Guide to plan your trip. Fare Calculation

dentaku calculatorFare table
2010.08.29
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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

You can get a fare very easily. (click to view larger image)
You can get a fare very easily. (click to view larger image)

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:

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

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.

For non JR pass travellers. Guide to use JR single ticket, basic rules, validity and stopover
The train ticket rule is very complicated in Japan. But you may have to use the regular fare ticket because it is cheaper than the rail pass. This post explains you the basic ticket rule as easy as possible.
jprail.com
2013.07.04

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

  1. jan west says:
    December 17, 2013 at 1:10 pm

    Hi there! This will be our first visit to Japan and I wonder if you can help me clarify something – I am planning 3 separate journeys from Osaka – Kumamoto, then Kumamoto to Kyoto, then Kyoto to Tokyo.

    If I purchase a JRP I can only use Sakura or Hikari trains I believe. Are there green carriages on these trains , do you know?

    I am finding conflicting information on the sites I have looked at. I am wondering if it is indeed worth the extra money for a green carriage pass. Thankyou for your help!

  2. Melissa says:
    December 17, 2013 at 5:27 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    Thank you so much for the prompt reply. Sorry more questions for you!

    If I were to buy a one way Nagano Shinkansen tickets from Tokyo to Nagano, would my 12 year old son be an adult fare or child’s fare? The adult fare is 7970 yen and I believe that the child’s fare is half at 3985 yen.

    We will be flying into to Haneda airport and staying in Tokyo for 1 night so what is the best pass to purchase to get us to Tokyo from Haneda and then around Tokyo for the day? Our hotel is in Shinjuku. We will also be staying in Tokyo for 5 nights after we come back from Nozawa Onsen so will need advise on a rail pass for this last leg of our holiday.

    We will still need to get from Nagano to Nozawa Onsen, I believe that a direct bus is the the easiest and fastest way, are you able to advise the bus company?

    Thanks very much again for all the great advice and I very much appreciate your help.

    Kind Regards,

    Melissa

    • JPRail says:
      December 17, 2013 at 7:23 am

      Hi Melissa,

      I usually recommend Suica and Monorail for arrival day.
      http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/suica-monorail/index.html

      However Haneda travel center is open between 11:00 and 18:30. If you arrive later than 18:39, you can’t purchase it. Your option is only single ticket.

      Or you can purchase limousine and Metro.
      http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/discount_ticket/en/index.html

      For the rest of the day in Tokyo, you can use Suica if you still have some more fund. Or you can purchase just subway pass as you need.

      Child rate is for the kid less than 12 years old. But kid is still elementary school student, child rate can be applied. Child rate is half price.

      For Nagano – Nozawa onsen, I’m not very familiar. But you can use this bus service.
      http://www.nagadenbus.co.jp/robus/2013fuyu/nozawawin.htm
      Upper table is to Nozawa. The first row is Nagano station and last row is Grand Hotel Nozawa. I’m not sure where you need to get off. I recommend you to ask your accommodation about bus stop.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  3. Mel says:
    December 16, 2013 at 10:53 pm

    Hello,

    Are you able to pay for an ‘add on’ trip to Nagano (destination will eventually be Nozawa Onsen) with the JR Kanto area pass?

    Do yo need to buy the Kanto area pass in your country of origin (like the JR east pass) or can you purchase from the Haneda Airport JR counter?

    JR East pass is not an option as we will be staying in Nozawa for a while.

    Thanks for your help.

    Kind Regards,

    Melissa

  4. GreenerAnt says:
    December 9, 2013 at 3:59 am

    hello I love reading all your advice and helpful information. now my turn, how do we travel from Tokyo to hakuba on the shinkansen pls. thank you in advance. abbey

  5. Graham says:
    December 8, 2013 at 2:37 am

    Hi ,
    Hope you can help. I am travelling to japan for the first time with my wife. We arrive in narita on 23/12/13 stay one night in Tokyo then train to miyajima for 4 days. Return to Kyoto for 4 days, two days back in Tokyo before going to hakabu for a weeks skiing. Back to narita flying home on 11/1/14. It looks like we would be better of with a 3 week jr pass do you agree or is there a cheaper option.
    Many thanks for your help.
    Graham

    • JPRail says:
      December 8, 2013 at 10:20 am

      Hi Graham,

      I agree.

      Actually 21 days pass is cheaper but not way cheaper than total single fares. But there is no option other than 21 days pass.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  6. Danny Lim says:
    November 25, 2013 at 5:17 am

    Hi,

    Need your help!

    I am arriving Narita Airport on 23rd December 2013 and leaving the same airport on 3rd of January 2014.

    I am thinking of getting a JRP.

    My itinerary is simple.

    Train from airport to Shinjuku Station.

    Next day, 24th December I will be traveling to Omachi alighting at Shinano-omachi station as they have a direct train at 7.30am from Shinjuku station.

    My question is how much do I need to top up on top of the JRP or I don’t have to top up at all?

    I have check through Hyperdia and I saw a route 3 which shows the fare of YEN2,310. Is that a top up amount or the full fare?

    I will be at Omachi area for 4 days. The rest will be Tokyo area traveling to Disneyland, Mt Fuji via train.

    I will be purchasing 14 days JRP pass.

    Your advice will extremely useful and thank you in advance.

  7. Deb says:
    November 18, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    hope you can help. want to go from Kobe Port to Osaka Umeda Station (hanshin) – is this possible and which lines to catch

    want to go from Osaka Umeda station to Tokyo Hamamatsucho station – what train etc

  8. Pauline says:
    October 20, 2013 at 12:03 pm

    Hi,

    I am hoping you can shed some light on the train fare from Shin Osaka to Hakata.
    I used the website above and the basic fare was 9350 yen.
    However when I used website for Nozumi, it was 14890 yen.

    I am confused because I read from somewhere the fare for Nozumi and Mizuho will be the same from Shin Osaka to Hakata. However, I thought Mizuho does not have reserved seating, is that why it’s cheaper?

    I am deciding if I should buy the JR sanyo area rail pass (Only traveling between Osaka, Kyoto and to Hakata)

    Any advice is greatly appreciated!

    Pauline

    • JPRail says:
      October 20, 2013 at 11:10 pm

      Hi Pauline,

      You mixed up basic fare and limited express surcharge.

      When you take Nozomi and Mizuho, you have to take both above charge. If you pay 9350 yen, you have to take local trains only. It takes a long long trip and it’s not realistic.

      Both Mizuho and Nozomi have reserved ordinary seats, non reserved ordinary seats and reserved Green seats. The fares are completely same for Mizuho and Nozomi. If you take Sakura, it will be slightly cheaper, but it will only a few hundred yen difference.

      As long as you have round trip to Hakata from Shin-Osaka by Shinkansen, go for Sanyo Pass. It will be much cheaper than regular fares.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

      • Pauline says:
        October 22, 2013 at 2:06 am

        Takeshi san

        Thanks so much for your kind & quick advice! U r right, i got mixed up and didnt include the limited express charge. I have a couple more questions related to Sanyo pass.

        As I am not doing a round trip on the shinkansen (Am flying in osaka and out from Fukuoka),that’s why I was trying to figure out if it was worth it.

        1. Can I confirm if the Sanyo pass includes the JR train ride from Kansai airport to Osaka station? I was using the website and realised that some trains from Kansai airport are direct but some requires a transfer at Kobayashi station. If for some reason I missed the direct train and took the one with transfer, am i still transferring to another JR train or it’s a different company? In that case, is sanyo pass still applicable? Also, how difficult is it to change train since I will have my luggages. Will it be completely different stations?

