Japan Trip

MichaelAwkward · 8 Jul 2023 at 17:37

Wowza those new prices are mental - it's like they don't want people using the trains.

For both of us that'd be £850~ for two 14 day passes, which is more than buying the train tickets for our itinery would cost anyway since we're using some private lines. At the current prices we could've saved a bit on the JR sections but it was almost marginal. Now I'm more inclined to elongate the trip a few days to allow for more scenic routes by train or driving.

Raymond Lin · 8 Jul 2023 at 18:42

MichaelAwkward said:
Wowza those new prices are mental - it's like they don't want people using the trains.

For both of us that'd be £850~ for two 14 day passes, which is more than buying the train tickets for our itinery would cost anyway since we're using some private lines. At the current prices we could've saved a bit on the JR sections but it was almost marginal. Now I'm more inclined to elongate the trip a few days to allow for more scenic routes by train or driving.

The cost now is comparable to a EU rail pass, some people would say, and it is true that the price has not changed for a long time, it’s pretty much the same price at the moment as it was when I first went in 2017, so i guess they have just lumped it all together and then it’s quite a shock.

But now it is simply a fact that a JR Pass for most tourist is simply not good value for money. Whilst you can travel lots of places with it, but the distance need to cover to make it worthwhile means you don’t get enough time in 1 place.

Next time I’ll use the local flights and hotel luggage forwarding service a lot more.

neocon · 8 Jul 2023 at 21:16

Raymond Lin said:
The cost now is comparable to a EU rail pass, some people would say, and it is true that the price has not changed for a long time, it’s pretty much the same price at the moment as it was when I first went in 2017, so i guess they have just lumped it all together and then it’s quite a shock.

But now it is simply a fact that a JR Pass for most tourist is simply not good value for money. Whilst you can travel lots of places with it, but the distance need to cover to make it worthwhile means you don’t get enough time in 1 place.

Next time I’ll use the local flights and hotel luggage forwarding service a lot more.

You kind of wonder why they did it, it's obviously not a profit making thing. Maybe they don't want tourists on the trains.

sithlord · 8 Jul 2023 at 21:59

When I first bought it back in the early 2000s I never understood what it was. I always assumed you could have 7 days of travel anytime.

No. Its a lot like a 7 day travelcard. Once activated it expires after 7 (or 14/21 if you bought the longer one etc) days.

Raymond Lin · 8 Jul 2023 at 22:00

neocon said:
You kind of wonder why they did it, it's obviously not a profit making thing. Maybe they don't want tourists on the trains.

I know the locals kinda jealous/resent/dislike the fact that they can't get the same JR Pass for that price as tourists can, you can imagine how they feel being a local but have to pay over the odds for it.

Now it is at a rate where in theory, you can get your money's worth, but in reality, unlikely.

gjbf1 · 9 Jul 2023 at 12:04

MichaelAwkward said:
Wowza those new prices are mental - it's like they don't want people using the trains.

For both of us that'd be £850~ for two 14 day passes, which is more than buying the train tickets for our itinery would cost anyway since we're using some private lines. At the current prices we could've saved a bit on the JR sections but it was almost marginal. Now I'm more inclined to elongate the trip a few days to allow for more scenic routes by train or driving.

£850? When we last went it was less than half that for two 14d passes! Wtf?

MichaelAwkward · 9 Jul 2023 at 12:20

gjbf1 said:
£850? When we last went it was less than half that for two 14d passes! Wtf?

Raymond Lin said:
Japan Rail Pass Prices To Increase in October: What To Know

JR Pass prices are set to rise in October 2023. Get the latest information on price changes and new perks, and how to buy passes at the current price.

www.jrailpass.com

Assuming the yen stays around 180/£.

gjbf1 · 9 Jul 2023 at 12:22

FFS. We deferred going the year due to costs. Now it's going to no better next year.

bob9oc · 9 Jul 2023 at 13:25

I was also thinking of going back next year,but the increase in the pass along with the high flight costs has made the decision not to for me.

gjbf1 · 9 Jul 2023 at 13:30

bob9oc said:
I was also thinking of going back next year,but the increase in the pass along with the high flight costs has made the decision not to for me.

