Japan Rail Pass (a.k.a. JR Pass) covers all JR lines throughout Japan. This is only rail pass that covers throughout Japan. If you travel even a round trip to Osaka from Tokyo, the price of 7-day pass almost equal to normal fare. I think this pass gives the greatest deal to the travellers who wants to travel in Japan.
Japan Rail Pass Official site is very informative. But some points are not clear. And it does not show you how to get the worth of this pass.
In this post, I tell you about this pass as simple as possible. I compare a regular fare and JR pass, how to choose the retailer, additional charge and many more.
How to buy JR Pass
You have four ways to buy JR Pass.
Purchasing at the authorized dealer
Only authorized dealers are allowed to sell JR Pass. You can find the agent list at this page of Japan Rail Pass official site.
These following companies are major wholeselers:
- JTB (the biggest travel agency in Japan)
- NTA (Nippon Travel Agency / third biggest and the oldest travel agency in Japan)
- KNT (Kintetsu International / same group as Kintetsu Railways. Second biggest travel agency)
- Top Tour (Same group as Tobu Railway)
- JALPAK (Same group as Japan Airlines)
You can find many company names on the official website, but most of them are subcontractors who purchase and sell passes from the above major wholesalers.
JR Pass online purchase from wholesalers and subcontractors
In these days, many companies have a contract with these above distributors. And an online sales by wholesalers and subcontractors have been very active these days. In particular, many subcontractors specialize in JR Passes, and we actively sell them by using their websites to send JR Passes to countries around the world.
You can find as many online retailers as you want by googling with the JR Pass. To find out if these companies are official companies, you may check the agent list at the link above. If it’s a company listed there, you can buy a JR Pass from it.
ACP Rail is one of the reliable online retailer because they deal with JR group company, JR East directly. This company is the official retailer of JR East. Their online purchasing site is connected with JR East official site.
Japan Rail Pass online purchasing at ACP RailJR Pass online purchase from the official site
Until now, online sales have been mostly done by subcontractors, but the JR Pass official website has been renewed on June 1, 2020, and you can purchase directly from the official website.
However, the price will be higher than the agent price. As I will explain later, the JR Pass can be purchased now even after arrival in Japan, and the online sales price on the official website will be the same as the sales price in Japan.
e.g.
7-day ordinary pass
Agent price JPY 29,650
Official website online price JPY 33,610
If you buy a pass from the agent’s site, an exchange order will be sent to you by mail, so you will need to pay the shipping fee, but even if you take this into consideration, the agent price will be much cheaper.
However the online seat reservation is available on only JR Pass official site. You can book a seat online before you go with peace of mind. If you buy the JR Pass at the travel agent, you cannot book a seat online.
Please see another post below to find the detailed information on the Japan Rail Pass official online reservation:
In my opinon, if you plan to visit Japan in the busy season, such as the year-end/New Year holidays, you may buy it at the official site.
Purchaing JR pass in Japan
Currently you can purchase JR pass in Japan until the end of March, 2021. Please see the link below to find the details:
Official announcement about JR pass by JR group (PDF)
If you forget to buy it before you go, or you will find your trip plan after you arrive in Japan, you can buy the JR pass after you arrve in Japan.
Types and prices
There are two types, Green and Ordinary, and three duration, 7, 14 and 21-day. And the price varies depending on the agent price and the official website price/domastic sales price in Japan.
The differences between the official site/sales in Japan prices and the agent prices are shown in red. The sales price in Japan and the official site are 10 to 12% higher than the agent prices.
When you purchase it, the rates are adjusted by your country’s currency.
This pass is eligible for a train, a few JR bus and a ferry services which are provided by Japan Railways Group with a few exceptions. I will explain these exceptions later.
In my opinion, JR Pass is most unbeatable deal if you travel in some of regions of Japan. There are many kinds of the rail passes in Japan, such as JR East Pass, JR Hokkaido Pass, JR Kyushu Pass and many more. But JR Pass is only rail pass that covers throughout Japan. And of course it covers both Tokyo and Kyoto. But if you need the detail information about other passes, please access to the list of the train pass. I wrote about many other rail passes in the posts.
How to find that you can get the worth of JR pass. Tips for using JR pass efficiently.
Once you decide the first day of use, you have to complete your trip in the fixed day. If you intend to use 7-day JR pass and stay in Japan for 7 days or less, you can start using it right after you arrive in Japan. However if you stay in Japan for the longer period than Japan Rail Pass duration, you have to find which JR pass you should buy and which day you should start using it.
Airport access
You can take JR trains at Narita airport, Kansai airport and New Chitose airport. These airports are covered by JR pass. And Haneda airport is connected to downtown Tokyo by Tokyo Monorail. This is covered by JR pass too. Please see the table below how much the fare of these airport access:
Airport | train | Destination | fare |
Narita | Narita Express | Tokyo Shinagawa, Shinjuku Yokohama | 2,820 yen 3,190 yen 4,290 yen |
Haneda | Tokyo Monorail | Hamamatsucho | 500 yen |
Kansai | Limited Express Haruka | Tennoji Shin-Osaka Kyoto | 2,230 yen 2,850 yen 3,370 yen |
New Chitose | Rapid Airport | Sapporo Otaru | 1,590 yen 2,300 yen |
*All fare include the base fare and the reserved seat fee.
Other airports, such as Chubu (Nagoya), Fukuoka are not covered by JR pass. You cannot start using JR pass right after arrival in these airports and the additional fare is required to take the other transportation to get to the nearest JR station first.
Using JR pass in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Sapporo
If you start using JR pass after arrival in Narita, Haneda, Kansai or New Chitose, you will stay in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto or Sapporo. You can use JR Pass to take the JR local trains in these cities. But it is not very efficient to use JR pass for sightseeing inside these cities. Because the train fare is not big enough to help getting the worth.
Please see the one way fare for the major segments in these cities in the table below:
Segment | One way base fare |
Tokyo to Shinjuku | 200 yen |
Tokyo to Yokohama | 470 yen |
Osaka to JR-Namba | 190 yen |
Osaka to Kyoto | 560 yen |
Osaka to Nara | 800 yen |
Osaka to Sannomiya (Kobe) | 410 yen |
Kyoto to Saga-Arashiyama | 240 yen |
Kyoto to Inari (Fushii Inari) | 140 yen |
Sapporo to Otaru | 640 yen |
As you see the table above, the train fare in these cities are inexpensive. It does not help to get the worth of JR pass. If you can get the worth by the other trip(s), you can use JR pass in these cities. But it is not recommended to use it in the cities.
If you intend to start using JR Pass right after arrival in the airport but you will stay in one of these cities, please think again when you should start using JR Pass.
I explain about how to use JR Pass in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto in these following posts:
- How much can we use Japan Rail Pass in downtown Tokyo?
