Can I Buy a Jr Pass in Japan
Japan Rail Passes (JR Passes) are available to anyone visiting Japan on a short-term tourist visa. They provide a fantastic discount on bullet railroad train (Shinkansen) and regular train travel, but if you don't accept experience with Japan's rail send organization, information technology's difficult to know a) if you need ane, and b) which JR Pass works with which Shinkansen. To add to the confusion, the various regional companies that constitute JR (JR Due east, JR Due west, JR Fundamental, JR Hokkaido, JR Shikoku and JR Kyushu) all accept their own passes! Each is priced differently and has dissimilar conditions. Read this guide for a better idea of which JR Pass to choose for your trip.
Note: Some JR passes are too available to strange residents of Japan. These include the JR Tokyo Broad Pass, the JR Tohoku Area Pass, the JR Nagano & Niigata Expanse Pass, and the JR Kyushu Observe Rail Pass. Scroll down for more details.
Jump to:
- The main (national) Nippon Rails Pass
- JR Eastward Passes
- JR Tokyo Wide Pass
- JR West Passes
- The Hokuriku Curvation Laissez passer
- Summary: What to remember when choosing your JR Pass
- Video guide to choosing a JR Pass
- How to actuate your Nippon Rail Pass
- Alternatives to Japan Rails Passes: Using other ship
Pro tip: If you lot want to keep it elementary, order the main Nippon Rail (JR) Pass online before your trip. This laissez passer is excellent value, and if you're traveling to more one major metropolis within 7 days (or three/four cities inside xiv days), it's very probable y'all'll be saving money.
The Japan Rail Pass (this one gives yous admission to the unabridged country)
The Japan Rail Pass is the female parent of all travel passes, allowing yous unlimited use of all JR trains from Kagoshima in the due south of Japan right up to the northern tip of Hokkaido. You can ride everything from the super-cool Shinkansen (that's the bullet train) to local JR commuter trains, JR buses and fifty-fifty JR ferries.
Note: JR Pass holders cannot apply the Nozomi and Mizuho bullet trains, aka the fastest ones. The other bullet trains are perfectly proficient, only expect slightly longer travel times. For example, getting from Tokyo to Osaka may accept 30 minutes longer on the Hikari bullet train.
JR Pass prices
The duration of each pass is the number of days from when it is start activated—including that mean solar day. There is no option to separate upwards travel—so one time you actuate your JR Pass, the clock starts.
| Type of JR Laissez passer | Ordinary | Dark-green (Offset form) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult (12+) | Child (vi-11) | Adult (12+) | Kid (6-11) | ||
| 7 day | ¥ 29,650 | ¥ fourteen,825 | ¥ 39,600 | ¥ xix,800 | Reserve online |
| 14 day | ¥ 47,250 | ¥ 23,625 | ¥ 64,120 | ¥ 32,060 | Reserve online |
| 21 mean solar day | ¥ 60,450 | ¥ 30,225 | ¥ 83,390 | ¥ 41,690 | Reserve online |
*Prices were authentic as of February iv, 2021.
Where can I buy the JR Laissez passer?
Up until March 2017, the Japan Track Pass could not be purchased in Nihon—you had to buy information technology either online or through an authorized travel agent before arriving. JR Passes are currently available for purchase in Nippon until the end of March, 2022. However, since it's quite a bit more expensive if you purchase a JR Pass after arriving (think an actress ¥ iv,000 or and so for the 7-twenty-four hour period national version), it'due south merely on sale at a limited number of stations, and you may take to use Japanese during the transaction, it'south a much improve idea to buy your JR Pass before coming to Japan.
Note: Y'all are just eligible for a JR Pass if you're entering Japan with a "temporary visitor" visa, with a stay not exceeding 90 days. Staying longer? Y'all can get a Japan Charabanc Pass instead—these are open to anyone with a foreign passport!
Do I need a JR Pass?
