This website shows you how to use Japan Rail Pass. But some of visitors have a plan to buy a single ticket. Even Japan Rail Pass user need to pay a single fare when they want to save the pass. So I would like to share the useful links and the information with you.
JR’s rule on passenger’s ticket
This website has a great database. This is the complete guide about JR’s rule. But as you see this website, JR fare rule is so difficult to understand for the tourists from overseas. It is so complicated for even a travel agent in Japan to understand this rule completely.
I show you other simple fare tables below. But these fare tables show you a simple round trip or one way trip only. If you need to calculate for multi-city itinerary, you need to understand JR rules. Otherwise you cannot get an exact fare.
Hyperdia
You can get a fare very easily. (click to view larger image)
This is the easiest way to get the fare. I show you how to use this website at other post. Please refer Japan Railways’s timetables
Fare and Charges at JR East English website
You can find a single fare and surcharge for the following trains:
- Tokaido and Sanyo Shinaksen
- Tohoku Shinkansen
- Joetsu Shinkansen
- Nagano Shinakansen
- Akita Shinkansen
- Yamagata Shinaksen
- Narita Express
- Odoriko/Super View Odoriko
- Nikko/Kinugawa
- Super Azusa/Azusa/Kaiji
- Hakutaka
- Super Hitachi/Hitachi
Fare and Surcharges at JR Central English website
This website offer you the fare table of Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen.
You may also like these posts:
- Guide to plan your trip. How to find Japan Railway’s timetables
- Compare many discount tickets and passes for sightseeing Tokyo. How to choose the right tickets?
- Tokyo station guide. How to change the trains, Shinkansen, Narita Express and other local trains.
- Access to Izu and Atami from Tokyo/Yokohama. Limited Express Odoriko / Super View Odoriko
- How to choose Rail Pass for trip in Kyushu. Many choices for both visitors and residents in Japan.
98 Comments to “Guide to plan your trip. Fare Calculation”
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Hi wm,
First of all, please see the following post:
http://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/how-to-choose-discount-railway-ticket-and-pass-in-kansai-area.htmlAs long as you travel among Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Kobe, single ticket is cheaper than any types of pass. You may purchase Kyoto city pass for subway and bus. But if you take bus/subway less than 5 times, single ticket may be cheaper. You can use ICOCA for the trip to Kyoto, Nara or Kobe.
P.S. Sonja is just one of the visitors.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
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Ayus says:
Hi,
Im glad that i came across your site as i have been having confusions on which pass i should get, the 7 days pass or the 14 days pass.
Here’s my itinerary:Day 1 – arrive in Tokyo
Day 2 Tokyo
Day 3 – 5 Sapporo
Day 6– Tokyo
Day 7 – Kyoto
Day 8- Osaka
Day 9 – Tokyo
Day 10 – Mt Fuji
Day 11. - Yokohama
Day 12- Tokyo
Day 13- TokyoCan i use JR pass in Sapporo?
Need for your advise,thanksRegards,
Ayus-
Hi Ayus,
Yes. You can use the pass in Sapporo. I think 7 days pass is for Day 3 to Day 9 is the best way to save your budget.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
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Colin says:
Hi,
Next month I will spending 2 weeks in Tokyo except to travel to Kanazawa and return 4 days later. I may take another short trip to Kamakura but it will be outside the 7 day time limit. I will get a Suica card on arrival at Narita and for all my other travel within Tokyo. I’ve checked the fares on Hyperdia and would like to know if I am correct in saying a 7 day JR Rail Pass would be around the same price as buying a return ticket to Kanazawa when I arrive? Am I right or should I get a the 7 day pass?
Many thanks, Colin-
Hi Colin,
If you use JR Pass 7 days for just return trip to Kanazawa from Tokyo, single fare is about 2000 yen cheaper. Especially the fastest route to get Kanazawa is Joetsu Shinkansen and Limited Express Hakutaka combination. But Hakutata goes through non JR line partly. You need to pay extra. Please see the following post to get details:
http://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/how-to-get-kanazawa.htmlIf you pay single fare, this extra charge for Hakutaka is included. So if you use JR pass for other than trip to Kanazawa, JR pass may be cheaper than your total cost. It depends on how much you use the pass other than Kanazawa trip.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
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Mark says:
Hello … I will be taking golf clubs with me, so I can take them on ANY trains ?
Hyperdia – they OK with golf clubs on trains ?
Will be traveling from Osaka to Omitsu …
Thanks
Mark
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Hi Mark,
You can take it but space is very limited in most of trains.
See the following post:
http://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.htmlCheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
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Kat says:
Hi jprail,
Im glad that i came across your site as i have been having confusions on which pass i should get. Its gonna be my first time in japan and im planning to go there with my bf for my birthday. Ive been thinking about the passes for two weeks already and i still cant decide. I also want to ask for advise on where to stay based on my itinerary. Osaka or kyoto? Heres my itinerary:
Day 1 – arrive in osaka, go straight to kyoto (visit 5 temples and shrines) gion, fushimi inari
Day 2 – go to nara (am), explore osaka (pm), flight to tokyo
Day 3 – mt fuji
Day 4 – disneysea
Day 5 – explore tokyoThanks and more power to your site!
