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Family trip: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka in 10 days: JR Pass or regular tickets?

Four nights in Tokyo, three in Kyoto and two in Osaka for two adults and two children, flying home from Kansai Airport. Tokyo to Kyoto and Kyoto to Shin-Osaka are the only Shinkansen rides. Below: a day-by-day plan, then regular Shinkansen tickets are compared with the 7-day Japan Rail Pass in four ways, using fares from JR's official pages.

At a glance

Days
10
Cities
Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka
Regular tickets
¥17,040
7-day pass (official online)
¥54,960
Difference
¥37,920
Verdict
Regular tickets win by ¥37,920

Nozomi/Mizuho where marked, ordinary car; one adult, normal season; pass side includes the NOZOMI MIZUHO Tickets. Fares and pass prices verified on ; page reviewed .

Official online · 7-day ordinary pass

Nozomi/Mizuho where marked, ordinary car

Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥37,920

Regular tickets ¥17,040 vs ¥54,960 for the 7-day ordinary pass at the official online price (pass ¥50,000 + Nozomi/Mizuho tickets ¥4,960). Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥37,920.

Overseas agent · 7-day ordinary pass

Nozomi/Mizuho where marked, ordinary car

Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥40,920

Regular tickets ¥17,040 vs ¥57,960 for the 7-day ordinary pass at the overseas agent price (pass ¥53,000 + Nozomi/Mizuho tickets ¥4,960). Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥40,920.

Day by day

Day-by-day plan of the Family trip: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka in 10 days itinerary: travel, train, regular fare, time and accommodation tax that night
DayTravelTrainRegular fareTimeNight: accommodation tax
1Arrive at Narita or Haneda and travel into Tokyo.No long-distance trainTokyo¥100–¥200 by room rate; not taxed under ¥10,000per person · Tokyo (all of Tokyo Metropolis)from 1 Apr 2027: 3% of the room rate; not taxed under ¥13,000
2Tokyo.No long-distance trainTokyo¥100–¥200 by room rate; not taxed under ¥10,000per person · Tokyo (all of Tokyo Metropolis)from 1 Apr 2027: 3% of the room rate; not taxed under ¥13,000
3Tokyo.No long-distance trainTokyo¥100–¥200 by room rate; not taxed under ¥10,000per person · Tokyo (all of Tokyo Metropolis)from 1 Apr 2027: 3% of the room rate; not taxed under ¥13,000
4Tokyo.No long-distance trainTokyo¥100–¥200 by room rate; not taxed under ¥10,000per person · Tokyo (all of Tokyo Metropolis)from 1 Apr 2027: 3% of the room rate; not taxed under ¥13,000
5Tokyo to Kyoto.Tokyo → KyotoTokaido ShinkansenNozomi¥14,170one way2 h 7 minKyoto¥200–¥10,000 by room rateper person · Kyoto City
6Kyoto.No long-distance trainKyoto¥200–¥10,000 by room rateper person · Kyoto City
7Kyoto.No long-distance trainKyoto¥200–¥10,000 by room rateper person · Kyoto City
8Kyoto to Osaka.Kyoto → Shin-OsakaTokaido ShinkansenHikari¥2,870one way14 minOsaka¥200–¥500 by room rate; not taxed under ¥5,000per person · Osaka Prefecture
9Osaka.No long-distance trainOsaka¥200–¥500 by room rate; not taxed under ¥5,000per person · Osaka Prefecture
10Leave from Kansai Airport.No long-distance trainDeparture day

Fares are regular one-way tickets for one adult, ordinary reserved seat, normal season, in the pattern “Nozomi/Mizuho where marked, ordinary car”. Times are typical times from our timetable data for that train. Rows marked “not in our fare data” have no verified fare in our table, so no amount is shown. Airport transfers are not part of the comparison.

