For non JR pass travellers. Guide to use JR single ticket, basic rules, validity and stopover

Fare table
2013.07.04
This is not a regular JR ticket but a typical JR train ticket looks like this.

I have received many inquiries about Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka one way trip. I always recommend to use a regular ticket for this one way long distance train ride, such as from Tokyo to Kyoto, from Osaka to Tokyo. Because this one way trip is not enough to get the worth of JR Pass 7-day. I have written the post about the fare calculation before.

Guide to plan your trip. Fare Calculation
This post explains you the information about the fare calculation of the trains in Japan.
jprail.com
2010.08.29

But I think this post was not enough to explain the fare rule. JR single ticket rule is very complicated for the tourists from oversea. But you do not need to know everything. If you understand some basic rules, single ticket is more useful and it gives you a trip at more affordable rate.

In this post, I will show you some basic rules of the regular ticket for the long distance train ride and how to use and purchase it.

How to purchase it

Simply you can purchase it at the station. If you make a short distance trip in the city or city to just outside city, you can purchase a ticket at the vending machine.

e.g.
Ueno to Tokyo (inside city)
Tokyo to Yokohama (city to just outside place)
Osaka to Universal City (inside city)
Osaka to Kyoto (city to outside place)

If you make a long distance trip, you still can buy a ticket at the vending machine. But the ticket window may be easier to purchase a long distance ticket for the foreign travelers. Especially if you intend to make a stopover on the way, you have to buy a ticket at the ticket window. Because you have to explain your trip plan.

If you want to take a limited express train, you have to purchase a limited express surcharge ticket too. Even if you want to take a non reserved seat on a limited express train, you have to purchase it. You can purchase both a reserved and a non reserved ticket for a limited express (the Shinkansen as well) at “Midori no Madoguchi”. Midori no Madoguchi is the name of JR reservation ticket window. You can purchase a base fare ticket at Midori no Madoguchi too. Please get the detail about reservation at the post below.

How to reserve a seat of Japan Railway trains at the station and online
Japanese train seat reservation is a bit tricky. The online reservation is very limited and you have to book it in most cases. This post explains you how to manage the booking.
jprail.com
2009.12.30

In the case of purchasing both base fare ticket and limited express surcharge ticket, you can purchase it in advance. An express surcharge ticket is on sale one month prior to a departure date.

e.g.
Tokyo to Kyoto travel on Dec 1
You can purchase the tickets after Nov 1.

You also can purchase the tickets at any JR stations if you buy both base fare and limited express surcharge at same time. For example, if you start to travel from Tokyo station, you can purchase it at Narita airport station on the day of arrival.

Base fare ticket can be purchased at any JR stations where station staff is on duty. There are many station without station staffs in remote area. In major cities and major stations, there are station staff. Even if you take a train at the station without station staff, you can purchase it from the conductor in the train.

How to get a fare

You can use Hyperdia to get the fare quite easily.

Hyperdia perfect guide, train timetable and route search engine
If you want to build your itinerary by yourself, Hyperdia will help you a lot. This site is transportation search engine. You can search the timetables and routes of all trains, flights and airport shuttle bus. But this site is a bit tricky and too many functions and options to you. This guide will help you to find the way to use this site.
jprail.com
2013.11.26
Click to enlarge.
Click to enlarge.

As you see above capture image of Hyperdia, you can get base fare and seat fare (includes surcharge). In this image, total fare is the following:

Base fare – 9560 yen
Shinkansen Nozomi (Tokyo – Shin-Osaka) – 5740 yen (reserved seat)
Ltd Exp Haruka (Shin-Osaka – Kansai airport) – 820 yen (reserved seat)
Total – 16120 yen

*The above image was captured in 2013. The fare was raised in April l, 2014 because of consumer tax was increased to 8% from 5%. The actual fare is different from the fare in the image above.

The price of Japan Rail Pass 7 days ordinary is 28300 yen. (New price is 29110 yen.) Total single fare is more than 10000 yen cheaper than 7 days pass price. This is the reason why I recommend to use single fare for Tokyo – Osaka one way transfer.

