The JR PASS is DEAD: Do this instead.. (Travel Alternatives)
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- Опубликовано: 1 авг 2024
- Japan WITHOUT a JR Pass: 6 Alternative Travel Options to consider
Everyone's heard of the JR Pass, but did you know prices are set to increase dramatically? In this video, we explore 6 alternative ways you can explore Japan WITHOUT a JR PASS! 🚆
While JR Pass prices soar, regional rail passes can still provide great value, especially if you're sticking to a specific area. Regional passes are exclusive to international tourists and, despite price increases, remain budget-friendly compared to the Nationwide JR Pass.
If you're an adventurous traveler, consider the Seishun 18 Kippu ticket, offering unlimited travel on local and rapid JR Group trains. It's a cost-effective option for those exploring Japan's lesser-known cities, and you can even share the ticket with friends.
Flying domestically can be a faster and cheaper option, especially with budget airlines like Peach and Jetstar Japan. Don't miss the JAL Japan Explorer Pass for affordable flights to over 30 cities.
Local city passes, like Tokyo's 24-hour Metro Pass, are perfect for intensive urban exploring. However, be aware that some cities are phasing out passes due to overtourism.
Highway buses from companies like Willer Express offer an affordable and comfortable way to explore Japan's less-traveled destinations. You can even save on accommodation with overnight buses.
For the adventurous, renting a car can be ideal, especially in rural areas. Remember, you'll need a Japanese driver's license or an International Driving Permit.
In Japan, travel options are diverse, and there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Mix and match to create your perfect Japan trip. Stay connected with pocket Wi-Fi or an e-sim for stress-free navigation.
Use my Sakura affiliate link to get your travel data/e-sim and support the channel. Thanks for watching, stay positive, and safe travels! 🌸🗾🚗
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Regional passes were always my choice for extended stays! Might use domestic flights mixed with train for my next trip as we will be covering a larger area in a shorter time frame. Another good video with lots of helpful information ♥️
This is the way forward I think too
Good info, I didn't know there were bus passes. The sleeper bus and train between Tokyo and Osaka look interesting too, but the Sunrise Seto train looks difficult to book if I don't have a JR Pass.
I didn't think you looked grumpy! I was waiting to see if something would slide off the shelf though...
Hahaha only grumpy for the thumbnail
Very comprehensive! One potential alternate to bus that i know that could work for some is the boat/ferry which can also doubled as a hotel!
This will work for areas such as osaka to beppu, nagoya to sendai, kobe to oita, niigata to otaru, kobe to miyazaki or even Kagoshima to naha!
With the rise in jr passes, flying is definitely the biggest option given its speed and the relative price!
Yes ferry could be an option too! But more limited over all. It must certainly be considered for trips as you mention using as a hotel is a bonus too!!
Excellent 👌 video there are so many ways to travel ! I look forward to using some of these methods 🐵
Which ones are you keen to use?
@@NinjaMonkeyguy the multi ride train ticket 🎟️ and love to do a bus ride but day travel
I wish the JR pass didn't go up in price 🙃 I will be visiting for the first time in January for a whole month but this planning to see if the passes are worth it are stressing me out. Normally when I got to a destination I have a rough idea in my head about what I will do. But with Japan it seems like I have to write everything and not be spontaneous
Thanks for the video 🤙🏼
Yes unfortunately without the JR pass you might need to be selective and plan ahead what you want to do, I still think you can be quite flexible if you know what your itinerary is going to be the dates don't really matter.. Also don't forget to investigate domestic flight options for long distances! it will save you time and time = money!
Hey mate, I'm going to Japan for the first time in March, also for a whole month. Consider getting the Japan bus pass, it's wayyyy cheaper and you can still go all over Japan, just by long distance bus. And if you wanna experience taking the shinkansen, you cans till treat yourself to that
I'm also not willing to pay for the JRpass, they shouldn't have made it 70% nor expensive
@@halimech1 have fun ! Thanks for the tip! Will definitely do more research into bus passes
I'm stressing out too! My trip is less than 2months! 🥲 I don't have much (onlu 10days) for my travel so I wanna make the most out of it... (eliminate long travel times). Target tokyo-kyoto-osaka. Any tips?