- Fast, economical and convenient for sightseeing in Tokyo. Learn about Tokyo Subways.
- Japan Rail Pass is the best way to explore Kyoto? How to use Japan Rail Pass in Kyoto
- How to use and how much can we use Japan Rail Pass in downtown Osaka?
- How to transfer among Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. Compare Japan Railway and private lines
- How to choose discount railway ticket and pass in Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara) area
The nearest place to get the worth of JR pass 7-day from Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka
You may have heard that you can get the worth of 7-day JR Pass by Tokyo to Osaka round trip. It is true. The round trip fare and the Shinkansen seat fee are slightly less than 7-day JR Pass price. If you use JR Pass for the airport to Tokyo (or Osaka), and/or making some local train trips in the city, you can get the worth of it.
You have to use JR pass for a long train ride as much as you can, such as Tokyo to Osaka round trip. I would like to show you not only Tokyo to Osaka round trip but also more trips to get the worth of 7-day JR Pass. You can find the nearest place to get the worth of 7-day JR Pass from Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka.
7-day pass is sold at 29,110 yen. If one way base fare and the reserved seat fee are more than 14,560 yen or more, you can get the worth of 7-day pass by only one round trip.
From Tokyo
As the map above, these following round trips fares are higher than the price of 7-day JR pass.
- The round trip to Shin-Kobe
- The round trip to Morioka
- The round trip to Komatsu
- The round trip to Takayama
Shin-Kobe is one station away from Shin-Osaka on the Shinkansen. As I mentioned above, if you use JR Pass to make a few local train trips, you can get the worth by the round trip to Shin-Osaka.
Komatsu is a bit away from Kanazawa. It is same thing as the round trip to Shin-Kobe. You can get the worth of 7-day pass by the round trip to Kanazawa and some local train trips.
You also can find some more information in my Youtube movie:
From Osaka
As the map above, these following round trips are enough to get the worth of 7-day JR pass.
- The round trip to Omiya
- The round trip to Ueda (via Kanazawa)
- The round trip to Hakata
- The round trip to Tsuwano
If you go east from Osaka, Omiya is the nearest destination to get the worth of 7-day JR pass. Omiya is just outside Tokyo. But as I mentioned above from Tokyo to Shin-Kobe, you can get the worth of it by Osaka to/from Tokyo round trip and some local trips.
Ueda is one station away from Nagano by Hokuriku Shinkansen. You also can get the worth of 7-day JR pass by round trip to Nagano and some local train trip.
If you go west, the round trip to Hakata (Fukuoka) is okay to get the worth. You also can get the worth of it by the round trip to Tsuwano too.
You also can find some more information in my Youtube movie:
From Nagoya
As the map above, these following round trips are enough to get the worth of 7-day JR pass.
- The round trip to Utsunomiya
- The round trip to Tokuyama
If you go east from Nagoya, the round trip to Tokyo is not enough to get the worth. Utsunomiya is the nearest destination to get the worth of it. Utsunomiya is the gateway to Nikko. If you intend to visit there, you can get the worth of it easily.
If you go west, the round trip to Tokuyama is the nearest destination to get the worth of 7-day JR pass. Tokuyama is two stations away from Hiroshima on the Sanyo Shinkansen line. If you make a round trip to Miyajima from Hiroshima by the local train and take the ferry to Miyajima, the total fare is very close to JR Pass 7-day price.
Tokyo to Osaka (or versa) one way trip is not enough to get the worth of even 7-day JR Pass.
If you will have only one way trip between Tokyo and Osaka, the regular fare ticket is your choice. I wrote about using single ticket at the post, For non JR pass travellers. Guide to use JR single ticket, basic rules, validity and stopover.
You also can find some sample itineraries in the links below:
Tokyo – Osaka one way trip sample itinerary
Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo one way sample itinerary
Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka one way sample itinerary
The faretable of the major segments
I would like to show you the fares for your convenience. If you have a multi-city travel, the fare may be cheaper. But you can use this faretable to find that you can get the worth of JR Pass or not. These following fares are based on the Shinkansen and/or daytime limited express train reserved seat fee, and the base fare.
station | Tokyo | Osaka | Nagoya |
Sapporo | 26,820 yen | 37,100 yen | 34,350 yen |
Hakodate | 23,420 yen | 33,700 yen | 31,060 yen |
Aomori | 17,350 yen | 27,370 yen | 25,210 yen |
Akita | 17,800 yen | 27,820 yen | 25,440 yen |
Sendai | 11,200 yen | 22,620 yen | 20,240 yen |
Niigata | 10,570 yen | 22,310 yen | 19,930 yen |
Nikko | 5,580 yen | 18,530 yen | 16,030 yen |
Echigo-Yuzawa | 6,670 yen | 19,500yen | 17,110 yen |
Nagano | 8,200 yen | 11,790 yen | 7,330 yen |
Odawara | 3,470 yen | 12,620 yen | 8,940 yen |
Nagoya | 10,880 yen | 6,930 yen | – |
Takayama | 14,710 yen | 10,600 yen | 6,030 yen |
Toyama | 12,730 yen | 9,430 yen | 11,350 yen |
Kanazawa | 14,120 yen | 7,650 yen | 8,020 yen |
Osaka | 14,140 yen | – | 6,350 yen |
Kinosaki Onsen | 16,340 yen | 5,600 yen | 9,520 yen |
Okayama | 16,820 yen | 6,600 yen | 10,870 yen |
Hiroshima | 18,560 yen | 10,810 yen | 13,810 yen |
Fukuoka (Hakata) | 22,330 yen | 15,580 yen | 18,020 yen |
Kumamoto | 26,500 yen | 18,540 yen | 22,080 yen |
Kagoshima | 29,860 yen | 21,900 yen | 25450 yen |
Please use hyperdia to find the fare for other segments.
How to choose Green seat pass or Ordinary seat pass
I explain about Green and Ordinary class seats in the movie below:
Green seat is like business class seat. There are some higher class than Green class, such as, Gran class, Premium Green calss. But these are not covered by JR pass at all.
If you take Gran Class by JR Pass, both Ordinary pass and Green pass cover only a basic fare only. You have to pay a limited express surcharge and Gran class seat fee. Please see the post,Japan Rail Pass can be used for Hayabusa to get details.
Advantages of Green class seat are space and atmosphere. Green class seat is much more spacious and quieter than ordinary seat. Shinkansen and most of Limited Express have this class. Even some local trains, such as Rapid trains in greater Tokyo area have Green seat too. Please read one of my post, Worthwhile buying Japan Rail Pass Green Pass?. I explained the details about Green class seat in this post. I hope it may help you to decide which pass you purchase.
If you are sensitive about your budget, the ordinary class is fine. I am sure you will be satisfied with the ordinary class seat too. It is way better than economy seat on the flight. My height is 6’1″ (184 cm). But the leg space at the ordinary class seat is totally fine for me.