What's new in 2026

All 2026 rule changes for visitors

The legs

Shinkansen legs of the Family trip: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka in 10 days itinerary, one adult, one way
LegTripsBasic fareExpress chargeNozomi/MizuhoTime
1. Tokyo → KyotoTokaido Shinkansen1¥8,360¥5,490Hikari¥5,810Pass ticket ¥4,9602 h 36 minHikari, typicalNozomi fastest 2 h 7 min
2. Kyoto → Shin-OsakaTokaido Shinkansen1¥580¥2,290Hikarinot used on this leg14 minHikari, typical

Express charge = reserved-seat limited express charge, normal season, on the JR-Pass-covered train. “Pass ticket” is the NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket a pass holder buys per ride. The calculator uses the same station-pair fare for either direction.

Where you stay: accommodation tax

Nights of the Family trip: Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka in 10 days itinerary and the accommodation tax for one night in each place
PlaceNightsAccommodation tax per night
Tokyofrom night 14¥100–¥200 by room rate; not taxed under ¥10,000per person per night · Tokyo (all of Tokyo Metropolis)from 1 Apr 2027: 3% of the room rate; not taxed under ¥13,000
Kyotofrom night 53¥200–¥10,000 by room rateper person per night · Kyoto City
Osakafrom night 82¥200–¥500 by room rate; not taxed under ¥5,000per person per night · Osaka Prefecture

The tax is charged per person per night on top of the room price, and the band depends on the room charge per person per night. Each place’s page has the full table, exemptions and sources.

Regular tickets vs the JR Pass

Regular tickets compared with the 7-day JR Pass, four patterns and two sales channels
PatternRegular ticketsNozomi ticketsOfficial onlineOverseas agent
Pass-covered trains, ordinary car¥16,720¥0¥50,000Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥33,280¥53,000Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥36,280
Nozomi/Mizuho where marked, ordinary car¥17,040¥4,960¥54,960Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥37,920¥57,960Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥40,920
Pass-covered trains, Green Car¥22,360¥0¥70,000Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥47,640¥74,000Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥51,640
Nozomi/Mizuho where marked, Green Car¥22,680¥4,960¥74,960Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥52,280¥78,960Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥56,280

Pass columns = pass price + Nozomi/Mizuho tickets. Regular tickets are summed leg by leg for one adult, normal season; round trips count twice. Green Car = basic fare + (limited express charge − ¥530) + Green Car charge.

Nozomi/Mizuho tickets for a pass holder on this itinerary: ¥4,960 (ordinary car; the same total applies in the Green Car).

Change the legs, the date or the pass length

7, 14 or 21 days: which pass length

The JR travel on this trip runs from day 5 to day 8, 4 consecutive days. A pass runs for consecutive days, so a pass shorter than that cannot cover every ride.

Regular tickets compared with the 7-, 14- and 21-day ordinary JR Pass at the official online price
PassCovers the rail daysRegular ticketsPass side (official online)Result
7 daysYes¥17,040¥54,960Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥37,920Regular tickets win by ¥37,920
14 daysYes¥17,040¥84,960Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥67,920Regular tickets win by ¥67,920
21 daysYes¥17,040¥104,960Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥87,920Regular tickets win by ¥87,920

Nozomi/Mizuho where marked, ordinary car. Pass side = pass price + Nozomi/Mizuho tickets where used. The regular-ticket total is the same for every pass length; only the pass price changes.

  • Source: Types and prices | JAPAN RAIL PASS (JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Group)) · Verified on · Official online purchasing service (JAPAN RAIL PASS Reservation). Per the JR Group release of 9 Apr 2026, online prices stay unchanged 'for a limited time' after the 1 Oct 2026 increase; the end of this price freeze will be announced later (no end date published as of 2026-10-26). validFrom is the date of the previous price change named in that release.

Who should not buy the pass, and who should

Each line below is one of the four patterns in the table above, with the pass bought at either price.