        2. When I click on JR website for Nozumi to check the fare, vs the website you suggested above, I seemed to get a different train rate (combine basic + express fare). INozumi site = 14,890yen while your site indicates 14,080yen. Which one is the correct amount?

        3. The only train rides I can think of taking JR rail will be
        – Kansai airport -> osaka stn
        – Osaka Stn -> Kyoto ( x 2 return rides for 2 days)
        – Shin-Osaka -> Hakata stn (Fukuoka) (1 way only)
        Do you still think it is worth it to buy the Sanyo pass?

        4. As I have never used a JR railpass before, after I register online, and head to the JR station at Kansai airport to exchange for the pass, will the whole process be very long? Because from the time my plane land to the JR non transfer train, I only have 45mins to clear custom, exchange pass and to the platform based on the timetable.

        5. Do I use the pass like normal ticket or do I always have to head to the control station to show the pass?

        6. Thanks for telling me Sanyo Mizuho has reserved seats. So that means if I buy Sanyo pass, I can reserved seats any day T みどりの窓口 before I depart from Shin Osaka? I do not speak Japanese.

        7. I read your website indicating that there is some handling charge if I purchase JR pass outside Japan via agencies. Does that mean if I register online for the Sanyo pass and obtain the pass upon arrival at Kansai airport, it will be cheaper?

        Thank you in advance for your patience with my lengthy questions!

        Pauline

        • JPRail says:
          October 22, 2013 at 3:37 pm

          Hi Pauline,

          1. Yes. The train that you intend to take Kansai Airport Rapid.
          https://jprail.com/travel-informations/how-to-get-kansai-airport-and-wakayama-kansai-airport-rapid-service-and-kishuji-rapid-service.html
          You can go to Osaka directly by this train. In most of cases, you don’t need to transfer.

          2. I show the fare for Hikari and Sakura that are covered by JR Pass. The fare system is different among trains. And also if you take a train in peak season, it’s a bit higher than regular period.

          3. Actually Sanyo Area Pass is not your choice. I recommend you to use ICOCA and Haruka, and single fare.
          https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/icoca-and-haruka-ticket-very-flexible-and-good-deal-for-tourist-who-stay-in-kansai.html
          This deal covers trip from KIX to Osaka. And also you can use 1500 yen ICOCA e-money for trip to Kyoto. 1500 yen is enough for round trip to Kyoto. This deal is sold at 3000 yen. So total cost (17890 yen) is cheaper than Sanyo area pass (20000 yen)
          If you want, you can take Haruka Express train to Shin-Osaka. It’s not direct train to Osaka. But it’s much more comfortable.

          4. You don’t need to book online if you want to purchase ICOCA and Haruka. Just go to the station at KIX and purchase it on the spot. It will take 15 to 20 minutes.

          5. I don’t think you will use the pass. ICOCA card can be read at the ticket gate. I wrote about everything at the link above.

          6. When you purchase ICOCA and Haruka at KIX, you can book and purchase it there. Don’t worry about language. Most of visitors are like you. Especially staff at KIX are very familiar with foreign travellers.

          7. Forget about Sanyo pass. 🙂

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JP Rail

  9. Tahmina says:
    October 18, 2013 at 7:26 am

    Hi,
    I like to go to Tokyo from Sapporo with my 4 years old son. Which way will suitable for us?

  10. Yumiko says:
    October 13, 2013 at 11:09 pm

    Hello Takeshi,

    Can you advise if I should get a JR pass based on the below itinerary or just purchase single trip tickets?

    30 Dec – Arrive in Osaka
    2 Jan – Osaka to Tokyo
    4 Jan – Tokyo to Kyoto
    8 Jan – Kyoto to Osaka

    Thank you.
    Yumiko

    • JPRail says:
      October 13, 2013 at 11:15 pm

      Hi Yumiko,

      Total fare is almost same as 7 days pass price. So I recommend you to use JR pass 7 days. You have to add the fare for Dec 30 or Jan 8.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

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