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,
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
Hi Chu,
You can go for 14 days JR pass for the first 14 days. I don’t see any issues on your itinerary. But I recommend you to stay in Takayama if you can. It’s worth staying there. You can get an extra time to visit Shirakawago. You may take Kyoto (or Osaka) -Kanazawa-Shirakwago-Takayama route. Both Kanazawa and Shirakawago are highly recommended.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/how-to-access-to-takayama-by-trains-and-buses.html
Of course if you don’t want to spend any more time in Takayama, day trip is okay. It’s feasible.
You can use subway pass after your JR pass is expired. Subway pass covers actually more than JR Pass in Tokyo.
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
Unfortunately there is no deals to get Narita . Single ticket or budget bus is only choice.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/narita/the-list-of-deals-for-access-to-downtown-tokyo-from-narita-airport.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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
Hi Michael,
There is no deals to cover whole part of your trip. You may use some local deals and single ticket.
For staying in Tokyo, please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
If you want to enjoy many rides in Disneyland, you should go there before the gate open at 8:00. Especially Disneyland is busy because it’s in spring break. You can visit Tsukiji on next day.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/trip-report/2015-spring-tokyo-disney-resort/trip-to-tokyo-disneyland-and-tokyo-disneysea-in-2015-spring-part-2-visiting-tokyo-disneyland-with-small-child.html
Single ticket is only your choice for Tokyo-Fuji-Osaka. Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
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
Single ticket is also okay to visit USJ. USJ will be very busy too.
And you can use Kansai thru pass for the last 2 days.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-use-kansai-thru-pass-compare-pass-and-single-fare.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Great! Thanks for your help Takeshi.
No problem, Michael.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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
Hi Joe,
Yes. 7 days JR pass is much cheaper than single fares.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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
Hi Dhifa,
You have to go to Shirakawago because if you will not go there, you cannot get the worth of 7 days pass. The following line shows you sample itinerary of day trip to Kanazawa and Shirakawago from Tokyo. Chiba is 40 minutes away from Tokyo by rapid train. This train is covered by JR pass. So you can use this itinerary too.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1-day/sample-itinerary-of-day-trip-to-kanazawa-and-shirakawago-from-tokyo.html
Most part of the first 7 days are covered by JR Pass. However JR pass does not cover local transportation, such as subway and city bus. So you need to add single fare or bus/subway pass in Kyoto, Kobe and Osaka. Please see the following links to get the detailed info.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/how-to-transfer-among-kyoto-osaka-and-kobe-compare-japan-railway-and-private-lines.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-kyoto-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
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
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/osaka-kyoto-kobe-and-nara/guide-to-take-trains-in-kobe-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
Single ticket is okay for day 8 and 10.
About the trip to Fuji, please see the link below. There are many deals available. But you have to decide the destination.
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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.
Hi Lisa,
At this point, both 7 days and 14 days do not meet your plan.
First of all, 14 days pass is too expensive. If you have one more big trip, like day tirp to Kanazawa or Hiroshima, it works.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1-day/day-trip-to-hiroshima-and-miyajima-from-osakakyoto.html
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1-day/sample-itinerary-of-day-trip-to-kanazawa-and-shirakawago-from-osaka-or-kyoto.html
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1-day/sample-itinerary-of-day-trip-to-kanazawa-and-shirakawago-from-tokyo.html
On the other hand, if you go for 7 days, you can start on day 8 when you go to Kyoto. And it will cover until you get Tokyo on day 14. But total fares are slightly cheaper than 7 days pass. If you go somewhere other than Kyoto on day 11 or 13, 7 days pass will work. The difference will be around 1000 to 2000 yen. So if you want to have easy trip, you can use 7 days pass. It’s much easier to buy many single tickets.
If you can use 14 days pass, your trip is much easier. Handling many single ticket is very troublesome. But single ticket is most affordable choice for you now.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you Takeshi! Much appreciated!
No problem, Lisa.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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
Hi Stan,
14 days JR pass is recommended. I don’t want to calculate because it’s too much. If you want to know the exact fare, please try to find it at Hyperdia.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
But I’m pretty sure 14 days pass is way cheaper than single fares. You can use 14 days pass for the first 14 days until you get back to Tokyo from Shizuoka.
You don’t need JR pass for staying in Tokyo. Subway pass is okay.
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
Single ticket is okay for getting Haneda.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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
Hi Sally,
Please see the link below. You will find all info that you need.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/how-to-build-the-itinerary-and-choose-the-deals-for-osaka-stay-5-to-7-days.html
Cheers
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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
Hi magicsheep,
There are some airport access + subway pass combo available. Please see the links below:
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/airport_bus/index.html#anc02
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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 🙂
Hi Vy,
I agree with your plan. Day 7 is the right day to start using JR Pass.
By the way, Hakone is closer to Kyoto than Lake Kawaugchi. If you intend to stay in Hakone too, I recommend you to switch Hakone and Lake Kawaguchi. You can visit Lake Kakwaguchi first. Please find more info at the link below:
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
You may use subway pass or other deal or single ticket in Tokyo. The following link shows you info about staying in Tokyo.
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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
Hi Chu,
14 days JR pass is the best deal even if you don’t use the pass after day 12. Even in Tokyo, you may use JR pass to take local train to visit some places there.
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
There are not many deals available from Tokyo to Narita. Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/narita/the-list-of-deals-for-access-to-downtown-tokyo-from-narita-airport.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com