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I was asked many times that Japan Rail Pass Green Pass is worthwhile? Of course Green seat is better than ordinary seat. As long as you have enough budget, you can buy Green pass. But JR Groups have so many kinds of trains. They operate more than 100 limited express trains on only regular track and more trains on Shinkansen. And some limited express trains do not have Green seat. But some local trains have Green seat. And also they have many kinds of Green seat. For example, some limited express train give you 2+1 seat configuration. But the other trains give you same 2+2 seat configuration as Ordinary class. So if you have some more ideas about Green seat before you buy Japan Rail Pass, you can make a better decision which pass you buy, Green or Ordinary.

In this post, I show you some example that help you to understand more about Green seat.

What the difference between Green and Ordinary

Basically the difference is only facility. Green class has more leg room, head rest, leg rest and recline much deeper than ordinary seat. Green class do not include any meal service except a drink service on the specific trains. Let’s compare the seat pitch.

• Green class — 1100mm to 1160mm
• Ordinary class — 910mm to 1000mm
• Economy class on the most flight — 787mm to 838mm

So even Ordinary class has bigger leg space than Economy class seat. If you do not have any problem with the economy class in the flight at all, you do not need to buy Green pass.

Green class of JR Hokkaido trains

If you have a plan to travel in Hokkaido, I strongly recommend to buy Green pass. JR Hokkaido provides you the best service in Japan Railways Group (six companies = JR Hokkaido, JR East, JR Central, JR Shikoku, JR Kyushu). Green class of all JR Hokkaido limited express train give you 2+1 seat configuration. “Twincle Lady” who is an attendant just for Green class on limited express “Hokuto/Super Hokuto” (Hakodate-Sapporo), “Super Tokachi/Super Ozora” (Sapporo-Obihiro/Kushiro) provide you soft drink, new paper (maybe Japanese only), magazine (maybe Japanese only too), blanket and steam hot towel. Twincle lady do not attend on the other limited express train, but the attendant provide you very similar service.

Look at the image below. This is the easiest sample.

Which one do you like it? If you don’t like to smell leather, JR Hokkaido “Super Hakucho” is not recommended. But JR Hokkaido train provide you more luxury atmosphere. And also if you take Super Hakusho from Hokkaido side (Hakodate), you will receive soft drink and steam hot towel. But if you take Super Hakucho from Honshu side (Shin-Aomori, Aomori, etc), you will not receive anything. Because the staffs are sent by JR East for Super Hakucho departing from Aomori. They do not provide JR Hokkaido service. Unfortunately most of trains by other JR companies do not give you this kind of value. There is a huge gap among JR six companies. But JR Kyushu has same type of service.

Green class of JR Kyushu trains

JR Kyushu used to provide same type of service as JR Hokkaido. Before JR Hokkaido started to hire the staffs for “Twincle Lady”, JR Hokkaido asked JR Kyushu to send the staff to educate. Unfortunately JR Kyushu stopped serving soft drink and other services in March 2010. They still have an attendant on Green class of some trains to serve steam wet towel and candy. And also most of limited express trains are designed by one of the well known industrial designer, Eiji Mitooka. Every single JR Kyushu express trains have a great character.

Green class of JR Kyushu trains give you 2+1 seat configuration. Especially Green seat on 787 series is one of the best seat in Japan. But newest car 885 series have the leather seat. It has very strong leather smell. And also it is slippery seat. 787 series is used for many limited express trains in Kyushu. 885 series is used for Kamome and Sonic. When you make a reservation, you can ask which series is going to be used for.

But JR Kyushu operates lots of limited express trains that do not have Green class. For example, JR Kyushu operate many cruising trains, such as “Hayato no Kaze”, “Yufuin no Mori”, “Ibusuki no Tamatebako”. These trains have a colorful character and you will enjoy Japanese authentic culture. But no Green class are on these trains. Please make sure which train you will take before you travel.

Shinkansen

Do you know that Shinkansen train is bigger than regular track trains? Shinkansen is completely different train from the regular train. That is why 3+2 seat configuration in Ordinary class and 2+2 seat configuration are the standard. Most of Shinkansen trains do not have any special service. I tell you the good point and the bad point.

