*JAPAN PRO-TIP MINI CHALLENGE: Drop YOUR Tips Down Below* - IMPORTANT NOTES BELOW! and I will compile the BEST ones into something you can all download!! (newsletter coming up? bit.ly/TokyoLensNwsltr) -- ALSO - Found a workaround for adding SUICA to your phone even if you don't have a Japanese payment method!! the tldr: use a service like mobalpay (NOT SPONSORED) to set up a "Japanese" payment method! Ill toss a more detailed version in the newsletter when it drops!! BONUS: ----- ULTIMATE TOKYO SHOP GUIDE kzfaq.info/get/bejne/f5pyhrd7srvdZXk.html Notes: Had no clue that android outside of Japan could not add suica! This was new and very helpful information!! I still recommend trying to get a used REAL suica card instead of the Welcome Suica that expires. - you can find them online. Might be a challenge. but worth it Like any travel tip, these are take it or leave it!! Make it yours and use what you can and leave what you dont need!! These tips are based on the experiences of the last 30+ visitors I have hosted! There are also full videos linked for detailed explanations on things like driving in Japan! And if I had to give 1 big advice: Drop Kyoto and hit up Gujo Hachiman instead high shrine density like kyoto - way more authentic - VERY welcoming locals - uncrowded - a LOT more fun!!

As a flight attendant, thank you SO much. We always appreciate it when someone takes the time to be kind to us, and it does not go unnoticed.

"hey how you been man?" ; "k love you too bye bye 😃"

I've done 2 trips to Japan and this is my take: 1. JR Pass is worth it if you're doing the traditional Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka-Hiroshima route but the value is much less with the new changes. 2. The Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka-Hiroshima is still a great loop despite Norms statement in here. Bear in mind that he's looking at it from the perspective of someone who has years in the country which is not the same as your first experience. But bear in mind that they can and probably will be mobbed by tourists. 3. Definitely go away from the Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka-Hiroshima if you get a chance. Some of the nicest places I've seen were in North Japan especially around Sendai but I never got all the way up north near Hokkaido. 4. If you want to avoid the tourist heavy locations a car is absolutely worth getting. Some of the best places I saw were more difficult to get to by train and some of the most interesting looking places I haven't managed to get to yet because I didn't have a car. Norm offers fantastic advice in this video but remember especially if you are not as adventurous as a traveler or are more nervous about traveling in general there's nothing wrong with doing things that make life easier or take some of the mental load away. Norm has lived and traveled around Japan extensively and can speak the language. If you think these tips are useful to you, great! I'll be using some myself on my next trip but remember that if you can afford it and it makes your life easier there's nothing wrong with spending a little extra. It's your trip so enjoy it and do what makes you most comfortable. The only wrong way to enjoy your trip is to not enjoy it. I will absolutely be getting the flight attendants a little gift next time I'm flying thanks to this video.

8:34 "So how've you been?" "Love you too, bye bye!" Nice that your friends operate on your schedule 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I know it wasn't technically a tip, but being nice and respectful to the flight attendants and all the other domestic workers seems like a good thing to do, whether you are in Japan or any other place. Also, that foreigner sticker is both hilarious and makes a lot of sense since, 90% of the time, these people will be from right-side driving countries and might be a bit confused in traffic from time to time.

Some of my tips: 1. If you’re from the US and have American Airlines or United Airlines miles, those can be used to book round trip domestic flights in Japan on JAL and ANA, respectively, for as little as 10,000 to 15,000 miles (plus usually around $11-15 USD in booking fees). The one catch is that make sure you do mobile check on your phone in prior to getting to the domestic terminals - because the flights were booked with US airline miles, JAL and ANA put them under international flight record locators which often will not work with the domestic kiosks and require you to stand in line at the special services counter to get your boarding pass. 2. I’ve found that Toyota Rent-a-Car has two nice perks if you have a fast paced itinerary. a) you can do a one way rental drop off within the same prefecture for no additional cost. b) if you rent a hybrid from them, they have a discounted refueling plan that is about the same price-wise as refilling at the gas stations around the airports or major train stations. Which means you can just drop off the car and not have to budget time to refuel before getting on your next mode of transport. 3. Printing out copies of my reservations can be very helpful when checking into hotels and rental cars. While most reception staff these days in the major cities will have staff fluent at speaking English, it’s not necessarily the case in smaller cities or rural areas. Handing them a printout with the reservation number and the spelling of your name is often appreciated and makes the check-in process a lot faster.

