Getting Around Japan

Japan has so many options for getting around and seeing the country. Probably the best and most cost efficient is the Japan Rail Pass or also known as JR Pass. The JR Pass can only be used by foreign tourists. You can get one for 7, 14, or 21 days and allows unlimited use on almost every JR trains and the Tokyo monorail, busses, ferrys, and even some of the Shinkansen (Bullet Trains). Here is a website that explains a bit more of what you can use the pass on.
I purchased a 14 day JR Pass for my trip for about $453 from jrpass.com for the regular car. You can get a first class pass for about $150 more, but I stayed with the regular one. As a tourist you really need to take advantage of long distance rides to get your moneys worth. A bullet train ride from Tokyo to Osaka can cost you around $140 each way. If you are only going to stay in Tokyo and not travel around the country dont get it. You really should think about going around the entire country and seeing as much as you can.
The JR pass doesnt cover any of the subway systems that you will also probably use to get around. But you can get a 1 day metro pass for $8. Whats good about this is you can just purchase them as needed on the day. I probably only use this maybe two days our of my trip.

Saving breakdown:

Round trip from Tokyo to Osaka = $280
Round trip from Tokyo to Nagoya = $120
Round trip from Tokyo to Shizuoka= $65
Total $465
(This does not include any of the train rides within each of the cities we will be taking)

JR Pass = $453

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TG