Examples/Suggested Routes for 7day trips
Planning a trip to Japan? Discover the convenience and savings of the Japan Rail Pass with our detailed 7-day itineraries. We’ll introduce several examples, from the iconic Golden Route to the scenic beauty of Hokkaido and Tohoku, and the cultural gems of Joetsu, Hokuriku, and Kyoto. Use these plans as a reference to make the most of your journey and travel budget.
- Prices shown in brackets are the cost of travel without a JR pass
- The amounts referenced in the following travel guide are a reflection of pricing as of the 15th of May 2024.
- The exchange rate is also calculated as £1=196.87yen on the same date as mentioned above
- Plan A - Golden Route
Destinations: Tokyo, Mt. Fuji area, Hakone, Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto - Plan B - Hokkaido and Tohoku Route
Destinations: Tokyo, Hakodate, Sapporo, Aomori, Sendai - Plan C - Joetsu, Hokuriku and Kyoto Route
Destinations: Tokyo, Niigata, Toyama, Kanazawa, Fukui, Kyoto
Plan A
Golden Route
Route: Tokyo → Mt. Fuji area → Hakone → Osaka → Hiroshima → Kyoto → Tokyo
DAY 1: Tokyo
Arrive at Haneda airport
Head to Shinjuku Stn
Haneda Airport Terminal 3 Stn → Shinjuku Stn(730yen)
Arrive at Shinjuku Stn
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Tokyo area
- The JR pass covers travel on the JR line when travelling in Tokyo(the JR Yamanote line provides easy access to many of the main tourist areas in Shibuya, Tokyo, Akihabara and Ikebukuro)
🛏 Overnight stay in Tokyo area
DAY 2: Day trip to Mt. Fuji
Head to Kawaguchiko Stn
Shinjuku Stn → Kawaguchiko Stn(3,530-4,130yen*)
- depending on the route
- Shinjuku Stn → Otsuki Stn is covered by the JR pass
Otsuki Stn → Kawaguchiko Stn - There is an additional charge of 1,170yen between Otsuki station and Kawaguchiko station due to the second stage of the journey being provided by a Non-JR line company despite being on the same train for both stages
Arrive at Kawaguchiko Stn
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Kawaguchiko area
Head to Shinjuku Stn
Kawaguchiko Stn→Shinjuku Stn(3,530〜4,130yen*)
- The return journey also depends on the route taken
- Otsuki Stn→Shinjuku Stn is covered by the JR pass
Kawaguchiko Stn→Otsuki Stn - The return route has the same pricing structure as the journey above, where only part of the travel is covered by the JR pass for an additional amount of 1170 yen
Arrive at Shinjuku Stn
🛏 Overnight stay in Tokyo area
DAY 3: Tokyo → Hakone
Head to Hakone Stn
Shinjuku Stn → Tokyo Stn(210yen)
Tokyo Stn → Hakone-Yumoto Stn(3,640yen)
- Tokyo Stn → Odawara Stn JR is covered by the JR pass
Odawara Stn → Hakone-Yumoto Stn - There is an additional charge of 360yen between Odawara station and Hakone-Yumoto station due to the second stage of the journey being provided by a Non-JR line company
Arrive at Hakone-Yumoto Stn
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Hakone area
🛏 Overnight stay in Hakone
DAY 4: Hakone → Osaka
Head to Shin-Osaka Stn
Hakone-Yumoto Stn → Shin-Osaka Stn(12,680yen)
- Odawara Stn → Shin-Osaka Stn is covered by the JR pass
Hakone-Yumoto Stn → Odawara Stn - The return route has the same pricing structure as the day 3 journey above, where only part of the travel is covered by the JR pass for an additional amount of 360yen
Arrive at Shin-Osaka Stn
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Osaka
🛏 Overnight stay in Osaka
DAY 5: Day trip to Hiroshima
Head to Hiroshima Stn
Shin-Osaka Stn → Hiroshima Stn(9,890yen)
Arrive at Hiroshima Stn
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Hiroshima
Head to Shin-Osaka Stn
Hiroshima Stn → Shin-Osaka Stn(9,890yen)
Arrive at Shin-Osaka Stn
🛏 Overnight stay in Osaka
DAY 6: Osaka → Kyoto
Head to Kyoto Stn
Shin-Osaka Stn → Kyoto Stn(1,450yen)
Arrive at Kyoto Stn
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Kyoto
🛏 Overnight stay in Kyoto
DAY 7: Kyoto → Tokyo
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Kyoto
Head to Tokyo Stn
