Often, tourists who visits Japan choose to go on the Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka route.
However, since there is about 400km (250miles) distance between Tokyo and Osaka, therefore it can be expensive to travel from Tokyo to Osaka/Kyoto (or vice versa).
Usually, travellers choose to either take a 3hr Shinkansen (bullet train, 13940yen for reserved seat) ride or fly via a domestic flight from Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka for that journey.
However, here are some suggestions if you have some time to spare and break up your journey (somewhere between Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto) and visit some places along the way instead of just taking a 3hr Shinkansen to cover the journey from Tokyo directly to Osaka/Kyoto.
Since the suggestions here are mainly by bus, so you won't need a JR Pass (assuming that you are only making a 1 way journey between Tokyo and Osaka. That is, Flying in Tokyo and Flying out Osaka or vice versa)
Places like Kamikochi (only between mid April to mid Nov, closed in winter), Shirakawa-go, Hirayu onsen are not accessible by train and only accessible by bus...so even if you have a JR Pass, you would still need to pay for the bus to reach those places.
Bus/train timings shown here are based on general dates in June 2014 when I typed this blog entry, so there may be changes by the time you go on your trip.
Please check again with the bus websites to see if there are any changes with the timings of the buses you are planning to take for your trip.
Tokyo-Hirayu onsen-Kamikochi-Takayama-Shirakawago-Kyoto/Osaka
*note that Kamikochi is only open between mid April to mid Nov and is closed during winter.
Travel costs:
(overnight bus option) 17800yen onwards (if end at Kyoto) or 18300yen onwards (if end at Osaka)
(day bus option) 18100yen (if end at Kyoto) or 18600yen (if end at Osaka)
(Option A: If take Overnight Bus)
Day 0: Overnight bus Tokyo to Kamikochi.
2230-0530 Shinjuku (in Tokyo) to Kamikochi via overnight bus. (Kamikochi is listed under "Nagano") (6450yen onwards)
Day 1: Visit Kamikochi. Stay at Hirayu onsen.
0530 Arrive at Kamikochi.
Deposit luggage at Luggage deposit office at Kamikochi
Visit Kamikochi
Collect luggage
1400-1425 Kamikochi to Hirayu onsen via bus (1160yen)
Stay at Hirayu onsen.
(Option B: If take Day Bus)
Day 1: Tokyo to Kamikochi. Stay at Hirayu onsen.
0700-1130 Shinjuku (in Tokyo) to Hirayu onsen via bus. (5860yen)
Deposit luggage.
1200-1225 Hirayu onsen to Kamikochi via bus (2050yen for return trip)
Visit Kamikochi
1630-1655 Kamikochi to Hirayu onsen.
Stay at Hirayu onsen.
Day 2: Hirayu onsen to Takayama. Stay at Takayama.
0928-1031 Hirayu onsen to Takayama via bus. (1570yen)
Visit Takayama.
Stay at Takayama.
Day 3: Takayama to Kyoto/Osaka by bus. Stay at Kyoto or Osaka.
0850-0940 Takayama to Shirakawa-go via bus (4420yen for return trip)
Visit Shirakawa-go.
1450-1540 Shirakawa-go to Takayama via bus
1625-2035(Kyoto)/2140(Osaka) Takayama to Kyoto or Osaka via bus. (4200yen for Kyoto, 4700yen for Osaka).
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| Shirakawa-go |
Tokyo-Takayama-Shirakawago-Kyoto/Osaka
Travel costs: 15310yen (if end at Kyoto) or 15810yen (if end at Osaka)
Day 1: Tokyo to Takayama. Stay at Takayama.
0700-1230 Shinjuku (Tokyo) to Takayama via bus (6690yen)
Visit Takayama.
Stay at Takayama.
Day 2: Visit Shirakawa-go. Takayama to Kyoto/Osaka.
0850-0940 Takayama to Shirakawa-go via bus (4420yen for return trip)
Visit Shirakawa-go.
1450-1540 Shirakawa-go to Takayama via bus
1625-2035(Kyoto)/2140(Osaka) Takayama to Kyoto or Osaka via bus. (4200yen for Kyoto, 4700yen for Osaka).
(Just for comparison, here's how much it will cost if you choose to take Shinkansen instead)
Tokyo to Nagoya via Shinkansen (about 2hrs): 10680yen (reserved seat) or 10360yen (unreserved seat)
Nagoya to Takayama via Ltd Exp train (about 2hrs): 6030yen (reserved seat) or 5510yen (unreserved seat)
Takayama to Nagoya via Ltd Exp train (about 2hrs): 6030yen (reserved seat) or 5510yen (unreserved seat)
Nagoya to Kyoto via Shinkansen (35-55mins): 5390yen (reserved seat) or 5070yen (unreserved seat)
Nagoya to Osaka via Shinkansen (50-70mins): 6150yen (reserved seat) or 5830yen (unreserved seat)
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| Takayama |
Tokyo-Takayama-Shirakawago-Kanazawa-Kyoto
Travel costs: 17390yen (unreserved seat option) or 17710yen (reserved seat option)
Day 1: Tokyo to Takayama. Stay at Takayama.
