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buying a rail pass or individual tickets for the legs we need

Trip Itinerary: April 10 - 16 Tokyo
" 16 - 19 Kyoto
" 19 - 22 Kagoshima
" 22 - 26 Ibusuki
We are flying back from Kagoshima to Narita on April 26.
We plan to take the Public Limousine service from the airport to the hotel (unless you have a better suggestion) That means we need train tickets only for 3 legs of this trip. Will it be cheaper to buy individual tickets or a 2 week rail pass.?
I also need the schedule for the bullet train from Tokyo to Kyoto and from Kyoto to Kagoshima and the length of these trips I understand that to Kagoshima we'll need to change trains in Osaka.
Please let me know.
Thank you


  • edited February 2018
    First, a rail pass does almost nothing for you if you are only in the same city - it is really for long distance travel, especially by bullet train. So it would be better to get a 7 day pass for April 16-22.
    A 14 day pass would not pay off for your plans unless you added some side trips, such as to Izu, Karuizawa, Kusatsu, the Hitachi Seaside Park, etc.

    Within Tokyo, a 2-3 day subway pass is a good money saver.

    The cheapest way to Tokyo from Narita is the 1000 yen bus.
    If you are referring to the orange limousine bus, that is the most expensive at 3100 yen per passenger. But it can be convenient if you are staying at one of the bigger tourist hotels it stops at.

    You can see regular fares, routes and schedules on Hyperdia.
    Please note that the bullet train station in Kagoshima you'll stop at is called Kagoshima-Chuo.


    There are also loads of other tips on

    Best wishes.

  • Thanks for your fast answer.
    I have a few more questions
    1. Our last leg is the one from Kagoshima to Ibusuki (back will take the bus to the Airport) does our pass cover the Tamatebako train from Kagoshima staition?
    2. I just want to make sure that the Shinkansen is available on the 2 main routes that we are taking. What is the Nozomi train?
    3. What is the difference between ordinary class and green class. Does it pay to spend the extra money for it?
  • Hi,
    Yes, it should. The JR Kyushu Pass definitely covers it, and it is a JR line.
    2. You can take the shinkansen all the way from Tokyo to Kagoshima-Chuo. With a few transfers of course. The Nozomi and Mizuho trains are 3 trains you cannot use the pass on - they have the fewest stops and so are the fastest. But other trains like Sakura and Hikari shinkansen are fine. Avoid the Kodama trains since they stop at every single bullet train station.

    3. Personal preference - but I have never seen anybody ever complain about the train seats on the ordinary cars. The Green cars also stop closer to the escalators or stairs going to the exit, but again, worth it? Maybe for some, but not for me. You can see photos of the different seats on:

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