Hayabusa (Tohoku Shinkansen) – Good

There is an attendant for Green class passengers exclusively. Welcome drink (coffee or other soft drinks) and steam hot towel are served. Hayabusa has Glan Class seat. This is much better than Green. But you need to pay the extra charges. Hayabusa is operated by the newest train E5 series. This is more comfortable to ride than E2 series for Hayate.

Max Yamabiko (Tohoku Shinkansen), Max Toki (Joetsu Shinkansen) and Max Tanigawa (Joetsu Shinkansen) – Good

These trains that have “Max” in the name are operated by the double decker E1 series or E4 series. Green seat is located on the upper level. So it gives you a better view. Especially there are very high soundproofed wall by Shinkansen rail. These three trains are operated by regular single deck train too. So if you have a choice, try to take “Max” trains. If you take Ordinary, don’t take Non Reserved. Reserved Ordinary has the standard 2+3 seat configuration. Non Reserved has 3+3! Too small!!!

Tsubasa (Yamagata Shinkansen) and Komachi (Akita Shinkansen) – Bad

These trains are smaller than other Shinkansen trains. Because these Shinkansen trans are shared with the regular track trains. So both Green and Ordinary have same seat configuration 2+2. There are not big difference between Green and Ordinary. But Komachi has same service as Hayate since Komachi combined to operate with Hayate between Tokyo and Morioka. Tsubasa does not have any special service.

Hikari Rail Star (Sanyo Shinkansen) and Tsubame (Kyushu Shinkansen) – consideration

These trains do not have Green class. Hikari Rail Star give you 2+2 seat configuration on the Reserved Ordinary seat and regular 2+3 seat configuration for Non Reserved seat. Japan Rail Pass user can take Reserved seat without any extra. 2+2 seat configuration is the standard on Tsubame. Even Non Reserved seat is 2+2 too. So if you take these trains a lot, Green pass is meaningless.

Mizuho/Sakura (Kyushu Shinkansen) - consideration

These trains are very similar to Hikari Rail Star. These trains are operated by same series as Nozomi, N700. N700 is newer and better than Hikari Rail Star 700 series. And Mizuho and Sakura have Green class. But both Green and Reserved Ordinary have same seat configuration 2+2, and Non Reserved is 2+3. Of course Green seat is more comfortable and has bigger leg space. But it does not have any special service. So Reserved Ordinary is good enough in my opinion.

Other Shinkansen trains

Hikari (Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen), Kodama (Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen) and Asama (Nagano Shinkansen) have 2+2 seat configuration. Ordinary class in these trains have 2+3 seat configuration. So it is okay. Hikari has an attendant for Green class and steam hot towel is served. But other trains do not have any special service. If you take Nozomi (Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen, not covered by Japan Rail Pass), you have same service as Hikari.

Other recommended trains

Super View Odoriko

This train has 2+1 seat configuration Green seat on the upper level of double decker car. And also you will get some drink and steam hot towel. Odoriko is operated on same route as Super View Odoriko. Odoriko is operated by old type car. You can move to same destination, Atami and some spot on Izu peninsula. But this is complete different train. Be careful!

Urban Rapid trains

Rapid commute trains that are operated in Tokyo and surrounding area have non reserved Green seat. If you have a plan to explore in Kanto area, such as Kamakura Chiba, Mito or Saitama, you may take these Rapid trains a lot. These trains are commute trains. So if you ride this train, it may be crowded and may not find a seat. But if you have Green pass, you can take double decker Green car.

You may also like these posts:

• Sanyo Shinkansen image gallery. Check the interior and accommodations.
• Access to Wakkanai from Sapporo. Limited Express Super Soya / Sarobetsu
• Passenger’s review of “Hikari Railstar”
• Kyushu Shinkansen N700 series for Mizuho, Sakura and Tsubame image gallery
• Access to Kushiro and Obihiro from Sapporo. Limited Express Super Ozora / Super Tokachi

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9 Comments to “Which JR Pass is better, Green or Ordinary? Worthwhile buying Japan Rail Pass Green Pass?”

1. Fred says:

   September 5, 2012 at 4:44 am

   When I search for JR pass information, I find two two sites (at least) selling the tickets. One is JR pass.com with price $356 for 7-days pass. The other is acprail.com (by name from Google search result ‘JR Rail for Canadians’) priced $492/7 days.

   I wonder why there are two different prices. My guess is that acprail is an agency selling the JR (and others) tickets and they add their profit on top of it. Am I right?

   Is there only one JR Pass system in Japan? Does it make any difference from where I buy the ticket?

   Thanks

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     September 5, 2012 at 1:01 pm

     Hi Fred,

     The price at ACP is Green pass. JRpass.com show Ordinary pass price. Check the all price at ACP. You will see same price as JRPass.com. There are so many travel agents. But they sells at same price basically. Sometimes it is different. But it is not much different, like a couple of dollars.

     JR Pass is only one that is issued by JR Group.

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
2. Jim Nakazawa says:

   April 27, 2012 at 2:28 pm

   Takeshi,

   Do JR Hokkaido’s Limited Express trains have some green car seats that are available without a reservation to green Japan Rail Pass users? I think that there will be times when we suddenly change our plans and will not have enough time to get a reservation when transferring from a local train to a LEX. When that is the case,should be just sit in the non-reserverd ordinary car seats? My Japanese is too weak and I won’t be able to explain my situation to the Conductor. We already have our 14-day green Japan Rail Pass vouchers.

   Thank you, your replies alway provide us with valuable information.

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     April 27, 2012 at 9:57 pm

     Hi Jim,
     All Green seats are reserved seat except Rapid train in Greater Tokyo area. Basically you cannot take any Green seats without reservation. If there are lots of empty seat, the conductor may be able to assign the seat. But you need to talk to them anyway. And also, green seats in Hokkaido are very popular. It is no surprise that it is sold out. Make a reservation as soon as possible. You can change it later if you need.
     Don’t worry about language barrier. I don’t think the conductor can speak English very fluently. But they always try to communicate and try to understand. Especially there are lots of overseas tourists in Hokkaido and Kyushu. They are very familiar with the tourist.
     Cheers,
     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
3. T T H says:

   November 15, 2011 at 12:57 am

   Dear Takeshi,
   I will traveling around Japan between 8 ~ 23 Fed 2012. Is this period is considered as peak season in Japan? It seems that foreign travelers facing quite a problems regarding seat reservation when traveling with Hayabusa or Sunrise Seto even with the Japan Rail Pass.
   I will travel by Hayabusa 6 from Shin-Aomori arrive at Tokyo 21.24 on the 11Fed, and continue to Okayama by Sunrise Seto which leaving at 22.00 in the same day. Except worrying about the seat reservation on Hayabusa 6 and Nobi nobi seats, I will wonder whether I can managed to walk with my luggage within 20 minutes between the platform 22 and the platform 9 in order to catch up the Sunrise Seto.

   with Tks
   T T H

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     November 15, 2011 at 7:15 am

     Hi TTH,
     If you go to Sapporo between Feb 6 and 12, it is busy. Sapporo will hold Snow Festival. This is one of the most popular event. Most of hotel will be sold out.
     So it will be very hard to get Hayabusa and other trains in Hokkaido. But you can make a reservation for Hayabusa on JR East English website. Try to get it ASAP.
     It is not busy in other area. So Sunrise is not busy at this period.
     Regarding the transfer at Tokyo, I think you gave me same question in last week. You have 36 minutes at Tokyo, not 20 minutes. Even if you have a luggage, it will be no problem. You can make it.
     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
4. Richard Burbidge Stairs says:

   May 5, 2011 at 8:40 am

   Agreed. I travelled during the holidays and was lucky enough to get a seat in the green car.

   Reply
5. James says:

   March 28, 2011 at 8:20 pm

   There is another advantage of Green Car, good chance you will get a seat during busy holidays. Ordinary reservation seats sold out early from time to time during public holidays.

   Cheers
   James

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     March 28, 2011 at 10:41 pm

     Thanks for your good comment. always!
     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply