For non JR pass travellers. Guide to use JR single ticket, basic rules, validity and stopover

Fare table
2013.07.04
This is not a regular JR ticket but a typical JR train ticket looks like this.

I have received many inquiries about Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka one way trip. I always recommend to use a regular ticket for this one way long distance train ride, such as from Tokyo to Kyoto, from Osaka to Tokyo. Because this one way trip is not enough to get the worth of JR Pass 7-day. I have written the post about the fare calculation before.

Guide to plan your trip. Fare Calculation
This post explains you the information about the fare calculation of the trains in Japan.
jprail.com
2010.08.29

But I think this post was not enough to explain the fare rule. JR single ticket rule is very complicated for the tourists from oversea. But you do not need to know everything. If you understand some basic rules, single ticket is more useful and it gives you a trip at more affordable rate.

In this post, I will show you some basic rules of the regular ticket for the long distance train ride and how to use and purchase it.

How to purchase it

Simply you can purchase it at the station. If you make a short distance trip in the city or city to just outside city, you can purchase a ticket at the vending machine.

e.g.
Ueno to Tokyo (inside city)
Tokyo to Yokohama (city to just outside place)
Osaka to Universal City (inside city)
Osaka to Kyoto (city to outside place)

If you make a long distance trip, you still can buy a ticket at the vending machine. But the ticket window may be easier to purchase a long distance ticket for the foreign travelers. Especially if you intend to make a stopover on the way, you have to buy a ticket at the ticket window. Because you have to explain your trip plan.

If you want to take a limited express train, you have to purchase a limited express surcharge ticket too. Even if you want to take a non reserved seat on a limited express train, you have to purchase it. You can purchase both a reserved and a non reserved ticket for a limited express (the Shinkansen as well) at “Midori no Madoguchi”. Midori no Madoguchi is the name of JR reservation ticket window. You can purchase a base fare ticket at Midori no Madoguchi too. Please get the detail about reservation at the post below.

How to reserve a seat of Japan Railway trains at the station and online
Japanese train seat reservation is a bit tricky. The online reservation is very limited and you have to book it in most cases. This post explains you how to manage the booking.
jprail.com
2009.12.30

In the case of purchasing both base fare ticket and limited express surcharge ticket, you can purchase it in advance. An express surcharge ticket is on sale one month prior to a departure date.

e.g.
Tokyo to Kyoto travel on Dec 1
You can purchase the tickets after Nov 1.

You also can purchase the tickets at any JR stations if you buy both base fare and limited express surcharge at same time. For example, if you start to travel from Tokyo station, you can purchase it at Narita airport station on the day of arrival.

Base fare ticket can be purchased at any JR stations where station staff is on duty. There are many station without station staffs in remote area. In major cities and major stations, there are station staff. Even if you take a train at the station without station staff, you can purchase it from the conductor in the train.

How to get a fare

You can use Hyperdia to get the fare quite easily.

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
Click to enlarge.
Click to enlarge.

As you see above capture image of Hyperdia, you can get base fare and seat fare (includes surcharge). In this image, total fare is the following:

Base fare – 9560 yen
Shinkansen Nozomi (Tokyo – Shin-Osaka) – 5740 yen (reserved seat)
Ltd Exp Haruka (Shin-Osaka – Kansai airport) – 820 yen (reserved seat)
Total – 16120 yen

*The above image was captured in 2013. The fare was raised in April l, 2014 because of consumer tax was increased to 8% from 5%. The actual fare is different from the fare in the image above.

The price of Japan Rail Pass 7 days ordinary is 28300 yen. (New price is 29110 yen.) Total single fare is more than 10000 yen cheaper than 7 days pass price. This is the reason why I recommend to use single fare for Tokyo – Osaka one way transfer.

Validity

Please see the above capture image of Hyperdia again. You also can find a distance at Hyperdia. This is a key to use single ticket. Actually long distance ticket can be used in multiple days.

