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,
My family bought return tickets to Osaka this October, we will be in Japan for 8 days, our plan is as below. I would appreciate if you could advise if we should buy JR Pass before arriving Japan.
Osaka to Kanazawa
Kanazawa to Shirawago
Shirawago to Takayama
Takayama to Osaka
I was informed that it is not possible to buy JR pass in Japan (have to buy JR pass from our country before arriving Japan) and the minimum days is 7 days. Is that true?
Appreciate your advise.
Thanks
Lihui
Hi Lihui,
You can’t purchase JR Pass in Japan. You have to buy it before you leave.
But JR Pass is too expensive for your trip. Single ticket is much cheaper.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi
I and my family plan to visit Osaka on 15-12-2014. We will leave Osaka to Takayama on 19-12-2014. I plan to book LTD. Exp Hida (Wide view) direct from Osaka to Takayama. I would like to ask you about the ticket. Can I book on the day before travel? Because the train schedule is early morning (07:58 am from Osaka station) and I worrry about my children and mu luggage. Moreover, I search in this website and found there are on board sales in wide view Hida but not available on the route between Takayama???? Do I have to prepare the food before boarding? Because the train will arrive Takayama around 12 pm.
Thank you very much
Joke
Hi Joke,
The ticket is on sale one month prior to departure day. So it will be on sale on Nov 19 and you can book and purchase whenever you will be in Japan. I recommend you to book as soon as possible after you arrive in Japan. It will not be peak season yet. But try to secure your seat as much as earlier.
In the train, there is no way to get any foods and drinks. I recommend you to get something to eat and drink.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Thanks Takeshi.
One more question, my plan will be like this;
15-16 Dec spend time in Osaka (Kaiyukan and USJ)
17-18 Dec visit Kyoto – Nara – Kobe (or anywhere in Kansai, stay at Osaka 4 nights)
19-20 Dec visit Takayama, Shirakawago (stay in Takayama 2 nights)
21 Dec visit Nagoya, stay in a hotel nearby NGO.
22 Dec fly back home (BKK)
I plan to use Kansai Thru Pass for 2 days. What do you think for any more pass for this plan?
Thank you very much.
Hi Joke,
If you can drop by Nagoya or Gifu on the way to Takayama, you can purchase Hidaji Free Kippu.
http://english.jr-central.co.jp/tickets/value/hidaji/
But in this case, you can’t take direct train to Takayama. Gifu is located on the way to Takayama by direct Wide View Hida. But you have to exit Gifu station pucharse it. You can’t continue to ride Wide View Hida from Osaka. You have to take later train.
Unfortunately this is only option to cover Takayama.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi,
Thanks for your kindness reply. For my first day in Osaka, I plan to use Osaka Kaiyu ticket “Nankai version” (my hotel is around Dontonbori) and I wonder if I can use the Nankai express train “Rapi:t” to Namba? Like Kansai Thru Pass, if I want to use “Rapi:t” I have to pay 500 yen for seat reservation, can I do that with Osaka Kaiyu ticket “Nankai version”?
Thank you
Hi Joke,
Yes, you can. It gives you unlimited ride of Nankai railway. If you add seat reservation fee, you can take Rapi:t.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
I had booked to arrive in Osaka in Dec’14, then go to Arashiyama stay 1 night and then got to Kyoto. From Kyoto will go to Mt Fuji, stay 1 night and go to Tokyo and fly off from Narita airport. The whole period will be from 16/12 to 26/12. Can you tell us what is the best way to travel by train &, shinkansen. Is it good to buy the JR Pass for 7 days?
Hi Belinda,
JR pass is not your choice.
I have very similar sample itinerary. Please refer the link below:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/sample-itinerary-of-osaka-kyoto-hakone-fuji-and-tokyo-classic-route.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi again Takeshi,
My plan is to take the morning flight to Tokyo and 13th of September and then take the evening train from Tokyo to Hakodate the same day by railway and come back from Sapporo to Osaka on 20th of September by railway again.
I understand that it is almost impossible to get the limited night train such as hokutosei and twilight.
But do I have any chance to buy some other train after I have arrived in Tokyo on 13th of Sep without any reservation?
Do you think if it is worth for me to buy 7 days railway pass in advance?
Many thanks for your kind advice!
Hi Jie,
If you take daytime trains, it will be fine. There are so many trains and many choices. Especially if you take Shinkansen, it’s much easier to book. It will be okay to book after you arrive in Japan.
You can find timetable of Tohoku Shinkansen to Shin Aomori and Narita Express to Tokyo from Narita at the link below:
http://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/english/wb/common/timetable/index.html
You also can find the timetable of the train Shin-Aomori – Hakodate – Sapporo at the link below:
http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ttable/08.pdf
I think you need 14 days pass. If you start to use the pass on Sept 13, your pass will be expired on Sep 19. But if you use the pass Tokyo-Hakodate, Hakodate-Sapporo and Sapporo to Osaka, even 14 days pass is still cheaper than single fares.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi,
I am planning to go to Japan on September 2014. I have several plans but still cannot decide which one I should do because I am still calculating the cost to travel around Japan. My plan would be like these,
1. Land in NRT and take train to Nagoya. From Nagoya take train to Toyama and spend few days there. And then from Toyama take train to Tokyo again to take flight back to my country.
or
2. Land in KIX and take train to Nagoya and train to Toyama. Spend few nights in Toyama. then take train back to Osaka an spend few nights in Osaka. Take train to airport and fly back to my hometown
I just want to know what is the best option for me? What are the price of train tickets? I appreciate your assistance. Thank you.
Hi Amin,
Option 2 is cheaper. If you do option 1, you can use 7 days JR Pass at 29100 yen. Even though you have to use single ticket mostly for option 2, it’s still slightly cheaper, around 25000 yen. But as you see, it’s not huge difference. If you feel easy and comfortable, JR Pass is easier to handle if you can complete your trip in 7 days. Option 1 is cheaper. But you have to purchase many tickets. It might make you be confused.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi,
We have just booked our flight ticket to visit Japan from 20th to 30th of Dec14.
We are planning to land at Osaka and move up to Tokyo and leave from there.
Could you help with me what is the best plan to cover the cities in Japan and whether we should get a JR Pass and if so when to start to use it?
We are considering maybe day trip to Kobe, Kyoto and Universal Studio, and some visit an Onsen along the way to Tokyo.
Also where is the best area to stay in Osaka/Tokyo (not sure whether we should also stay in Kyoto/Kobe or some other cities?)
Sorry I have no clue, could you please help! 🙂
Thanks in advance.
Kitty
Hi Kitty,
First of all, you don’t need JR pass at this point.
Single trip ticket from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo is less than half price of JR Pass 7 days. Even if you use JR Pass when you stay in Osaka or Tokyo, most of trips will be very short distance trip. For example, I made a sample itinerary for non JR Pass user. Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/sample-itinerary-of-osaka-kyoto-hakone-fuji-and-tokyo-classic-route.html
It’s different from your plan. But you can guess the cost of single ticket to Tokyo from Kyoto and other rail passes.
In Osaka and Kyoto, there are many choices.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/how-to-choose-discount-railway-ticket-and-pass-in-kansai-area.html
But before choose the passes, you have to find out the location to stay and what you want to see. Namba area and Umeda area are popular to stay. But hotel rate is higher than other areas. You may find the location in Osaka at the following post:
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
I hope these links will help you to make a plan.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi there,
We are 4 adults and 2 children traveling to Tokyo and Nozawa Onsen in Jan 2015. We arrive in Tokyo on Jan 11 and stay 3 nights in Tokyo. We then get train/bus to Nozawa and stay there for 6 nights. We then get train/bus back to Tokyo and stay for 6 nights in Tokyo before leaving Japan. We are in Japan for two and half weeks. Is it going to be best to get a rail pass or buy individual fares?
Thanks for your help,
Kind regards,
Trish
Hi Trish,
Round trip fare to Nagano from Tokyo is around 16500 yen. JR East Pass is 22,000 yen.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/jr-east-pass-flex-5-days-unlimited-travel-within-14-days-in-eastern-japan.html
So if you intend to visit somewhere outside of Tokyo when you stay in Tokyo, JR East Pass may be cheaper. Otherwise single ticket is cheaper.
This deal is only choice that covers both Tokyo and Nagano.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi
I’m planning to go to Japan next year winter time :5 days Tokyo-5 days Osaka, then back to Tokyo to catch my flight back home,what is the best train ticket I would buy,since you mentioned that it is more cheaper to buy a one way fare from Tokyo to Osaka .
Thanks.
Hi Joy,
Tokyo – Osaka round trip fare by Shinkansen is almost same as JR Pass 7 days pass.
So you can start to use 7 days pass when you stay in Tokyo on 4th day. Then 7 days pass will cover rest of your trip, Tokyo-Osaka round trip and your local trip in Osaka.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi San,
I’ll visit Unazuki Onsen/Gorge & Alpine route from Nagoya in August. Read that there’s package transport fee as follows:
Hida course A type: 20,710 yen
Hida course B type: 18,610 yen
Shirasagi course A type: 23,800 yen
Shirasagi course B type: 21,700 yen
Are these still valid? Can I just buy them at Nagoya Train station?
What’s the difference between Shirasagi and Hida line?
Thank you in advance!
Angela
Hi Angela,
Those tickets are sold now in Japanese site. So you can purchase it at Nagoya station.
The difference between Hidaji and Shirasaki is a route. If you take Takayama route, you will take Limited Exoress Hida via Takayama. If you take Shirasagi route, you will take Limited Express Shirasagi via Kanazawa. You can make a stopover on the way. So it depends on which city you line.
https://jprail.com/trains/limited-express-shirasagi.html
https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/limited-express/limited-express-wide-view-hida.html
Cheers,
PS I have received another comment and you asked me to notify by email. But I don’t contact readers directly by email in this site.
Takeshi / JP Rail
[…] Information about the Japanese Railways (JR) Pass and the Timetable can be found at this website. It is hosted by a Japanese gentleman who is only too happy to answer in English your questions about the rail system: https://jprail.com/travel-informations/fare-calculation.html […]