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Hi Kat,
For first 2 days, use JR West Kansai Area Pass 2 days. You can go Kyoto, Nara and Osaka by this pass. You still may need to purchase Kyoto city pass for excursion in Kyoto because JR West Kansai area pass do not cover subway and city bus.
http://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/how-to-choose-discount-railway-ticket-and-pass-in-kansai-area.htmlFor the last 3 days, I think JR East Kanto Area Pass is the best choice.
http://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/jr-east-kanto-area-pass-perfect-choice-for-tourist-who-want-to-go-to-fuji-izu-nikko-for-a-day-trip.htmlOR If you arrive/depart at Narita, you may use Mt. Fuji round trip ticket.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/fuji/index.html
You have to pay for the fare to Disney sea. But it cost less than 1000 yen from Tokyo.Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
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Faith & John says:
If we purchase a 14 day JR pass, what does it mean? Does the 14 days begin from the first time I use it, or does it mean I can use it any time for example in a month for 14 days on and off?
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Hi Faith and John,
Please read the following:
http://jprail.com/how-to-buy-and-exchange-japan-rail-passCheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
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Heraa Nasim says:
Hello,
I am Heraa and I live in Beppu but I am a foreigner and cannot speak Japanese..
I want to go to t.Fuji so I am thinking to go to the Kawaguchiko Base. Can you please help me how reach the station from Beppu? By the way if you dont know Beppu is in Oita prefecture
I am planning to travel on 24th August. It would be awesome if you could email me the answer
Thank You.
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Hi Heraa,
Don’t worry. I know Beppu. It is one of the most famous hot springs resort!
If you take a train, your route is the following:
Beppu -> (Limited Express Sonic) -> Kokura -> (Shinkansen) -> Tokyo -> (Local train or Limited Express Kaiji/Azusa) -> Otsuki -> (Fuji Kyuko railway) -> Kawaguchiko
http://jprail.com/travel-informations/sonic.html
http://jprail.com/trains/what-is-shinkansen-bullet-train.html
http://jprail.com/destinations/how-to-use-japan-rail-pass-to-go-to-mt-fuji.htmlIt is going to be long long trip. I estimate it takes more than 8 hours. If you are traveller and have Japan Rail Pass, train trip may be your choice. But you live in Japan. I think you should fly to Haneda from Oita. And then trip to Kawaguchiko. This is much faster and may be cheaper.
Check the timetable at Hyperdia. You may be able to compare several routes.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
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Graeme says:
Hi Just wanted to say thanks for your comments. I priced up an 8 day trip while over for Fuji rock using your technique but found a JR Pass was not worth it for me holiday.
Appreciate you trying to help foreign visitors spend wisely!
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Hi Graeme,
Thanks for the comment. I’m very happy to heat that!
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
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Jocelyn says:
Hi,
We are heading to Japan and want to know how if it will be cheaper to buy train tickets as we go or get the JR pass?
Our itinerary is Tokyo 2 days-Kyoto 4 days- Matsue 4 days- Osaka 3days-Koch i4 days-Osaka 1 day. We are there for 24 days with 4 of this days in china. the 3week JR pass is very expensive.
Many thanks
Jocelyn-
Hi Jocelyn,
JR pass is not the best choice. You cannot get your money worth. Simply purchase single ticket for long distance transfer.
You can buy city pass for staying Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
http://jprail.com/destinations/how-to-choose-discount-railway-ticket-and-pass-in-kansai-area.html
http://jprail.com/destinations/subway-in-tokyo.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
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Sonja says:
Hi
My boyfriend and I have booked an unplanned holiday to Japan.
we have booked it spontaneously so a lot of it has not been planned and neither
of us know japan.We arrive at narita on the 20th of June… so in a few days…
So far all we really want to do is go to tokyo then kyoto and Osaka and then back to tokyo.We aren’t sure if we should just pay normal rates for maybe over night bus or a night train
or even just a normal train fare to these places or buy a JR pass… although we are in Japan for 3 weeks…Would it just be cheaper to pay for the ticket on the spot?
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Hi Sonja,
If you stay in Osaka and Kyoto in 7 days and trip to Kyoto/Osaka by Shikansen, you can use Japan Rail Pass 7 days for this trip.
As I mentioned in the following post, Japan Rail Pass is not perfect choice in Tokyo.
http://jprail.com/travel-informations/best-way-efficient-how-much-can-we-use-japan-rail-pass-in-downtown-tokyo.html
So you don’t need to use JR pass in Tokyo anyway. You can use subway line for exploring Tokyo.If you want to take Overnight train/bus to Tokyo/Osaka, just simply pay regular fare. It is cheaper than Japan Rail Pass.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
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I always welcome your comment. But before you leave a comment, please remember these following:
- This is not an official website. This website, JPRail.com is a private website. I don't sell any tickets or passes.
- I am not a travel agent. Please do not ask me to make an itinerary. I can check your itinerary and give you suggestion. I think making an itinerary is a part of your travel. Please try to make it by yourself. Enjoy! :)
- If you are looking for the information about timetable, please refer Japan Railway's timetables.
- If you are looking for the information about the fare, please refer Fare Calculation.
- If you are looking for the information about reservation, please refer, How to reserve seat.
- And you may find the infomation that you need at full index in site map.
If you still have a question, of course I can answer your question.
Please don't ask a question about other than train travel. :)
*If you are the first time vistor, your comment will not be shown before I approve.
Hi Sonja,
We are travelling into Osaka this Sat (8 Dec) arriving Kansai airport at 7am, we have booked hotel in Shin osaka for 7 nights. We plan to buy the Icoca & Haruka package so that we have return trip covered from KIX to Shin Osaka.
Here’s our itineary:
Day 1 & 2: Osaka ( we plan to get the Osaka Unlimited 2 days Pass)
Day 3 &4: Osaka – Kyoto – Osaka
Day 5: Osaka – Nara – Osaka
Day 6: Osaka – Kobe – Osaka
Day 7: Osaka/Namba
Day 8: KIX morning 10am flight.
May I know what is the best rail pass & most worthwhile pass we should be getting for Day 3 – 6 please?
thank you very much.