Hey all (readers),

My parents are due here in two weeks - and although they've gotten most things sorted - they've unfortunately left their JR Rail Pass purchases back home a little too late so that they (purchase prices) have jumped quite significantly thanks to the declining (Australian) economy.  While forehead slapping comes to mind as an immediate reaction, I was hoping to try and find someways of getting round this crappy situation so that they don't have to feel as if Kansai airport, Hikone and my local Heiwado is all they will ever see of Japan (well, maybe Mycal in Omi Hachiman too...).

Anyway, over-reacting/fake sob stories aside, I've started looking into alternate rail passes on the Internet (e.g., there's ones you can buy here to use in the Kansai region over consecutive days for a few thousand yen...) but - if any of you know how my parents might be able to travel around Kansai, Hiroshima and Tokyo (on and off trains for two weeks in the first half of Nov*) for much less than they are looking at now (i.e, types of relevant travel passes, getting round crap exchange rates...) - I'd be most happy.
(*They'd be staying mostly at my place and making day trips except for a few days in Tokyo)

I'll keep looking too - but just hoping some of you might have some good info or sources.

Thanks!
belinda