Getting Around by Metro and Train

Suica Card
On our first day in Tokyo we bought two Suica cards that we used throughout our stay on the metro as well as JR trains.

We initially purchased cards with a value of 1,500, but ended up adding another 1,000 yen to the cards after a few days. The cards were so convenient and it was nice to not have to worry about calculating the fare and buying tickets with every trip on the metro. We even used the cards to purchase food on the train and at convenience stores.

We didn't have any problems purchasing the cards from the machines. We just selected the English option and followed the instructions. Adding value to the cards was just as easy.

JR Passes
Before leaving for Japan, I purchased two adult 7-day (Ordinary) JR Passes. The passes were $292 each plus $25 for FedEx delivery through JRPass.com. Delivery was incredibly fast. I placed the order on a Friday and they were delivered the following Monday.

I worked hard to organize our trip in a way that would maximize the value of the JR Passes. Below is a list of the train trips we took along with their fare in yen:

1. Tokyo to Hiroshima (17,850 yen)
2. Hiroshima to Kyoto (11,110 yen)
3. Kyoto to Takayama (9,680 yen)
4. Takayama to Tokyo (14,300 yen)

The fares totaled 52,940 yen and the pass cost only 28,300 yen, so we saved 24,640 (or nearly $250 per person.

In addition to the long-distance trips listed above, we also used the JR Pass to take the train and ferry to/from Miyajima and the train to/from Nara. While the costs for these trips was fairly low, it was nice to have the passes and not worry about getting tickets in advance.

I exchanged our exchange orders for passes at the Ueno station as we headed back from Asakusa. It was very easy. I just needed to show our passports and fill in a small form. At this time, I also made reservations for Tokyo-Hiroshima and Hiroshima-Kyoto trips. Prior to leaving Kyoto, I made the remaining reservations. I could have done it all at once, but I wanted the flexibility to change our plans (which I ended up doing).

It was really easy to use the passes. You just have to go through the manned gate instead of using the automated turn styles. The first time our pass was used, it was validated at the gate.

Elevators
We were traveling with our two year old son and because of the crowds and the fact that we were usually running a bit late, we generally had him in his stroller in train stations. Fortunately, almost every station had elevators that were easy to access. We just followed the signs and when we couldn't find them, we would just ask one of the attendants. They were always more than helpful with locating an elevator or providing a track number so we can quickly get to our train.