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Originally Posted by GhostBlade
I see. Thanks for clearing that up.
Is it best to get a one-way pass and head to different cities if you plan to visit a few cities? For example, from Tokyo to Osaka, from Osaka to Nagoya or elsewhere, from there to Nagano, etc. Not sure which cities to visit and in which order yet. Would this be a wise option?
With the Japan Rail Pass you have to use your pass within 7, 14, etc. days of first use which causes you to keep going from train to train and only spending a single day in the cities you're visiting. Is this correct? I was hoping to stay maybe a few or several days in a city that I like so that's why I want to travel by bus. I get to set my own arrival and departure dates.
So if I go to Kyoto by bus, how much will it cost to travel from Kyoto to Osaka, Nara or Kobe? Is it best to take the train between these destinations since they're close by each other?
So from those two websites which cities do you recommend visiting? Any insights?
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You can travel around between cities in the Kansai area much easier by train. There are numerous trains throughout the day, no reservations needed, and it's only a few dollars for the ticket (maybe $10 - $15 or less). I never took a bus if I could take a train instead.
Yes, the rail pass is for consecutive days. You can stay in a city to explore it if you want, but it still counts off your rail pass. You may want to look into a juhachi kippu instead.
As for which places to visit in Kansai, it depends upon what you enjoy. I'd suggest Osaka, Himeji, Koya-san, Nara, and Kyoto, and there are other places to see nearby as well. IMO the Kansai area has much more to see than the Tokyo area.
There is also a night bus from Tokyo to Osaka if you can sleep on a bus, don't mind missing all the scenery along the way, and prefer to have the daylight hours to see the cities themselves...