Snowy Buddhist mountain town – Koyasan Day 1

Koyasan is a secluded town south of Osaka, full of temples for people to stay in and view. I went here last week and had one of my holidays in Japan. This UNESCO World Heritage site is so stunning in the winter.  Day 2 report can be found here.  Here are some highlights from my trip:Continue reading “Snowy Buddhist mountain town – Koyasan Day 1”

JR Shikoku Rail Pass

The JR Shikoku Pass allows unlimited travel on all JR (national rail) trains all over Shikoku, as well as all Asato Line, Kotoden Line, Iyotetsu Line and Tosaden Traffic trains. This means it covers almost all train routes in the prefecture and can also be used for getting around cities.  2, 3, 4 and 5 day passesContinue reading “JR Shikoku Rail Pass”

Toei One-Day Economy Pass

The Toei One-Day Economy Pass allows unlimited use for 1 day of the Toei transportation network, which includes a small subway network, a large bus network and a few other services. Note that the Toei subway is separate from the Tokyo Metro. What does it cost? 1 Day pass: Adults 700 yen (about $7), ChildrenContinue reading “Toei One-Day Economy Pass”

Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass

The Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass allows unlimited travel on JR (national rail) trains for 5 days within Kansai and southern Chugoku, from Miyajima in the west to Nara in the east. This includes the use of trains to major cities such as Hiroshima, Himeji, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. What does it cost? 5 days: Adults 13,000 yen (about $105/€95),Continue reading “Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass”

Kansai Thru Pass

The Kansai Thru Pass is a super cheap way to explore the Kansai region. It allows unlimited travel on non-JR trains, buses and subway trains within the free area stretching from Himeji in the west to Nara, Kyoto in the east and south to Koyasan. It also comes with discounts to 350 tourist attractions, restaurants and hotels along theContinue reading “Kansai Thru Pass”

Kansai WIDE Area Pass

The Kansai WIDE Pass allows unlimited travel on all JR (national rail) trains for 5 days, within the free area stretching from Okayama in the west to beyond Nara in the east.  This includes the use of Shinkansen (bullet) trains and limited express trains to major cities such as Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. The pass has a much widerContinue reading “Kansai WIDE Area Pass”

Kansai Area Pass

The Kansai Area Pass is an interesting pass for exploring the Kansai region. It allows unlimited travel on JR (national rail) trains, within the free area stretching from Himeji in the west to Nara in the east. This includes the use of trains to major cities such as Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. What does it cost? 1 day:Continue reading “Kansai Area Pass”

JR Kanto Area Pass

The JR Kanto Pass allows unlimited travel on all JR (national rail) trains in Tokyo and the surrounding Kanto area. This includes tourist hotspots such as Mount Fuji, Nikko and Yokohama. It is valid for 3 days and can be started from Narita or Haneda airport in Tokyo. What does it cost? 3 day pass: Adults 8,300 yen (about $66/€60), Children 4,200 yenContinue reading “JR Kanto Area Pass”

Sapporo-Otaru Welcome Pass

Please note that sales of the JR Hokkaido Sapporo-Otaru Welcome Pass ended on March 31st, 2017. The JR Hokkaido Pass is still available. The JR Hokkaido Sapporo-Otaru Welcome Pass allows for unlimited rides on JR Hokkaido trains between Sapporo and Otaru and on all subway lines in Sapporo for 1 day. It’s therefore a great way to visitContinue reading “Sapporo-Otaru Welcome Pass”

Hokkaido Rail Pass

The JR Hokkaido Rail Pass allows unlimited travel on all JR (national rail) trains and selected buses in Hokkaido, covering the whole prefecture.  This includes the use of Shinkansen (bullet) trains and limited express trains. There are various options depending on how long you want to spend in Hokkaido. What does it cost? 3 day: Adults 16,500Continue reading “Hokkaido Rail Pass”