Japan Rail Pass can be used for Hayabusa (Revised on Feb 2, 10)

The newest train on Tohoku Shikansen E5 series (C) sukhoi37

The newest train on Tohoku Shikansen E5 series (C) sukhoi37

Since I have received a response about the extra charge on Green Pass from my reader, I noticed I gave the wrong information. I apologize and revise the informations.

I just received the notice from JR East. I am very happy to confirm that Japan Rail Pass will be able to used for Hayabusa.

Details and conditions

Ordinary Class
Both Japan Rail Pass Ordinary and Green can be used. No extra charge.

Green Class
Japan Rail Pass Green can be used with no extra charge.

Gran Class
Japan Rail Pass cover only the basic fare. If you want to take this class, you have to pay both Limited Express surcharge and Gran Class charge. As of Feb, 2011, the extra charges on Japan Rail Pass are the following:

Tokyo to Sendai : Ltd Exp charge 4,810 yen / Gran Class surcharge 9,000 yen (If you upgrade from Green, surcharge is 4,000 yen Even Green Pass cover only the basic fare.)
Tokyo to Morioka : Ltd Exp charge 5,650 yen / Gran Class surcharge 9,000 yen (If you upgrade from Green, surcharge is 4,000 yen Even Green Pass cover only the basic fare.)
Tokyo to Shin-Aomori : Ltd Exp charge 6.500 yen / Gran Class surcharge 10,000 yen (If you upgrade from Green, surcharge is 5,000 yen Even Green Pass cover only the basic fare.)

If you are looking for the details about Hayabusa, please refer this page. If you are looking for the timetable of Hayabusa, please refer this page.

Comments

  1. fabi says:

    Are the hayabusa operated at tokaido shinkansen?

  2. WU,TAIWAN says:

    THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

    ITS REALLY HELP ME A LOT : )

  3. James says:

    The post March 2011 timetable released by JR Kyushu shows there is an hourly “Hikari” service running between Shin-Osaka and Hakata, and their running number are all 500 something, I see that is pretty much “Hikari Railstar” operation.

    So, I guess Hikari RailStar will be around after March 2011

    CHeers
    James

    • JPRail says:

      I checked the timetable both JR West and JR Kyushu. I’m sure that we have these Hikari. (Train No. Dep time at Shin-Osaka. Arr time at Hakata)
      541 6:25/9:13
      545 7:20/10:09
      555 12:22/15:06
      559 13:22/16:06
      563 14:22/17:05
      567 15:22/18:06
      571 16;22/19:06
      575 17:22/20:06
      577 18:22/21:06
      581 20:59/23:46

      We have almost same number trips of Hikari from Hakata to Shin-Osaka too.

      • James says:

        Wait a minute!

        Between Hikari 545 to 555, there is a 5 hours gap, does that means there is no Hikari between 720 to 1222 from Shin-Osaka to Hakata?

        JR Pass holder has to take Sakura or Kodama between this time?

        Regards
        James

        • JPRail says:

          Hi James,
          You are right! JR West does not have any Hikari between that time. On the other hand, they don’t have Hikari between 13:37 and 18:38 from Hakata to Osaka. JR West has Hikari for business traveler’s peak hour only.
          Takeshi / JP Rail

  4. Christoph says:

    Dear Mr. Takeshi,

    thank you for your immediate (though disappointing for me as a JR Pass Green holder) correction/update – do not worry.

    I am now awaiting your (through JR Kyushu Head Office) confirmation regarding use of Mizuho/Sakura for Rail Pass Holders – I personally doubt it regarding to Mizuho, because trains are as fast as Nozomi.

    Thank you for all your efforts and best regards
    Christoph

  5. James says:

    Hi

    My interpretation of the 2 emails from JTB-Australia,

    *Hayabusa Granclass unfortunately JR Pass holder(including JR Green Car Pass) can’t use it, if anyone wants to try Granclass, you just have to buy ticket like everyone else.

    *Hayabusa ordinary class and green car are available to JR Pass and JR Green Car pass holders.

    *Sakura/Mizuho are also available to JR pass holders.

