Also, note that JR Pass is only available for 1-week, 2-week, or 3-week durations. So it might not make sense if you are only travelling for a day or two.
It is impossible to lose money for someone buying a Japan Rail Pass who plans to go to Kyoto from Tokyo Narita airport.
From Japan Rail Pass official site – http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/about_jrp.html
7-day pass is 29,110 YEN
From Tōkaidō Shinkansen (東海道新幹線) official site https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/charge/index.html?src=pcbp
One way ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto is
(you can only take Hikari or Kodama trains with the pass)
The search result below indicates the total amount for basic fares and limited-express charges (one way).
Line Tokaido Shinkansen (Hikari and Kodama trains)
Travel Segment Tokyo~Kyoto
Operating range 513.6 km
Total amount 13,600 yen (for adult passengers)
So a Tokyo~Kyoto round trip ticket is 27,200 yen.
Assuming you are landing in Narita airport (see https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/japan-by-rail/travel-tips/narita-tokyo), the Narita Express links Narita Airport and Tokyo in 1 hour – 1 hour 30 minutes, for 3 020 yen (one way) to Tokyo and 3 190 yen (one way) to Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shinagawa and Ikebukuro.
You would most likely use Yamanote Line (山手線) in Tokyo. (See map here https://www.shinjukustation.com/jr-yamanote-line-for-harajuku-shibuya-shinagawa-tokyo-akihabara-ueno-ikebukuro/) With Japan Rail Pass, it is all included. Otherwise, it is 200 Yen one way (from Tokyo to Shinjuku). Depending on where you want to go, it adds up fast.
So for a person who plans to go to Kyoto from Narita airport, a round trip ticket is 33,240 which already exceeds the 29,110 YEN paid for the pass. If the person lands at Haneda Airport (羽田空港), Monorail can be used with the pass. See https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/japan-by-rail/travel-tips/haneda-airport-tokyo for detail. In this case, you won’t save that much. But again, it is impossible to lose money.
For someone who can manage to stay in Kyoto for a couple days, a day trip to Himeji Castle (姫路城 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himeji_Castle) or Itsukushima Shrine (厳島神社 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itsukushima_Shrine) will really earn the person a lot of money since all transportation, including the ferry ride are all included in the pass. The longer the person stays, the more money the person earns (saves).
If your phones are unlocked, you can order a SIM2FLY from Amazon for unlimited data 8 days for about $18. Pop in your phone when you land and voila.
Second suggestion of Himeji Castle.
Sorry, I did not know the OP was traveling round trip from Tokyo to Kyoto, which is why I mentioned that a JR Pass might not be worth it.
ところで、日本語ができますか？旅行に便利ですねえ？
I have ATT wireless. When I travel overseas, I get their international pass. It is $10/day. You get to use your plan overseas. If you have unlimited talk, data, text then you could use the same plan with extra $10/day. You could call US, the country you are at and any country that participates in this plan. I was in Taiwan/Thailand last year, and it worked well for me. I didn’t need to change my phone #.
My husband and I went two years ago. We don’t speak Japanese but he had been a few times before for business and knew his way around. We rented a WiFi hotspot for the trip that we shared. We went to Tokyo, Kyoto, and up where the snow monkeys are. It was nice to stay in a mix of traditional Japanese ryokans and western style hotels. The food at the ryokans was fabulous. It was a big anniversary trip for us so we splurged a little. It was a fun adventure. In Tokyo, we ate at an alleyway noodle place, had 5am sushi at the fish market, and somehow almost got locked in part of the subway when it was being closed off! The Tokyo subway is a little confusing as there are two companies operating different sets of lines. We stayed at the hotel where Lost in Translation was filmed but did not run in to Bill Murray.
@Shimainu : You gave out very good advice, especially at #18. I am just trying to save OP some money. I have been hesitant to give out travel information because I do not know what OP would like to see and her budget. This short YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr_TbL5ejuQ) is worth watching for first time travelers to Tokyo, especially #2 Asakusa and #1 food.
My feeling is that if someone really would like to experience Japan and at the same time save a ton of money, please do not join tour groups. Japan is probably one of the safest places on earth and has great public transportation. Wondering on the street at someone’s own path and mixing with locals would give travelers unforgettable experiences.
Local JNTO offices have free maps and travel information in English (http://www.us.jnto.go.jp/top/index.php click Brochure/Contact). The cost would be the time spent on reading those materials.After reading those free travel materials, I guess most people would choose to spend more time in Kyoto instead of Tokyo.
First time travelers to Kyoto would probably like to see Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, Nijō Castle, and my personal favorite, Sanjūsangen-dō (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanj%C5%ABsangen-d%C5%8D), while having meals at Gion (https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3902.html). For an one-day tour of Kyoto from Tokyo (leave Tokyo at 6:00 AM), taxi is a must because time is the constraint (Kyoto is small, it won’t cost that much). However, I believe once travelers figure out there are so much to see in Kyoto, they will want to stay overnight.
お疲れ様です
I lived in Japan for 6 years. One piece of advice I always gave Americans nervous about visiting Tokyo and using public transit (or anywhere public really) is if you get flustered or confused just stand there looking flustered and confused. I can promise you that not much time will pass before a Japanese person speaking beautiful English will stop and ask if they can help you.There was one time that my husband was in an electronics store and I was standing outside waiting for him. I pulled out the guidebook and was paging through it to kill time but so many people stopped to ask if they could help me find something that I had to put it away.
In fairness, my whiteness may be showing here. I was also traveling with three adorable strawberry blonde children/teenagers. If you are ethnically Asian this plan may not work as well. I do know that it worked well for my friends who were black though.
I really miss Japan. The cleanliness, the safety, the creativity, the art, the food, but most of all the people. Enjoy!