DistanceValid days
101 – 200 km2 days
201 – 400 km3 days
401 – 600 km4 days
601 – 800 km5 days
801 – 1000 km6 days
  • From 1001 km and up, add 1 day every 200 km.
  • If you travel more than 101 km but it is in Tokyo or Osaka zone only, ticket valid in one day only.

So in above capture image, distance is 613.4km. This ticket valid in 5 days.

Stopover

You can stopover as many as you want. Of course you cannot go back. Once you start to travel, you have to go forward. You have to care only one thing. When you depart/arrive to travel at the following areas, you cannot stopover in same areas.

  • Sapporo
  • Sendai
  • Tokyo 23 wards
  • Tokyo Yamanote line
  • Yokohana
  • Nagoya
  • Kyoto
  • Osaka
  • Kobe
  • Hiroshima
  • Kitakyushu
  • Fukuoka

These areas are same as city limit. I show you some examples.

1. Above ticket (Tokyo – Kansai Airport)
You can NOT – Stopover at anywhere in Tokyo 23 wards. For example, after you start to travel from Tokyo, you cannot stopover at Shinagawa.
You can – Stopover at Kyoto, Osaka and anywhere outside of Tokyo 23 wards.
By the way, you can start to travel from anywhere in Tokyo 23 wards.

2. Ticket from Narita airport to Osaka
You can NOT – Stopover at anywhere in Osaka city. For example, you cannot stopover at Shin-Osaka. Once you exit at any stations in Osaka city, your ticket will be expired right away.
You can – Stopover at Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya and anywhere outside of Osaka city.
By the way, when you travel through Tokyo downtown core, ticket will be calculated by the shortest route. For example, most typical route from Narita to Osaka via Tokyo, via Tokyo station and Shinagawa station. But if you want to go to Osaka via Akihabara and Shinjuku, you can take this route and stopover.

But in case of using limited express, you have to purchase limited express surcharge ticket for each segments.
ex) Tokyo – Osaka trip, stopover at Nagoya.
You have to purchase two Shinkansen tickets, Tokyo – Nagoya Shinkansen surcharge ticket and Ngoya – Shin-Osaka surcharge ticket.

Sample ideas

Please see above capture image of Hyperdia again. If you use this ticket, you can do the following itinerary.

Day 1 Tokyo – Kyoto (Stopover at Kyoto)
Day 2 Kyoto (no use single ticket)
Day 3 Kyoto – Osaka (Stopover at Osaka)
Day 4 One day trip to Kobe (purchase another single ticket.)
Day 5 Osaka – Kansai airport

When you arrive in Tokyo, you can use other deals, such as Suica & N’ex. And you have 5 days after you finish to see Tokyo. If you add Suica & N’ex one way ticket, total amount is 19620 yen. It is about 9000 yen cheaper than JR Pass 7 days.

I believe this is the perfect solution for Tokyo – Osaka one way travellers.

Comments

  1. David Lee says:
    April 13, 2018 at 7:51 am

    Hi Takeshi San,
    We, a group of 6 adults and 4 children (age: 5; 8; 8 and 10) plan to travel from Tokyo Maihama Station to JR Sapporo Station using the Shinkansen and The Limited Express Super Hokuto (one way only) and than from Sapporo to Kutchan using the JR Hakodate Line. Please advice if children entitled to purchase single trip ticket at 50% of adult price? I understand children age between 6 to 11 is eligible to purchase the JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass at 50% discount. Thank You.

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      April 13, 2018 at 12:26 pm

      Hi David san,

      Children get a ticket at 50% of adult fare. 5 years old is free of charge if one of you share the seat with him/her. But if you want to have one seat for 5 years old child, you have to pay same amount of child fare as three other children. If you use JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass, you must purchase child pass for 5 years old child too if you want to have one seat for this child.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • David Lee says:
        May 1, 2018 at 4:33 am

        Hi Takeshi San,

        We plan to purchase the JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass for our coming year end trip, travelling from Tokyo up to Niseko. Please advise if this pass can be use for: (1) travel between Sapporo JR Station and Otaru Station on the Airport Express 95 and (2) for travel between Otaru Station and Kutchan Station?

  2. Angela says:
    April 9, 2018 at 12:41 am

    Konichiwa Takeshisan.. I cannot believe there is someone who is so patiently responding to the very complicated JR pass issue that I am encouraged to request info. I am planning on my first time trip to Japan with my 2 adult children and am breaking my head reading about JR pass .. We plan to arrive Tokyo and stay 4 days, will day trip to Lake Kawaguchiko and then onto Osaka for 4 days where we will day trip to Kyoto and Nara. Then out of Osaka Airport for trip out. Can you advice if I should get the JR pass for my above itninary. Arigato Gozaimasu.

  3. Esther says:
    March 5, 2018 at 9:12 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    Your website is always incredibly helpful and I’ve used it for my 2 previous trips to Japan, thank you for all of your great information!

    I’m wondering about whether to get the JR rail pass to cover JR trains and Shinkansen for 7 days,
    or a Kintetsu Rail pass, later buying a separate one-way Shinkansen ticket to Tokyo from Osaka/Kyoto.

    I’ll be flying to Osaka and staying there for 2 days, then visiting Kyoto for 1.5 days.
    While in the area I would like to visit Ise for 1.5 days, as I’m interested in nature and the traditional town.
    I’m still considering if I have enough time to go to Hiroshima or Kobe (Wanted to visit Kanazawa but I think I would not have enough time).

    After my 4 day stay in Kansai, I’ll take a one-way Shinkansen to Tokyo and stay there for 3 days before flying home from Narita.

    I would use Icoca in Osaka, and Pasmo in Tokyo.
    Which pass do you think would be a better deal for this 7 day trip, or would buying tickets separately for each journey be better?

    Always very grateful for your response and advice, hope you are well!

    Kind regards

  4. Jack says:
    March 1, 2018 at 9:03 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    I am planning a trip for my family 3 adults, we’ll fly into Osaka, Kansai airport, on Mar 25 and will fly out from Tokyo Narita airport, Apr 3. We have about 10 days to travel.

    I want to visit the following city/towns.
    Osaka 1 night,
    Kyoto 2 nights,
    Takayama 2 night,
    Shirakawago 1 night,
    Kawaguchi 1 night,
    Tokyo 2 nights

    What are the best tickets and cheapest I can use for this itinerary?

    Thank you for your advice,
    Jack

  5. Christoper says:
    February 25, 2018 at 4:29 am

    Hi Takeshi san,

    I’m planning to go to Toyama from Kyoto. I searched the route using hyperdia. There is some confusion when I saw the details. Please help me to clarify.

    My case :
    1. I insert Kyoto as departure station, then Toyama as arrival station. Hyperdia showed me the fare is 8890 Yen, the train will be JR Thunderbird, stop at Kanazawa Station, then transfer to Hokuriku Shinkansen to Toyama city.

    2. But if I insert Kyoto as departure station, then Kanazawa as arrival station. The fare is 6900 Yen. Then I proceed to second search, which is Kanazawa to Toyama station. The fare is 3330 Yen. Total fare will be 10230 Yen

    Why the 2nd case is more expensive than 1st case ?

    Kindly help me clear this confusion.

    Thank you.
    Christoper

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      February 25, 2018 at 9:04 am

      Hi Christoper san,

      Transfer discount is applied to limited express surcharge for Kyoto to Kanazawa on first case because you do not exit at Kanazawa. But if you stop by Kanazawa. it’s not applied.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  6. Mai To says:
    February 13, 2018 at 4:02 pm

    Hi Takeshi,
    We will be in Japan for 6 nights, flying in Narita Airport and leaving from Kansai Airport. It would be a one way travel from Tokyo to Osaka.
    Our itinerary is 2 nights in tokyo then 2 nights in Kyoto then 2 nights in Osaka. Can you advised on what the best ticket would be for us to buy? We also intend on traveling to Hiroshima for a day trip from Osaka. Would it be worthwhile purchasing a 7 day JR pass?
    We will be traveling with a 1 year old so ideally we would prefer quicker trips.
    Thanks in advance
    Mai

  7. Kerrie says:
    February 11, 2018 at 2:13 am

    Hi i’m travelling to Tokyo soon. i need to purchase one way shinkansen to Osaka .may i know where can i get it ? or should i get it online? is rather confusing as they sell 3 day JR pass & onward only. Is my 1st time travelling with my family to Japan. i had seen so many different recommendation. Or i can get it at any JR counter in tokyo?

  8. Rawi says:
    February 6, 2018 at 3:50 am

    Hi there,

    Thanks very much for the very helpful article. I just wanted to confirm something with you since I was having a hard time finding a clear indication of the policy on this.
    I will be landing in Osaka-Kansai airport, and was planning to spend a few days around Osaka/Kyoto before heading to Tokyo. If I purchase a ticket from Kansai airport to Osaka (LTD-Express Haruka 54), Then a Shinkansen Nozomi to Tokyo(stopping at Kyoto) would I be able to do the following:
    Saturday: Land (at evening) at Kansai, take Haruka to Osaka
    Sunday evening or Monday morning: Train to Kyoto (Shinkansen Nozomi)
    Tuesday evening: Shinkansen Nozomi from Kyoto to Tokyo, without purchasing another ticket

    ie, the question is, can I ‘separate’ a Shinkansen Nozomi single-fare train ticket from Osaka to Tokyo by a day or two in Kyoto, using the several days’ worth validity on it given the distance between Osaka and Tokyo?

    Would this be possible? And, would it be what you recommend or do you have a better alternative in mind?

    Thanks!

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      February 6, 2018 at 6:22 am

      Hi Rawi,

      If you make a stopover at Kyoto, you need to purchase two Shinkansen tickets for Shin-Osaka to Kyoto and Kyoto to Tokyo. Only base fare ticket can be used for Osaka to Tokyo with stopover at Kyoto. Trip time is only 30 minutes even if you take regular train, such as Special Rapid:
      https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/rapid-service/special-rapid-service.html

      If you take Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Kyoto, you need to pay 860 yen (2000 to 2500 yen for reserved seat) for non reserved seat. If you are okay with paying this non reserved seat charge for such a short ride, you can take it.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  9. Bernie Winter says:
    February 3, 2018 at 7:07 pm

    thank you for your advice Takeshi!

    We will fly in/fly out from Narita
    We have visited Japan before – can’t wait to return

    The plan is to purchase 2 x single tickets (Tokyo-Kyoto, Osaka – Tokyo) by ordinary rail

    To be clear I understand your advice

    1. we can embark/disembark at any station along the route as long as we continue to go forward (except in Toyko wards)

    2. we could overnight in a town and recommence the train journey the next day

    3. we can take up to 3 days from Toyko to Kyoto and then another 3 days from Osaka to Toyko (over 500 kms each leg)

    Have I understood correctly please?

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      February 3, 2018 at 7:54 pm

      Hi Bernie,

      Yes, you can make stopovers as many as you want. But if you take Shinkansen, you need to purchase Shinkansen seat fee ticket for each segments.

      e.g.
      Tokyo-Nagoya-Kyoto
      1 X Base fare ticket for Tokyo to Kyoto
      1 X Shinkansen ticket for Tokyo to Nagoya
      1 X Shinkansen ticket for Nagoya to Kyoto

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  10. Nathy says:
    January 29, 2018 at 2:23 pm

    Hi, I’m staying in Osaka and Kyoto this spring. Last year I was in Tokyo and I had a very handy Pasmo. Can I use it also for subway in Kyoto & Osaka? Indeed I find the JR pass very expensive and I only think of making a daytrip with the Kosei line to Kita-Lomatsu station and a daytrip to Nara city. Is that possible to purchase from a vending machine at the main stations and do I need to do that in advance? Thanks a lot, Nathalie

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