Validity

Please see the above capture image of Hyperdia again. You also can find a distance at Hyperdia. This is a key to use single ticket. Actually long distance ticket can be used in multiple days.

DistanceValid days
101 – 200 km2 days
201 – 400 km3 days
401 – 600 km4 days
601 – 800 km5 days
801 – 1000 km6 days
  • From 1001 km and up, add 1 day every 200 km.
  • If you travel more than 101 km but it is in Tokyo or Osaka zone only, ticket valid in one day only.

So in above capture image, distance is 613.4km. This ticket valid in 5 days.

Stopover

You can stopover as many as you want. Of course you cannot go back. Once you start to travel, you have to go forward. You have to care only one thing. When you depart/arrive to travel at the following areas, you cannot stopover in same areas.

  • Sapporo
  • Sendai
  • Tokyo 23 wards
  • Tokyo Yamanote line
  • Yokohana
  • Nagoya
  • Kyoto
  • Osaka
  • Kobe
  • Hiroshima
  • Kitakyushu
  • Fukuoka

These areas are same as city limit. I show you some examples.

1. Above ticket (Tokyo – Kansai Airport)
You can NOT – Stopover at anywhere in Tokyo 23 wards. For example, after you start to travel from Tokyo, you cannot stopover at Shinagawa.
You can – Stopover at Kyoto, Osaka and anywhere outside of Tokyo 23 wards.
By the way, you can start to travel from anywhere in Tokyo 23 wards.

2. Ticket from Narita airport to Osaka
You can NOT – Stopover at anywhere in Osaka city. For example, you cannot stopover at Shin-Osaka. Once you exit at any stations in Osaka city, your ticket will be expired right away.
You can – Stopover at Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya and anywhere outside of Osaka city.
By the way, when you travel through Tokyo downtown core, ticket will be calculated by the shortest route. For example, most typical route from Narita to Osaka via Tokyo, via Tokyo station and Shinagawa station. But if you want to go to Osaka via Akihabara and Shinjuku, you can take this route and stopover.

But in case of using limited express, you have to purchase limited express surcharge ticket for each segments.
ex) Tokyo – Osaka trip, stopover at Nagoya.
You have to purchase two Shinkansen tickets, Tokyo – Nagoya Shinkansen surcharge ticket and Ngoya – Shin-Osaka surcharge ticket.

Sample ideas

Please see above capture image of Hyperdia again. If you use this ticket, you can do the following itinerary.

Day 1 Tokyo – Kyoto (Stopover at Kyoto)
Day 2 Kyoto (no use single ticket)
Day 3 Kyoto – Osaka (Stopover at Osaka)
Day 4 One day trip to Kobe (purchase another single ticket.)
Day 5 Osaka – Kansai airport

When you arrive in Tokyo, you can use other deals, such as Suica & N’ex. And you have 5 days after you finish to see Tokyo. If you add Suica & N’ex one way ticket, total amount is 19620 yen. It is about 9000 yen cheaper than JR Pass 7 days.

I believe this is the perfect solution for Tokyo – Osaka one way travellers.

Comments

  1. Phil says:
    November 11, 2015 at 8:14 pm

    Hi Takeshi san,
    I have a relatively simple itinerary.
    Osaka to Tokyo ( I would assume a one way ticket) also I am not in a hurry so perhaps the Hikari or even the train that stops at all stations if it is much less expensive.
    So cost for me would be?

    Tokyo to Nagoya then to Osaka (a one way ticket) and this would give me a stop in Nagoya for 4 days? I would use the Hikari for these two segments.
    So cost for me would be?

    I do appreciate your comments and advice
    thanks,
    Phil

  2. Beng Choo says:
    November 7, 2015 at 10:44 pm

    Dear Takeshi san

    I don’t think I can purchase a single ticket to cover from Narita to Kansai due to the length of stay. If I get a Shinkansen ticket from Tokyo to Osaka, can I hop off Kyoto & stay for 1 day before moving off to Osaka?

    Hope to have your advice. Thank you.

  3. Yancey says:
    November 5, 2015 at 6:39 am

    Hi Takeshi san

    I am planning to start fm
    Kansai airport to Kyoto (stay 4nite )
    Then to kinosaki (1nite)
    Then to kobe (2nite with side trip to himeji castle)
    Then to osaka ( 4nite with side trip to nara)
    Back home fm Kansai airport.
    My colleague also said no need to buy rail pass..
    Can u advise pl? Is my info enough? Havent fully decided details
    yet. Thank you for your help in advance.

  4. Beng Choo says:
    October 31, 2015 at 7:57 am

    Dear Takeshi san

    I was reading your post on guide to use single ticket
    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

    My family of 4 are flying from Singapore to Tokyo in Nov 2015. We plan to take Tokaido Shinkansen (Hikari train) from Tokyo to Kyoto. Our itinerary is as follows:
    Day 1 – Arrive in Narita Airport. Transfer to Shinjuku via N’EX.
    Day 2 & 3 – Tokyo
    Day 4 – Kyoto
    Day 5 – Osaka
    Day 6 to 8 – Osaka
    Day 9 – Kansai Airport

    Based on this itinerary, what do you propose is the best way to purchase train tickets & the appropriate tickets to purchase. Would appreciate very much your advice. Thank you.

    Best regards
    Beng Choo

  5. Cavin says:
    October 27, 2015 at 8:19 am

    Hi Takeshi san,

    I have a group of 4 going to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka for 11 days on 13/12 to 23/12 and was wondering if it would be wise to purchase the JR Rail Pass for the first 7 days as it can also cover some costs on traveling within Tokyo. This is our itinerary, would you kindly advise us on the decision?

    Day 1-5 in Tokyo. From Narita Airport to our Hotel, which is near JR Okachimachi or Yushima on the Chiyoda Line.

    Day 4 we will go from Ueno to IWAPPARASKIJOMAE (to and fro) which i understand is also using JR lines.

    Day 5 we will proceed from Tokyo to Kyoto via Shinkansen.

    Day 7 we will proceed from Kyoto to Osaka

    Day 8-11 In Osaka with a day trip to Nara. Fly back via Kansai Airport.

    I would also wish to enquire if it is possible to purchase all the JR tickets needed such as the tickets to Iwapparaskijomae (to and fro) and the ride from Tokyo to Kyoto.

    Thank you very much!

    Best regards, Cavin

  6. Angeline teo says:
    October 26, 2015 at 9:53 am

    Hi,

    We are a group of six pax goin to japan for holiday but we are confuse on whether should we purchase 7 days JR ticket. Below is our itinanary:

    From airport to hotel monterey ginza in Tokyo (stay for 3 nights)

    4th day go to hakone ( stay for 1 night)
    5th day go to nagoya (stay for 1 night)
    6th to 9th day go to osaka ( stay for 3nights)

    Is it worth to get 7 days JR pass?

  7. Royston Tan says:
    October 26, 2015 at 6:44 am

    Dear Takeshi,

    I hope i understand the rules correctly. Could you please guide me along. Thanks!

    One way trip from Sapporo to Kansai Airport, 1803km, 10 days validity.

    Day 1: From Sapporo to Tokyo ( Making a stopover at sendai)
    Day 2 – 4: Reach Tokyo (Explore Tokyo using Tokyo metro)
    Day 5: Travel to Odawara, Hakone ( Stopover 1 night)
    Day 6-7: Travel to Kyoto (Stopover 2 night)
    Day 8-9: Travel to Osaka (Stopover 2 night)
    Day 10: To KIX

    Cheers,
    Royston

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      October 26, 2015 at 4:12 pm

      Hi Royston,

      You understand it correctly but actually it’s valid for 11 days.
      By the way, you cannot use JR pass? If you can use it, use 7 days pass from day 1 to 7. And add single fare in Osaka. That is much cheaper.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  8. Jennie says:
    October 19, 2015 at 12:25 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    Below is my itinerary. I will not be traveling with JR Pass (unless you think it is better value).
    12/6: Arrive NRT
    12/11: Hakone
    12/12: Kyoto
    12/13-12/14: Osaka, Kobe
    12/15: KIX

    I read your notes and wondering if I am doing this correctly. Could you confirm or guide me?