I feel your pain with the park. I use my youngest for an excuse when I can to go climb on the playground.

I only learned this the last trip I went on about the flight attendant gift. You may not always get a seat upgrade or anything, but if there's an extra champagne or something they might float it your way. And if nothing else, you made someone's day a little better. There are usually 6-9 flight attendants on your flights. Doesn't have to be a big gesture. Just something you think they'll enjoy.

I love that you gave gifts to the flight attendants. I'm thinking now of who I can show more appreciation to 🥰 Thanks Norm - you're awesome as always!

So glad to see the foreigner sticker clip again in this video. That "Oh my god!" was just as hilarious as I remember it :D

Very informative video that not everyone but Norm who has lived in Japan over a decade and has took so many adventures can do! I have learned so much from this and made me want to explore always!😆✨

I’m in the middle of a trip to Japan now and I feel my travel choices have been validated by this video - though admittedly I gleaned a lot of these tips from some of your earlier videos. The car rental thing was a real game changer for me. Some things I’d add: On car rentals, I would also add that if you’re a foreigner visiting Japan, you can make use of regional expressway passes that let you bypass potentially pricey tolls for a relatively small fee. Check online for the rental companies that offer these before renting a car. Also, JR has a lot of regional and area rail passes that are much cheaper than the JR pass and can be much more cost-effective depending on your plans. Again, look them up online when planning you.

My tip: overnight ferries! I did Osaka - Kitakyushu on an overnight ferry and it was cheaper than the Shinkansen, you get a bed, and you basically gain half a day since you're doing all the travelling while you're asleep. They also have restaurants and sentos on the fairy. It's a lot of fun!

I would definitely recommend using the local passes. Like jr east or west or Hokkaido pass. And the day before you move hotels. Go to the front desk and get them to send your luggage to your next hotel, the baggage forwarding service is pretty cheap as well. So you never have to drag your bags around when moving cities. Flying might be cheaper but it is more stressful making sure your carry on is the right weight. I find using the local passes and using the train is better so you can see some of the countryside snd have a more relaxed journey and allows you to take a break in-between cities. I just got back from 40 days in Japan, and was my fourth time in Japan. And was the best way I have found to travel Japan. Especially when going outside or the normal route. Ps. Please go to Hokkaido, the food is amazing and it's beautiful

Giving gifts to the attendants is so nice! The thank you messages are so wholesome

I've finally booked my first trip to Japan and I'm so grateful for all the tips. I love exploring so. Thanks Norm for all the amazing content and making an adventure look possible.

One of my friend's first trips to Japan involved a JR pass and a new city every 2 days... As someone a little bit older, and more experienced with travelling, I wouldn't really recommend it(you get a whole lot of sightseeing in, but you don't experience much of any individual location, and I mostly travel to experience the local culture). That said, if it's your first time, and you have a massive list of places you want to see, but think you are likely to come back again to spend more time with the places that really hit home, then it's a great way to sample a lot in a short time. Just keep in mind that some of the best Japan experiences I've had have been either strange unexpected discoveries, or out of the way places with a slower pace where I'd spend more time wandering and not so much going from one intended destination to the next.

Thanks for the tips! I remember using the buses to the airport. I love them so much more than the trains. Don’t have to carry around luggage! And suica on my phone was definitely the best switch ever when I was there.