How to exchange
You will receive “Exchange Order” at the time of purchasing of JR Pass if you buy a pass at an official vendor or their online service. It is not the actual pass but the voucher. You have to exchange for the actual pass after you arrive in Japan. The validity of exchange order is three months from the date of issue. The pass never be sold out.
If you buy the JR Pass at the official JR Pass reservation site, you will recieve a reservation number. You will not receive any papers. It is easier to handle.
You can exchange and receive an actual pass at the designated stations. Narita airport, Kansai airport, Tokyo, Shinagawa, Osaka, Kyoto and more than 40 major stations throughout Japan are on the list. Please find the list of the exchange places in the link below:
JR Pass exchange and sales office list, Japan Rail Pass official site.
If you want to buy the JR Pass after you arrive in Japan, you can buy it at the stations on this sales office list.
When you turn in, go to the exchange place and tell the staff that you will exchange JR pass. You will receive the application form and fill in. After that, you will proceed the window and show your passport and exchange order to get the actual pass.
When you turn in the pass, you can choose the first day of use within one month from this day.
e.g.
If you exchange a pass on June 1st, you can choose the starting date from June 1st to 30th.
The start and finish dates will be stamped on your pass. Once the dates are stamped, you cannot change it.
Definition of one day
It means 00:00 to 23:59.
e.g.
If you start to use 7 days pass on April 1st, your pass is expired at 23:59 on April 7th.
There are an exception. If you are on board at 23:59 on the last day, you still can continue to travel by train. Your pass cover until you get off the train. After you get off the train, as long as you don’t exit the station, your pass still cover basic fare.
e.g.
Day 7 Tokyo 22:53 (Limited Express Tokiwa) 00:24 Mito
Even though your arrival time is 00:24 on 8th day, this trip is covered until you get Mito by JR pass
If you do not exit Mito station, you still can take local train because the base fare is covered by JR pass until you exit the station
e.g.
Day 7 Tokyo 22:53 (Limited Express Tokiwa) 00:24 Mito
Day 8 Mito 00:33 (local train) 00:39 Katsuta
You can take a local train only. You cannot take any limited express trains after you get off it at Mito.
Validity
JR Pass covers most of the railway service and the ferry service by Japan railways. You can go almost anywhere throughout Japan except Okinawa. (Any JR companies do not offer a train service in Okinawa.) Please see the Japan Railway’s route map and the Shinkansen (bullet train) route map in the links below:
Nationwide JR route map, Japan Rail Pass official site
Shinkansen (bullet train) route map, Japan Rail Pass official site
But there are a few exceptions when you use JR pass. I would like to show you which services are NOT covered by Japan Rail Pass.
Nozomi and Mizuho on the Tokaido, the Sanyo and the Kyushu Shinkansen lines
I think this is the biggest thing that you have to know.
Nozomi is the fastest and most frequent train service on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen between Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Hakata. Mizuho is the fastest train between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chuo. JR Pass is NOT valid for these trains. Even a basic fare to take Nozomi and Mizuho are not covered by JR Pass at all. If you take Nozomi or Mizuho, JR Pass does not help you at all. You have to pay a full fare beside JR pass.
JR pass covers Hikari between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, and Sakura between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chuo which are the second fastest trains. The difference between Hikari and Nozomi are the following:
Trip time between Tokyo and Shin Osaka — 3 hours by Hikari / 2.5 hours by Nozomi
Frequency — 2 trips of Hikari per hour / 5 to 6 trips of Nozomi per hour
*There are some more trips of both Hikari and Nozomi in a peak hour.
Please refer one of my post, Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen to get the details abut the difference between Nozomi and Hikari.
Mizuho is the fastest train on the Sanyo Shinkansen and the Kyushu Shinkansen. Sakura is the second fastest but Sakura runs more than Mizuho. You cannot take Mizuho by JR Pass but this is not an issue.
All Shinkansen trains on the Tohoku, the Hokkaido, the Akita, the Yamagata, the Joetsu and the Hokuriku Shinkansen are covered by JR Pass fully.
Gran Class of Tohoku, Hokuriku and Hokkaido Shinkansen
JR Pass covers Tohoku, Hokkaido and Hokuriku Shinkansen trains fully. Gran class that is the highest class seat is available on these Shinkansen lines. This is a higher class than Green class. If you take this Gran class, both Japan Rail Pass Ordinary and even Green cover a base fare only. You need to pay all amount of surcharge beside JR Pass. This extra charge is not the difference between Green class and Gran class. You must pay Gran class full amount fee.
Delux Green on JR Kyushu trains
Some limited express trains in Kyushu have Delux Green Class. If you take this class, you have to pay both Limited Express surcharge and Delux Green surcharge. Even Green Pass does not cover both surcharge.
Green Private Compartment
These following trains have Green seat compartment.
- Super View Odoriko (Tokyo-Atami/Ito/Izukyu Shimoda)
- Spacia Nikko/Kinugawa (Shinjuku-Nikko/Kinugawa Onsen)
- Most of limited express trains in Kyushu (Nichirin, Kamome, Midori and many more except Sonic and Huis Ten Bosch)
If you use this type of seat by Japan Rail Pass, your party must be 4 persons because it is based on 4 person. If you use this by 3 persons or less, you have to pay surcharge for insufficiency.
The overnight train and sleeper car
There are only two scheduled overnight trains in Japan now. Those are Sunrise Seto and Sunrise Izumo. If you use a compartment on these trains, JR pass covers only a base fare. However this train has the ordinary class which is called, “Nobi Nobi seat”. This ordinary class seat is covered by JR pass fully. Please see the links below to find more information:
Sunrise Izumo (Tokyo – Izumoshi)
Sunrise Seto (Tokyo – Takamatsu)
Trains run through Non JR lines
Some of limited express trains go through Non JR lines. You have to pay some extra for the section where your train goes on Non JR line. Because Japan Rail Pass cover only JR lines. The following list shows you the trains which go through Non JR lines. Please refer each train’s page to get the details about the extra charge.
- The limited express Odoriko, Saphir Odoriko (Ito-Izukyu Shimoda/Izu Kyuko Railway, Mishima-Shuzenji/Izuhakone Railway)
- The limited expres Nikko, Spacia Nikko (Kurihashi-Tobu Nikko/Tobu Railway)
- The limited express Kinugawa, Spacia Kinugawa (Kurihashi-Kinugawa Onsen/Tobu Railway)
- The limited express Shirayuki (Arai/Joetsu Myoko-Naoetsu)
- The limited express Wide View Nanki (Kawarada-Tsu/Ise Railway)
- The limited express Hashidate (Fukuchiyama-Amanohashidate-Toyooka/Kitakinki Tango Railway)
- The limited express Super Hakuto (Kamigori-Chizu/Chizu Kyuko Railway)
- The limited express Super Inaba (Kamigori-Chizu/Chizu Kyuko Railway)
- The limited express Nanpu, Shimanto, Ashizuri (Kubokawa-Sukumo/Tosa Kuroshio Railway)
Bus services
There are eight bus companies in JR Bus Group. But these bus companies and JR’s railway company, which is now divided into seven, were formerly state-owned, but became a separate organization with the privatization, and it is called the JR group.
