Japan Rail Pass : Answers to All Your Questions, and Is It Worth Buying?
Looking at the multitude of questions about Japan travel, it appears a substantial portion of them is about the wildly popular Japan Rail Pass : What is Japan Rail Pass, who can purchase it, what are its advantages and drawbacks, whether it is worth buying or not, and more.
If you are planning to visit and explore many different areas in Japan soon, then this guide is made for you. Here, I address all the must-know info regarding the Japan Rail Pass, answers all of your questions, help you determine if the pass is the right choice for you, and how to sufficiently use it in Japan to make the most of your trip.
What is Japan Rail Pass?
This specific post refers to the national Japan Rail Pass, not the regional passes which can only be used within a specific regions of the country.
The Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) is simply a national train ticket created and accepted by the Japan Railways Group (JR Group), which is the largest railways group that operates most trains in Japan.
The holder of this Pass can use the Pass to ride on any trains in the JR Group’s network for a period of time, without having to purchase any ticket for each ride.
What is the purpose of a JR Pass?
The Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) is created for foreign tourists who are traveling in Japan for a short period of time. It allows you to travel conveniently across Japan using ONE pass. It helps save money on total transportation costs, which could have been much higher if you were to buy multiple separate tickets for each train ride.
The JR Pass is valid for only a fixed period of time. During this period, you can travel on all JR trains and JR buses throughout Japan, and use the highly praised shinkansen (bullet train) for maximized comfort and time savings during long-distanced journeys.
Where can I use the JR Pass? (What is covered and not covered by the pass)
- You can use the JR Pass to travel on all JR trains across Japan.
- You can also use it on most shinkansen (bullet trains) including the Hikari, Sakura, Kodama, and Tsubame train types. The only shinkansen which the Pass does not cover are the highest-speed Nozomi and Mizuho trains. This is fine however, as the Hikari train (mentioned above) is very fast, covered by the JR Pass, and is only 24 minutes slower than the Nozomi train.
- The Narita Express and Tokyo monorail are also covered by the Pass, so you could easily utilize them to travel between airports to other cities.
- You can also utilize all local JR buses to get around within cities, like JR Hokkaido Bus, JR Bus Tohoku, JR Bus Kanto, JR Tokai Bus, West Japan JR Bus, Chugoku JR Bus, JR Shikoku Bus, and JR Kyushu Bus.
- However, please note that all JR express buses going from one city to another city are not covered under the Pass, so it is best to use JR trains and shinkansen for travels between cities.
- Subways are also not covered by the Pass, as they are not owned and operated by the JR Group.
- Most ferries are not covered by the Pass either, with the exception of the JR-WEST Miyajima ferry, which is currently covered.
For further details regarding specific train lines and routes, check out Japan Rail Pass official website here.
How many types of JR Pass are there?
There are 2 types of JR Pass you can purchase : Ordinary (Standard) and Green (First Class). The Ordinary JR Pass lets you sit in any standard train car without additional charges, while the Green JR Pass let you sit in any Green or Standard train car without additional charges.
The only difference between the two is that there are more comfort and personal space (leg room, for example) in the Green car.
What different time durations does the JR Pass offer?
You can choose either a 7-day, 14-day, or 21-day Pass. These are consecutive days, and the period of use starts to count down on the first day you use the Pass.
There are different pricing for an Adult pass and a Child pass. In Japan, a child ticket is defined to be for children age 6 to 11. Any child under 6 years old can sit on the accompanying adult’s lap, and does not need his/her own ticket. Any child age 12 or older will need an Adult pass.
- For a 7-day JR Pass, the best available price is 29,650 yen (Adult), and 14,820 yen (Child)
- For a 14-day JR Pass, the best available price is 47,250 yen (Adult), and 23,620 yen (Child)
- For a 21-day JR Pass, the best available price is 60,450 yen (Adult), and 30,220 yen (Child)
Who are eligible to buy a JR Pass?
In order to be eligible to purchase a JR Pass, you must be a foreign visitor coming to Japan with the sole purpose of sight-seeing. Your entry status into Japan must be declared as ‘Temporary Visitor’, which will allow you to stay in Japan for a period of 90 days or less for sight-seeing and tourism.
You must have this stamp in your passport upon arrival in Japan, in order to receive your JR Pass at a ticket office.
Who Would a JR Pass be perfect for?
- First and foremost, as mentioned above, you must be a foreign tourist to Japan with a ‘Temporary Visitor’ entry status (maximum of 90 days stay) to be eligible for the JR Pass purchase.
- If you plan to travel to many different cities using mainly JR trains and shinkansen
- If you plan on having many long-distanced journeys across Japan in a relatively short period of time
- If you prefer to pay for speediness and comfort while traveling
Who should not buy a JR Pass?
