Question on Tokyo to Osaka

Hi guys, i%26#39;m getting the 7 day JR Pass. Anyone can help give me a detailed info on how i can travel from tokyo to osaka?

1) do i need to book seats in advance even with the JR Pass?

2) what would be the best time to leave tokyo and reach osaka?

thks in advance.

Question on Tokyo to Osaka

Since you have a JR Pass, you have free seat reservations. If you are traveling during a peak travel period, it couldn%26#39;t hurt to make a reservation.

Trains run frequently %26amp; are prompt. Schedules here - www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperWeb.cgi

Question on Tokyo to Osaka

You can book seating with the rail pass and would not hurt as I did the same journey the first time I went to japan and has to stand for the first hour or so.

The journey is simple as its one train than you can pick up from either Tokyo (central) or Shinjuku station.

There are 3 different speed bullet trains.

On the rail pass you can get the slower 2 of the 3, there is one that only makes stops in Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka.

From memory it takes about two and a half hours.

Any more questions just drop me a message.

1. Booking: well said by Dave

2. Best time: there are several trains each hour. Note that with a JR Pass, you can%26#39;t ride Nozomi trains so if you use Hyperdia to search, be sure to select ';except NOZOMI.';

3. Avoid Kodama trains if you could. They make many more stops so you will spend another half hour or so than the Hikari train between the two cities.

4. Have you calculated whether a JR Pass makes sense? Remember a 7-day pass costs 28,300 Yen. If single trip tickets do not exceed that amount, then you shouldn%26#39;t get the pass so you should review your itinerary and compare against ticket prices using Hyperdia.

so with the JR Pass, the fastest way to osaka from tokyo is to board the Hikari train on the JR Tokaido Shinkansen line. correct me if i%26#39;m wrong?

General travel times on difference Shinkansen trains between Tokyo and Shinosaka:

1. Nozomi (not valid with JR Pass): 2.5 hours

2. Hikari: around 3 hours

3. Kodama: up to 4 hours

i reckon that purchasing the JR Pass would be worth while since i%26#39;m travelling to Osaka/Kyoto for 3days and then back to Tokyo again. I%26#39;ve done a little research on tt.

a few more doubts i need to clarify:

reserving seats on the tokyo to osaka/kyoto trip can be done at the airport when i validate my JR Pass at the ticketing office?

would 3 days be enough for Osaka %26amp; Kyoto? haven done much research on these areas yet. what are the more worthwhile places to visit in Osaka %26amp; Kyoto? I%26#39;ve 1 day reserved for Universal studios thus i%26#39;m left with 2 days. Prob another day in Osaka %26amp; 1 day in Kyoto.

';reserving seats on the tokyo to osaka/kyoto trip can be done at the airport when i validate my JR Pass at the ticketing office?

would 3 days be enough for Osaka %26amp; Kyoto? haven done much research on these areas yet. what are the more worthwhile places to visit in Osaka %26amp; Kyoto? I%26#39;ve 1 day reserved for Universal studios thus i%26#39;m left with 2 days. Prob another day in Osaka %26amp; 1 day in Kyoto.';

Yes %26amp; Yes

thanks guys for the valuable advice!

dun mind another qn guys.

can the JR Pass be used for travelling about in Osaka, for eg to Universal Studios. Or do i have to seperately get single tickets?

If you have any interest in Japanese history and culture you could spend a year in Kyoto without seeing everything. Subway and buses in Kyoto are not owned by JR so you need to buy tickets.

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