If yous are planning two or more inter-metropolis return trips from Tokyo to somewhere like Kyoto in the southwest or Sendai in the northward, or 1 really long trip to Hokkaido or Kyushu, and then the main JR Laissez passer is worth getting. The regular price for a return ticket on the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Hiroshima alone is roughly ¥ 38,000 , which is basically the same every bit the cost of the 7-twenty-four hours Dark-green Auto (First-class) JR Pass!
However, if you lot plan to spend all of your trip in and around Tokyo (or Kansai, for that thing), so you most certainly don't need a national JR Laissez passer. You might want a regional JR Pass, though (run into below), or a unmarried-use Shinkansen ticket. You could also look at the prices of Japan's depression-cost airlines (more than on non-rail travel later).
While the Shinkansen may provide a better view of the land than yous would go from the middle alley of an airplane, it's worth noting that large parts of the bullet railroad train network are either cloak-and-dagger or have sound barriers beside the tracks—so yous might spend well-nigh of the journeying dozing. Yous'll nevertheless get plenty of glimpses of everyday Japan, though, and information technology's possible to see Mount Fuji as you lot hurtle between Tokyo and Kyoto or Osaka (they'll announce it).
Pro tip: Many of the bullet trains have power points available in front of or next to your seat, then that you can accuse your phone and use your laptop. You lot can also connect to costless wifi on an increasing number of Shinkansen. Read more than near getting wifi in Japan.
Which JR Pass should I go?
Since the master JR Pass encompasses countrywide JR travel, yous only need to cull based on the number of days you'll be traveling around Japan (7, 14 or 21 days), and whether you lot desire ordinary or First-class (Green Car) passes. They're all a expert bargain compared to regular bullet train tickets (nosotros mentioned that a return trip between Tokyo and Hiroshima will cost you most the same equally a 7-mean solar day Green Motorcar pass), but you should choose carefully, because you won't exist able to change the duration of the laissez passer later on y'all make it.
Pro tip: For ideas on where to become and what to practice with your JR Pass, check out this 7-day DIY rails itinerary that takes you from Tokyo to Niigata and then down to Kansai, and this Northern Explorer selection that sees you lot going deep into the center of Tohoku and Hokkaido.
JR East Passes
If your travels are going to be full-bodied in the central, eastern and northeastern parts of Japan, i.east. Nagano, Tokyo, Niigata, Tohoku and Hokkaido, 1 of the JR East Passes may work out to be more economical for y'all than the main JR Laissez passer.
There is no full general JR East Pass. Instead, you lot have four regional options for JR Eastward Passes: the JR E Tohoku Pass; the JR East Nagano-Niigata Pass; the JR Tohoku Due south Hokkaido Pass; and the JR East South Hokkaido Pass. Hither's how they compare:
| Type of JR E Laissez passer | Major Destinations | Validity Period | Classification | Price (purchased online or overseas) | Price (purchased in Japan) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tohoku Area Laissez passer | Unlimited travel on JR Due east trains inside the Tohoku area. Available to foreign residents of Japan from Apr 1, 2021. Recommended for travelers between Tokyo and Aomori, Nikko, Sendai, Akita, and Fukushima. Pass valid on the Shinkansen, Narita Express and Tokyo Monorail. Pass can be used in Izu and Nikko on certain non-JR trains as well. | five-24-hour interval pass used consecutively. | Developed(12+) | ¥ twenty,000 | ¥ 20,000 | Reserve online |
| Children(vi-11) | ¥ 10,000 | ¥ 10,000 | Reserve online | |||
| Nagano & Niigata Area Pass | Bachelor to strange residents of Japan from April 1, 2021. Recommended for travelers betwixt Tokyo and Nagano, Niigata, Karuizawa and Gala Yuzawa resort. Pass can exist used on Shinkansen, Narita Express and Tokyo Monorail. | 5-day laissez passer used consecutively. | Adult(12+) | ¥ 18,000 | ¥ xviii,000 | Reserve online |
| Children(six-xi) | ¥ ix,000 | ¥ 9,000 | Reserve online | |||
| East-Due south Hokkaido Laissez passer | Recommended for travelers between Tokyo and Hakodate and Sapporo (Hokkaido), besides Aomori, Nikko, Karuizawa and Sendai. | half dozen-day pass used consecutively. | Adult(12+) | ¥ 27,000 | ¥ 27,000 | Reserve online |
| Children(6-xi) | ¥ 13,500 | ¥ 13,500 | Reserve online | |||
| Tohoku-South Hokkaido Pass | Recommended for travelers betwixt Sendai, Hakodate and Sapporo (Hokkaido), also Aomori, Iwate, Fukushima and Akita. | 6-day pass used consecutively. | Adult(12+) | ¥ 24,000 | ¥ 24,000 | Reserve online |
| Children(six-11) | ¥ 12,000 | ¥ 12,000 | Reserve online |
Where can I buy these regional Japan Rail passes?