Regular tickets are cheaper

  • Pass-covered trains, ordinary car, pass at the official online price: regular tickets ¥16,720 vs pass ¥50,000, so regular tickets are ¥33,280 cheaper.
  • Pass-covered trains, ordinary car, pass at the overseas agent price: regular tickets ¥16,720 vs pass ¥53,000, so regular tickets are ¥36,280 cheaper.
  • Nozomi/Mizuho where marked, ordinary car, pass at the official online price: regular tickets ¥17,040 vs pass ¥54,960, so regular tickets are ¥37,920 cheaper.
  • Nozomi/Mizuho where marked, ordinary car, pass at the overseas agent price: regular tickets ¥17,040 vs pass ¥57,960, so regular tickets are ¥40,920 cheaper.
  • Pass-covered trains, Green Car, pass at the official online price: regular tickets ¥22,360 vs pass ¥70,000, so regular tickets are ¥47,640 cheaper.
  • Pass-covered trains, Green Car, pass at the overseas agent price: regular tickets ¥22,360 vs pass ¥74,000, so regular tickets are ¥51,640 cheaper.
  • Nozomi/Mizuho where marked, Green Car, pass at the official online price: regular tickets ¥22,680 vs pass ¥74,960, so regular tickets are ¥52,280 cheaper.
  • Nozomi/Mizuho where marked, Green Car, pass at the overseas agent price: regular tickets ¥22,680 vs pass ¥78,960, so regular tickets are ¥56,280 cheaper.

The pass saves money

In none of the patterns.

Fares for a family of four

Regular tickets for 2 adults and 2 children aged 6 to 11, on the JR-Pass-covered trains (ordinary reserved seat, normal season). A child pays half the adult basic fare and half the limited express charge, each rounded down to 10 yen.

Regular Shinkansen tickets for two adults and two children, one way per ride
RideAdultChildWhole party
Tokyo → Kyoto¥13,850¥6,920¥4,180 + ¥2,740¥41,540
Kyoto → Shin-Osaka¥2,870¥1,430¥290 + ¥1,140¥8,600
Total¥50,140

2 adult passes alone cost ¥100,000 (2 × ¥50,000, official online). That is already ¥49,860 more than regular tickets for all 4 of you, before any child pass.

  • Child: 6 to 11 years old (a 6-year-old who has not yet started elementary school counts as an infant).
  • Infants and babies ride free, except: (1) when one adult or child is accompanied by more than two infants, the third and each further infant needs a child ticket; (2) when an infant or baby uses a reserved seat, a Green Car seat (except non-reserved Green Car seats) or a berth on their own; (3) when an infant travels alone.

Shinkansen child fares: ages, free travel for young children and the half-price rule

Spending guide: what visitors spend on a trip this long

Survey averages for one leisure visitor (all countries) over 10 days (9 nights), plus the regular Shinkansen tickets of this itinerary. These are averages from the Japan Tourism Agency’s survey, not prices: your own costs depend on where you stay and what you do.

Average visitor spending for a 10-day trip, one person
ItemHow it is worked outAmount
Accommodationper person per night (survey average)¥80,712 ÷ 7.1 average nights = ¥11,367.9 per night × 9 nights × 1 travellerPer person, not per room, and not a hotel rate: the average includes people who paid nothing for lodging or had it in a package.¥102,311
Food & drinkper person per day (survey average)¥48,777 ÷ (7.1 + 1) days = ¥6,021.9 per day × 10 days (9 nights + 1) × 1 traveller¥60,219
Transport in Japanper person per trip (survey average, not scaled to your nights)¥23,226 per trip × 1 travellerSurvey average for a whole trip (average stay 7.1 nights). It is not adjusted for the length of your trip.¥23,226
Entertainment & servicesper person per trip (survey average, not scaled to your nights)¥9,918 per trip × 1 travellerSurvey average for a whole trip (average stay 7.1 nights). It is not adjusted for the length of your trip.¥9,918
Shoppingper person per trip (survey average, not scaled to your nights)¥61,830 per trip × 1 travellerSurvey average for a whole trip (average stay 7.1 nights). It is not adjusted for the length of your trip.¥61,830
Departure tax (International Tourist Tax)per person per departure¥3,000 × 1 travellerUsually added to your airline ticket. Untick it if your airfare already includes it. Children under 2 are exempt.¥3,000
Shinkansen tickets (2 one-way legs)regular ticket, ordinary reserved seat, normal season, one way(¥13,850 + ¥2,870) × 1 travellerAdult fares (basic fare + reserved-seat limited express charge, Hikari/Kodama type). The survey's transport average may already include some rail travel, so the two can overlap.¥16,720
Total¥277,224
  • International flights to and from Japan are not included in any line.
  • The figures are survey averages over all respondents, including people who spent nothing in a category (for example, stayed with friends). They are not prices quoted by hotels, restaurants or shops.
  • The accommodation figure per night is per person, not per room, and is not a hotel room rate.

Change the nights, travellers or country in the trip cost calculator

When to book what for this trip

Sale dates read on the official pages, for the trains and the timed-entry places on this itinerary. Times are Japan time (JST).

  • Tokaido / Sanyo / Kyushu Shinkansen tickets on smartEX

    Opens: 1 year before the travel date, 05:30 JST (tentative booking)

    Bookings made more than a month ahead pick a train from the tentative timetable; the train, time and seat are confirmed after 08:00 JST one month before the travel date. Sales close 4 minutes before departure. Payment is taken at booking.

    smartEX (smart-ex.jp)

  • JR reserved seats (Shinkansen and limited express) on JR West's online reservation (e5489 / JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION)

    Opens: 1 month before the travel date, 10:00 JST

    Closes 6 minutes before departure on the travel day. On the Japanese e5489 site you can file an advance request from 05:30 one week before the sale date (until 07:59 on the sale date); seats are still assigned only from 10:00 on the sale date. Some discounted tickets have different periods.

    JR West online reservation (e5489 / JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION)

    • Source: Reservation conditions (time period, area, train, etc.) (JR West) · Verified on · Quote: "From 10:00 a.m. (Japan Standard Time) 1 month before boarding the train" ... "up to 6 minutes before the scheduled departure time of the train on the day of boarding".
    • Source: Yoyaku / oshiharai hoho, yoyaku joken | e5489 goriyo guide (JR Odekake Net) (JR West) · Verified on · Japanese page. Quote: "ご乗車1カ月前の10時から、ご乗車当日の時刻表に表示された列車発車時刻6分前まで"; advance requests "きっぷの発売開始日（乗車日1カ月前）のさらに1週間前の5:30～発売日当日の7:59".

  • Nozomi / Mizuho ticket for Japan Rail Pass holders (the surcharge ticket)

    Opens: 1 month before the travel date

    Sold up to the day of travel at reserved-seat ticket machines, JR ticket offices, Travel Centers and some travel agencies.

    JR stations (ticket machines / ticket offices)

    • Source: Use of NOZOMI/MIZUHO trains | JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Group (japanrailpass.net)) · Verified on · Quote (Sales period): "From one month prior to the day of boarding the train to the day of boarding the train".

  • Japan Rail Pass seat reservations before pickup

    Opens: Only for passes bought on the official website (JAPAN RAIL PASS Reservation); the official pages do not state how far ahead

    Online/machine booking stops once seats for more than 110 trains have been issued on one pass. Refunds of an unissued pass bought online are possible until 23:30 JST the day before the start date.

    JAPAN RAIL PASS Reservation (official website)

    • Source: Traveling with a JAPAN RAIL PASS | JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Group (japanrailpass.net)) · Verified on · Quote: "Only when purchasing a JAPAN RAIL PASS online from the official website can reserved seats be booked prior to picking up your ticket".
    • Source: Conditions for use | JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Group (japanrailpass.net)) · Verified on · Quotes: "Refunds are available until 11:30 p.m. (Japan time) on the day preceding the starting date of periods of use of the PASS." Seats cannot be booked on the JRPR or a reserved-seat ticket machine "if reserved-seat tickets for more than 110 trains have already been issued on the PASS."

  • Ghibli Museum, Mitaka (date-and-time tickets)

    Opens: 10th of each month, 10:00 JST, for all of the following month

    Example on the official page: tickets for 1-28 February go on sale 10 January at 10:00 JST. No tickets are sold at the museum.

    Lawson Ticket (official web ticket store)

    • Source: Tickets - Ghibli Museum, Mitaka (Ghibli Museum, Mitaka) · Verified on · Quote: "Tickets become available for purchase at 10 a.m. (JST) on the 10th of each month for the subsequent month." and "No reservation or ticket purchase can be made at the Museum."

  • SHIBUYA SKY observation deck (timed entry)

    Opens: 2 weeks before the visit date, 00:00 JST

    Elementary-school and preschool (3-5) tickets are sold only at the 14th-floor counter. Adult and junior/high-school tickets cannot be bought once sold out, so the official site recommends buying online in advance.

    SHIBUYA SKY official web tickets

    • Source: Yoku aru shitsumon & information | SHIBUYA SKY (SHIBUYA SKY (Shibuya Scramble Square)) · Verified on · Japanese FAQ (text is rendered by the page script). Quote: "SHIBUYA SKYの入場チケットは入場日の2週間前の日本時間午前0時から販売されます。" The ticket page also says elementary-school and preschool (3-5) tickets are sold only at the 14th-floor counter.

  • teamLab Planets TOKYO (Toyosu)

    Opens: No sale-opening date is published on the official site

    Tickets are not sold on-site, so buy on the official ticket site before you go.

    teamLab official ticket site

All sale dates for seats, passes and tickets

Notes on this itinerary

  • Kyoto to Shin-Osaka is ridden on Hikari in every pattern: the JR Pass NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket is not sold for Kyoto to Shin-Osaka (shown as "-" in the official price table).
  • The pass comparison above is for one adult. The family table works out regular tickets for the whole party with JR's child-fare rule.

All limited express charges here are for an ordinary-car reserved seat in the normal season. JR's fare guide states that the reserved-seat charge is 400 yen higher in the busiest season, 200 yen higher in the busy season and 200 yen lower in the off-peak season (the guide notes that JR Hokkaido conventional lines have no busy/off-peak adjustment, and JR Kyushu conventional lines and the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen have no off-peak adjustment). Non-reserved seats cost the normal-season reserved charge minus 530 yen regardless of date.

FAQ

Is the 7-day JR Pass worth it for this itinerary?

On the JR-Pass-covered trains: Regular tickets ¥16,720 vs ¥50,000 for the 7-day ordinary pass at the official online price. Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥33,280. Riding Nozomi/Mizuho on the legs marked for it: Regular tickets ¥17,040 vs ¥54,960 for the 7-day ordinary pass at the official online price (pass ¥50,000 + Nozomi/Mizuho tickets ¥4,960). Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥37,920.

Can I use the JR Pass on Nozomi or Mizuho on this itinerary?

Nozomi and Mizuho trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen are not covered by the JAPAN RAIL PASS. A Pass holder may ride them by buying an [ONLY WITH JAPAN RAIL PASS] NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket for each ride before boarding; one price applies to Green Car, ordinary reserved and non-reserved seats (Green Car seats only for Green Pass holders). On this itinerary the NOZOMI MIZUHO Tickets add ¥4,960 in total (ordinary car). Regular tickets on Nozomi/Mizuho cost ¥17,040 for the same legs, against ¥16,720 on the pass-covered trains.

How much do regular Shinkansen tickets cost for this itinerary?

¥16,720 for one adult on the JR-Pass-covered trains (ordinary reserved seat, normal season, priced leg by leg) and ¥22,360 in the Green Car (basic fare + limited express charge − ¥530 + Green Car charge). On Nozomi/Mizuho on the legs marked for it, it is ¥17,040.

