Sorry another Japan thread

[mart 63]

We are off on a cruise around Japan in a couple of weeks and our itinerary is nearly sorted.

We are in Tokyo for 5 nights, we would like to go to a Sumo themed dinning experience, can anybody recommend one. Not high end and is there a dress code.

Also the ship doesn't dock at Hiroshima and we would like to visit there. The ship docks at Osaka for 2 night, so would like to get the bullet train from Osaka to Hiroshima. Ive been told the Kensai-Hiroshima area 5 day pass is the cheapest way to do it, is that correct?

Thanks

[//j17]

mart 63 said:

We are in Tokyo for 5 nights, we would like to go to a Sumo themed dinning experience, can anybody recommend one. Not high end and is there a dress code.

Not specific recommendation but I found GetYourGuide good for finding experiences like that in Japan.

mart 63 said:

Also the ship doesn't dock at Hiroshima and we would like to visit there. The ship docks at Osaka for 2 night, so would like to get the bullet train from Osaka to Hiroshima. Ive been told the Kensai-Hiroshima area 5 day pass is the cheapest way to do it, is that correct?

I found the NAVITIME app to be by far the best tool for planning and navigating around Japan so would start by lining yourself up with a data eSIM and installing the app (but only paying for Premium to cover the time you'll be out there).

From there you can easilly work out if a pass or just buying tickets is the cheapest option. Generally these days the passes only work out better if you're going to be doing a lot of train travel - and chances are one return on the Sanyo Shinkansen and a bit of Osaka subway surfing won't get close to the cost of the area pass.

Pass seems to be ¥17,000 (~£85) while a Sanyo return is ¥14,000 (£70), with travelling a few stops around Osaka costing ¥240 (£1.20) so up to you if you go with it for the convienience or just grab a PASMO/Suica IC card (or app if you're iPhone users), load it (using cash) and tap as you go. You'll need one of those to get around Tokyo anyway as that's outside the area of the pass you're looking at and can use it to pay for loads of things in addition to travel (so can easilly run down any left over money in a convienience store).