This website shows you a lot of the train passes. But some of you plan to buy a regular ticket. Even if you will use the rail pass, you may have to compare the price of the pass and the regular fare to make sure that you can get the worth of it or not.
In this post, I would like to share the information about the fare calculation with you.
Hyperdia
This is the easiest way to get the fare and the timetable of most trains in Japan. Please refer the link below to learn more:
Google map
Google map can show you the train and the public bus routes. It also shows you the fare.
JR’s rule on passenger’s ticket
JR companies have the biggest train network in Japan. If you travel between major cities, you will take JR train in most cases.
The fare rule is so difficult to understand for the tourists from overseas. Even some travel agents in Japan do not understand the rule completely.
I wrote about this rule as simple as possible in the post below. You can learn the rule of purchasing and using a regular ticket.
JR company’s official site
Some JR companies have the timetable and fare search engine in their official sites.
JR Hokkaido official website
This website offers you the fare and timetable search of most JR trains.
JR West English website
This website offers you the fare and timetable search of most JR trains.
JR Shikoku English website
This website shows you the fare table of most of JR Shikoku lines.
Comments
Hi Takeshi,
We need your advise.
5 of us are planning to visit japan 18/12/2015 until 02/01/2016.
Itinerary:
18/12 to 22/12 tokyo
22/12-23/12 aomori
23/12-26/12 tomamu resort, hokkaido
26/12 go back to aomori
27/12 to kyoto
27/12-29/12 kyoto
29/12-02/01 osaka
Is the JR pass for 7 days suitable for us to cover the journey.?
Thank you
Hi Enoch,
Yes. You can use 7 days JR pass from Dec 22 to Dec 28. You can get a huge saving!
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi,
Below is my Itinerary, can you please advise me for the transportation? And roughly how much I need to spend on transportation? for certain places by bus or by train? Need to purchase JR pass or not?
Day 1 Haneda airport (10.30pm reach)
Day 2 Tokyo to Kyoto
Day 3 Kyoto to Osaka (universal studio), osaka back to kyoto
Day 4 Kyoto
Day 5 Kyoto to Hakone
Day 6 Hakone to Tokyo
Day 7 Tokyo
Day 8 Tokyo
Day 9 Tokyo
Day 10 Tokyo to Haneda airport(11.45pm back)
Thanks
Sammi
Hi Sammi,
You can use 7 days JR pass from day 2 to day 8.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/japan-rail-pass-user-guide-how-to-use-jr-pass-to-its-maximum.html
You may need to add some local transportation ticket or pass as you need in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hakone and Osaka because JR pass does not cover it. Some places cannot be accessed by JR train. Please find more info at the links below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/best-way-efficient-how-much-can-we-use-japan-rail-pass-in-downtown-tokyo.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-kyoto-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-osaka-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi,pls advise for my itineraries on which type of passes suit best..thks
Day 1 arrived at KIX airport to Namba
Day 2 USJ (whole day)
Day 3 Namba to Kyoto (back to Osaka)
Day 4 same as day 3
Day 5 Osaka castle,shinsheki area
Day 6 Nara, Osaka aquarium
Hi Robin,
Please see the following post. You will find the solution:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/how-to-build-the-itinerary-and-choose-the-deals-for-osaka-stay-5-to-7-days.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
I plan to travel with my wife from tokyo to osaka (i also plan to visit kyoto). as we may fly out of osaka on the way to manila, how much is a one-way fare bullet train fare from tokyo to osaka? will it be advisable to buy a kansai pass?
Hi Jon,
You can find it at hyperdia.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
At this point, I cannot say that Kansai area pass is suitable or not for your trip. It depends on your location to stay and your detailed itinerary. Please find more info at the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/how-to-choose-discount-railway-ticket-and-pass-in-kansai-area.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi, Takeshi,
I have re-plan my Itinerary, can please advise on the transportation? And roughly how much I need to spend on transportation?
Day 1 – Kansai to Kyoto – staying near Karasuma Station, visit
Day 2 – Kyoto sightseeing – Visit Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, Gion, Kiyomizu Temple
Day 3 – Kyoto to Nara – Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine in the morning on the way to Nara
Day 4 – Kyoto to Osaka – staying near Namba Station, Visit Den Den Town, Namba Park
Day 5 – Osaka to Universal Studios
Day 6 – Osaka sightseeing – Visit Osaka Musuem Housing & Living, Shitennoji Temple, Osaka Castle, Sumiyhoshi-Taisha Shrine
Day 7 – Osaka to Kobe – Day trip to Kobe
Day 8 – Osaka to Kansai Airport
Thank you.
Nicole
Hi Nicole,
Your plan is very similar to one of my sample. You may find the detailed info at the link below:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/visit-kyoto-osaka-nara-and-kobe-for-5-to-7-days-sample-itinerary.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi,
Would like to check with you on itinerary “Day 4 – Trip to Nara and transfer to Namba, Osaka”
I will be bringing my luggage along to Nara, is there anyway to keep my luggage bag while i am visiting around Nara?
Please advise.
Thank you.
