Hi guys, a quick question.

For the Haruka and Icoca pass, can I like buy the Kyoto to Kansai Airport at day 1, use the Icoca for the rest of my 10 days trip, then only activate the Haruka ticket from Kyoto back to Kansai Airport?

My initial plan was use the 7 days JR pass first at the airport > Kyoto/Osaka > Tokyo, as our first trip is lto Tokyo first.

Any ideas? I've read the guide the JR west provided but doesn't seem have the answer. The only concern is single trip only have 1 day validity.

any1 when to Kanamara Matsuri before? nice event huh? ? go before RegentCid?

This post has been edited by BlackPen: Mar 18 2014, 11:30 PM

i have questions regarding the Pasmo pass:

1. what is the difference between a normal named Pasmo and Pasmo commuter ticket? it is kinda confusing the way they explain it in their website.

2. can both type of passes be used when taking buses/shinkansen? do i need to pay extra? if yes, what should i do?

3. how should i go about using the pass if part of my journey requires using trains outside of pasmo-suica coverage?

4. can i use single Pasmo to pay for 2 persons' fare at anytime using any mode of transport, be it bus or train?

5. how can i request for receipt for me to claim as travel expenses?

I have read from the Icoca & Haruka website,
it state that the return Haruka ticket are valid for 2 weeks.
It means that you can use it when you reach KIX at day 1,
and re-use it on last day when you depart from KIX.

For your case, more logical way is buy the Icoca & Haruka (returned) at KIX,
use it at day 1 to take the Haruka to Osaka/Kyoto. Once you decise
travel to Tokyo, then active your 7 day JR-pass to ride JR train ,
u can use the JR pass in tokyo city as well. Remember to complete
the Tokyo route within 7 day and comeback to Osaka/Kyoto. In Kyoto
you can use Icoca card (assume yrs JR pass have expired) to buy the
local train ticket. Alternatively, u can buy a daily bus ticket to travel
arround. At last day , u can utilise yours Haruka card to return to airport.

Another question i need to raise up here is that, for the Haruka
ticket puchase through this package, is that compulsary to reserve
the seat? Or this is include into the package without extra
seat fee?

3. Buy the ticket separately from the ticket machine

4. No

5. You can get a print out of the payment history from the pasmo-suica machine

1. There is no pasmo commuter ticket. Its very similar to our touch and go. Either you buy a ticket, be it metro, JR, or any other rail line, or you just swipe your pasmo card and the amount will be deducted once you exit.

2. Most buses can and you only pay the actual fare. Shinkansen no.

3. Then pay cash. If you can swipe in, then you can swipe out. Simple as that. Most intra city public transport accept pasmo-succa. If you do not have enough money in your card you will not be able to swipe out. Just go to any machine to top up, or to the person manning the exit.

4. Train not possible. Bus yes but you have to inform the driver. If you cannot speak Japanese, I would advice you not to do it. Just get one card each and save you all the hassle. Not sure why you want to do that unless you want your company to pay for your other half transport.

5. You can print out the receipt from the station machine. Pasmo/Suica also allows you to print in details of what you have used.

Another thing to be aware of is that the consumption tax in Japan will be 8% from 1st April. If you buy directly from machine, ticket that cost you 200yen now will cost 210yen. However if you used PASMO/SUICA, they are able to deduct the exact amount of 206yen. I guess the reason is because machines here are unable to process 1 yen coins.

can you elaborate further. how to deduct the tax?

I guess "deduct tax amount" is a bit confusing. Currently in Japan, the consuption tax is 5%. When you go to 100yen shop, you actually pay 105yen instead of 100yen. From 1st April it will be 8%, hence you pay 108yen. For metro, if you use PASMO or SUICA and now you are paying 200yen, the machine is able to deduct the correct amount, like 206yen from 1st April. However if you pay cash, via the ticket machine, you have to pay 210yen instead of 206yen. They "makan" your 4 yen. You cannot claim tax for tranport even though you are a tourist.

^ ah..that clarifies. thanks

Thanks for the clear up.
Guess I have no choice but to purchase the returned pass. Bummers, tot going to save that extra RM30 for a meal or something..

From what I know, the discounted ticket are entitled to reserve seats too(returned).

By the way, how to reserve seat? I heard JR Shinkansen also need to reserve seats before boarding.

Thanks for the tips on the tax section. All the while I only use daily pass. Now I need to re-think and re-calculate see which day to use daily pass.

There is such thing call Pasmo Commuting Ticket.
In Japan ''Commuting ticket'' are call ''Montly ticket''
Pasmo Card you can set it into commuting Pass for that certain Train route.
Minimum set are 1 Month / 3 Month / 6 Months

Example: I work in Haneda Airport but stay at Kodaira.

My Pasmo card inside got 3 Company Commuting ticket under 1 Card.
- Kodaira > Shinjuku by Seibu Shinjuku Line
- Shinjuku > Hamamatsuchō Station by JR Yamanote Line
- Hamamatsuchō Station > Haneda Airport by Tokyo Monorail

I buy this 3 company commuting ticket montly. all store under 1 Pasmo Card.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Mar 19 2014, 03:29 PM

So I guess it is "teigi-ken" then. Did not know that it is called commuting ticket in English. I am using that and its no use for tourist unless you are here on the long term and always travel to to the same place.

Ya.

Japanese stuff in English name all weird one. Why call communting pass? not monthly pass?

done my trip for 2 ppl for less than rm5500. flight hotel n expenses all included.

a trip 8-17/3/14
8/3 first nite over stay at haneda airport
9/3 akihabara and back to hotel check surrounding outa area
10/3 purchase JR Kanto Pass, its a 3 days pass - add 1000en for gala yuzawa ride joetsu shinkanshen n return the same day
11/3 ride azusa limited to otsuki n to kawaguchiko.. inbetween stop at fujikyu highland for the haunted house n roller coster. back ride kaiji limited
12/3 ride super view odoriko to kawazu n spent around n go back with super view odoriko
13/3 self coin laundry lol n shibuya - bought ticket disny sea after 6pm ticket at disney store there
14/3 harajuku n went for disney sea after 6pm
15/3 ueno surrounding
16/3 odaiba - met up wit old friends
17/3 shibuya again n back to haneda airport for departure

i would recommend all those visiting kanto area to buy jr kanto pass http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/kantoareapass/ http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/gala/gala_sample01.html

go this event before?

need to put my trip planning into action
planning for a 2 week trip around mid-end July
Current macro plan focused on transport arrangement is as such:
Day 1-4 - Osaka+Kyoto+Nagoya (Planning to use Kintetsu Pass)
Day 5 - Head to Tokyo (activate JR 7 day pass)
Day 6-8 - Tokyo area+Hakone (Likely need to use Suica pass)
Day 9 - Head to Hokkaido (Using JR pass - day 5 of 7)
Day 10-13 - Hokkaido (Considering need of getting a 5 day Seishun 18 Kippu to be share between 2 person for local train)
Day 14 - return to Malaysia

Any comments on my transport plan? Might extend by another day to spend more time in Osaka/Kyoto/Nagoya

Mean
More than 10 years in Japan. Go japan 2 times a Month. There is no festival I dunno or I miss before.

This post has been edited by RegentCid: Mar 19 2014, 10:53 PM

Just get ur self JR Rail 14day Pass. Hokkaido Day 9 > 13 all used JR Rail Pass.