These eight bus companies operate local bus services and highway bus services. But Japan Rail Pass covers a few local bus services only.
JR’s local bus services are a sort of commute service. I pick up some lines for the tourist.
- Samani-Erimo Misaki (Cape Erimo)
- Hachinohe/Aomori-Lake Towada
- Morioka-Ryusendo
- Naganohara Kusatsuguchi-Kusatsu Onsen-Shirane Kazan
- Hiroshima tourist loop bus, “Meipuru-pu”
Japan Rail Pass may cover some more bus services. But even official site does not provide any detailed information. As far as I know, I can confirm that JR Pass covers only these bus services at this point.
Ferry Service
Miyajima ferry service is operated between Miyajimaguchi and Miyajima. Japan Rail Pass is valid for this route. Miyajima is UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most popular destination for foreign travellers. This ferry cruise is very short trip. It takes only 10 minutes. Please refer one of my post, How to get Miyajima to get the details about Miyajima.
JR Kyushu operates the international ferry service between Hakata and Busan (Korea) But this is NOT covered by Japan Rail Pass.
Other train services
Japan Rail Pass does not cover any NON JR train services, such as the subways (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Yokohama, Sendai, Fukuoka), other train services by private companies, city bus services, local bus services and ferry services. The following list shows you major train services that Japan Rail Pass does not cover.
- Sapporo Subway
- Sendai Subway
- Tokyo Subway
- Yokohama Subway
- Keihin Kyuko Railway (a.k.a. Keikyu, Shinagawa-Haneda-Yokohama)
- Keisei Railway (Narita airport-Chiba-Ueno)
- Tobu Railway (Asakusa-Nikko/Knugawa Onsen)
- Odakyu Railway (Shinjuku-Hakone/Enoshima)
- Izu Kyuko Railway (Ito-Shimoda)
- Fuji Kyuko Railway (Otsuki-Kawaguchiko)
- Nagoya Railway (a.k.a. Meitetsu, Chubu airport-Nagoya-Gifu)
- Nagoya Subway
- Kyoto Subway
- Osaka Subway
- Nankai Railway (Namba-Kansai airport/Koyasan/Wakayama)
- Kintetsu Railway (Namba-Nara/Kyoto/Ise/Nagoya)
- Hankyu Railway (Kobe-Umeda-Kawaramachi,Kyoto)
- Keihan Railway (Yodoyabashi-Sanjo,Kyoto)
- Hanshin Railway, Sanyo Railway (Umeda/Namba-Kobe-Himeji)
- Fukuoka Subway
- Nishitetsu Railway (Tenjin-Dazaifu)
Tokyo Monorail between Hamamatsucho (Tokyo) and Haneda airport is not JR train but this is owned by JR East and it is covered by Japan Rail Pass.
The following trains and segments are non JR lines. But those are covered by JR Pass.
- Local and rapid trains on Aoimori Railway between Hachinohe and Aomori. But you cannot make a stopover except Hachinohe, Noheji and Aomori
- Local and rapid trains on Ainokaze Toyama Railway between Toyama and Takaoka. But you cannot make a stopover except Toyama and Takaoka (after March 14, 2015)
- Any trains on IR Ishikawa Railway between Kanazawa and Tsubata. But you cannot make a stopover except Kanazawa and Tsubata. There are direct trains from Kanazawa or Osaka to Wakura Onsen. These trains are go through this segment and then go on JR Nanao line. If you take these trains, extra charge is not required on top of JR Pass.
How to use JR pass in major cities and tourist spots
You can get most places in Japan by JR pass. JR pass covers most of JR trains which include Shinkansen, limited express trains, and other rapid commute trains and local trains in the cities.
But as I explained above, JR pass does not cover Non JR trains, subways and city bus. I also would like to explain the coverage by major places and you can find the detailed coverage of JR pass.
Sapporo
Subway, tram (street car) and city bus are not covered.
Subway and tram route map
You can walk to get Odori Park or Clock tower from Sapporo station if you want. But subway is better way.
Hakodate
Tram and city bus are not covered. You need to pay extra to get some tourist spots, such as Hakodate mountain.
Nikko
You can take Tohoku Shinkansen to get Utsunomiya and take Nikko line local train to Nikko. All trips to Nikko is covered. Please see the link below to find more information:
How to access to Nikko from Tokyo. There are three ways from Tokyo, Shinjuku and Asakusa.
But JR pass does not cover any local transportation, such as a local bus in Nikko area.
Tokyo
You can take any local trains in Tokyo to access to many places. But some of places cannot be accessed by JR pass, such as Asakusa, Tsukiji market, Tokyo Skytree. Please see the post below to find the detailed information:
You also can access to/from both Narita airport and Haneda airport. JR pass covers Narita Express and Airport Rapid train to/from Narita. Tokyo Monorail is covered by JR pass to/from Haneda airport.
Lake Kawaguchi
You can use JR pass to get Otsuki but you have to pay extra for taking Fuji Kyuko railway from Otsuki to Kawaguchiko station. Please see the link below to find more information:
Hakone
You can get Odawara by Shinkansen but after arrival Odawara, JR pass does not help you. Please see the link below to find more information:
How to access Hakone from Tokyo. Compare Japan Railway and Odakyu lines
Nagoya
Subway and other Non JR trains, such as Meitetsu railway is not covered. You need to pay for access to/from Chubu airport (Centrair).
Chubu (Nagoya) airport transportation guide. Find info about airport station and access to Nagoya
Transportation Bureau, City of Nagoya
Snow Monkey Park in Nagano
You can get Nagano by JR pass but you have to pay for bus and/or train to get Snow Monkey Park. Please see the link below to find more information:
Trip to Tohoku, Chubu and Chugoku in 2016 winter – Part 9, Visit Snow Monkey Park in Nagano
Shirakawago
You can get Kanazawa, Takayama, Toyama and Takaoka by JR pass. But you have to take a bus from one of these stations and need to pay for the bus. Please see the link below to find more information:
How to access to Shirakawago from Takayama, Kanazawa, Takaoka and Toyama.
