Gion; Pontocho
Food: Kyoto cuisine Soba, Nabe boiling pot.
Hotel: Doutonbori Hotel
Food: Kyoto cuisine Soba, Nabe boiling pot.
Hotel: Doutonbori Hotel
Day 6: Tezuka Osamu Manga and Anime pilgrimage; Osaka Shinsekai
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| Astro Boy statue at Tezuka Osamu Museum. |
Visit: Tezuka Osamu Manga Museum, Takarazuka area; Osaka Shinsekai; Jan-Jan Yokocho; Tsuutenkaku Tower; Shinsekai
Food: Moby-Dick plus Wan Bakery&Restaurant (Dog-friendly restaurant) Takarazuka; Japanese youshoku
Hotel: Doutonbori Hotel
Food: Moby-Dick plus Wan Bakery&Restaurant (Dog-friendly restaurant) Takarazuka; Japanese youshoku
Hotel: Doutonbori Hotel
Visit: Osaka Castle; Himeji Castle; Kitano Ijinkan Area; Kobe Rokkosan Night Scenery
Food: Kobe beef in Kobe; Shinseikai Kushikatsu
Hotel: Doutonbori Hotel
Food: Kobe beef in Kobe; Shinseikai Kushikatsu
Hotel: Doutonbori Hotel
Visit: Nara Deer Park; Toudaiji; Daibutsu; Tezuka Osamu World (Kyoto Station); Kyoto Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion)
Food: Beef bowl; Hayashi Rice; Doutonbori Kinryu Ramen
Hotel: Doutonbori Hotel
Food: Beef bowl; Hayashi Rice; Doutonbori Kinryu Ramen
Hotel: Doutonbori Hotel
Visit: Nagoya Sakae District; Osu Kannon Temple; Gifu area
Food: Hokkyokusei Omu Rice (Shinsaibashi, Osaka); Izakaya in Gifu
Hotel: Doutonbori Hotel
Food: Hokkyokusei Omu Rice (Shinsaibashi, Osaka); Izakaya in Gifu
Hotel: Doutonbori Hotel
Visit: Sendai Downtown area; Sendai Castle Ruins; Kokubuncho
Food: Convenient store Onigiri and Japanese sandwich; Tasuke Beef Tongue Restaurant
Hotel: Comfort Hotel Sendai West
Food: Convenient store Onigiri and Japanese sandwich; Tasuke Beef Tongue Restaurant
Hotel: Comfort Hotel Sendai West
Day 11: Romantic Otaru canal and delicious sushi
Route: Sendai - Hachinohe - Hakodate - Sapporo - Otaru (9+ hours) - Sapporo
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| Masazushi, Otaru, Hokkaido. |
Visit: Otaru Canal; Otaru Sushi Street; Downtown Sapporo
Food: Convenient store Japanese sandwich ; Masazushi Chef's Choice Omakase Set and The Original Ika Somen
Hotel: Toyoko Inn Sapporo Susukino Kosaten
Food: Convenient store Japanese sandwich ; Masazushi Chef's Choice Omakase Set and The Original Ika Somen
Hotel: Toyoko Inn Sapporo Susukino Kosaten
Day 12: Sapporo, Asahikawa, and Furano
Route: Sapporo - Asahikawa - Furano - Sapporo
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| Different ramen restaurants lined up on Sapporo Ramen Yokocho (street) |
Visit: Sapporo City; The Original Ramen Yokocho (street); Asahikawa; Furano; Sapporo Susukino Area
Food: Miso Ramen at Sapporo Ramen Yokocho (Alley); Shio Ramen at The Original Santouka Ramen restaurant.
Hotel: Toyoko Inn Sapporo Susukino Kosaten
Food: Miso Ramen at Sapporo Ramen Yokocho (Alley); Shio Ramen at The Original Santouka Ramen restaurant.
Hotel: Toyoko Inn Sapporo Susukino Kosaten
Day 13: Million Dollar Night View in Hakodate
Route: Sapporo - Hakodate
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| Hakodate Ropeway for Million Dollar View |
Visit: Downtown Hakodate; Mount Hakodate Night Scenery;
Food: Lucky Pierrot - Chinese Chicken Burger; Marukatsu Suisan Revolving Sushi Bar (Keiji Salmon); Hakodate Beer; Daimon Yokocho - RyuOu Ramen - Clear soup Ramen
Hotel: Comfort Hotel Hakodate
Food: Lucky Pierrot - Chinese Chicken Burger; Marukatsu Suisan Revolving Sushi Bar (Keiji Salmon); Hakodate Beer; Daimon Yokocho - RyuOu Ramen - Clear soup Ramen
Hotel: Comfort Hotel Hakodate
Day 14: Foot bath; Seafood Paradise
Route: Hakodate - Tokyo
Visit: Donburi Yokocho Ichiba; Traditional Morning Market; Public Foot Bath(Ashiyuu); Tokyo Shinjuku
Food: Scallop/Uni/Salmon Roe over rice breakfast; Baked fresh scallop; Potato with butter; Squid Ink Ice Cream; Yuumin Ramen - Clear Soup (Shio) Ramen
Hotel: Tokyo Shinjuku Hotel Wing International Hotel
To read about my 2015 Japan Rail JR Pass trip:
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| Hakodate Seafood Paradise breakfast bowl |
Visit: Donburi Yokocho Ichiba; Traditional Morning Market; Public Foot Bath(Ashiyuu); Tokyo Shinjuku
Food: Scallop/Uni/Salmon Roe over rice breakfast; Baked fresh scallop; Potato with butter; Squid Ink Ice Cream; Yuumin Ramen - Clear Soup (Shio) Ramen
Hotel: Tokyo Shinjuku Hotel Wing International Hotel
To read about my 2015 Japan Rail JR Pass trip:
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| Japan Rail Pass Route 2015. Project Shinkansen Setonaikai Seto Inland Sea |
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