You don't have to buy JR East passes before arriving in Japan, but you can if you want to. Passes can be purchased at both Haneda and Narita Airport on arrival, or from major JR East stations. In Tokyo, you can selection one up at Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Ikebukuro and Ueno Stations, too every bit other major JR stations. Y'all can also buy a JR East laissez passer through authorized travel agents in the same way as the JR Pass, or online.
Note: From Apr, 2021, yous can scan your passport at certain Reserved Seat Ticket vending machines at major JR Due east stations, to purchase your laissez passer directly. These include Tokyo, Ueno, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Shinagawa, Hamamatsucho, Yokohama and Narita Drome, among others. Y'all will as well be able to make seat reservations on these machines, saving you the extra footstep of going into the ticket role. As an added bonus, you tin can also go direct through the automatic ticket gates, instead of being restricted to the manned gate. These changes too use to the JR Tokyo Wide Laissez passer and the Hokuriku Curvation Pass.
Do I need a JR East Laissez passer?
While you may have thought Nihon runs roughly in a north-south axis, according to JR and indeed many Japanese people, it'southward basically divided into eastward and due west (which makes sense, if you expect at a map). The JR East passes are ideal for inter-urban center travel from Tokyo to major destinations like Niigata, Nagano, Sendai, Aomori, Nikko, Izu, Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort and more—even all the way upward (east) to Hakodate in Hokkaido. But if you're likely to be in Tokyo the whole time, or in one of the larger metropolises such as Sendai, you probably won't need one of these regional rail passes.
Which one should I become?
The JR Eastward Laissez passer you choose volition exist dictated by where you desire to go—investigate the destinations and boundaries for each laissez passer earlier yous make a determination. The Tohoku Pass is recommended for travel between Tokyo, Sendai, Aomori and Nikko, while the Niigata & Nagano Laissez passer is recommended for—yous guessed information technology—Niigata and Nagano, along with the mountain resort town of Karuizawa.
Pro tip: If you have a lot of baggage, or even one huge purse, consider sending it on ahead with a luggage commitment service. New Shinkansen luggage rules from May 2022 dictate that luggage with dimensions of over 160cm but nether 250cm will require special reservations (included in your JR Laissez passer), and bags over 250cm won't be allowed onboard the bullet train at all. Read more about the new baggage rules.
JR Tokyo Wide Pass (formerly the Kanto Area Laissez passer)
If you're going to be based in Tokyo, with just a couple of twenty-four hour period trips or an overnight take a chance to one of the nearby prefectures, this may exist the best Japan train pass for you.
The JR Tokyo Broad Pass allows you lot to travel to notable spots such as Nikko, ski resort Gala Yuzawa, Izu and even Mount Fuji. It too takes you deep into Nagano Prefecture—as far as Sakudaira Station (but strangely non equally far as Nagano Station) on the Nagano Shinkansen and Jomo Kogen on the Joetsu Shinkansen.