0700-1230 Shinjuku (Tokyo) to Takayama via bus (6690yen)
Visit Takayama.
Stay at Takayama
Day 2: Takayama to Shirakawa-go, Shirakawa-go to Kanazawa. Stay at Kanazawa.
0850-0940 Takayama to Shirakawa-go via bus (2470yen)
Visit Shirakawa-go.
1350-1505 Shirakawa-go to Kanazawa via bus (1850yen)
Stay at Kanazawa
Day 3: Visit Kanazawa. Kanazawa to Kyoto.
Visit Kanazawa.
1601-1809 Kanazawa to Kyoto via Ltd Exp Thunderbird train (6380yen for unreserved seat or 6700yen for reserved seat)
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| Kanazawa |
Tokyo-Nagoya-Takayama-Shirakawago-Kyoto/Osaka
Travel costs: 15410yen onwards (if end at Kyoto) 15910yen onwards (if end at Osaka)
Day 1: Tokyo to Nagoya. Stay at Nagoya
0800-1330 Shinjuku (Tokyo) to Nagoya via bus (3810yen onwards)
Visit Nagoya.
Stay at Nagoya.
Day 2: Nagoya to Takayama. Stay at Takayama.
0740-1010 Nagoya to Takayama via bus. (2980yen)
Visit Takayama.
Stay at Takayama.
Day 3: Visit Shirakawa-go. Takayama to Kyoto/Osaka.
0850-0940 Takayama to Shirakawa-go via bus (4420yen for return trip)
Visit Shirakawa-go.
1450-1540 Shirakawa-go to Takayama via bus
1625-2035(Kyoto)/2140(Osaka) Takayama to Kyoto or Osaka via bus. (4200yen for Kyoto, 4700yen for Osaka).
(Just for comparison, here's how much it will cost if you choose to take Shinkansen instead)
Tokyo to Nagoya via Shinkansen (about 2hrs): 10680yen (reserved seat) or 10360yen (unreserved seat)
Nagoya to Takayama via Ltd Exp train (about 2hrs): 6030yen (reserved seat) or 5510yen (unreserved seat)
Takayama to Nagoya via Ltd Exp train (about 2hrs): 6030yen (reserved seat) or 5510yen (unreserved seat)
Nagoya to Kyoto via Shinkansen (35-55mins): 5390yen (reserved seat) or 5070yen (unreserved seat)
Nagoya to Osaka via Shinkansen (50-70mins): 6150yen (reserved seat) or 5830yen (unreserved seat)
 |
| Nagoya |
Tokyo-Nagoya-Osaka
Travel costs: 5970yen onwards (depending on bus departure times and type of seat)
Day 1: Tokyo to Nagoya. Stay at Nagoya
0800-1330 Shinjuku (Tokyo) to Nagoya via bus (3810yen onwards)
Visit Nagoya.
Stay at Nagoya.
Day 2: Nagoya to Osaka. Stay at Osaka
Visit Nagoya.
1830-2200 Nagoya to Osaka via bus (2160yen onwards)
Stay at Osaka.
(Just for comparison, here's how much it will cost if you choose to take Shinkansen instead)
Tokyo to Nagoya via Shinkansen (about 2hrs): 10680yen (reserved seat) or 10360yen (unreserved seat)
Nagoya to Kyoto via Shinkansen (35-55mins): 5390yen (reserved seat) or 5070yen (unreserved seat)
Nagoya to Osaka via Shinkansen (50-70mins): 6150yen (reserved seat) or 5830yen (unreserved seat)
 |
| Hiroshima |
Tokyo-Hiroshima-Osaka
Travel costs: 11800yen onwards* (depending on bus departure times and type of seat)
*can consider getting the Japan Bus Pass at 10000yen
Day 1: Overnight bus from Tokyo to Hiroshima.
1930-0830 Shinjuku (in Tokyo) to Hiroshima via overnight bus (7710yen onwards)
Day 2: Hiroshima. Stay at Hiroshima.
0830 Morning arrival at Hiroshima
Visit Miyajima (take 30mins JR Sanyo line regular train from Hiroshima station to Miyajimaguchi, then transfer to a short 15mins ferry ride to reach Miyajima)
Stay at Hiroshima
Day 3: Visit Miyajima. Hiroshima to Osaka/Kyoto.
Visit Hiroshima
1645-2210(Osaka)/2315(Kyoto) Hiroshima to Osaka/Kyoto via bus (4090yen onwards)
(Just for comparison, here's how much it will cost if you choose to take Shinkansen instead)
Tokyo to Hiroshima via Shinkansen (about 6hrs): 18360yen (reserved seat) or 18040yen (unreserved seat)
Hiroshima to Osaka via Shinkansen (about 90mins): 10030yen (reserved seat) or 9710yen (unreserved seat)
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