Thanks for the great video! Is there a pass that will cover Tokyo, Osaka and Hiroshima bullet trains over 10 days for a family of 4 (age 12 and up)?
only the National pass but it prob will be cheaper to get individual ones
I have been hoping that you would do a video on some of the other train, air and bus options. There are also some ferry options that can be combine with bus and rail via some passes. Since I haven't gone into in depth planning as of yet, I really only know they exist. The JR pass was my go to in the past, maybe not in the future. I've been looking at buses and the network is much more extensive than I previously realized. However, multiple buses on routes is not true of the whole country, so coordination and preplanning will be needed to make it all work.
Basically, using multiple travel methods is going to be the way of the future for Japan travel. So, it well be even more important to access to up to date on line info, and Ninja Monkey's Sakura Mobile options will no longer be a nice to have, but a mandatory must have for Japan travel.
Yes totally agree .. the way of the future travel to Japan 🇯🇵 is a mixed at with a lot of pre planning needed .. gone are the days of getting a pass and just going with the flow I think in a way
Just returned from Japan and used the JR Pass before the price increase. In my opinion, the JR pass was only worth it after I did a proper plan of where and when I want to visit which cities or towns. The same applies to regional passes. Honestly, an IC card is sufficient if you only want to visit Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto.
if you are only going to stay within the same citiy/area an IC card will do the trick. Long distance travel will now require a lot of extra planning to make the JR pass worth it
So I’m going to Tokyo, Nikko, Kyoto, Osaka and the surrounding prefecture of each city using the JR pass and wondering it it’s better to buy tickets individually or stick with JR pass?
@USO1322 I would do a cost comparison between the JR pass and the individual cost of traveling to the places I want to visit. I'd choose the option that's best fit and cost effective. As for Osaka, Nara and Kyoto, previously I bought the Kansai thru pass, which gave me all the non-JR train and subway rides plus the buses in Kyoto. Since I don't have to use the pass on consecutive days like the JR pass, it gives me flexibility to spend more days in different destinations
I have heard that you can buy used Seishun tickets at places around Tokyo (you can't find them here) with some days left on them but not the full 5 days, super cheap. Since you can use that ticket for non-consecutive days, it's possible.
Not sure you know this, but there are some new local regional passes. These are usually by prefecture (example, Iwate Holiday Pass), or regional (Hoku Rikku Pass). These passes are about $25 USD, and if I'm going to Morioka, it saves me money. They are available all year, but only on Saturdays and holidays, but at certain times they are available any day of the week. They offer one day of unlimited local trains within the region. Iwate is huge, so it really is a good deal of you are staying in one area and want to go someplace far away. 'Holiday Pass'. Year round, and you can get them on any Saturday. Available to anyone, including residents.
Passes available to tourists are way better... I think even as a tourist, this one could save you money though (and the price is NOT going up) if you, I dunno, check out Yamagata or Hoku Rikku areas.
I didnt mention the Hoku Rikku Arch pass because prices are set to increase (confirmed by JR but no price yet) which is why I generally touched on Regional passes for people to hopefully get an idea and do their own research.. I didnt want the video to be outdated in a few months! but yes there are many options when it comes to Regional passes. In terms of resale of passes, this is correct but quite difficult to achieve if you dont speak Japanese.. great tip for the more adventurous!
Hi Nathan!!
Great Video as always. On our last trip, we rented with Nippon, my buddy's company had an account with them. It was rather curious, they said they don't rent (hire) to gaijin. We were in Yakushima, Tokyo and Morioka, they all seemed to state this... weird?
Are you referring to accomodation? This is interesting
@@NinjaMonkeyguy Nippon - Rent a Car I'm assuming Tourists, without a Japanese Drivers License
Oh i see! @@backintheclay
Whats up with klook bookings? It only covers up to March 31, 2024? Not available for april 2024 onwards
Because the JR pass / and many other tickets are only available a certain amount of days / weeks/ months in advance
Where can i buy the station 18 hippo ticket?
Im guessing you mean this? if so its very specific and at specific times too: www.japan-guide.com/e/e2362.html
I was goint to buy it yesterday. But after seeing the price. No thank you!!
I will be there 2 month. And organizing everything is so stressfull I am starting to hate the country even before getting there😢
No need to hate the country, its going to be amazing.. How many locations will you be visiting? If its only a few then just purchase the tickets individually from within the channel or check out some of the regional passes that might work! Hope my guides will help! its gonna be awesome!
so what it the best way from tokyo to osaka return with train ?