Perhaps the handiest destination, though, is the resort town of Karuizawa. A regular one-way ticket to Karuizawa from Tokyo costs around ¥ 6,000 , so using the pass for a return trip to Karuizawa alone is good value.
Notation: The Tokyo Wide Pass gives you lot access to various bullet trains and limited expresses, merely it cannot exist used on JR buses or on the Tokaido Shinkansen (the bullet train running between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka).
| Blazon | Nomenclature | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Wide Pass (three consecutive days) | Adult (12+) | ¥ 10,180 |
| Child (half-dozen-xi) | ¥ 5,090 |
Where can I buy a JR Tokyo Wide Pass?
The easiest manner to get a JR Tokyo Wide Laissez passer is by ordering it online. You lot tin can also purchase it at major JR stations, including hubs on the Yamanote Line (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, Ueno, Tokyo, Shinagawa), likewise every bit Yokohama and both Narita and Haneda Drome.
Note: Dissimilar the other Japan Rail Passes, this 1 is available to foreign residents in Japan—all you demand is a non-Japanese passport.
Do I need a JR Tokyo Wide Pass?
Don't get the JR Tokyo Wide Pass if you're only traveling effectually the Tokyo/Yokohama area—buying regular tickets or using a rechargeable IC card is by and large cheaper. However, you'll get your money back on whatsoever trip on the Shinkansen within the Kanto region, or on trips slightly farther afield—such as to Yamanashi, Nagano, Tochigi and Gunma.
Pro tip: Read our guide to the JR Tokyo Broad Pass to see if information technology suits your travel needs, and discover what you can practise with information technology.
JR West Passes
The JR Westward Pass is divided into a few different passes (±10, to be exact).
If y'all're only interested in visiting the major cities and tourist destinations of Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe, yous're all-time off with a Kansai Surface area Pass. However, if y'all're looking to travel inside Kansai and and then dip out to other major destinations, consider some of the other passes (like the Kansai-Hiroshima Surface area Laissez passer), or fifty-fifty purchasing 2 passes (like the Kansai Broad Surface area Pass + the San'in-Okayama Area Pass). Hither'due south an overview of 8 cardinal JR West Passes:
| Type of JR Westward Laissez passer | Major Destinations | Validity Period | Classification | Cost (purchased online or overseas) | Cost (purchased in Nihon) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansai Area Pass (Well-nigh popular) | Covers the Kansai area, including travel from Kansai Airport to Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, Himeji, Wakayama, Shiga, Tsuruga, Iga-Ueno and inside those areas. (Does NOT include Shinkansen or Limited Limited trains (other than Haruka) | 1 mean solar day | Developed (12+) | ¥ 2,300 | ¥ 2,400 | Reserve online |
| Child (6-eleven) | ¥ one,150 | ¥ 1,200 | Reserve online | |||
| 2 day | Adult (12+) | ¥ 4,600 | ¥ 4,800 | Reserve online | ||
| Child (six-11) | ¥ 2,300 | ¥ 2,400 | Reserve online | |||
| 3 mean solar day | Adult (12+) | ¥ five,600 | ¥ 5,800 | Reserve online | ||
| Child (vi-11) | ¥ 2,800 | ¥ ii,900 | Reserve online | |||
| 4 twenty-four hour period | Developed (12+) | ¥ six,600 | ¥ 6,800 | Reserve online | ||
| Child (6-xi) | ¥ 3,300 | ¥ 3,400 | Reserve online | |||
| Kansai Wide Surface area Pass | Covers all of the Kansai region, like Kansai Airport, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara, Himeji + other areas of interest outside of Kansai including Okayama, Kurashiki, Shirahama, Kinosaki Onsen, Takamatsu and the Shingu expanse. (Includes some Shinkansen travel). **Special version available to foreign residents of Japan until March, 2022. Come across more than below.** | 5 day | Adult (12+) | ¥ 9,200 | ¥ ten,200 | Reserve online |
