Guide to plan your trip. Fare Calculation

dentaku calculatorFare table
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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

You can get a fare very easily. (click to view larger image)
You can get a fare very easily. (click to view larger image)

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

  1. Chu Lai says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    I would like what’s the best mean of transport for my trip for a family of 4 adults. We shall be in Japan for 18 days 25/11/2016 – 12/1/2016) arriving Tokyo then exit at Narita.
    Please see our itinerary.
    Day 1: Arrive Narita ,stay Tokyo
    Day 2: Tokyo
    Day 3: Tokyo/Hiroshima in morning
    Day 4. Hiroshima /Osaka late afternoon/evening
    Day 5: Osaka/Nara/Osaka
    Day 6: Osaka/Kobe/Osaka
    Day7: Osaka/Okayama/Hemiji/Osaka
    Day8: Osaka/Kyoto/Osaka
    Day 9: Osaka or Kyoto
    Day 10: Osaka or Kyoto
    Day11: Osaka/Takayama/Nagoya – Day trip to Takayama
    Day 12: Nagoya/Tokyo
    Day 13: Tokyo – Disneyland
    Day 14: Tokyo/Yokohama ( day trip)
    Day 15: Tokyo
    Day 16: Tokyo
    Day 17: Tokyo/Narita ( stay at Narita)
    Day 18: Tokyo/Melbourne

    Please advise what JR Pass is require (7 or 14 days) and when to activate the pass i.e. Day 1 or Day 3. Also, your comment or any suggestion on our schedule is very much appreciated.

    Thank-you and regards

    Chu

  2. michael Pineda says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    I would like what’s the best mean of transport for my trip for a family of 4 adults. We shall be in Japan for 8 days arriving Tokyo then exit at Narita.
    Please see our itinerary.
    4/3/2016 Sunday
    10:35 AM Arrival at Narita Airport Terminal 2
    Travel From Narita Airport to OSHIAGE (Skytree and Senso-Ji)
    5:00 PM ASAKUSA TO OKUBO -Check-in
    5:30PM Hachiko Plaza/Shibuya Crossing
    7:30PM Ebisu (Dinner)

    4/4/2016 Monday 6:00AM Breakfast (inside Apartment)
    6:30AM Leave for Tsukiji Market
    9:30AM Disneyland

    4/5/2016 Tuesday 8:00AM Breakfast (inside Apartment)
    8:30AM yoyogi Park
    Meiji Shrine
    Shinjuku Gyoen
    TMGO

    4/6/2016 Wednesday 6:00AM Breakfast
    6:30AM Mt Fuji
    12:30PM Leave for Osaka
    4:00PM Check-in Apartment
    5:00PM Shinsaibashi

    4/7/2016 Thursday 8:00AM Breakfast
    8:30AM Leave for Universal Studios (Hogwarts-Yehey)

    4/8/2016 Friday 8:00AM Breakfast
    8:30AM Leave for Himeji

    4/8/2016 Saturday 8:00AM Breakfast
    8:30AM Leave for Kyoto
    *Nijo Castle
    *Nikishi Market
    *Golden Pavilion
    *fushimi inari-taisha
    *Gion District

    4/9/2016 Sunday 8:00AM Breakfast
    8:30AM Leave for Narra
    4:00PM Leave for Kansai International Airport
    6:00PM Check-in
    8:40PM Departure
    11:50PM Arrival in Manila

  3. Joe says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    Can you let me know if I would benefit from a 7 day pass if my schedule is as follows:

    Day 1-NRT To Tokyo (staying in Shinjuku)
    Day 3-Tokyo to Kyoto
    Day 5 -Kyoto to Tokyo
    Day 6-Tokyo (Shinjuku) to NRT

    Thank you

  4. dhifa says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    Me and my family will be travelling to Japan from Mar 29 until Apr 07. We will be staying in Osaka and Chiba.

    This is our itinerary:
    Day 1 – Arrival at Kansai Airport (stay in Osaka)
    Day 2 – Kyoto: Kiyomizudera, Arashiyama, etc (stay in Osaka)
    Day 3 – Kobe: chinatown, oji zoo, etc (stay in Osaka)
    Day 4 – Kobe (stay in Osaka)
    Day 5 – Kobe and Nara (stay in Osaka)
    Day 6 – Chiba & Tokyo (stay in Chiba)
    Day 7 – Chiba, Tokyo, maybe Shirakawa-go (stay in Chiba)
    Day 8 – Disneysea (stay in Chiba)
    Day 9 – Chiba, Fujiyama, etc (stay in Chiba)
    Day 10 – Departure Haneda Airport

    Please give me advice about my itinerary and the whole transportation plan, since i already bought 7days JR pass.
    Many thanks in advance

  5. Lisa Sun says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    I would be very grateful if you can advise me on whether the JR pass (either 7 or 14-day) would be better value than buying single tickets. I’m having trouble doing the maths and working out which trips are covered by JR pass. We will be getting the Hakone free Pass while we are in Hakone.

    This is our itinerary:
    1: arrive in Narita airport at ~9pm. Staying in Asakusa
    2: Tokyo
    3: Yokyo
    4: Day trip to Nikko
    5: Tokyo possibly day trip to Kamakura
    6: Travel to Hakone
    7: Hakone
    8: Travel to Kyoto
    9: Arashiyama
    10: Day trip to Nara
    11: Kyoto
    12: Day trip to Osaka
    13: Kyoto
    14: Train to Tokyo (staying near Yokyo station)
    15: Narita airport for flight back home.

    Thank you so much for any advise!!
    Lisa.

  6. Stan says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I would like what’s the best mean of transport for my trip for me. I will be in Japan for 16 days 05/04 to 21/04 arriving and leaving from Haneda airport.

    Arriving Haneda airport on April 05. A draft of my itinerary is as follows:
    D1 – Tokyo to Kyoto
    D2 – Kyoto
    D3 – Kyoto -Nara -Kyoto
    D4 – Kyoto – Hemeji -Kyoto
    D5 – Kyoto – Kokura
    D6 – Kokura-Kagoshima
    D7 – Kagoshima-Kobe
    D8 – Kobe-Hakone
    D9 – Hakone-Shizuoka-ken
    D10-14.-Shizuoka-ken
    D14-16 – Shizuoka-ken-Toyko
    Day16-leave from Haneda airport

    How much difference for all JR fares without buying one-week or two-week ticket?

    Thanks

    Stan

  7. Sally Vicerra says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    My family and I will be travelling to Japan this Mar 20 and will be staying until Mar 28. We will be staying in Osaka for the whole duration of the trip.
    Here is a sample of our itinerary:
    Day 1 Arrival at Kansai Airport
    Day 2 Osaka Castle, Instant Ramen museum
    Day 3 Universal Studio
    Day 4 Osaka Aquarium
    Day 5 Western, Northern and Eastern Kyoto
    Day 6 Central Kyoto, South Kyoto and Nara
    Day 7 Osaka
    Day 8 Departure kansai Airport

  8. magicsheep says:

    Hello Takeshi,

    I would like to ask if it is needed for me to purchase the Rail pass at all? I’m going on a trip to Tokyo from 16/3 to 25/3 which is really soon. But I am unsure whether i need to purchase the pass or i have brought enough for the train.

    Day 1 – Arrival / Asakusa
    Day 2 – Tsukiji Fish Market
    Day 3 – Odaiba / Gundam and Such
    Day 4 – Tokyo Disneyland
    Day 5 – Shinjuku / Ueno
    Day 6 – Shibuya / Harajuku
    Day 7 – Oshiage / Skytree
    Day 8 – Akiba
    Day 9 – Departure – Asauka -> Narita

  9. Vy says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I need help/guidance with figuring out the most cost effective way to travel between cities in Japan. Would the 14 day JR pass be worth it for my itinerary? I will be activating the JR pass on Day 7 (Tokyo > Hakone).

    Day 1 – Arrive in Tokyo
    Day 2 – Tokyo
    Day 3 – Tokyo
    Day 4 – Tokyo (Disneyland)
    Day 5 – Tokyo
    Day 6 – Tokyo
    Day 7 – Hakone/kawaguchiko
    Day 8 – Kawaguchiko
    Day 9 – Kyoto
    Day 10 – Kyoto
    Day 11 – Nara
    Day 12 – Kyoto
    Day 13 – Kyoto
    Day 14 – Kanazawa
    Day 15 – Kanazawa/shirakawago
    Day 16 – Osaka
    Day 17 – Hiroshima/ miyajima
    Day 18 – Osaka
    Day 19 – Leave Osaka

    Any help would be appreciated.

    Thanks!

    Vy 🙂

  10. Chu Lai says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    I would like what’s the best mean of transport for my trip for a family of 4 adults. We shall be in Japan for 18 days 25/11 to 12/12 arriving and leaving from Narita.
    Arriving Narita airport morning 25/11. A draft of our itinerary is as follows:
    D1 – Narita to Kyoto
    D2 – Kyoto
    D3 – Kyoto -Nara -Kyoto
    D4 – Kyoto – Hemeji -Kyoto
    D5 – Kyoto – Hiroshima
    D6 – Hiroshima -Osaka
    D7 – Osaka
    D8 – Osaka -Kobe -Osaka
    D9 – Osaka – Nagoya
    D10. Nagoya -Takayama -Nagoya
    D11 – Nagoya -Tokyo
    D12- D17 – Tokyo and surrounds
    D18 – Tokyo to Narita

    What would be the most cost effective option for us a 14 day JR pass or a 7day JR plus other passes? We are also aware we will be travelling a lot but spending most of our time in the Kyoto/Osaka and Tokyo surrounds and will not be utilising the whole 14 days of the JR Pass as from D12 to D18 we shall be in Tokyo. Also need advise of how to get from Tokyo to Narita on D18.

    Thanks so much for your help.

    Chu

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