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
You can access to Nagano, Shinano-Omachi or Toyama by JR Pass. After arrival in these cities, you need to pay for local transportation. Please see the link below to find more information:
Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route, one of most spectacular sightseeing route in Northern Japan Alps
If intend to go through whole part of Alpine Route, you can use Tateyama Kurobe option ticket. Please see the following link:
Tateyama Kurobe Option Ticket (one way)
Kyoto
You can get Arashiyama, Nijo, Fushimi Inari and Uji by JR pass. But you need to take subway, city bus and/or other Non JR railways to get the various tourist places. Please see the post below to find more information:
Osaka
You can take any local trains, such as Osaka Kanjo line (Osaka loop line). You can access to Universal City (USJ) too. But JR-Namba station is not very convenient and some places in the city cannot be accessed by JR pass, such as Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium. Please see the post below to find more information:
You also can take Limited Express Haruka and Kansai Airport Rapid Train by JR pass to/from Kansai airport. Nankai railway is not covered.
Kobe
Actually many places can be accessed by JR station. You can get Kobe by JR pass easily. You may not add any additional deals. Please see the link below to find more information:
Guide to take trains in Kobe. How to choose the best route by train to get the major spots?
Nara
You can get Nara by JR trains from either Kyoto and Osaka. Most of tourist spots in Nara can be accessed by walk from JR Nara station. Please see the link below to find more information:
Mt. Koya (Koyasan)
You should take Nankai railway from Namba or Shin-Imamiya. Nankai railway is not JR and you need to pay extra. Please see the link below to find more information:
How to access World Heritage Mt. Koya. Japan Rail Pass can be used to get Mt. Koya?
Hiroshima
You can access to Hiroshima by Shinkansen and it’s covered by JR pass. And also JR pass covers Hiroshima sightseeing loop bus “Meipuru-pu” fully. This bus covers most of tourist spots in Hiroshima. Please see the following link to find the detailed information:
Hiroshima sightseeing loop bus Meipuru-pu official site
Miyajima
You can take JR local train to Miyajimaguchi and then take ferry to Miyajima. Both train and ferry are covered by JR pass. Please see the link below to find more information:
How to access to Miyajima from Hiroshima by local train. No extra charge for Japan Rail Pass user.
Fukuoka / Hakata
JR Pass does not cover Fukuoka city subway and Nishitetsu railway. Only subway connects Fukuoka airport and Hakata. But you cannot use JR pass to get airport because subway is not covered. Some places around Fukuoka is covered by Nishitetsu railway, such as Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine. But Nishitetsu railway is not covered by JR pass either.
Who is eligible?
If you are the foreign tourist, you have to be “Temporary Visitor”. This entry status will be stamped at immigration on your passport. Other status cannot be acceptable. You have to show your passport at the station when you pass your exchange order to get actual pass.
If you are already in Japan as other status, you have to change your status first. Otherwise you cannot buy Japan Rail Pass. Please see “How to buy and exchange”.
If you are Japanese citizen who have permanently status in foreign country, or who married to a non-Japanese, you are qualified.
How to refund
You can refund within one year from issue date before you turn in for the actual pass. Simply bring or send your exchange order to the agent where you purchased it. They will subtract a handling fee and refund to you. The handling fee is usually 10% of the amount. Contact to your agent and make sure it before you refund.
You can NEVER refund after turned in the actual pass.
Lost or Stolen
Once you lost it, it’s over. Either an exchange order or an actual pass cannot be reissued.
Comments
Hi Takeshi,
Will the sales of JR Pass continue after 31st March 2019? The current information from JR Pass.com says that sales of JR Pass will only be until 31st March 2019, and that the last day that JR Pass can be used will be 20th April. Thank you.
Hi Wai hin,
I think it meant that JR pass will sold in Japan until March 31, 2019.
http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/purchase.html
JR pass will be on sale after April 1. You can use JR pass after April 1.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi,
I am Robert from Indonesia. I am glad and amaze to find your comprehensive explanation about Japan Rail and its surrounding on your well-managed web. We (me, my mother, my sister, and my brother) are planning to visit Japan from 20 March 2019 until 3 April 2019.
Here is the itinerary :
– 20 March : Arrival at Narita Terminal 2 around 5 pm. We will stay near by Nakano JR Station (TOKYO)
– 21 March : Travel to Osaka using shinkansen. Put the baggage on Osaka Station’s locker. We are planning to Osaka Castle, Nishinomaru Garden, Tsutenkaku Tower, Dotonburi. We are going to Kyoto using shinkansen. We will stay near by Kyoto Station for next 6 days
– 22 March : Universal Studio Japan (Osaka)
– 23 March : We are going to Hiroshima and visit Hiroshima Peace Park, Hiroshima Castle, Okonomi-mura, Hiroshima Museum of Art, Miyajima Island and spend night on Dotonburi (OSAKA) and back to KYOTO
– 24 March : Fushimi Inari Temple, Tokufuji Temple, Nara Park, Yoshikien Garden
– 25 March : Sagano scenic train, Arashiyama, Tenryunji Temple, Togetsukyo Bridge, Kinkakuji Temple, Nijo Castle
– 26 March : Ginkakunji Temple, Philosopher’s Walk, Kodaiji Temple, Kiyomizudera, Maruyama Park, Gion, Nishiki Market
– 27 March : Kyoto -> Kobe, trying the best Kobe beef and have onsen. Move to Tokyo and stay near by JR Nakano Station until we are back go home
– 28 March : Kawaguchiko Lake (Chuerito Pagoda, Fuji Q Highland), Shinjuku, Sensoji Temple Asakusa, Asakusa, Sumida River
– 29 March : Yokohama Beer Museum, Sankeien Garden, Instant Noodle Museum, Ramen Museum
– 30 March : Full day Tokyo City Tour: Shinjuku Gyeon, Harajuku, Snoopy Museum, Toyosu (Tokyo Water Bus), Ameyoko, ueno park+Skytree
– 31 March : Yunessun Water Park, Gotemba Premium Outlet Odaiba, Shimbashi (Caretta Illumination) + Odaiba (DECKS, Aquacity, Divercity, Venus Port, Rainbow Bridge)
– 1 April : Takeshita Street, Akibahara, Yoyogi Park, Shibuya, Ginza
– 2 April : Tokyo Disney Sea
– 3 April : Check out and go to Narita terminal 2
I don’t expect you to be my unpaid travel agent, but I am providing all the details so you can be informed. Now, we need some help to decide what JR/subway/bus pass or ticket we should buy so that we can visit these places in time. May be you can give me some hints or information for the transport. I have done quite a lot of research but I am at the stage where I would really appreciate the input of someone who knows a lot more than me.
Thank you so much in advance
Hi Robert,
First of all, I recommend you to use two deals:
1. Limousine Bus & Subway Pass (Narita Airport), One way + 24 hours Tokyo Subway Ticket
2. JR Pass 14-day
https://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/airport_bus/index.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/japan-rail-pass-user-guide-how-to-use-jr-pass-to-its-maximum.html
You can take Limousine bus to Shinjuku on arrival day. And pay a regular fare to get Nagano on JR Chuo line. Do not use Tokyo subway ticket on this day. You can use it when you come back to Tokyo later.