Hi Nicole,
You can leave your luggage in coin locker. Nara station have many lockers.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/travel-tips/baggage/managing-luggage-how-to-carry-your-baggage-on-board-and-how-to-store-your-baggage-at-the-station.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi,
Thanks for kind assistance. Really appreciated.
Thank you.
Nicole
No problem, Nicole.
Enjoy your trip.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi,
Came across your site, and it’s really wonderful to have so much helpful advise here. Would you be able to help us out by recommending what’s the best and most economical way to travel from Kansai International Airport to Kyoto, from Kyoto to Kobe, and from Kobe back to Osaka Namba Station? Many thanks in advance for your kind help.
Warmest Regards,
Nana
Hi Nana,
You may use ICOCA and Haruka.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/icoca-and-haruka-ticket-very-flexible-and-good-deal-for-tourist-who-stay-in-kansai.html
You can take Haruka from KIX to Kyoto. You have to take local train to get Tennoji from JR-Namba. But local train from Namba to Tennoji and Haruka from Tennoji to KIX are covered.
And also it includes ICOCA e-money 1500 yen. You can take Special rapid from Kyoto to Sannomiya and Hanshin railway from Kobe-Sannomiya to Osaka-Namba. 1500 yen e-money covers these trips.
The following links may help you to get some idea.
https://jprail.com/destinations/how-to-transfer-among-kyoto-osaka-and-kobe-compare-japan-railway-and-private-lines.html
https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/rapid-service/special-rapid-service.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-osaka-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-kyoto-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/how-to-access-to-himeji-and-kobe-from-osaka.html
You may get an exact fare at Hyperdia if you want:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Thanks for the advise and help Takeshi 🙂
Warmest Regards,
Nana
No problem, Nana.
Enjoy your trip.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hello Takeshi,
Thank you for the info oaths website. However, I’m still quite confuse on the ticket purchasing and how to fully utilise the JR pass.
I’m travelling from Singapore to Tokyo on 2nd November and plan to travel to Kyoto on the 8th and then Osaka on the 9th before flying back to Singapore on either 11th or 12th November.
As my trip will be mainly focused on traveling around Tokyo to nearby attractions such as Disneyland, Mount Fuji, Shinjuku, Asakusa etc, while the purchasing the JR pass be better than getting single fare tickets? I understand that you can get around Tokyo via Metro which is not covered under JR pass. Hence I’m not sure which is the better option.
For mt trip from Tokyo to Osaka with a stopover at Kyoto, if I travel using the JR pass, can I stopover at Kyoto for a night before resuming my trip to Osaka? If not, should I purchase single way train ticket?
Thank you,
Eric
Hi Eric,
I don’t think JR Pass is your choice. I have sample itinerary that is very similar to your plan. Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/sample-itinerary-of-tokyo-hakone-kyoto-and-osaka-classic-route-in-7-days.html
I put Hakone in the itinerary above. If you include Lake Kawaguchi instead of Hakone, it’s not much different. There are many ways to get Fuji and Hakone area other than JR trains.
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
And as you know, subway in Tokyo is not covered by JR pass. So if you use JR pass, you can use it only for Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka. Single fare with Shinkansen surcharge for this segment is less than half of 7 days JR pass.
You may already have found the solution from the itinerary above. Single fare and other local deals are the best option for you.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi,
Thank you for your kind assistance.
your link to the sample itinerary was very helpful. I will follow your advice and get singe fares rather than the JR pass.
Will start planning for my trip now.
Really appreciate your effort.
Thanks& Regards,
Eric
No problem, Eric.
Hope enjoy your trip.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi
Thanks for the info on the single tickets. I hadn’t realised this was possible and one of our party has temporary working visa so would not be eligible for JR pass anyway.
If we booked the single fare tickets do you have to specify which exact trains when booking? Or can we buy the base fare and then buy the express/seat reservations a day or so before?
I note from hyperdia that its roughly 19,000 yen in each direction which is less than 7 day JR pass. I had also thought another option would be to buy hakone pass to travel to and around odawara, then single fare to Kyoto and once there activate a 7 day JR pass until we return back to Tokyo. Travel in and around Tokyo would be paid for separately. I had worked out this at around 43,000 yen. Do you think the flexibility from JR pass would be better than the single fares above if price is less than 5,000 yen difference?
Thanks again
Hannah
Hi Hannah,
You can purchase base fare ticket only at first and then add limited express reserved seat or non reserved seat ticket later.
It’s a good idea to use 7 days pass from Kyoto to Tokyo via Hiroshima/Miyajima and Osaka. I didn’t realize this way of using JR pass. I think JR pass is better choice than single fare. 5,000 yen difference is not huge for me. As you thought, flexibility is the huge factor. If you start to use JR pass on July 16, you can make a trip to Nara by JR train if you have a time. If you start to use this pass when you depart from Kyoto, you will have two more days of JR pass in Tokyo. You can make day trip outside Tokyo if you want. Once you get a single ticket, it’s hard to change your plan. But JR Pass makes you more comfortable to change your plan in last minutes. 5000 yen difference may be smaller or maybe cheaper than single fare.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi – thanks for all the information on your website.
