Important Things You Need to Know Before Buying JR Pass

1. What is the Japan Rail Pass?

The Japan Rail Pass (also known as the JR Pass) is a flat-fee pass that allows you to ride any train in the JR networkat any time without having to pay for tickets. It’s ideal for long-distance travel and is a great value.

Get this: Even Japanese citizens don’t get the same discounts on train travel that foreigners do on the Japan Rail Pass!

2. Conditions/Eligibility for using the JR Pass

Who can use the JR Pass?

Bookmark Japan Rail Pass Website

The JR Pass is available only for tourists visiting Japan on visits shorter than 90 days, and for Japanese citizens who are living abroad permanently.

Who can’t purchase a JR Pass?

If you are a foreigner but live and work in Japan, we’re sorry to say you are not eligible for a JR Pass.

Similarly, if you are a foreigner visiting Japan for non-tourist purposes, such as for research, for the military, for a work trip, etc., then you’re not eligible for a JR Pass.

3. Japan Rail Pass types and prices

Adult JR Passes

There are three different durations of the Japan Rail Pass. They are available for travel on consecutive days, for one, two or three weeks.


Here are how the prices break down for one adult (12 years of age or older) pass:

1 week (7 consecutive days) JR Pass: US$277
2 week (14 consecutive days) JR Pass: US$442
3 week (21 consecutive days) JR Pass: US$566

Children JR Passes


Japan Railways offers discounted passes for children from 6 to 11 years old.

The validity duration is the same as the adult pass, and prices break down as follows:

1 week (7 consecutive days) Child JR Pass: US$138
2 week (14 consecutive days) Child JR Pass: US$220
3 week (21 consecutive days) Child JR Pass: US$282

Japan Rail Green Passes


Japan Railways also offers a first-class Japan Rail Pass option for both children and adults, which is called the JR Green Pass.

The Green Pass allows you to sit in the first-class “Green Car” on all Shinkansen (bullet trains) and other applicable fast lines. The Green Car offers more legroom, comfortable seats, a hot towel, and on some lines, free beverages.

If you are traveling during the peak tourist months of May, August and September, we recommend getting a Green Pass, as the Green Cars are much less crowded.

Where to Purchase the Japan Rail Pass?

There’s a catch to purchasing the JR Pass: you MUST buy it outside of Japan (except at a few locations that are offering them on a trial basis in 2016; more info on this below).

The most convenient place to purchase a Japan Rail Pass is in your own home, online, at the click of a button.

In Japan

Starting in 2016, Japan Railways is making the purchase of JR Passes available at these three airports in Japan on a trial basis: Narita Airport, Haneda Airport and Kansai Airport.

But the most convenient way to buy a Japan Rail Pass is to do it from abroad, before arrival on Japan territory.


Outside of Japan

If you don’t want to purchase your JR Pass online, you can also purchase it at some agency offices in your home country, please check the links below:

North America
Europe
East Asia
For other countries, see this helpful page.

4. Validity of the Japan Rail Pass

The validity of the Japan Rail Pass is counted by calendar days, rather than by the hour.

So, if you start a 7-day pass at 5 p.m., it will expire at midnight of the seventh day, rather than at 5 p.m. on the eighth day.
For which transport can you use your Japan Rail Pass?

The JR Pass is good for travel on the following trains and transport:

All JR trains nationwide, including the Shinkansen, express, limited express, local and rapid trains.
All local JR buses, but not highway buses
A select number of non-JR train lines in remote areas that connect to isolated JR stations. These include certain sections of the Aomori Railway, the Ishikawa Railway and the Ainokaze Toyama 

Railway.

The JR Railway Ferry to Miyajima (return trip valid)
The Monorail from Haneda Airport to Tokyo (return trip valid)


Invalid routes

The JR Pass is not good for travel on the following trains and transports:
JR trains that use tracks owned by other private companies. There are only about a dozen of these.
The Nozomi Shinkansen along the Tokaido/Sanyo line and the Mizuho Shinkansen along the Sanyo/Kyushu line. These are the fastest Shinkansen trains on these lines, but other valid Shinkansens run these routes and are only slightly slower.
Suburban “liner trains,” which require “liner” tickets. But foreign tourists are unlikely to use these, as they exclusively service suburban areas.
Berths on night trains and other special compartments.


5. How To Use the JR Pass?

When you purchase your pass, you will be given a voucher that must be exchanged at major JR train stations in Japan for an actual pass.

For example, you can exchange your voucher for the pass at the JR stations at Narita or Kansai International Airport. The voucher must be exchanged for a pass within three months of the purchase date.

To exchange your voucher, you’ll have to show your passport, fill out a form, and choose your pass start date. Remember, your pass is only good for consecutive days from the start date.

You can reserve seats with your Japan Rail Pass for free at any JR ticketing office in Japan. Seat reservations are purely optional, but they can be nice to have if you’re planning on traveling during a busy season.

When it’s time for your train journey, be mindful that you cannot use the automated ticket gates. To reach your platform, you will have to present your Japan Rail Pass to the ticketing officer manning the non-automatic gate.

Here is an amateur video showing how to use your JR Pass.

6. What Are the Benefits of the Japan Rail Pass?

Aside from its cost-effectiveness, convenience and wide access to Japan’s best cities and attractions, the Japan Rail Pass offers a few more benefits:

You can make seat reservations for free
It’s good for most Shinkansen (bullet train) rides, saving you valuable travel time
Train travel is an excellent way to see vast areas of the country
You can ride in luxury if you opt for the JR Green Pass.


7. Regional Train Passes in Japan

If your travels are limited to a specific region of Japan, JR also offers region-specific passes: JR East Pass, JR Hokkaido Rail Pass, JR Kansai Area Pass, JR Kyushu Rail Pass and JR Sanyo Area Pass.

To purchase JR pass -->; click here

To purchase JR Subway pass --> click here

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