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9 day trip between Tokyo/Takayama/Osaka/Kyoto

over 2 years ago
1 response

I plan on using a JR pass in order to travel between Tokyo and Toyama, Toyama to the Kyoto/Osaka area, and then possibly Nara and then back to Tokyo. How well does the JR pass cover local travel in these areas?

My current itinerary is as follows:

Day 1: Fly into Narita and travel to Tokyo
Day 2: Travel to Toyama in the evening
Day 3: Toyama -> Takayama (morning), Takayama -> Toyama (evening)
Day 4: Toyama -> Takayama, Takayama -> Kyoto/Osaka (is Kyoto or Osaka easier to get to from Takayama?)
Day 5 and after: In the Kyoto/Osaka area for day 5/6/7?

I wouldn't mind suggestions for my last 5 days. I'm not sure how much time to spend in Kyoto and Osaka but I would like to spend at least the last 2 days in Tokyo (Day 8 and 9).

I will be going back to Narita airport in the morning on Day 10.

Thank you for your advice!

1319 posts
over 2 years ago

You would make a 7 day pass pay off for you plans, but I really don't understand some of it. Why are you staying in Toyama if you are not going to do anything there? It's 90 minutes each way from Toyama to Takayama. Why not stay overnight in Takayama, or better yet, for the experience, stay at a Shirakawago farmhouse?

Also, if you are afterwards going to Kansai, why return back to Takayama from Toyama? It would make more sense to go by way of Kanazawa, and that city also have some excellent sights, especially the top rated historical landscape Japanese garden, Kenrokuen.

At any rate, aside from Osaka and Kyoto, the obvious choices of what to see are Nara and Himeji.

For a cheap way back to Narita, try the 1000 yen bus. If you want to use a Tokyo subway, you might consider a 2 or 3 day subway pass.

Good luck.

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