I will be travelling around Japan in July and wondered if you could advise which tickets we should get. I don’t believe that a 14 day pass would be worthwhile but i’m unsure if we should combine the JR Pass with a regional pass?
11th July Arrive into Haneda
12th July Tokyo
13th July Tokyo
14th July Tokyo to Odawara (and then buy Hakone free pass)
15th July Odawara to Kyoto
16th July Kyoto
17th July Kyoto
18th July Kyoto to Hiroshima
19th July Hiroshima
20th July Hiroshima to Osaka
21st July Osaka
22nd July Osaka to Toyko
23rd July Tokyo
24th July Tokyo
25th July Fly from Haneda
i think the Hakone pass will be worthwhile as it includes the trip from Tokyo but with the ropewalk closed and us not needing the return part to Tokyo maybe not? We also plan to visit Miyajima whilst in Hiroshima.
Thanks in advance
Hannah
Hi Hannah,
As you think, 14 days is too much. If you make one more long trip from Tokyo, like Nikko, Nagano, it may work. Or if you add another place, like Takayama, Kanazawa, it may work too.
On the other hand, 7 days pass is not fit in your itinerary. If you make Odawara-Kyoto-Hiroshima-Osaka-Tokyo in 7 days, it works. But you will spend 8 days. it does not work too. You can use one long base fare ticket from Odawara to Miyajimaguchi with stopover Kyoto and Hiroshima, and another base fare ticket from Miyajimaguchi to Tokyo with stopover at Hiroshima and Osaka. Please find more info at the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/for-non-jr-pass-travellers-guide-to-use-jr-single-ticket-basic-rules-validity-and-stopover.html
And actually you can use 7 days pass without making change your itinerary. That is using overnight train from Himeji to Tokyo. In JR Pass rule, the pass covers until you exit station as long as you are on board. That means, if you catch overnight train before 23:59 on day 7 of the pass, you may get Tokyo without any extra. Sunrise Seto and Izumo runs Izumoshi/Takamatsu to Tokyo. These trains stop at Osaka but it’s after midnight. If you take this train, you have to go back to Himeji. You can find more info about this train at the link below:
https://jprail.com/trains/sunrise-izumo.html
I show you this technique in one of my sample itineraries.
https://jprail.com/destinations/west-japan-7-days-kyoto-hiroshima-and-kyushu.html
The problem is booking status. If this train is booked out, you have to take the last train to Tokyo on day 7 and find the place to stay in Tokyo. And also there is no way to book online. So you have to book after arrival. It’s very hard to find the availability. It’s risky but I just want to tell you another idea.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi there,
My family and I will be going to Japan on July 9th 2015 and Arrive at Kansai Airport on the next day, July 10th.
Here’s the itinerary:
Day 1- Osaka
Day 2- Universal Studios
Day 3- Osaka-Kyoto-Osaka
Day 4- Osaka-Tokyo
Day 5- Disneyland
Day 6- Disneysea
Day 7-Tokyo
Day 8-Mt Fuji
Day 9- Tokyo
Day 10- Leaving Japan from Haneda Airport
Now I have some questions:
1. Do I need to purchase JR Pass?
2. If I buy the JR Pass, will I save a lot of money?
3. What’s the alternative way for transportation if I don’t purchase the JR Pass?
I’m waiting for your answer. Thank you in advance!
Cheers,
Clary.
Hi Clary,
JR Pass, even 7 days pass is more expensive than single ticket. Roughly total cost of train is approximately 25000 yen. If you want to get an exact fare, Hyperdia can show you the fares.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
My recommended choices are the following:
Kansai thru pass for day 1 and 3 if you visit a few places in Osaka after arrival.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-use-kansai-thru-pass-compare-pass-and-single-fare.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-osaka-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
This pass is very useful for trip to Kyoto especially.
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-kyoto-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
However if you arrive late or no plan to visit any places in Osaka on arrival day, use one of the deal from KIX to Osaka.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-choose-the-deals-for-access-tofrom-kansai-airport.html
And use single fare to get Kyoto and use bus or subway deal in Kyoto.
http://www.insidekyoto.com/special-kyoto-bus-train-subway-passes
Single ticket is okay for USJ, Disney resort and to Haneda.
Regular single ticket is your choice from Osaka to Tokyo.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/for-non-jr-pass-travellers-guide-to-use-jr-single-ticket-basic-rules-validity-and-stopover.html
At last, highway bus is the best way to get Mt. Fuji, Lake Kawaguchi area. But if you intend to visit other area in Mt. Fuji, there are lots of other choices. Please find more info at the link below:
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Clary,
Am needing to catch a flight from Osaka Kansai Airport.
I am coming in from Iwakuni.
Approximate price for train ticket to get to Osaka airport from Iwakuni?
Also price difference between JR and Shin?
Thank You!
Hi Paul,
You can find it at Hyperdia:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
I think you mean the difference between Shinkansen and conventional line. But on conventional line, there are only local commute trains. It’s not realistic to take these trains because you have to transfer 3 to 4 times. All trains are commute trains and you may not get a seat for long trip. Shinkansen is your choice.
P.S. Clary is one of readers and she asked me her inquiries. I think she does not reply to you.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail