Travel advice??

Question

What would be the best and cheapest way to travel in Japan if i wanted to visit Tokyo, Shirakawa, Kyoto, and Osaka?

Answer 1

It may vary on what would you want to see or do there of 4 places.

To move economically, you'd definitely better purchase Japan Rail pass.

http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en003.h...

About economical lodging, try to select Guest house, Cheap Ryokan,  Youth hostel, Minshuku(Semi professional guest house)

http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/index...

http://www.minshuku.jp/english/list.html

http://www.jyh.or.jp/english/index.html

You must understand that you may sacrifice something others if you really pursue economy in expenditures though.

Avoid being there in January to February because it is too cold and you need to wear thick clothes and boots for outdoor movements.

Answer 2

Go at the end of January or in February. That's the best time to see Shirakawa anyway.

Japan is awesome in the winter!!

Answer 3

Before you leave home, go to a travel agency in your hometown, and ask them if they can sell you an exchange voucher for a Japan Railpass.

Then, take this pass with you to Japan, and exchange it there at a Midori-No-Madoguchi ticket office at any trainstation or airport.

This pass is valid for all JR subways in Tokyo, the NEX rapid train from Narita to Tokyo station, all JR buses(except from Shin-Osaka to Tokushima), all JR local trains, the ferry to Miyajima, and Shinkansen(except the Nozomi), as well as a seat on a night train(but not a bunk in the sleeper car).

Answer 4

Definitely buy the Japan Rail Pass if you are planning to travel around Japan - you cannot buy it once you are in Japan so make sure you buy before you leave. You can use JRP on any JR railway lines, Narita Express and most Shinkansen (bullet train) services - exception is the super fast Nozomi servicce.

Only drawback of JRP is that in Tokyo, only 1 line among the dozen or more metro lines are owned by JR, and rest are owned privately. Which means you cannot use JRP on all lines and will have to buy tickets separately which will cost you extra money - but saying that, rail fares in Japan are quite cheap (certainly compared to UK) so it shouldn't burn too much hole in your pocket.