Is the 7-day JR Pass cheaper online or from an overseas agent?

The 7-day ordinary pass costs ¥50,000 on the official online purchasing service and ¥53,000 at an overseas agent, a difference of ¥3,000. At the agent price: Regular tickets ¥17,040 vs ¥57,960 for the 7-day ordinary pass at the overseas agent price (pass ¥53,000 + Nozomi/Mizuho tickets ¥4,960). Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥40,920.

How much is the accommodation tax in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka?

Tokyo (all of Tokyo Metropolis), per person per night: ¥100–¥200 by room rate; not taxed under ¥10,000 (from 1 Apr 2027: 3% of the room rate; not taxed under ¥13,000). Kyoto City, per person per night: ¥200–¥10,000 by room rate. Osaka Prefecture, per person per night: ¥200–¥500 by room rate; not taxed under ¥5,000. The tax is charged per person per night on top of the room price; the band depends on the room charge per person per night.

What changed in 2026 for this itinerary, and what is scheduled next?

13 Jan 2026: New and higher accommodation taxes across Japan in 2026. 1 Jul 2026: Japan's departure tax rises from 1,000 yen to 3,000 yen. 1 Oct 2026: Japan Rail Pass: higher prices at overseas agents, online price unchanged for now. 1 Nov 2026: Tax-free shopping switches to a refund system. 1 Jul 2027: Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen: higher Nozomi and Mizuho reserved-seat charges.

Route guides for these legs

Tours at your stops

Viator is one of the booking sites that lists tours and activities for the cities on this itinerary. These are the highest-rated tours it lists in the first stops that have a tours page on this site (checked 28 Oct 2026).

Top-rated tours in Tokyo

Tokyo is a stop on this itinerary. These are the three highest-rated tours Viator lists there.

  • Tokyo Private Discovery Tour | Unique Insights & Must Sees

    Tokyo Private Discovery Tour | Unique Insights & Must Sees

    from US$142.57 per person

    • 4 h to 8 h
    • Free cancellation
    • Private tour

    5.0 / 5 · 286 reviews

    See dates and current price on Viator(affiliate link)

  • Pixel Lab Tokyo: Gameboy Mod Workshop (Classic/Advance/SP)

    Pixel Lab Tokyo: Gameboy Mod Workshop (Classic/Advance/SP)

    from US$362.90 per person

    • 3 h
    • Free cancellation

    5.0 / 5 · 212 reviews

    See dates and current price on Viator(affiliate link)

  • Private Tailor-made Akihabara Anime Tour with a Local Otaku Guide

    Private Tailor-made Akihabara Anime Tour with a Local Otaku Guide

    from US$154.30 per person

    • 3 h
    • Free cancellation
    • Private tour

    5.0 / 5 · 181 reviews

    See dates and current price on Viator(affiliate link)

See all 12 tours in Tokyo on our tours page

Prices from Viator, checked 28 Oct 2026.

Top-rated tours in Kyoto

Kyoto is a stop on this itinerary. These are the three highest-rated tours Viator lists there.

See all 12 tours in Kyoto on our tours page

Prices from Viator, checked 28 Oct 2026.

Top-rated tours in Osaka

Osaka is a stop on this itinerary. These are the three highest-rated tours Viator lists there.

See all 12 tours in Osaka on our tours page

Prices from Viator, checked 28 Oct 2026.

What to check before booking a tour in Japan

Japan Trip Math has been approved for Viator's affiliate programme and may earn a commission if you book through these links. It does not change the price you pay. Affiliate disclosure

Accommodation tax in the cities on this itinerary

Plan the rest of your trip

The same checklist on every page: tours, insurance, mobile data and the JR Pass.

Japan Trip Math has been approved for the affiliate programmes of Viator, Sakura Mobile and SafetyWing and may earn a commission if you book through links marked "affiliate link". It does not change the price you pay. Other links here are not paid. Affiliate disclosure

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