Japan Rail & bus passes

New 5-day tourist passes are good for unlimited train and bus rides (buses are limited to routes within train-stop cities). The Japan Rail Central tourist pass, costing ¥13,500 (near $112), covers rail travel between Kansai Airport (in Osaka) and the city of Nagoya, including Fukui, Kanazawa and Takayama. A Japan Rail West pass, at ¥10,500, covers rail travel between Nagoya and Kii-Katsuura, including Toba and Owase. Purchase online and see route maps at http://touristpass.jp/en.