Your flight attendant gift reminds me of what my mom and dad would do with hospitals. My mom was a nurse and she said it was always a good idea to give something nice to the nurses bc they are the ones who going to be taking care of you. The doctors and pilots are not the ones who are going to be coming in clutch when you have a problem. It's the nurses and flight attendants!

Hearing the comment about the indicator and wiper stalks being swapped made me realise how much I miss my old Mazda. I'm in the UK, so we drive on the left, but for some reason even the newer Japanese makes have the indicators on the left stalk here. The right makes so much more sense as you can change the indicators and lights while also changing gears.

That “tip” for giving treats to flight crew is something a former roommate taught me, & she preferred using Ghirardelli mixed bags (milk, dark, & caramel). It was definitely a help the last time I flew to San Francisco & back to help said former roommate.

Watching this channel non stop do the last week or two has convinced me to plan a Japan trip. I really never thought I could afford it but after adding it all up it could be within reach with some proper planning and deal hunting. I’m a huge car guy and electronics guy and Japan is at the core of both of those for me. So much stuff on my bucket list either only exist in Japan or originated in Japan. I love the culture and customs so much. It’s such a perfect country for me being a rule follower and a very respectful and clean person. I hope one day I can live out my dream and meet and my wife can go visit and enjoy everything they have to offer. ❤thanks for helping me see some really cool stuff

I rented a car with friends a few times during my time living in Nagoya. Driving into the Gifu/Nagano/Niigata region and just stopping at whatever we found along the way is one of the most memorable experiences I had.

I’m longing for my next visit to Japan! I’ve been there in 2020 just before Covid hit. Actually I got back home 3 or 4 days before the lockdown. Those 11 days I spent there were phenomenal, even though I didn’t get to see much of anything because I was on a short-term study program with University of Tsukuba rather than vacation. I enjoyed the less known places and things in Japan: local museums in Tsuchiura & Mito, several museums and places in Tokyo and Tsukuba, National Archives of Japan and got to see the studying process in University of Tsukuba. Now that the time has passed, I can for sure say that my experience was not only unique and SO worth it, but I also wouldn’t have changed it one bit! I still have plenty of time to see everything I wanna see in Japan! Thank you for the video Norm! Top notch, as always! ❤

I was 36 days in Japan in December-January and got the 21-day JR Pass. I used it as if there was no tomorrow! Went EVERYWHERE during those 21 days. I did a comparison beforehand between the JR Pass and all the individual trains I would take during those days and the JR Pass was SO worth it even with the increased price.

We also got this gaijin sticker renting a car on Okinawa. They realized we were able to read what is on it, so they nicely asked if they can put it on 😂

I apprecate this video so much, going to keep this on bookmark. Flying into a new country is scary so knowing all this really helps put my mind at ease alittle bit.

We spent 3 weeks back in April travelling across Tokyo, down to Kyoto & Osaka and back north to Karuizawa. So we were on either a Shinkansen or an overground JR train nearly every day. I cannot stress how useful the JRPass was for us. It was so easy for us to book online from the UK and collected it from Haneda airport. If you upgrade to the green pass you get really comfortable seats too. Also as far as travelling from the airport is concerned, I recommend finding an airport limousine (bus) service that will take you to your hotel/accommodation. They are super cheap and because it’s booked online, when we arrived early we were able to change our booking for a bus 1 hour earlier. On a personal note. Thank you Norm for all the tips over the years. Could not have navigated around Japan without them ❤

Saving this for when I go later in the year! Thanks, Norm! It's funny that you put out this video the same time Chris did, and both of you said no to the JR pass.

I think this channel is absolutely awesome in so many ways! Norm gives travel tips and great underrated areas to visit to those who can travel. And he takes those of us who can't afford to, or just can't travel for health reasons along for the ride so we feel like we're tagging along on great adventures! I cannot express just how happy I am seeing that Tokyo Lens notification!! 🙏🖤✌️

Amazing video as always bud! I really love the footage of the nearly empty train station. A rare quiet glimpse of a very busy station. Very nice

More advice. Check out regional rail passes. If you know a rough schedule for what areas you want to travel, it can be a massive cost save. I purchased the west japan kansai-hiroshima, i took shinakansen to kobe from osaka, osaka to hiroshima, Osaka to nomichi. I didn't originally plan any journys from osaka, but I found i had a bunch of time. Also, metro day passes in tokyo can be a bargin if you intended to mobe around alot in 1 day.

