Japan Rail Pass

Activity > Not area specific > Travel Tips

The Japan Rail Pass is a special transportation pass that offers foreign tourists unlimited use of JR trains (including the Bullet Train), the JR Ferry to Miyajima and Local JR Buses (not Highway/Express Buses). The pass can be bought for 7 Day use, 14 Day use or 21 Day use and only visiting tourist foreigners can buy it (Full time residents living in Japan cannot buy it). There is an Adult fare and Child fare and the pass comes in two types, normal seating or "Green Car" (i.e. 1st Class) seating.

You can purchase a Japan Rail Pass at a Travel Agency outside of Japan or through various online sellers. Once purchased, you will receive a voucher with which you bring to Japan and then exchange that voucher for the actual pass. There are many places you can exchange the voucher for the actual pass, including Narita Airport. The pass "starts" the minute you make the exchange. Note that you must exchange the voucher for the pass within three months of purchase

Note: Information presented is based on the time it was created. There may be changes since publication. Please confirm information by visiting Official Websites or links given. Furthermore, the example costs described below are based on the Yen at 110 yen for 1 Dollar (it's been hovering about there for a few years). If you would like to know the current exact Exchange Rate, here is the current actual Yen to Dollar Exchange Rate.

Depending on the season (summer is "High Season" in Japan), a standard adult pass costs around,

• 7 Days - $250 - $300 USD
• 14 Days - $400 - $450 USD
• 21 Days - $520 - $570 USD

For the current exact price, please visit the Official Prices page of the Japan Rail Pass. Note that this link is the Official Site and prices may vary upon where you purchase your pass.

The Big Question, is the Japan Rail Pass worth it?

If you plan on taking just one round-trip excursion from Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka (or visa-versa), the Japan Rail Pass is definitely worth it. If you purchased this round-trip ticket normally, the price is about the same price as the Japan Rail Pass which gives you a full week of unlimited riding. With a Japan Rail Pass you could ride up to Hokkaido, over to Kanazawa, down to Nagasaki and back up to Osaka and Tokyo for the same price as just one regular Tokyo <> Osaka trip. However, if your in Japan for just a couple/few days and don't plan on leaving the city your in, the pass wouldn't make sense.

Basic things you should know

• Yes, the Japan Rail Pass allows you to ride Reserved Seating IF you go to a booking counter and reserve a seat before you get on. There is no additional charge for making seat reservation. If you get on without reserving a seat you must sit in a Non-Reserved car. These "Booking Counters" in Japan are called Midori No Madoguchi. It's not difficult to find the Midori No Madoguchi booking spots. Look for the little green icon like the one shown at the beginning of this paragraph. There are some outside the ticket gates and some within the ticket gates usually right next to the entrance ticket gates of the Shinkansen platforms. You just go in and line up, show your pass, tell them what train you want to ride and they'll give you a reserved ticket if there is a seat available.
• Where can I use the pass? Basically you can get almost anywhere in Japan using the Japan Rail Pass. From the Northern island of Hokkaido to the Southern island of Kyushu. There are a few places that only private lines reach but for 90% of tourists to Japan, the Rail Pass will be plenty.
• Is the Green Car (1st Class Car) worth is? Meh, it gives you a little extra room and slightly better seats but the normal reserved cars are plenty sufficient for most travelers. If you want a bit more luxury and have the extra dough, go for it.
• You cannot use the Automatic Ticket Gates with the pass, you must pass through the manned gate and show the staff.
• You cannot use the "Nozomi" or "Mizuho" named Shinkansens (Bullet Trains). This is a very minor inconvenience and you might have to wait an extra 10 - 15 min. some times. Both of these trains are considered "Super Duper" express trains and can reach their destinations slightly faster than the regular Shinkansen trains.
• The JR also offers a wide variety of tickets for unlimited riding in just certain "Regions" as well... for example "Kyushu" or "Northern Japan". These tickets can be quite confusing and generally just paying $50 or $100 more bucks gets you the full ride anywhere in Japan Rail Pass. If you know exactly where your going, read exactly where these tickets allow you to ride and you want to save just a little money... you might want to consider a Region Pass.
• There are many other "Rules and Regulation" and you should visit the Official Site and read through it thoroughly but the Japan Rail Pass is easy to use.

The trains in Japan are not cheap. Furthermore they can get crowded and we always suggest to pay for reserved seating or even Green Car (1st Class) seating when possible... you really don't want to be standing up for an hour or two on a train when your on vacation. For example, consider a typical 3 day stay in just the Tokyo area. From Narita Airport to Tokyo round trip will cost you 6,440 Yen or $59 USD. If you take one small trip out to a far suburb like Kamakura (a popular tourist destination), a round trip ticket to Kamakura will cost you 1,840 Yen ($17 USD) for a normal Non-Reserved seat or 3,400 Yen ($31 USD) for a Reserved seat. While your in Tokyo, riding the trains around the main Tokyo area will cost you $5 to $20 USD per day. So, in total it could cost you around $140 USD for a 3 day stay in the Tokyo area.