    12/6: Arrive Narita and take Access Narita to Tokyo (¥1,000)
    12/11: Take Train to Shinjuku and buy single ticket on Odakyu railway to Hakone (Romance Car) (¥2,080) and then buy Hakone Free Pass (¥4,000)??
    12/12: Leave Hakone from Odawara Station and buy 1 way ticket to Kansai Airport (¥14,440)
    The distance is 529km – VALID DAYS 4 days
    Can I using this ticket (Odawara station-KIX) and travel multiple stops?
    12/12: Make a stopover trip to Kyoto (from Odawara to Kyoto Station)
    12/13: depart Kyoto Station to Osaka via stopover (from Kyoto Station to Shin-Osaka)
    12/14: Day trip to Kobe (buy a single ticket since stopover would not apply?)
    12/15 Osaka to KIX (via Limited Haruka Express)

    Can you advise me if I am understanding this? What other tickets do you advise me to buy when in Osaka?

    Thank you,
    Jennie

  9. Leanne says:
    October 19, 2015 at 8:59 am

    Hi Takeshi-San,
    We are a group of 7 travellers, arriving in Tokyo on 20 Feb 2016, will leave for Nozawa onsen on 23 Feb 2016, will there be a problem for us to purchase 7 tickets for Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo -Liyama station on 20 Feb? Only 3 days before departure, tickets won’t be sold out by then? We can’t find online ticket purchase for Shinkansen? Please advise, thank you.

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      October 19, 2015 at 4:14 pm

      Hi Leanne san,

      I think you can make it even 3 days before. But if you worry, you may book it online.
      http://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/English/wb/common/Menu/Menu.aspx?_ga=1.246921732.1090172892.1443854434

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Leanne says:
        October 19, 2015 at 6:39 pm

        Good morning, Takeshi-San,
        We have looked several times the link you provided, they are for JR rail pass holders only. The 3rd choice it says ” Kando pass and travellers without pass”, when looked in it, the reservation is only for Kando pass, then it is the end of reservation page, nothing is mentioned about traveller without pass. We have no intention to purchase rail pass, as our travel covers only 3 days in central Tokyo and 5 days in Nozawa onsen, apparently JR rail pass does not even cover part of the journey for Hokuriku Shinkansen (Tokyo-Liyama). It would be a great help if you could post a direct link for traveller without pass? Thanks!

        • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
          October 19, 2015 at 11:58 pm

          Hi Leanne,

          I’ve just tried to book some train from Travellers without rail pass. As you said, it says about pass holders. But in my understanding, it’s a general information for pass holders. I think you can go for it from “Travellers without rail pass”. But I have never used this site for reservation without pass.

          If you hesitate to use this site, just book it after you arrive in Japan. I’m optimistic you can make it even if you do it in Japan.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  10. Wei Jun says:
    October 3, 2015 at 10:10 pm

    Dear Takeshi san,

    We have 4 people and going to Japan, Tokyo, Fuji, Kyoto and Osaka on Nov16 – Nov23, 7 days.

    After saw all some questions and answer here, I think 7 days pass would be much more expensive for our trip. Here is my itinerary, could you kindly advise us? Roughly how much we needed for all the major transport? and What pass we needed to buy in advance if we don’t purchase JR pass ?

    Day 1 – Reach Narita Airport. Transfer to Tokyo, shinjuku
    Day 2 – Tokyo
    Day3 – transfer to Fuji, gekkoji station
    Day 5 – transfer to kyoto
    Day 6 – Kyoto
    Day 7 – Transfer to Osaka
    Day 8 – Osaka Kansai Airport

    Thank you very much!

    Regards,
    Wei Jun

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