worthj1970@yahoo.com (John W.) wrote in message news:<73fde4f0.0405191013.12498bb3@posting.google.com>...
> "peter" <peter@harumi.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message news:<c8f4f4$31t$1@news6.svr.pol.co.uk>...
> > My family and I will come to Japan this August for five weeks (staying with
> > relatives)
> > What is the cheapest way to get around?
> > We have four kids so we thought some kind of rail pass might be good as we
> > don't want to drive.  And, since we have limited means, the train could be
> > the best way to go.
> > Any ideas? We will be in the Kansai area.

Where about in the Kansai? I think that might affect your decision, as
if you are within the Osaka/Kobe/Kyoto/Nara environs especially, the
private networks have better services than JR, which will affect the
sort of ticket you may want to buy. If on the other hand you're
staying on the Japan sea coast or the Kii peninsula, there's only JR
or cars.

As for cars, car navi is essential, but I'm unaware if any have
English options! In the Osaka area, parking, tolls, and jams all add
up to making driving very unrewarding.

As you're going to be here for five weeks, I don't know if any of
these rail passes run that long! For private networks, there's 3 day
(choose any 3 not necessarily consecutive days) passes for 5,000 yen
(UKP25) per head, for instance, that covers all the private networks
from Himeji to Wakayama. There's also a frighteningly vast array of
special away-day all-inclusive tickets at a vast array of prices that
hopefully your hosts can explain for you!

> Again, a lot depends on what you're doing and where you're going. It
> might be cheaper to rent a car in certain situations since you have
> six (correct?) people needing train tickets.

Good point - what's the age limits for half price and free tickets?

> But cars are not very
> practical for a tourist in an urban area unless you're familiar with
> the area, are comfortable driving in Japan (very narrow roads, driving
> on the left, 

He's posting from the UK, so left is the right side!

> John W.

Ken