Kyoto Stn → Tokyo Stn(13,320yen)
Total price
- With JR pass 53,060yen(approx £269, this has the additional costs mentioned above included in the total)
- Without JR pass 59,470 - 60,070yen(approx £302 - £305)
This shows a total saving of between £33 - 36 when using the JR Pass for the Plan A: Golden Route
Plan B
Hokkaido and Tohoku Route
Route: Tokyo → Hakodate → Sapporo → Aomori → Sendai → Tokyo
DAY 1: Tokyo → Hakodate
Arrive at Haneda Airport
Head to Tokyo Stn
Haneda Airport Terminal 3 Stn → Tokyo Stn (690yen)
Head to Hakodate
Tokyo Stn → Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Stn(23,430yen)
🛏 Overnight stay in Hakodate
DAY 2: Hakodate → Sapporo
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Hakodate
Head to Sapporo Stn
Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Stn → Sapporo Stn(9,440yen)
🛏 First of two overnight stays in Sapporo
DAY 3: Sapporo
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Sapporo
🛏 Second of two overnight stays in Sapporo
DAY 4: Sapporo → Aomori
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Sapporo
Head to Aomori Stn
Sapporo Stn → Aomori Stn(15,950yen)
🛏 First of two overnight stays in Aomori
DAY 5: Aomori
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Aomori
🛏 Second of two overnight stays in Aomori
DAY 6: Aomori → Sendai
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Aomori
Head to Sendai Stn
Aomori Stn → Sendai Stn(15,950yen)
Arrive at Sendai Stn
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Sendai
🛏 Overnight stay in Sendai
DAY 7: Sendai → Tokyo
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Sendai
Head to Tokyo Stn
Sendai Stn → Tokyo Stn(11,410yen)
Total price
- With JR pass 50,000yen(approx £253)
- Without JR pass 72,340yen(approx £367)
This shows a total saving of £114 when using the JR Pass for the Plan B: Hokkaido and Tohoku route.
Plan C
Joetsu, Hokuriku and Kyoto Route
Route: Tokyo → Niigata → Toyama → Kanazawa → Fukui → Kyoto → Tokyo
DAY 1: Tokyo → Niigata
Arrive at Haneda airport
Head to Tokyo Stn
Haneda Airpot Terminal 3 Stn → Tokyo Stn (690yen)
Head to Niigata Stn
Tokyo Stn → Niigata Stn(10,230yen)
🛏 Overnight stay in Niigata
DAY 2: Niigata → Toyama
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Niigata
Head to Toyama Stn
Niigata Stn → Toyama Stn(16,750yen)
🛏 Overnight stay in Toyama
DAY 3: Toyama → Kanazawa
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Toyama
Head to Kanazawa Stn
Toyama Stn → Kanazawa Stn(2,860yen)
🛏 First of two overnight stays in Kanazawa
DAY 4: Kanazawa
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Kanazawa
🛏 Second of two overnight stays in Kanazawa
DAY 5: Kanazawa → Awara Onsen(Fukui)
🚶♀️ ️Sightseeing in Kanazawa
Head to Awara Onsen Stn
Kanazawa Stn → Awara Onsen Stn(2,860yen)
🛏 Overnight stay in Awara Onsen
DAY 6: Awara Onsen → Fukui → Kyoto
Head to Fukui Stn
Awara Onsen Stn→Fukui Stn(2,730yen)
Arrive at Fukui Stn
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Fukui
Head to Kyoto Stn
Fukui Stn → Kyoto Stn(5,930yen)
🛏 Overnight stay in Kyoto
DAY 7: Kyoto → Tokyo
🚶♀️Sightseeing in Kyoto
Head to Tokyo Stn
Kyoto Stn → Tokyo Stn(13,320yen)
Total price
- With JR pass 50,000yen(approx £253)
- Without JR pass 55,370yen(approx £281)
This shows a total saving of £28 when using the JR Pass for the PlanC: Joetsu, Hokuriku and Kyoto route
The Japan Rail Pass is a convenient pass that allows you to travel across Japan. It helps you to avoid the need to buy many tickets while saving money at the same time. It’s an ideal pass for first-time visitors as well. The JR Pass also includes the price of reserved seats, making it perfect for groups of friends and family. If you want to enjoy sightseeing at a leisurely pace while visiting many parts of Japan, we also recommend the 14-day and 21-day passes.
However, a regional pass is recommended for those who want to visit a specific region at a leisurely pace. Please see the link below for further details.
Which Japan Rail Pass Shall I Get?
