Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gforce645]

Where is the best place to buy a 7 day, all inclusive JR Rail Pass in Korea? A travel agent in Itaewon or online company?

Flying to Fukuoka in a few weeks and taking the train to Hiroshima for 4 days. Then were taking the train to Nagasaki for 3 days then back to Fukuoka.

I'm a little confused about the train system. The JR Rail Pass can be used on long distance intercity trains similar to the KTX right? But how about short distance trains similar to Sangbong to Chuncheon? Is it just any type of train operated by JR?

Thanks for any info or explanations.

[banjois]

I bought mine here:

www.jrpass.com

and it was delivered quickly, and it seems actually a little cheaper than the official rate (though I may have hit a good exchange bump).

You can use the pass on ANY JR train, and many night-buses too.

I highly recommend the Sakura Shinkansen, which runs from Osaka-Kyushu. If you get a reserved seat, it's pretty much like first class on the other Shinkansens.

I really enjoyed the pass. I was hoofing around Kansai looking at castles on my last day, decided it was too hot, so I grabbed a few beers and went on a little 500 mile jaunt for dinner.

[banjois]

Oh, and it's not worth it just for this, but if you're in Tokyo you can ride a good chunk of the subway lines for free, too.

[b-class rambler]

You can use your JR pass on any JR train (but NOT trains run by any other companies) except the superfast Shinkansen (Nozomi and Mizuho). On the Shinkansen and other express or limited express trains, you'll have to sit (or stand!) in the non-reserved cars, unless you've forked out the extra for a reserved seat.

Usually the JR pass pays for itself when you make a couple of long journeys on the Shinkansen. However, for the travel you're planning, OP, you might actually be slightly better off just buying separate tickets for each journey.

Fukuoka (main JR station is called HAKATA) to Hiroshima to Nagasaki and back to Fukuoka would cost just under Y26,000 if you bought separate tickets. That's $330 at present exchange rates, whereas the site mentioned above charges $356 for a 7 day pass, plus there'd also be the delivery fee. JR's current price for the 7 day pass is Y28,300, so I doubt you'd get it much cheaper elsewhere.

If you're in Hiroshima for a few days, you'll probably go to Miyajima and you can use the pass on the JR ferry across to the island, plus for the local train from Hiroshima to Miyajima-guchi near the ferry terminal. So those, plus perhaps a couple of other local JR journeys during the 7 days the pass is valid might mean you almost break even. And obviously the convenience of the JR pass and not having what might be a hassle of buying tickets is worth a few yen to some people.

But, on the other hand, you could also reduce your travel costs by several thousand yen by taking the highway bus for the Fukuoka - Nagasaki - Fukuoka legs of your journey. Fukuoka - Nagasaki by bus takes only very slightly longer than a direct express train, but costs half the amount.

You can do your own maths and decide what's best yourself, but just some food for thought.

[banjois]

[gforce645]

Thanks for all the info and details. (Both of you) I forgot about the Miyajima ferry is covered by the JR Pass. I think we will eventually break even, we have a lot of places planned.

You mentioned seat reservation, do I need to book in advance or just walk on? Can I just get on a certain car and sit anywhere? Do I just flash it to the metro workers or do I swipe it at the gate pass?

[banjois]

For seat reservations, unless it's a VERY busy travel period, just show up at the train station about 10-15 minutes early and show them your pass at the reservation office. Or you can buy them ahead of time at the station if you know when you'll travel in the future. (And, I don't want to beat a dead horse, but seriously, reserved seats on the Sakura are amAzing. I think it runs about once an hour or so. The other Shinkansens are fine, but not first-class equivalent).

To pass through the gates, just walk up to the manned booth at the far end, flash them your pass, and they'll wave you through. If you don't have reservations, you can just proceed to the platform and find a seat on a non-reserved car.

[banjois]

Also, unless you have a whole lotta plans in Hiroshima, I'd suggest going to Kyoto for one of those days. It's any easy day trip if you make an early start....

[b-class rambler]

[gforce645]

Thanks again to both of you for your replies. I had no idea that JR Pass has been around for more that 20 years. Seems like a modern creation to help foreign traveler. Interesting to hear otherwise.

I visited Kyoto on my first trip to Japan a few years ago. I planned to stay there for just a few days but ended up spending my entire week there. Just so much I wanted to see.

I just realized that 1 JR Pass costs almost as much as 2 round trip tickets on Jeju Air from Incheon to Fukuoka. Financially, 1 week in Japan is like 1 month in the Philippines.