JR pass 14-day covers most part of your trip from March 21 to the end of your trip. But you have to add some fares to take subway, city bus or non JR trains in Kyoto, Osaka, Tokyo, Yokohama and Fuji. Please see the links below to find how much you can use JR pass in these cities:
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/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
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/yokohama-and-kamakura-access-guide-find-the-right-deal-and-route-from-your-place-to-stay.html
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1to3-days/how-to-build-the-trip-plan-to-fuji-area-various-sample-itineraries-of-fuji-five-lakes-and-5th-station.html
In Hiroshima, you can use JR pass to take loop bus.
http://www.chugoku-jrbus.co.jp.e.aec.hp.transer.com/teikan/meipurupu/
I think it’s too much to stop by Dotonbori after Hiroshima.
When you go to Osaka from Tokyo, store your luggage in Shin-Osaka station, not Osaka station. Because you will take Shinkansen to go to Kyoto. It’s easier to pick up.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi,
Thank you for your reply. Can we only used 7-day JR Pass from 21 – 27 March 2019 and combination subway, city bus pass on Tokyo from 28 March – 3 April 2019 ?
Would you like to help us listing any advisable pass we will use on Tokyo if we are not using 14-days JR pass ?
Thank you
Hi Robert,
In my understanding, you will move back to Tokyo (or Lake Kawaguchi) on 28th. If you use 7-day pass, it does not cover this portion and I think it doesn’t work.
Tokyo Subway Ticket is the best deal in Tokyo:
https://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/travel/index.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi,
We will be back to Tokyo on 27 march. We will visit Kawaguchiko Lake on the next day.
So, in your opinion it will be good for us to have just tokyo subway pass ?
What about tokyo wide pass, tokyo metro pass or greater tokyo pass ? Which pass should we buy if we want to travel inside Tokyo ?
Thank you
Hi Robert,
Tokyo Wide Pass and Greater Tokyo Pass are too much for your trip. Express bus is better way to get Gotemba and Lake Kawaguchi:
http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/highway/
https://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/en/gotemba/access/bus/
These are not covered by any train passes.
So just use Tokyo Subway Ticket for sightseeing in Tokyo. It covers most part of downtown 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
Just add a regular fare to take other than subway as you need.
You may add other deal for Yokohama:
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/yokohama-and-kamakura-access-guide-find-the-right-deal-and-route-from-your-place-to-stay.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi,
I will be travelling to Japan this April. I would like to check if the 7 days Japan rail pass is worth it for my trip? I’m considering to buy the Fuji Hakone Pass as well.
My itinerary is as below:
10th April: Tokyo
11th April: Hakone
12th April: Hakone to lake kawaguchi
13th April: lake kawaguchi to Shinjuku
14th April: Enoshima island and Kamakura day trip
15 April: Shinjuku to Matsumoto
16th April: alpine route and stay overnight at Toyama
17th – 20th April: Tokyo
Please kindly advise if the passes are recommend for my itinerary. Or is there other pass i can buy to make my itinerary worth?
Thanks and regards,
Siew Chee
Hi Siew Chee,
I recommend you to use JR East Pass Niigata ana Nagano:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/jr-east-pass-niigata-and-nagano-flex-5-days-pass-in-14-days-period-to-cover-kanto-region-nagano-and-niigata.html
Toyama is outside the coverage area. You have to pay the extra fare for Toyama to Joetsumyoko which is around 5000 yen for base fare and Shinkansen seat fee. But it’s still cheaper than JR Pass. And also you can use this pass any 5 days in 14 days period. You can use it airport to Tokyo, Shinjuku to Matsumoto, Joetsumyoko (Toyama) to Tokyo, Kamakura and Tokyo to airport, and one more day in Tokyo. It’s more flexible than using JR pass.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi san,
thanks for the reply. I forgot to include that i will be going to Takato Castle on 15 April before heading to Matsumoto. Is this trip fully covered by JR East Pass Niigata and Nagano?
Thanks and regards,
Siew Chee
Hi Siew Chee san,
Takato is not in the coverage area. You have to pay a train fare for Tatsuno to Inashi. And then you have to take a bus from Inashi to Takato.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Takeshi-san,
may I ask you a question regarding JR pass validity:
Our 7 day rail passes (green) will be valid from May, 19 to May, 25 inclusive.
For the expiry evening of May, 25 I will purchase – if available – Sunrise Twin compartment (is it classified as B2 when I ask for booking it ?) for 21,600 yen surcharge for two persons from Izumoshi departing 18.51 to Tokyo arriving at 7.08 in the morning of May, 26 and then change for a local Yamamote train to Shinagawa. Is the entire trip covered by our JR passes as long as we do not exit Tokyo station ?
I understand that we must not use Shinkansen trains (Kodama or Hikari) between Tokyo and Shinagawa as we have to pass extra ticket barriers at Tokyo station.
Thanks in advance for your kind attention and reply.
Best wishes,
Christoph.
Hi Christoph san,
Actually I am not sure that now. Because this rule was mentioned in the official site but not any more. According to JR basic ticket rule, you have understand the rule correctly. The base fare is covered until you exit the station. But I don’t know this rule is applied to JR pass now or not.
Please make sure when you book Sunrise ticket just in case.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi-san.
I will be in Japan from 18 Apr-1 May. This period coincides with the sakura season of the northeast area esp.Tohoku.
Please advise a suggested itinerary to cover places like nagano, niigata , Fukushima (if still can see sakura), moroika, sendai , hirosaki , kakunodate etc in chronological order ie which city to start first, which second, third etc
Please also advise which JR passes to buy to cover these places.
Thank you so much Claire
Hi Claire san,
You can start from Nagano, Niigata, Fukushima, Sendai, Morioka, Kakunodate and Hirosaki. But probably it may be late to see it in Niigata, Fukushima and Sendai. Please check the forecast before you fix your trip plan.
https://www.japan-guide.com/sakura/
You may use JR East Pass Niigata Nagano, and JR East Pass Tohoku. This combination is cheaper than 14-day JR Pass and those cover all part of your trip.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/jr-east-pass-niigata-and-nagano-flex-5-days-pass-in-14-days-period-to-cover-kanto-region-nagano-and-niigata.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/jr-east-pass-tohoku-flex-5-days-pass-in-14-days-period-to-cover-tokyo-surrounding-area-of-tokyo-and-tohoku-region.html
The last part of your trip will be super busy season. Please keep it in your mind:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/travel-tips/2019-busiest-period-to-travel-by-train-tips-to-book-your-seat-in-even-during-the-busy-period.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi-san,
this is our 2nd trip to Japan and we want to explore more
We have 14 days, arrived at KIX and will be depart from HND.
1. can you please help me arrange this itinerary? i’m still confused how to spend 3rd and 4th day around osaka
2. we really want to see cherry blossoms, is it possible on may? i saw the forecast and the hokkaido area is the only one has it. Is it worth to go all way to Hokkaido or just drop it out from this trip and plan another trip for it?
