There are MORE THAN Train travel in Japan. There are also Express Buses (passes too).
For her long time and her budget, she might be better off to the Regional JR Pass but not the National because of her budget. She can complement the trip with more flexible and arguably cheaper options such as the Express buses, or the buy as you go train tickets.
https://thriftynomads.com/the-japan-rail-pass-worth-the-cost/
The YES and the NO.
- You are on a short trip (~7-10 days) and want to move as fast as possible.
- You are travelling long distances and/or many destinations. For example, Tokyo, Osaka/Kyoto, and Hiroshima are all spread apart, so a JR pass could save both money and time, especially if you also need a return trip (e.g. for your return flight home). Buses on these routes are still cheaper, but much slower.
- You aren't on a backpacker's budget (since buses are almost always cheaper, and overnight buses save on accommodation).
In these cases, the JR pass might be the best solution for you. You'll need to purchase ahead of time, and the website with some of the best prices is Klook. They'll have your pass mailed to you with worldwide within 10 days.
The JR pass might not be worth it if…
- You are backpacking or have a lot of time in Japan (10+ days), as the JR pass must be used on consecutive days. You can choose any 3 to 7 individual days within 2 whole months with a Willer Express bus pass, or just buy individual tickets at Kosokubus.com.
- Your main areas of travel include only Tokyo, Fuji, and/or Osaka/Kyoto/Nara. Regional passes like the Kansai Thru Pass (Osaka/Kyoto/Nara) and the Mt. Fuji Pass give transit access as well as discounts on attractions at a much better value.
If you have time to see Japan more thoroughly, we find it cheaper to alternate between buying bus and train tickets as we go (including JR lines), and/or using regional passes (especially the Kansai Thru Pass for the most popular areas around Osaka and Kyoto). The pay-as-you-go approach seems the best way to stretch travel dollars and explore at a reasonable pace!
