Northern Japan/use of JR rail-pass

Keep in mind that there is also a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass and other
Hokkaido-specific rail tickets available. Refer to:
http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/



"Hallvard Tangeraas" wrote in message
...
I'll be going to Japan and want to dig into as much as I can of this
country (for as long as I enjoy it and can afford to stay there).

Leaving New Zealand I'll be landing in Osaka, then immediately
travelling to Kyoto to stay there for a few days. For the rest of my
stay I'll be mostly in Kobe, staying at a place friend's of my family
know, for cheap. The plan from then on is to use a JR rail-pass to take
day-trips around the country, then going to Tokyo where I stay for a
week (or two?) until I leave the country.

I'll be using a round-the-world ticket from the Star Alliance network of
airlines, and just got the idea that I should maximize the use of that
ticket within what's possible: I could probably make an inland flight,
so I was thinking of something remote which would otherwise cost a lot
and take a lot of time.

So... the idea is that after having arrived in Osaka and stayed in Kyoto
for a few days I return to Osaka's airport and take a flight all the way
up to Sapporo in the northern island of Hokkaido, stay there for a few
days, then take a flight back to Osaka and travel to Kobe where I'll be
having my "base" while using my JR rail-pass to travel around.


Is Sapporo worth visiting? Are there places in that area which are nice
to see? What about budget accomodation (dorms etc.)?

I'm also unsure about the use of my JR rail-pass. I haven't decided how
many weeks to buy for: 2 or 3 weeks, but it's certainly a waste to start
using it if there will be a period I won't be travelling that much
around, so I was hoping to perhaps start using it while having arrived
in Kobe, when taking those day-trips to nearby cities like Hiroshima,
Yokohama, Kobe etc.

Is it worth using the JR rail-pass for short trips (i.e. buses or trains
within city-limits) or would mony be better spent if I save the
rail-pass till I'm going on those longer trips between cities?


Hallvard
--
Atari Launchpad : http://launchpad.atari.org
Notator/Creator SL : http://www.notator.org

And if the full Japan Rail Pass option is looking a bit costly, take a look
at these other options also (for travel around Kobe/Osaka):

1) JR-West Kansai Area Pass and JR-West Sanyo Area Pass:
http://www.westjr.co.jp/english/engl...n04/index.html

2) Kansai Passport
http://www.kansai.gr.jp/travel/suppo...ort/pass_e.htm



"thegoons" wrote in message
...
Keep in mind that there is also a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass and other
Hokkaido-specific rail tickets available. Refer to:
http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/



"Hallvard Tangeraas" wrote in message
...
I'll be going to Japan and want to dig into as much as I can of this
country (for as long as I enjoy it and can afford to stay there).

Leaving New Zealand I'll be landing in Osaka, then immediately
travelling to Kyoto to stay there for a few days. For the rest of my
stay I'll be mostly in Kobe, staying at a place friend's of my family
know, for cheap. The plan from then on is to use a JR rail-pass to take
day-trips around the country, then going to Tokyo where I stay for a
week (or two?) until I leave the country.

I'll be using a round-the-world ticket from the Star Alliance network of
airlines, and just got the idea that I should maximize the use of that
ticket within what's possible: I could probably make an inland flight,
so I was thinking of something remote which would otherwise cost a lot
and take a lot of time.

So... the idea is that after having arrived in Osaka and stayed in Kyoto
for a few days I return to Osaka's airport and take a flight all the way
up to Sapporo in the northern island of Hokkaido, stay there for a few
days, then take a flight back to Osaka and travel to Kobe where I'll be
having my "base" while using my JR rail-pass to travel around.


Is Sapporo worth visiting? Are there places in that area which are nice
to see? What about budget accomodation (dorms etc.)?

I'm also unsure about the use of my JR rail-pass. I haven't decided how
many weeks to buy for: 2 or 3 weeks, but it's certainly a waste to start
using it if there will be a period I won't be travelling that much
around, so I was hoping to perhaps start using it while having arrived
in Kobe, when taking those day-trips to nearby cities like Hiroshima,
Yokohama, Kobe etc.

Is it worth using the JR rail-pass for short trips (i.e. buses or trains
within city-limits) or would mony be better spent if I save the
rail-pass till I'm going on those longer trips between cities?


Hallvard
--
Atari Launchpad : http://launchpad.atari.org
Notator/Creator SL : http://www.notator.org