| Child (6-11) | ¥ 4,600 | ¥ 5,100 | Reserve online | |||
| Kansai-Hiroshima Area Laissez passer | Covers travel in Kansai area + road from Kansai Airport to Okayama, Hiroshima and Takamatsu. Includes the JR-Westward Miyajima Ferry. (Includes some Shinkansen travel) | 5 day | Adult (12+) | ¥ 13,700 | ¥ 14,700 | Reserve online |
| Child (vi-11) | ¥ half dozen,850 | ¥ 7,350 | Reserve online | |||
| Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass | Covers the route from Hakata to Yamaguchi and Hiroshima. Includes travel on the JR-West Miyajima Ferry. (Includes some Shinkansen travel) | 5 day | Adult (12+) | ¥ 11,200 | ¥ 12,200 | Reserve online |
| Child (half dozen-11) | ¥ 5,600 | ¥ half-dozen,100 | Reserve online | |||
| Sanyo-San'in Northern Kyushu Area Pass | In addition to the Kansai surface area, information technology covers the route between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. Includes the JR-West Miyajima Ferry. (Includes some Shinkansen travel) | 7 day | Adult (12+) | ¥ 22,400 | ¥ 23,420 | Reserve online |
| Child (6-11) | ¥ xi,200 | ¥ 11,710 | Reserve online | |||
| San'in-Okayama Area Pass | Covers routes inside the San'in and Okayama areas. (Does Non include Shinkansen travel) | 4 day | Adult (12+) | ¥ 4,580 | ¥ 5,600 | Reserve online |
| Child (vi-11) | ¥ 2,290 | ¥ ii,800 | Reserve online | |||
| Kansai-Hokuriku Area Laissez passer | Covers the routes between Kansai Airdrome and the Hokuriku area (Toyama, Ishikawa and Fukui), as well as travel within the Kansai area. (Includes some Shinkansen travel) | vii mean solar day | Adult (12+) | ¥ 15,270 | ¥ 16,290 | Reserve online |
| Child (6-xi) | ¥ 7,630 | ¥ viii,140 | Reserve online | |||
| Hokuriku Expanse Pass | Covers travel within the Hokuriku surface area. (Includes some Shinkansen travel.) Non to be dislocated with the broader Hokuriku Arch Pass. | four day | Adult (12+) | ¥ 5,090 | ¥ v,600 | Reserve online |
| Child (6-11) | ¥ 2,540 | ¥ ii,800 | Reserve online |
**New Kansai WIDE Surface area Excursion Laissez passer: This is a iii-twenty-four hours version of the Kansai Broad Area Pass, available to foreign residents of Japan. The regular Kansai Wide Area Pass is not bachelor to residents; simply short-term visitors to Nippon can buy it. Yet, JR West take made a shorter version of the pass bachelor to residents for a limited time, until March 31, 2022. Information technology costs ¥ ten,000 . Discover out more.
Where can I buy the JR W Passes?
These disbelieve train passes tin can be purchased either overseas before your inflow, online (besides earlier arrival) or in Nihon (the get-go 2 are recommended because you get an "early on bird" discount). If purchasing in Japan, yous'll need to prove that y'all are a short-term visitor by presenting your passport and air tickets. Cull carefully, as you can only purchase each pass one time—and so you can't come back for more than later on in the trip!
Exercise I need a JR West Pass?
Since at that place are so many pass options for the west of Japan, it really depends on where you're going, for how long, and how much moving around you lot program on doing at that place. One bit of insight though: the Kansai Area Pass (the most popular) is a flake different to other regional passes—since the cities and attractions in Kansai tend to exist a scrap more spread out than in Kanto (the broad Tokyo area), the pass actually makes more than sense for daily travel than major inter-city travel.
Which i should I get?
For the Kansai Area Pass, you'll demand to decide how many days yous'll be moving around, since it offers 1, 2, 3 or 4 days. It's proficient value for getting betwixt the various towns and cities in Kansai.
