Japan Rail Pass or SUICA?
OK, if you are planning your trip to Japan there will be many a post dedicated to getting a Japan Rail Pass and how amazing they are. They come in 7, 14 and 21 day passes and provide you with unlimited travel on the trains across Japan. I am going to give you some helpful advice (and possibly some money saving advice too!) The passes are not cheap, and a considerable waste of money if you base a large portion of your travel in one or two cities (as we did with Tokyo and Osaka) If you are planning on city hopping your way from Tokyo to Okinawa, then yes, the rail pass will be the best thing you invest in, but.. Know Your Travel Costs BEFORE You Go! Google maps is your one stop shop for train fares. Plug in one station to another and it will show you what train line, what platform, what times and most importantly, HOW MUCH the trip will cost you. I did the maths. A lot of Maths, and with our itinerary it didn't add up. Here are the costs of a Japan Rail Pass 7 days $381 ...