Affiliate disclosure. Sakura Skies earns a commission when you book flights or stays through links and search tools on this page. It costs you nothing extra and never changes the prices or results you see.
The nationwide rail pass is the default advice for visitors, and for plenty of itineraries it is now the wrong call. The rule is simple: it pays off when you are covering long distances quickly, and loses when you are settling in one region.
Worth it
Tokyo to Kyoto to Hiroshima and back inside a week, or any itinerary with several long bullet-train legs.
Not worth it
A week split between Tokyo and one nearby region. Individual tickets and a local IC card will cost you less.