If yous travel from Shin-Osaka to Hakata (in Kyushu) on a regular Shinkansen, it will cost y'all about ¥ 31,000 return—that's 1/3 of the cost more than the Sanyo-San'in Area Pass for 7 days, which includes that route plus travel within the Kansai area—a no-brainer!
New JR Kyushu Notice Rail Pass
Until the end of June, 2021, the special JR Kyushu Discover Runway Laissez passer is available to both tourists and foreign residents of Nippon, every bit well as their Japanese traveling companions. It allows 3 sequent days of travel beyond Kyushu, for ¥ 12,000 (price for the foreign national) or ¥ 14,000 (price for the Japanese national). Another version allows travel through N Kyushu from only ¥ 6,500 . Find out more.
The Hokuriku Curvation Pass
Some other rail laissez passer to consider is the Hokuriku Arch Pass, which is most useful for those traveling between Tokyo and Osaka, with the time and inclination to end off and explore the beauty and culture of places similar Kanazawa, Itoigawa and Nagano forth the way. Information technology's made for somewhat slower travel. Read more about the Hokuriku Arch Pass.
Summary: What y'all need to remember when choosing a JR Pass
Here's a quick recap of the master tips:
- DON'T purchase whatever Japan Rail Laissez passer if you're only traveling around the Tokyo/Yokohama area. It's cheaper to buy private tickets or accuse coin onto a Pasmo/Suica card.
- Practise buy a JR Pass if you're planning a fair bit of intercity travel. Information technology's all-time to plan your travels outset, and then choice a pass accordingly.
- If y'all're exploring Osaka, Kyoto and surrounds, a Kansai Expanse Pass is good for even daily travel, since many attractions are pretty spread out.
- If yous programme on taking the Shinkansen anywhere, it'due south almost always a skillful idea to buy a runway laissez passer. As nosotros mentioned, the regular toll for a return ticket on the Shinkansen betwixt Tokyo and Hiroshima is around ¥ 38,000 , which is basically the same as the cost of the 7-day JR Dark-green Motorcar Pass! However, if yous're just making one long-distance trip, a one-way Shinkansen ticket may work out to be cheaper. Utilize our Shinkansen fare calculator to help you effigy out the best selection for your travel plans. You tin book single-use Shinkansen tickets in accelerate (for a handling fee).
- Be sure to check the official websites for the exact routes that each pass covers, and which trains yous can utilise (most passes take a few exceptions, like being valid merely on certain Shinkansen [unremarkably the slightly slower ones], or not being valid on sure limited express trains, etc.).
Video guide to choosing a JR Pass
How to activate your JR Laissez passer
Whichever Japanese rail laissez passer you choose, the procedure for activating it will be the same. You will receive an substitution order for your runway pass, which you lot need to accept, together with your passport, in person, to a JR ticket office or JR travel center (establish at all major JR train stations and airports in Japan). There, you will be given the actual laissez passer. You lot will exist asked when you would like to activate it from—this can be the same day, and so you can start your travels immediately.
You lot can make seat reservations for Shinkansen and express express trains at the same time—provided it's not super crowded, due east.g. blood-red blossom season, you should be able to make reservations for all of your journeys at once.
Currently, to utilize your JR Pass, you just show it at the staffed ticket gates and wait to be waved through. Be sure to keep it with you at all times.
Alternatives to Nihon Track Passes: Using non-rail send
Seeing as the Japanese railway system is and then on point, we're certain you'll be using its services at some time or another during your stay. However, that doesn't hateful yous don't accept other travel options.
For route travel, we recommend reading most the crawly Japan Passenger vehicle Pass.
And for route information between Tokyo and major destinations that includes air or bus travel, check out our "fast vs. inexpensive" transportation articles—starting with Tokyo to Kyoto, Osaka, Sapporo and Hiroshima.
While we do our best to ensure it'due south correct, information, including pricing, is subject to change. This guide was last updated in Apr, 2021.
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Source: https://tokyocheapo.com/travel/which-jr-rail-pass-to-choose/
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