As well as the national JR passes, there are regional JR passes that are often very good value if you are visiting a particular area. This itinerary using the JR West Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass is great for visitors arriving at Kansai airport who want to see something beyond Kyoto and Osaka. Continue reading “JR Pass trip idea no 5 – from Kyoto to Hiroshima”
One piece of advice often given to the first-time visitor to Japan is “You must get a JR Pass”. This is simply not true – it all depends on where you are going. If this advice is given to you without the person asking about your intended itinerary, then treat their advice with a grain of salt. A JR Pass is a significant cost, and it can be either a great money saver or a huge waste of money. Continue reading “Travelling in Japan without a JR Pass”
This itinerary is particularly good in February and early March, when there is still snow in the Japan Alps, but plum trees start blossoming, hinting at spring. These destinations have sights that are interesting year round, although outside of the plum blossom season, you may like to drop Mito. Continue reading “JR Pass trip idea no 4 – a glimpse of spring”
