AboutRobert Expertise General questions about tourism/travel and life in Japan, including shopping, visa issues, culture-shock, finding accommodations and employment, proper cultural etiquette, and common problems ex-pats in Japan experience. Bachelors Degree in Japanese Culture and Masters Degree in Marketing.
Expert: Robert Date: 1/30/2008 Subject: touring sendai and hokaido
Question I will be in Japan for 10 days, inclusive of arriving and departure days. I hope to spend the first 3 days in Sendai with my friends and then 7 days touring Hokaido.
The tricky thing is that if I buy a 7-day JR pass for the Hokaido tour, I will have to buy a separate train ticket to get me to Sendai.
Is there a cheap way to get around it? Is there a cheap way to go from Narita to Sendai?
Mary
Answer Hi,
To me getting the full JR Pass before going to Japan might make
more sense, but if I remember right, there is a 5 or 10 day JR Hokkaido
Pass (and you will be there more than 5 days). The price of a 5 day JR East Pass and a 5 day JR Hokkaido Hokkaido pass together are about the same as the one week full JR Pass. So perhaps get the 2 passes, one for 5 days and the other for 10. You can get more info at www.japanrailpass.net -- the easier alternative however would be to rearrange your schedule. Or, if you don't mind taking more time, consider taking a slower train for part of your route. There is more
info at http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Cove/5750/tips.html
