Guys, going to Japan for 14 days, following a friend. I left it to him to plan everything. So it's 4 days Tokyo, 2 Hakone, 4 Kyoto, 1 Nara and 3 Osaka.

Question is, friend advised to buy 7 day JR Pass which I think is quite exorbitant considering that it will be mostly used to travel between these locations. In town travel using metro and busses will not be covered by JR Pass if I'm not mistaken. Is the JR Pass then worth to buy or I can save from buying at the ticketing counters itself?

Thanks guys, I thought of that too. The above is my friend's itinerary as he has been to Japan before. For me, it is my first time there, that's why I left all the planning to him.

I did a quick check using Hypedia on the train tickets. Even if we were to cover all these places, it would take up only about 10k+ yen or RM 400+. Bloody 7 day pass already RM 1100+. Of course this is only from city to city. I haven't included all the inter city transportation to those tourists destinations etc.

I have no idea what my friend has planned but knowing him since high school, it will mostly be museums, castles, parks etc. For me, I prefer city stuff like Akihabara, drinking and getting to know the locals at izakayas at Memory Lane and Golden Gai, or maybe go for some dirty shows at Kabukicho.

Yes I know all of the above although I've never been to Japan. Got do research one. Haha

thanks bro, definitely won't be my last trip.

My friend and me are totally 2 worlds apart. If I can get him to accept my idea, that's RM 700+ saved which can be used for other more "interesting" things.

We'll be flying out of Osaka...so totally not worth it right, the JR pass?

Thanks for the tips.

There are all inter city passes right? The JR Pass won't work in these cities kan?

thanks guys...yes my friend did mention the shinkansen...but after he mentioned RM 1k+ for train tickets, my brain switched off d while he went on and on about other details...

good day to all the japan sifus,

just want to check on icoca cards + haruka discount tickets to KIX from Osaka.
JR website says I need to buy 1 Icoca card@2000 yen then I will get to ride Haruka for 1100 yen. Without the ICOCA, it's 1710 yen (according to Hyperdia).

Just wondering, is it possible to buy the Icoca card + Haruka discount tix at 2000+1100 = 3100yen, then take a full refund of the Icoca once I reached KIX. Minus the 220yen management fee, I should be able to take back 1780yen.

So my actual tix price to KIX will be 3100 - 1780 = 1320 yen versus 1710 yen without Icoca+haruka discount.

I know the difference is small but I'm very OCD about it. I save where I can save. After all it's just an additional 5 mins to apply for the Icoca card. Can save, why not right?