- If you are not a foreign visitor to Japan on a ‘Temporary Visitor’ entry status (90-day stay or less)
- If you mainly stay in large cities like Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto, where most inner-city travel is inexpensive, and a day’s worth of transport costs ¥1,000 on average.
- If you plan to use non-JR trains and subways most of the time
- If you have a tight budget. In this case, it is best to use overnight buses, which cost only 25 to 30 percent of shinkansen and express trains. Sleeping on the bus will also save you on the nightly hotel costs.
Should I buy a JR Pass? How do I determine if it’s worth the cost?
In order to determine if you should buy a JR Pass, you must first plan out your travel itinerary by identifying the cities and regions you will visit in their orders.
Once you’ve figured out your itinerary, use Japan Travel by NAVITIME, HyperDia, or a JR Fare Calculator, and mark the ‘JR Pass’ option, then enter the cities you plan to visit. You will be provided with the total transportation cost of all JR train and bus tickets for your itinerary.
After that, compare the total cost to the price of the JR Pass you are interested in. This will help make it clear whether getting a JR Pass saves you money or not.
For example, I plan to travel from Shinjuku station (in Tokyo) to Osaka, Kyoto, Hakone, then back to Tokyo in a 7-day time period. Plugging these cities into the JR Fare Calculator (link here), this is what I see :
The calculator shows that if I buy separate tickets for JR trains and shinkansen, my total cost is 31,610 yen. Comparing to a 7-day JR Pass which costs me 29,650 yen total, it is clear that it is cheaper for me to get the JR Pass (total saving of 1,960 yen, or much more if I take many more JR trains to get around during my vacation)
If you want to see more tips on how to find the best routes and navigate the cities easily and smoothly using these awesome apps and more, check out my ’12 Ultimate Tips for Taking Tokyo’s Public Transport With Ease’ post here.
Where do I buy a JR Pass?
The best, cheapest and most convenient way to buy a JR Pass is at any JR-designated ticket agencies outside of Japan, or on their websites.
You can also buy it online (more expensive) at the official Japan Rail Pass website here.
The worst and also the most expensive way is to buy it directly at any JR ticket office at major train stations, after you arrive in Japan. You will pay around 4,000 to 8,000 yen more depending on the desired time duration of your Pass. And so far this option of buying the Pass inside Japan is only available until March 31, 2023. After that date, the only ways to purchase the Pass are the 2 mentioned above.
See price charts above for the latest pricing depending on pass types and durations. It is clear that buying the JR Pass from a JR-approved ticket agency outside of Japan is the most economical way to go for tourists.
What is the difference between buying a JR Pass on the official Japan Rail Pass website and buying at a JR-designated ticket agency outside of Japan?
Both options offer the exact same Pass. However there are only 2 main differences :
- First : It is cheaper to buy at a JR-approved agency outside of Japan.
- Second : However, the official website offers you the ability to reserving seats on specific shinkansen in advance, before arriving in Japan.
So if reserving seats on shinkansen before your trip is important to you, you should buy from the official Japan Rail Pass website for a higher price.
If you travel during peak Japanese holidays or festival time, having the ability to reserve seats ahead of time is great, as those are always very busy and crowded time in Japan.
However, if you do not travel during peak Japanese holiday times, you can go without a seat reservation. There are always many trains running daily for most routes, so train availability is plentiful. You can also choose to reserve seats after arriving in Japan and obtaining a physical Pass.
How do I buy a JR Pass on the official Japan Rail Pass website?
Follow these easy steps to buy your JR Pass on the official Japan Rail Pass website :
- Visit the official Japan Rail Pass website here, and create an account
- Choose the JR Pass type you want to purchase : Ordinary pass (standard) or Green (First Class) pass
- Choose the duration of your pass : 7-day, 14-day or 21-day
- Enter your personal information, including your name, passport number and dates of travel
- Enter your credit card details. The Japan Rail Pass website accepts major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
- Confirm your order
- Receive a confirmation email with your voucher (‘exchange of order’), and instructions on how to exchange it for an actual physical Pass upon arriving in Japan
- If you want to reserve seats and any oversized luggage storage ahead of time, you can go ahead and do that on the website.
I am unable to buy a JR Pass from the official website due to a credit card issue. What should I do?
Many Japanese websites have been having issue accepting foreign-issued Visa cards.
So if you are unsuccessful with purchasing a JR Pass using your Visa credit card, try switching to a MasterCard, American Express, or another non-Visa credit card. This should fix the credit card issue.
How do I activate my Japan Rail Pass before using it?
Wherever you buy a JR Pass ahead of your trip, you will receive a voucher, or an ‘exchange of order’. This voucher is not the actual JR Pass. And you will not receive the actual Pass until you arrive in Japan.
After arriving in Japan, you must first go to a ticket office in the airport or major train stations to exchange your voucher (‘exchange of order’) for the actual physical JR Pass.
Here is where you will show the staff your passport (confirmation that you are a foreign tourist in Japan) and receive the Pass.
At this time, you can ask the staff to set the date when you want to use the pass for the first time (first day of pass use), which will automatically activate it on that day for you.
How do I use my JR Pass at train stations?
On the day you want to start using the Pass, simply go to a train station and to your desired train line. Show your Pass to any ticket gate staff, and they will let you through to the train platform.
If you travel by shinkansen, remember to sit in a Standard car if you have an Ordinary JR Pass, and a Green car if you have a Green JR Pass.
Make sure to also locate and sit in an un-reserved train car, and you should be good to go.
Once arriving at your destination, get off the train, and again, show your Pass to the ticket gate staff to exit that station.
Do I need to reserve a seat on a train or shinkansen when using my JR Pass?
You don’t need to reserve a seat when riding any JR train or shinkansen.
Do remember to sit in any shinkansen train car with an ‘unreserved’ sign, and you should be set.
When must I reserve a seat when riding shinkansen?
If you have oversized luggage, which must be stored at a specific area behind a specific seat, you must reserve a seat before boarding the shinkansen.
Or if you travel during busy Japanese holidays or festivals, it is best to reserve a seat in advance to ensure a space on the crowded train.
You can reserve both your seat and oversized luggage storage ahead of time on the Japan Rail Pass website (here) after you receive your physical Pass in Japan.
How do I reserve a seat on a train or shinkansen using my JR Pass?
You can get a reserved-seat ticket at (1) a JR ticket office (Midori-no-madoguchi), (2) any Travel Service Center in the airport or train stations, or (3) any JR station ticket vending machine before boarding.
You can also reserve your seat and oversized luggage storage (4) online on the Japan Rail Pass website (here) after you receive your physical Pass in Japan.
There is no additional charge for reserving a seat.
Always carry your passport with you at all times, as you will need to enter passport info every time you book a seat, as well as show the ticket gate staff your passport and the JR Pass before getting on your train.
How do I book storage for my oversized luggage on train and shinkansen?
When reserving a seat (above), you could also book storage for your oversized luggage at the same time.
If you need help determining whether your luggage is oversized or not, and be aware of baggage limits for train according to the latest Japanese regulations starting May 2020, check out my ’12 Ultimate Tips for Taking Tokyo’s Public Transport With Ease’ post for a quick and easy-to-follow summary table.
Please note that if your luggage exceeds the maximum limits according to Japan’s latest regulations (official policy link here), you won’t be allowed to bring them on the train.
The only way to solve this dilemma is to have them transported to your destination using a Luggage Forwarding Service. See how to do that with ease in my post here.
What happens if I am on the shinkansen with oversized luggage and I forgot to reserve a seat?
If caught with oversized luggage onboard, you will be fined 1,000 yen, and your luggage will be stored in a designated area by the train staff.
In the case that your oversized luggage exceeds the maximum allowed dimensions and/or weight, you might not be allowed to continue your ride on the train. You might be asked to exit the train at the next stop, and have your luggage forwarded, before you may board the next train.
Therefore, it’s best to review luggage policies before the train ride, and either reserve storage for it in advance, or have it handled by a luggage forwarding service before boarding your train.
Find latest guide on both oversized baggage and luggage forwarding service in this post .
When is the best time to activate my JR Pass?
Your JR Pass should be activated when starting to go on long-distanced or more expensive rides, like the shinkansen.
The countdown on the pass starts on the day you first use it, so use it early in the day, and continue to use it for all long-distance or expensive rides from that day until the last day the pass is valid for.
If my travel plan changes and I have a JR Pass, can I change trains or destinations with ease?
Absolutely! Flexibility is the beauty of the JR Pass. The Pass itself does not require you to reserve any train or seat ahead of time. As there are no prior commitments or seat reservations, you can travel whenever and wherever you want, without worrying about itinerary changes or train fares.
Furthermore, there are usually several trains per day for most routes, so you should be fine if you need to change trains or adjust your itinerary at the last minute.
If you have oversized luggage, you do need to reserve a seat and storage space as soon as you know the updated itinerary. Or just use a luggage forwarding service to have your luggage transported straight to the destination, and ride the trains without any worries.
* See solution in the above question on ‘How do I book storage for my oversized luggage on train and shinkansen?’
How early should I buy my JR Pass before my trip?
There is no specific time limit on when you can buy a Japan Rail Pass. You can purchase it at any time before your trip to Japan.
However, if the JR-designated ticket agency you buy it from states that it will send you the voucher by mail, it is probably best to purchase around 3 weeks before your trip, to ensure that there is enough time for the agency to email you or mail the voucher to your home address.
Don’t order the Pass too early. Once you place an order and receive a voucher, the voucher is typically valid for 3 months, then it will expire. In the case of ordering too early and your itinerary changes past the 3-month mark, you will not be able to use the expired voucher to exchange for the physical Pass.