3. is it possible to go from osaka then stop at Fuji/ Hakone first then Tokyo or is it better to have day trips for them? we prefer not too move accomodation because it will be tiring and wasting time
4. is JR pass needed for this trip or not? we want to save some for shopping too lol
this is the sample of our itinerary:
7 MAY BPN-CGK; CGK-KIX
8 MAY OSAKA: shitennoji temple, amerikamura, Umeda sky building, Kuromon market, Shinsekai area
9 MAY NARA: day trip from osaka
10 MAY ?
11 MAY ?
12 MAY OSAKA-TOKYO : hitachi seaside park for nemophilia harmony?
13 MAY KAWAGUCHIKO
14 MAY FUJI SHIBAZAKURA – KAWAGUCHIKO (onsen)
15 MAY KAWAGUCHI-MT. FUJI-GOTEMBA-MATSUMOTO
16 MAY MATSUMOTO-KANAZAWA-SHIRAKAWAGO-TAKAYAMA-GIFU
17 MAY HAKONE
18 MAY HAKONE
19 MAY Sanja matsuri @asakusa; Odaiba (gundam statue-rainbow bridge);ueno park; nakamise street; tokyo sky tree; sumida river
20 MAY TOKYO ginza akihabara
21 MAY HND-CGK
thank you for your help!
Hi Felicia san,
1. There are lots of places to see, such as Himeji, Kobe, Kyoto, Mt. Koya.
https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1105.html
2. If you really want to see it, you have to go to Hokkaido. It is only place to see it. And you have to go to central Hokkaido, such as Sapporo, Asahikawa. And also you have to go there as early as possible. If you go to Hokkaido, you will spend at least 3 days. If it’s okay for you, you can add it on your trip. Otherwise forget this.
3. You can visit Hakone and Fuji before visiting Tokyo. Actually you can visit all places before going to Tokyo. However if you want to see nemophila, you have to go to Tokyo first. The peak is end of April to early May.
4. Maybe. But your trip plan has not fixed yet. You have to decide whether you go to Hokkaido or not. And also you have to make sure which place you will visit first.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
dear Takeshi-san, thankyou for your responses.
1. okay i will add Himeji and Miyajima to the list. And also mt. Koya for day trip if it possible.
2. i decided to skip Hokkaido and save it for another trip. So, what do you think? is it necessary to buy JR Pass? or which kind of pass should i buy for cover my journey?
3. I saw some articles said that JR pass isn’t cover the fuji hakone trip so we have to buy FUJI HAKONE PASS 3days for it. is it okay if we do day trips there and spend the night at Tokyo and go back again in the morning for these 3 days? or do you think it will be better to stay at Fuji/ Hakone?
8 MAY OSAKA:
9 MAY NARA: day trip from osaka
10 MAY Himeji and Miyajima
11 MAY Mt. KOYA
12 MAY OSAKA-TOKYO : hitachi seaside park for nemophilia harmony?
13 MAY KAWAGUCHIKO
14 MAY FUJI SHIBAZAKURA – KAWAGUCHIKO (onsen)
15 MAY KAWAGUCHI-MT. FUJI-GOTEMBA-MATSUMOTO
16 MAY MATSUMOTO-KANAZAWA-SHIRAKAWAGO-TAKAYAMA-GIFU
17 MAY HAKONE
18 MAY HAKONE
19 MAY Sanja matsuri @asakusa; Odaiba (gundam statue-rainbow bridge);ueno park; nakamise street; tokyo sky tree; sumida river
20 MAY TOKYO ginza akihabara
21 MAY HND-CGK
Thank you very much!
Hi Felicia,
Okay. Now you have to make sure how you visit Fuji and Hakone. These places are closed each other. In your trip plan, you will visit these places separately. First of all, please see the link below to find the location of Fuji and Hakone area:
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
If you want to visit separately like your current plan, that is okay. But you should visit Gotemba when you go to Hakone. It’s located in Hakone area. Please see the links below to find more info of both places:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1to3-days/how-to-build-the-trip-plan-to-hakone-various-sample-itineraries-of-hakone.html
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1to3-days/how-to-build-the-trip-plan-to-fuji-area-various-sample-itineraries-of-fuji-five-lakes-and-5th-station.html
In this case, Fuji Hakone Pass does not work. This pass includes unlimited ride in Fuji and Hakone area, and only one way trip each of Shinjuku-Kawaguchiko, Shinjuku-Odawara. You cannot take round trip of either way.
e.g. If you take one way from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko, you have to go back from Odawara to Shinjuku.
And also this pass does not work, day trip from Tokyo. But if you stay there and visit both places same time for 3 days, it works. The following links shows you 2-day trip from Tokyo but you can extend to 3-day trip:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1to3-days/fuji-and-hakone-two-days-trip-sample-itinerary-spring-version.html
Even though JR pass does not cover Fuji and Hakone. But 7-day pass is required at least. Please try to put, Osaka-Hiroshima-Osaka, Osaka-Tokyo, Tokyo-Matsumoto-Takayama-Tokyo in 7 days period.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi..
Please kindly your advise
I’m going to have a trip for 9 days, with arrival in Narita airport.
My plan is to have D1-D3 in Tokyo, and go to Osaka in D4.
I will spend 1 day for aquarium, a day for sightseeing in Osaka, 1 day to Nara and 1 day to Kyoto.
D9 i would need to get back to Narita airport from Osaka.
Kindly your recommendation for the train, as i’m planning to have the 7 days JR pass, from D3-D9. Is it the best option, or maybe you would have any suggestion?
Thanks
Hi Camelia,
JR Pass for day 3 to 9 is the best choice. You can use other deal for day 1 to 3. 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
Hi Takeshi
Firstly, as i said previously, thank you so much for your presence in our world. Your help is amazing. In making the following long post I don’t expect you to be my unpaid travel agent, but I am providing all the details so you can be informed. This is our schedule:
10th April – Arrive Kagoshima by ship, one day there
11th April – Arrive Osaka by ship but not until 6pm
12th April – Day in Osaka (been several times before)
13th April – At Sea
14th April – Leave Ship in Yokohama
15th April – thinking of going to Kanagawa by train
16th April – just around Yokohama area
17th April – 23rd April – staying in Kyoto and making day trips
23-26th April – Staying in Sendai and making day trips – on 26th Tour of Fukushima Daichi area then train to Tokyo late in the day
26 April – 1 May – Staying in Tokyo and only in Tokyo city area
1-3 May – Staying at Narita and perhaps day trip in local areas
My first dilemma is I can’t decide which Japan Pass it might be worthwhile buying. This is because we are there for a relatively long time but the 21 day pass is not cheap and there will be times we won’t be maximising the value that it potentially gives (e.g, the longish stayin Kyoto). Also, the first few days when we are on the ship…..
I was thinking that if I buy Japan Rail pass/es I would go and trade in the voucher on our day in Osaka off the ship and activate the pass from the second day in Yokohama. Also, while I am there I would try to book some of the longer trips because it’s going to be VERY busy season what with Hanami and Golden Week.
I would appreciate your insight into my thinking and whether you think a 21 day pass is a good idea, or perhaps two times 7 day pass. I have done quite a lot of research but I am at the stage where I would really appreciate the input of someone who knows a lot more than me.
Thank you so much in advance
Lyn
Hi Lyn,
I think you will be able to get the worth of 21-day pass. But I cannot see the detail trip plan when you are in Kyoto, Sendai and Tokyo. So I cannot find how much you can use JR pass.
The cost for Yokohama to Kyoto, Kyoto to Sendai, Sendai to Tokyo and Tokyo to Narita is slightly higher than 14-day pass. I don’t include the local train ride. But you have many chances to use JR pass taking a local train. 2×7-day JR pass is not much different from 21-day JR pass price. 21-day JR pass is better choice.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
HI Takeshi
Thank you so much for your response and sorry for my delay. The notification about your reply went to my junk mail (so annoying!). I greatly appreciate your insight and it does confirm where I think I was going with my decision. I will be travelling a lot on local trains in Kyoto and Tokyo for sure, but sometimes in Tokyo I would be non-JR, but still……
Could I ask one more question please? Have you heard of anyone coming to Japan on a cruise ship who didn’t get the right sort of stamp in their passport? I have read in the news that the Japanese immigration have simplified the visa process for cruise passengers, but I’m hoping that is for people who are not actually disembarking in Japan. Obviously I will need the right thing in my passport to be able to activate the JR Rail pass. I guess I can ask the immigration official on the ship to put the right sort of Visa in our passports if they don’t usually. ……wondering.
Cheers
Lyn
Hi Lyn,
As far as I know, if you disembark the ship and go back to same ship later, you will get different stamp on your passport. But I don’t know this is okay with using JR pass or not. This type of stamp may be accepted to use JR Pass.
If this is not okay with JR pass, you have to exchange your JR Pass at Yokohama. Because you will not go back to the ship. In this case, you will get a short visitor status stamp.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you again Takeshi
I guess I could always exchange it in Yokohama, thanks once again for your clear thinking!
Cheers
Lyn
No worries, Lyn.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi
We will travel to japan May 10, 2019 after we stay 1 day in Tokyo, we plan May 11 early in the morning from tokyo we will go hiroshima (see atomic bom museum) and stay in Osaka hotel on that day.
We will use JR past ordinary, can you guide us which JR train can we use from tokyo to hiroshima dan from hiroshima to osaka.
After we stay one night May 11 we will go to kyoto full day and stay again in Osaka can you also suggest which fastest train that we can use with our JR past.
On may 12 from Osaka we go back to Tokyo also which fastest train that we can use.
Need your guide so we not get lost because this is the first time traveling to Japan.
Thanks for your help.
Best regards,
Irawan/Indonesia
Hi Irawan,
You can take the Shinkansen. Please see the links below to find more info:
https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-departure-arrival-stations/stations-in-tokai/nagoya-toyohashi/what-is-shinkansen-bullet-train.html
Basically you can take Hikari between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, and Sakura between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima. Please see the link below to find the timetable.
https://global.jr-central.co.jp/en/info/timetable/_pdf/westbound.pdf
https://global.jr-central.co.jp/en/info/timetable/_pdf/eastbound.pdf
Special rapid is most convenient and most frequent service between Osaka and Kyoto. Please see the links below to find more info about Osaka – Kyoto move.
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/trains/sort-by-type/rapid-service/special-rapid-service.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Thanks for your feedback we want to asked more that you say journey from tokyo to shin-osaka using hikari shinkansen dan from shin-osaka to hiroshima using sakura shinkansen, we change this two train in shin-osaka in the same track or we must change another track?
Please give us more details so not get lost.
Thanks Takeshi.
Regards,
Irawan
Hi Irawan,
It depend on the train. You may be able to change trains at same platform. Please find some more info about Shin=Osaka station in the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/station-information/shin-osaka-station-guide-how-to-change-shinkansen-haruka-thunderbird-and-local-train-access-to-osaka-umeda-and-namba.html
If you use hyperdia, you can find the track number of the trains:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi
Thank you for your clear explanation site. I have I question, (I apologize if you explained it already and I missed it). If I have a Japan Rail pass, do I have to extra-pay the Seat Reservation in the Shinkansen? Or are the reservation fees also included?
Thanks a lot for any help.
Cheers!
Hi Ani,
JR Pass covers the reserved seat fee too. You don’t need to pay for it.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
I will be travelling to Japan from 15-25 June.
My itinerary is as below:
Day 1 – Arrival at Osaka KIX airport. Stay in Osaka for the night
Day 2 – Travel to Nagoya from Osaka. Stay at Nagoya.
Day 3 – Stay at Nagoya
Day 4 – Travel to Takayama from Nagoya. Stay at Takayama.
Day 5 – Travel to kanazawa (visit Shirakawa-go). Stay at Kanazawa.
Day 6-7– Stay at Kanazawa
Day 8 – Travel to Kyoto. Stay at Kyoto.
Day 9 – Travel to Osaka. Stay at Osaka
Day 10 – Stay at Osaka.
Day 11 – Leave for Osaka KIX airport.
Regards
Roger
Hi Roger,
Your trip plan looks good. You don’t mention anything but I think you want to know the deals for your trip. Please see the following:
Day 1 and 11
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-choose-the-deals-for-access-tofrom-kansai-airport.html
Day 2
Regular fare or Platt Kodama
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/platt-kodama-one-way-deal-among-tokyo-nagoya-kyoto-and-shin-osaka-by-shinkansen.html
Day 3
Subway pass as you need
https://www.kotsu.city.nagoya.jp/en/pc/TICKET/TRP0001071.htm
Day 4 to 8
Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/takayama-hokuriku-area-pass-perfect-deal-to-get-takayama-kanazawa-toyama-shirakawago-from-nagoya-or-osaka.html
Day 8,9,10
Regular fare for Kyoto to Osaka, and add the deals at each places in the links below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-kyoto.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-osaka.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi
My apologies for not being clear in my previous note. Many thanks for the reply.
For day 1, if I stay near shin osaka Station any deal from airpor?
For day 9, if I travel from karasuma Station I. Kyoto to Namba, which is the best train to take? Do I need to travel via main Kyoto station?
Many thanks again
Roger
Hi Roger,
For day 1, Kansai one pass and Haruka is recommended:
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
For day 9, take the following route:
Karasuma (Hankyu railway) Umeda (Subway Midosuji line) Namba
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com