Tokyo station or shinagawa station via shinjansen bullet train is what i would suggest
@@NinjaMonkeyguy thank you , and from what I understand it’s cheaper just to buy return tickets vs the jr pass
Well...that was mindbogglingly complicated
It sucks!
@@NinjaMonkeyguy one question: im planning a trip at the end of March with my two kids, well be trekking around but even then the JR Pass doesn't make sense, how soon before travelling each leg to I need to book shinkansen tickets, should I do it all on the first day?
If its a weekend then try to do it in advance, this really depends on what period/ if its a public holiday.. If you are good at keeping to schedules it might be useful to do it all at once @@ifonlyicouldstop
@@NinjaMonkeyguy thanks so much for the reply, I'll be sure to use your affiliate link for my WiFi...much appreciated.
Grumpy Ninja
haha yep it was hard to do
Am I late?
haha yes
but you made it to the stream :).
You look so grumpy on the picture 😅
haha,... that was the point lol
Doing Tokyo->Hakone->Osaka->Hiroshima->Osaka->Kyoto->Tokyo June 2024. I think just buying one way Shinkansen tickets and using mobile suica is what we will do. Did a rough calculation and doesn’t seem worth it for new JR pass. Not sure about regional yet. May get Hakone free pass for that leg.
@@kylealtman1666 You will do that in how many times, if i may ask?
I've done so much extensive research since the price rise of the JR national Pass that i may (or may not) give you some tips.
First of all, a JR pass cost around 50 000Y for one week and doesn't cover the Hakone region. So everything should cost less than that.
Going to Hiroshima from Tokyo cost around 19000 ¥ (for the cheapest Shinkansen with reserved seat). So you will probably double that to return to Tokyo , so let's say 38000 ¥ .With that , you will probably add an hakone free pass , mostly because i don't think they are an hakone stop on the go, so add 6100 ¥ to that, which make 44100 ¥ + probably a ferry ticket for Miyajima and some metro and/or along the line. (19000*2+6100=44100¥)
But more importantly , i don't think you can go to one place, stop here and rego into anther with the same tickets.
Here that i suggest you to do. Don't take me for granted of course, you should look it up for yourself but i think it could be a good base depending on how many time you will travel
If you have less than one week for everything except hakone/tokyo , you can use the Horiku Arch pass which last 7 days
The Horiku pass go to Tokyo to Osaka and Kyoto in between. it cost 24500 ¥. Adding that the Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass for 17000 ¥, you can go to hiroshima from osaka/kyoto. Finish(or began) with the Hakone free pass for 6100¥ and you have a total of 47600 ¥ for 7 days. (24500+17000+6100=47600¥ )
I really suggest you to visit akone/tokyo before or after this grand tour if you have time because having only 7 days to visit everything will be tight. Tokyo or Kyoto alone can be worth a week. But hey , sometime we can't take extended vacation so do what you can : )
I hope my wall of text was usefull and not to unpleasant to read, have fun when you will visit japan !
@@Eldiran1 Sorry I did not clarify, we will be in Japan for 14 nights! Thank you so much for all the info, I will have to look at piecing the regional passes together and timing to see if that makes sense. We are in Tokyo for 7 nights, Hakone for one night, Kyoto for 3 nights, and Osaka for 3 nights. I think the only Shinkansens we will take are Hakone to Osaka, Osaka to Hiroshima roundtrip, Osaka to Kyoto, and finally Kyoto to Tokyo. I need to roughly add what those would cost individually and compare to eithe regional passes or the 7 day JR pass.
My friend & I are planning a big 3 month trip to Japan in 2025 seeing as much of the country as possible from Cape Soya in Hokkaido to Hateruma in the Okinawan Islands especially with day trips from wherever big city or town or maybe even village we’re staying in doing some real adventuring & exploring and since none of us can drive the only options for us are Trains, Buses, Boats & The Shinkansen and we do also plan on getting two domestic flights 1 from & 1 back to Tokyo for our main flight home but that’s a separate thing from the JR Pass unless anyone can shed more light on that subject? Now to my understanding the JR Pass only goes up to 21 days and my friend & I are visiting travelling the country for 3 months using public transport including The Shinkansen a lot for at least 90% of our trip so will we need to put money aside from my rough estimation to buy 4 JR Passes each to cover us for that period of time unless there is a secret 3 month (90 day) JR Pass I don’t know about? I look forward to an answer?
only 7 day 14 and 21 day options available but you might want to consider getting individual ones for regions as it will be cheaper