Looks like the same for us... So ****, we're desperate to return.

Raymond Lin · 9 Jul 2023 at 13:46

FYI, you can order the JR Pass up to 90 days in advance from agents (30 days online direct from JR), so in theory....you can order it before the price hike, i.e. last day in September, if you are planning to go before Christmas.

MichaelAwkward · 9 Jul 2023 at 13:48

bob9oc said:
I was also thinking of going back next year,but the increase in the pass along with the high flight costs has made the decision not to for me.

Depends largely when you want to go - peak times of year have definitely seen an increase in flight costs. I paid £635 back in 2018 for a 16 day trip over Christmas, this year I can do 13th-29th December for £860. Two week trips can still be had for as little as £600-700 if you book in quieter times of the year though. Mid-late March is looking to be around £840 at the moment with 1 stop.

Not going just because of the increase in JR Rail pass is madness though - it wasn't that good of a deal to begin with. We didn't bother with it last time even though we did Tokyo - Nagoya - Osaka - Kyoto and back and looking through my records we didn't spend anywhere near the cost of the pass each on train travel on that trip without it.

We've both still got balances on our Suica's come to think of it, need to check them.

gjbf1 · 9 Jul 2023 at 13:54

When are the best quiet times for cheaper flights? March as Michael suggested? What is the weather like then?

MichaelAwkward · 9 Jul 2023 at 13:56

gjbf1 said:
When are the best quiet times for cheaper flights? March as Michael suggested? What is the weather like then?

No, end of March into April/May is the busiest tourist time - September to November, Jan/Feb, late summer/Autumn should all be cheaper.

We're only going mid-late March as we're meeting someone there who can't change their plans. We'd be going earlier or at the end of summer otherwise.

Weather depends where you're going to really.

Raymond Lin · 9 Jul 2023 at 14:05

gjbf1 said:
When are the best quiet times for cheaper flights? March as Michael suggested? What is the weather like then?

late Jan and Feb is most quiet, you can see Sakura in Feb if you head south (or west as they call it), down around Fukuoka to Hiroshima. Then at the same time, catch the Snow Festival in Hokkaido, although the hotels will be expensive this time of the year there.

I went in the last week of March this year and for economy was £1000.

gjbf1 · 9 Jul 2023 at 15:00

Ok, thanks.

Raymond Lin · 9 Jul 2023 at 15:11

gjbf1 said:
Ok, thanks.

The worst time to go, personally, is June to September. Not only you get high prices due to school holidays, it is also HOT, and humid, chances of typhoons and torrential rain. Unless of course you plan to go there for one of the many summer festivals that takes place. Otherwise Japan is best avoided in the summer.

gjbf1 · 9 Jul 2023 at 15:23

Raymond Lin said:
The worst time to go, personally, is June to September. Not only you get high prices due to school holidays, it is also HOT, and humid, chances of typhoons and torrential rain. Unless of course you plan to go there for one of the many summer festivals that takes place. Otherwise Japan is best avoided in the summer.

We've done September twice. Definitely hot and humid.

Clarkson · 9 Jul 2023 at 16:05

This rail pass increase is rather annoying considering we would like to go at the end of march next year. It might still work out about break even given the plan to go from Tokyo to Hiroshima and all the way back up, plus the odd other JR route on non bullet trains...but still.

Flight prices are already making me cry!

gjbf1 · 9 Jul 2023 at 16:10

Clarkson said:
This rail pass increase is rather annoying considering we would like to go at the end of march next year. It might still work out about break even given the plan to go from Tokyo to Hiroshima and all the way back up, plus the odd other JR route on non bullet trains...but still.

Flight prices are already making me cry!

Yeah flights are horrendous! That was the final nail for our trip this year.