You could also buy it online (more expensive) at the official Japan Rail Pass website here, and receive the voucher via email very quickly.
I have a voucher (or exchange of order) for my JR Pass. Now that I’m in Japan, where is the best place to exchange it for the physical Pass?
You may exchange your voucher (Exchange of Order) for a physical JR Pass at the JR East Ticket Office in airports, Tourist Information Center, or JR ticket counter in major train stations.
If you don’t need to use your Pass on the same day you arrive in Japan, it is probably best to do the exchange at a JR ticket counter in train stations.
Avoid getting your Pass at the airport if you don’t want to spend up to an hour or so in line. Airports usually have very long lines, as they are typically the first place most people try to obtain their JR Passes.
Must I activate my JR Pass at the same time as when I receive it in Japan?
No. You could activate your Pass at the time of receiving it in Japan, but you don’t have to.
Simply ask the JR ticket counter staff to activate it on a specific date of your choosing. Then on that day, just travel using the Pass.
Once the activation date (date of first use) is set, the countdown will begin that day, and you cannot reverse the date any time after that.
If I my JR Pass is lost or stolen, can it be reissued?
The official JR Pass website clearly states that the Pass cannot be reissued if it is lost or stolen.
Only when it malfunctions that it can be reissued.
You must contact the JR Pass office to obtain a replacement if there is an issue with your physical Pass, or if it somehow fails to work at the train stations.
What if I change my mind and decide not to use the JR Pass after my purchase? Can a refund be issued?
A refund can only be issued if your Pass is canceled before it is used (date of first use stated on the pass).
A refund is to be issued where you originally purchased it, so if you buy it a a JR-designated ticket agency, you will need to contact them for a refund.
If I start using the Pass and want to extend its time duration(from 7-day to 14-day), can I have it updated?
No. After the first use, it is not possible to make any changes to the pass or extend the its time duration.
When I am in areas or cities where there are no JR trains or buses, how do I get around?
If you are in areas where there are no inner-city JR trains or buses, you won’t be able to use your JR Pass to get around.
In this case, using an IC card (a prepaid smart transit card like Pasmo or Suica) to ride on local metro lines, non-JR trains, or buses is a great idea.
Having both a JR pass and an IC card is highly recommended, as it will ensure you are covered for all transport situations in Japan.
Do you have any other tips on how to make the most of my JR Pass?
Absolutely! See below for additional tips that will help you optimize the use of your JR Pass :
- If you are given a choice between taking a shinkansen and a local/express train, always take a shinkansen train for optimum comfort and speed.
- Always select JR trains over non-JR trains. Your JR pass lets you ride for free on JR trains, while you need to pay for separate tickets for non-JR trains.
- If traveling with a company or large group on shinkansen, it is better to reserve all seats in advance (no additional charge) so that you can all sit together for the entire journey.
- Plan carefully to activate your Pass at the beginning of majority of long-distanced travels. For example, if you stay in Tokyo for 3 days, don’t activate your Pass yet. Wait until you start traveling to many other cities to activate it.
- Always activate your JR Pass in the morning for a full-day use. If you activate it in the evening, you lose most of the first day’s benefit already.
Conclusion & Bonus Tip
That’s it! I hope this post help you understand the JR Pass, all of its benefits and limitations, whether it is worth the price tag for your own travel plans, and how to make the most of it, in order to plan and live the best vacation you possible could.
If I there is a question you’d love to ask and don’t see it here, feel free to email me at evelyn@japanoncloudnine.com
Post You Might be Interested In
– Wonder what awesome tips you could get in order to hit the ground running and navigate Japan smoothly and stress-free, with or without a JR Pass ? Read my “12 Ultimate Tips for Taking Tokyo’s Public Transport With Ease” post here.
– Interested in knowing more about the all-time favorite and super awesome Pasmo and Suica IC cards? Read my “Stress-Free Tokyo Travel with IC Cards : Everything You Need to Know” post here.
– Wonder what the JR Pass everyone talks about all the time is? More importantly, if getting a JR Pass would be a good idea and save you a lot of money on transportation costs in your trip? Get concise and practical answers here in my “Japan Rail Pass : Answers to All Your Questions, and Is It Worth Buying?“ post.
– Do you need an easy, convenient, and economical way to get from Narita International Airport to central Tokyo with luggages ? Read my “Airport Limousine Bus – The Convenient Way to Get from Narita Airport to Central Tokyo” post here. Going to Haneda airport instead? Read this post.
– Do you need a fast, easy, and economical way to get from Narita International Airport to central Tokyo ? Read my “The Narita Express (N’EX) : Fast and Easy Travel from Airport to Tokyo” post here.
And much more – Check out all of my posts here on the Main page.