    But don’t quote me, these are from JTB Australia, rather than from JR East directly. I think situation of Granclass really need a firm confirmation from JR East.

    One thing, on 5 Feb, when Hayabusa is open for reservation(remember, all JR ticket are open for reservation a month earlier), if you are holding a JR pass at the time, you can go online reservation to check if you can reserve Granclass ticket.

    Cheers
    James

  6. Andy says:

    Great news about the Hayabusa as we plan to take it on March 15. I hope the above post about the Sakura is also true.

    Do I understand correctly that the Hikari rail star services will be replace by the Sakura service?

    • JPRail says:

      Hi
      I already sent an email to JR West. I’m still waiting for the response.
      I heard most of Hikari Rail Star will be replaced by Mizuho and Sakura. But a few of Hikari Rail Star will be operated after Mar 15.
      I checked the timetable. We will still have 6 round trips of Hikari Rail Star. It will be connected with Tusbame on Kyushu Shinkansen at Hakata station.
      Takeshi / JP Rail

  7. James C says:

    I got Mizuho/Sakura info from JTB-Australia less than 30 seconds ago 🙂

    ========================

    Thank you very much for your email.

    On regards to the JR Rail Pass, Japan Railway Company has not given us the restriction use of Kyushu Shinkansen. Therefore, you will be able to travel with Sakura or Mizuho by JR Rail Pass.

    Kind Regards

    Outbound Travel Consultant
    JTB Australia Pty Ltd
    Sydney Office,

    Level 15,
    383 Kent Street, Sydney
    NSW, Australia, 2000

  8. James C says:

    Hi,

    Could you please double confirm this? because I made the same enquiry to JTB-Australia division and this is what they replied me:

    Regards
    James

    ====================================
    ====================================

    Thank you very much for your inquiry to JTB Sydney.

    As you are already aware new-tohoku shinkansen “Hayabusa” will debut on from 5th of March 2011.
    There is a new seat class only available on this train called “Granclass”. Granclass(first class) and
    Greenclass(executive class) is 2 different classes and Granclass is higher than any other classes.
    Therefore, JR Green Pass unable to cover the journey by Granclass. Also you cannot upgrade from
    Green class to Granclass using JR Rail Pass.

    Therefore, if you wish to travel with Granclass, you need to purchase full Granclass sector ticket in
    Japan at any major train station.

    I hope this information will help you.

    Kind Regards

    Outbound Travel Consultant
    JTB Australia Pty Ltd
    Sydney Office,

    Level 15,
    383 Kent Street, Sydney
    NSW, Australia, 2000

    • JPRail says:

      Hello James,
      Thank you for your information. I checked one more time. The info that you gave me is correct.
      I’m sorry to give you confusion.
      Takeshi / JP Rail

  9. Christoph Moeller says:

    Dear Mr. Takeshi,

    thank you very much for providing this useful information. In April 2011 we plan to travel from Tokyo to Sapporo during the day and will get up early to try Hayabusa Gran Class to Shinaomori, of course by paying the extra 5,000 yen per person on top of our JR Rail Passes Green, for the first time.

    Now we eagerly wait for your notice whether Kyushu Shinkansen services (Mizuho or Sakura) can be used with JR Rail Passes.

    Until then – regards,
    juan516.

    • JPRail says:

      Hello Juan516,
      Don’t forget that Hayabusa’s Gran Class seats are so limited. Try to book your seat as early as possible. (Maybe right after you exchange the pass.)
      Takeshi / JP Rail

    • JPRail says:

      Hello Juan516,
      I revised the post about Hayabusa. I put the wrong info. Even Green Pass can cover only the basic fare.
      I’m sorry about that.
      Takeshi / JP Rail

  10. Awesome news, thanks! Your website is amazing and full of detail, I love it. Especially the Wide View Shinano page, great train!

    • JPRail says:

      Hello Waylon,
      Thank you for your comment. I’m checking that JR pass can be used for Kyushu shinkansen new train, Mizuho and Sakura. Please stick around!
      Takeshi / JP Rail

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