Awesome video as always Norm. Your videos are always so helpful and always entertaining I love Japanese culture. Your living the JDM dream.

Thank you man, i'm travelling to Japan soon and really appreciate videos like this!

Gifts to the flight attendants? What a noble gesture! I never thought of this before, but will try to remember the next time i fly

Just visited Japan for the first time, and your advice to bring the flight attendants a small gift (I went with chocolate) was totally on point. They were very thankfully and reciprocated in kind. Thanks for all the great videos and input!

Finally booked the trip with my friend. Thanks for the tips!

With phones being rather large nowadays, I'm glad I have a regular Suica card since the first time I traveled. Just make sure you keep the balance high enough, if you plan to travel to Japan again outstanding balance on the card is no big deal.

I completely agree that flying is cheaper and faster than using the Shinkansen but people will probably still choose the train for the experience of riding in one. You also inspired me to start giving gifts to the flight attendants, I don't fly a lot but I like making people happy so when I have a chance I will for sure do it!

I love watching your videos so much, Norm! I love seeing how happy and excited you get about everything :)

This was an extremely helpful video Norm. THANK YOU! As always, you rock!!!

Rented a Car in Ishikawa and it was dirt cheap and really lovely. Made it super easy to get to Natadera temple. Also got a Nissan Note Hybrid that made me use barely over 4 liters of gas my whole trip

Some very good tips - the small gift is simple but makes sense. Hospitality is tough, doing in a narrow aluminium tube moving just below the speed of sound must be more so. As for travel, my hack is to rent a campervan. With train pass hikes, combining accommodation and transport makes travel so much more affordable as well as allowing flexibility with the itinerary. Heading over for my third campervan trip in May.

I wish I was traveling it, even if it was wrong

I am traveling to Tokyo next week, what a coincidence!! This video will be very useful ❤

I drove in Japan on my last trip to Japan (Nov 23) and I absolutely loved it, clocked around 3000km in about 2 weeks? Drove family vans to campervans, every vehicle was well maintained, always felt looked after and process was quick and easy. Just remember to have all documentation ready. - MY recommendation, 100% ask for Expressway Pass if you are doing multi-day driving as it will save you heaps of money on toll road charges. Definitely a wonderful experience except when I was driving within Tokyo. I do not recommend driving within Tokyo as it reminded me of driving in peak hour traffic in Sydney and for anyone that knows, you know.

Great video as always, thank you for the tips! 😁

Yes, recently i've started renting cars in Japan to drive around. Highly recommended ! Tho the physical parking tickets can be a pain sometimes.

Traveled to Japan 3 times these past 5 years or so. Maybe I'll chime in: - The domestic flight thing is real. Especially if you want to go to somewhere beyond Tohoku (Sapporo specifically), since even going with Shinkansen from Sendai/Tokyo will take too much time. Maybe once the Hokkaido Shinkansen from Hakodate to Sapporo is open, the Shinkansen option would be more viable. But as of early 2024, if you wanted to go to Sapporo from Tokyo/Osaka, domestic flight is the way to go. Tokyo to Kyushu flight is a thing too, unless you wanted to stop by some cities along the way, which then makes the Shinkansen option more appealing. - Speedrunning Japan w/ JR Pass isn't necessarily a bad thing, but definitely not for everyone. If anyone wanted to try, my best advice would be to do it in the spring/fall, pack super light (only up to 2-3 days of clothing, backpack only), and abuse the fact that Japan have coin laundries everywhere (also most business hotels have them). - It is very true that driving a car gets you to places that otherwise you won't be able to visit (once you get outside of the big metros, you'd see a definite uptick of cars), but I don't know if it is a true bargain like you'd mention. Especially at the price that you listed. Also, not every country signed the treaty for the international driving license. - In my honest opinion, the real budget option would be night buses. Get a good one where you can sleep on the way to your destination, and you don't need to pay for accommodations.

This video is definitely going into my playlist for when I go to Japan! I only ever hear about the JR Rail pass and the Welcome Suica card when watching travel tips, so it's really helpful to hear about all these other options that are cheaper! Also I still love how kind you are to flight attendants, even going as far to get them gifts. Always warms my heart to see!

i always want to enjoy the life like you in japan, free whatever what you want i hope i can go back there again

Love these informative travel tips videos 😁

Awesome video bro! Thanks for the info! You're about to hit that 1 mill mark congrats! 😃

I love that I’m not the only one getting gifts for flight attendants! I only do it on long haul flights though. Maybe I’ll follow your steps and do it on all flights.

Still waiting for that cycling stream, and thanks for covering this things from time to time!

I have never used the Japan Rail Pass, since I am not your regular tourists. I tend to just spend time in one area, see friends, take local train to another area for the day, visit more friends or some favorite shop or restaurant. When I go further away, I tend to take a night bus if I want to be on the cheap side, otherwise I take Shinkansen. The problem for me with the night buss is I can't sleep on them, and you can't use any screen device on most of them, so I tend to sit in the dark, head outside the curtains and listen to audio books and podcasts :D This was basically the same when I lived in Japan. But, next time, this year I hope, I want to travel all over Japan.

Great idea about giving a gift to the flight attendents. I will start doing that. They do have to deal with so much. Great video Norm. Great tips. Your channel makes me want to visit Japan more than ever.

The tip about domestic air travel is spot on, so much faster and cheaper, I once got a one way ticket from Tokyo to Sapporo for 4,300 yen

The tip about buses are spot on!! I always plan my trips around buses for the starting and ending leg from airport to hotel and vice versa.. Because it's so much more convenient!

I took the bus too! From Narita & Tokyo & back :) Traveled & explored solo while wife was with her family in Shizuoka, she sees them maybe once a year and don’t like pulling her away from them to have her show me around. Walked a-lot and saw the most amazing places and views while walking different cities lol Taxis are amazing in the summer heat too.

Thanks for always teaching us new things and how to make things more simple. Always enjoy learning along your travels

Hello Norm! I work in Narita Airport Terminal 3 and it's so nice seeing some of very familiar spots of mine in your videos, it almost feels surreal😂 as a foreigner living in Japan, thanks for the video, it's enjoyable and useful as always, cheers😊

The collection of thank you notes was super wholesome. I think I'll start giving gifts to flight attendants after watching this!

First Sunday off in ages, getting to watch within minutes of posting.

It’s either plane or the overnight coach for me 😂. I love the calm and comfortable coach journeys which get you pretty rested for the next day in your new location and such great value!

For those wanting to visit the main touristy cities of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka but also want to travel to other not so crowded areas, I recommend getting the Osaka-Tokyo Hokuriku Arch JR Pass. It's about half the price of the Ntional JR Pass. You can still go to those cities but you take the longer northern route and can pass by a bunch of other places like Nagano and Kanazawa to name a few. You could even do a detour from Kanzawa to Shirakawa-go (Norm's videos have convinced me to visit).

Drove twice in Japan, the latest was last November for the Japan romantic road. Next driving trip is in April for Tohoku Sakura. Japan is still great for trains, but when going to the less accessible or mountainous areas, car is great.

That gaijin sticker on the car is too funny 😂It's like here in America when you're driving around in a different state with your out-of-state plates.

Thank you for the tips I'm keep all this in mind when I'm setting up my trip

I did 2 months around Japan back in the Summer. The rail pass was cheaper back then and worth it since I went to around 15 different cities, but like the video says now with the price hike I couldn't recommend it unless you are using bullet trains every other day at least. I got a normal IC card, not a welcome IC card (dont know the difference) and it worked great for me. Busses and trams are underrated, they are as punctual as the trains and very cheap and most use the same IC card so easy to pay with, if the city your in has a tram system you can get around for typically only a couple £/$. don't be scared to use Taxi's i was going to a music festival one day and the queue for the buss was hours long, instead I asked some people waiting for the buss if they wanted to split a cab and it barely ended up costing more than the bus in the end. Final "travel" tip, get an any cable car you see, every time i saw a cable car i got myself on it and had the most amazing views, highlights being Moumt Moiwa Sapporo, Nunobiki Herb gardens Kobe and Shishiiwa observatory on Itsukushima island.

We're going between Tokyo and Osaka, then Osaka to Sendai and we opted for air travel because of how much cheaper it was as well as the travel time. Sendai back to Tokyo though the missus wants to go via shinkansen so we'll do that journey.

I was hoping for a longer video looks like a fun drive

Hiring a car in Japan is the single best travel experience. Hired an M3 for three days and drove from Tokyo to Fukushima and Nihonmatsu. Getting lost between destinations is the best way to see the country 🙌

You're up late Norm! (so am I lol). This is a great video man. As someone who works in the travel industry here in Japan, its surprising how easy it is to forget that these "tips" are indeed tips and not just common place like you and I take them for after living here for so long. I honestly wish that our clients could experience more of Japan that's off the beaten path buts its difficult to suggest these types of voyages to first timers. I know, the TOK loop is an industry standard (Tokyo Osaka Kyoto) but to the majority of travelers, that's what they are here to see. Have you heard the statistic that Japan believes to be having an annual 60 million tourists by 2030? I think this video (although relevant now) will be 5x or 10x more useful then as I predict more repeat Tourists coming back to Japan with a lot more of a flexible itinerary. Hope to meet you one day man! I've gotten to know so many interesting people while working in this industry. If you're ever in Kansai Norm!

This is such a good idea for a video... travelling in a country where I have no knowledge of the language does stress me out! I've only been to Canada and New York so far but my dream list includes Japan!!

The new JR rail pass is quite the hard sell... Tokyo - Osaka is 14k, Tokyo - Sendai is 11k, Tokyo - Hiroshima is about 20k. You'd have to go to like Nagasaki and back for it to be worth it. But you do get to stop along the way... But just for that travel, a plane is faster, cheaper and more convenient and while night busses are uncomfy as heck, they work fairly well too.

Taking the bus to the airport in Tokyo is a smart choice!

"How've you been man?" "love you too bye" Norm is a busy man :D :D

I would love to have a video explaining how to travel to Japan as a tourist with no idea of the culture and language, without both getting ripped off and pissing everyone off I definitely gotta catch up with your videos to possibly get that answer myself, but it would be great to get a 2024 updated video on it if you already made an older one. This one is already very helpful tho, I love it!

Rode in a car in Japan once and it was definitely a culture shock! I’m eager to return and give it ago behind the wheel!

your transitions and story telling has gotten so much better, keeps me wanting more!

Went in August 2023 with my wife, and we both used the JR Pass before it was increased. Osaka, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Osaka was our loop for the first 7 days of our 10 days away. Worked out at 20p per mile, or on average £30 a day, so for us was super helpful. Stuck to Icoca around the metro in the cities though, and I thought overall was a cost effective way for our first trip there. We will definitely be going back in the future, so will be interesting to compare!

I was a frequent user of the JR Pass before the price increase. My last trip, I did the math and figured out that it would cost less to pay for the Shinkansen trips individually in Honshu. Additionally, instead of taking the Hayabusa Shinkanen from Tokyo to Hakodate, I flew instead. That round trip domestic airline ticket and the 3 or 4 Shinkansen trips still added up to less than the price of a 2 week JR Pass. RIP JR Pass, you were wonderful while you lasted...

Such a needed video- awesome!

So many great tips. Your tip about buying the cheapest train tickets helped so much when we were there. It definitely saved time.

Interesting to find someone else who gives flight attendants gifts! I do too since I need some extra help traveling with disabilities. Interestingly, when flying on ANA to Tokyo the flight attendant stridently refused it because it was "their duty." I was torn between wanting to be appreciative and not making it awkward.

I am half Japanese and I am inspired by your videos sir!! You inspire me to vlog!

I think some people have mentioned this already in the comments, but a travel tip for me going anywhere at all is to be massively kind. People remember this! And also, another tip is to wear an Explore Always hoodie, weather permitting ;)

We used Taxis all the time in Tokyo. Never had a problem

Love the license plate tip! Learned something new!

Never thought of driving there but I would be up for it next time because of this video, thanks Norm!

Thank you ... I always look forward to your posts! Many blessings

Thanks for the tips! I learned some new things today. I'm definitely coming back to this video when I'm traveling to Japan. :)

I've seen a bunch of stuff lately around the internet saying that the rail passes, and traditionally means of travel in Japan were no longer worth it, so thanks a bunch for a video on why and alternate methods to use!

I gifted Starbucks gift cards and chocolates to the flight attendants on my trip to and from Japan last year. They were so excited, I can't see not doing it in the future as well. Glad I could do a little to make their day when they do so much to provide for the safety and comfort of the passengers

The last time I used a JR pass was pre-COVID in 2019. I took the shinkansen to Hakodate and then connected to to Sapporo on the Limited Express (then return to Tokyo). It was useful on local trains to the Yoichi distillery and back in Tokyo around town. When I came back to Tokyo in 2022 I just paid the fare at the gate and saved a ton of money.

Man i miss japan. Luckily i was there last summer in which JR Pass was priced really well. Crazy how much it bumped up. Also kept my suica card as a souvenir XD

Sorry for the double videos but I love your content and wanted to add a few things for first/second time travelers: 1. JR Pass = Worth if you're making over 8 long distance bullet train trips. If you're do exactly 8 you break even or close to even. Less than 8 you're probably losing money. 2. If you bought the JR pass and are trying to make the most of it within the major cities as well - stay in hotels near JR lines. 3. In relation to the U.S. taxis are either the same cost or way cheaper in Japan so it won't be a huge ding on your budget to take a taxi. For example - I always just take a taxi to my hotel from Tokyo station the first time I arrive in Tokyo, so I don't have to worry about walking/taking trains with my luggage. 4. If you have the money I honestly think Green Car is worth it on most days. It sucks taking green car on a non-busy days but during times when the train is packed, it's very nice to have the extra leg room and assigned seats. You book a green car seat at the JR ticket machines or online in advance. 5. If you're ok with flying (I avoid any flights I don't have to take XD) - then you can explore a lot of the country in a much shorter amount of time, as most of it is accessible within a 2-hour flight from Tokyo.

I agree that the JR pass is not worth it unless you are planning on jamming as much in as you can. My husband and I did a jam pack itinerary for our Nov trip because I wanted to show him the golden route for his first trip but I also wanted to see more of Japan I haven't seen. Tokyo 1 day, Kyoto 2 days, Osaka 3 days (day trips Hiroshima and Koyasan), Kinosaki-onsen 1 day, Travel day Kinosaki-onsen to Takayama, Takayama 1 day (day trip Shirakawa-go), Kanazawa 1 day, Tokyo 2 days Sendai 2 days ( Day trip Risshaku-ji, Matsushima Bay), Tokyo 1 day. For two weeks with the old Jr Rail pass for two people we saved around $928. With the increase in JR Rail cost, we would have saved around $448. Obviously not as much but still some decent savings. I also made sure to book my itinerary around using the JR rail pass as much as I could. If you are getting the JR rail pass at the airport you might as well get the Welcome Suica pass too, especially for us dirty android phone users. :p