Japan Rail Pass Info, Tips & Prices Japan Rail Pass

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Updated: 05. October 2023 05:12

Similar to the Eurail Pass in Europe, Japan offers all tourists the Japan Rail Pass, or JR Pass for short. While the pass isn't a must-have, it's worth it if you plan on frequently traveling with JR within a short period of time, or if you enjoy last-minute trips and want to be flexible. The included Shinkansen routes make this all-you-can-ride ticket attractive for many tourists.

Important Notes Before Purchasing

You should buy the JR Pass online as sales outlets in Japan are limited and the pass is not sold in Japan at all during some periods.
You can only use the JR Pass on trains operated by Japan Rail (JR).
The pass can only be purchased by tourists. Once you are in Japan under a different visa, you cannot buy the pass.
When you purchase the JR Pass, you will initially receive a voucher. This must be redeemed for a real JR Pass within 3 months of purchase. After 3 months, the voucher will expire.

Overview

You can use all JR trains, local JR buses, and the JR ferry to Miyajima free of charge with the JR Pass.
You can purchase the pass for a period of 7, 14, or 21 days.
The JR Pass is especially suitable for long distances. Especially if you want to see as much of Japan as possible in a short period of time, you will save a lot on travel costs with the JR Pass.
Seats can be reserved in advance.
Instead of the whole country, you can also purchase the pass for individual regions only.

The following groups of people are not eligible:

Japanese nationals
Anyone who does not have a tourist visa (“Temporary Visitor”), e.g. people with student or work visas
Tourists staying in Japan for longer than 90 days

Prices

Here you can find the current prices (as of October 2023). On this website you can check again whether the prices have changed.

JR Pass for 7 days: 322€ (46€ per day) - for children between 6-11 years 161€ (23€ per day)
JR Pass for 14 days: 514€ (36,71€ per day) - for children between 6-11 years 257€ (18,36€ per day)
JR Pass for 21 days: 643€ (30,62€ per day) - for children between 6-11 years 322€ (15,33€ per day)

Green Pass (1st Class)

For those who prefer a more luxurious experience, the JR Green Pass is recommended. With this pass, you will have access to Green Cars, which are comparable to the German first class, in addition to the regular JR Pass benefits. In a Green Car, you can expect amenities such as wider and more comfortable seats, more legroom, and magazines. Of course, the standard seats are also comfortable and offer plenty of space, but especially during the Japanese peak season, the Green Pass proves to be useful. The queues in front of the compartment are shorter and you don't have to reserve seats so far in advance. You can find more information here:

More information about the Green Pass*

JR Pass Green Pass for 7 days: 450€ (64,29€ per day) - for children between 6-11 years 226€ (32,29€ per day)
JR Pass Green Pass for 14 days: 706€ (50,43€ per day) - for children between 6-11 years 353€ (25,21€ per day)
JR Pass Green Pass for 21 days: 899€ (42,81€ per day) - for children between 6-11 years 449€ (21,38€ per day)

Is the JR Pass a good investment?

It really depends on your travel plans. If you want to see as much of Japan as possible within 1-3 weeks and travel to all corners of the country, then you can save a lot of money with the JR Pass. The round trip by Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka alone costs more than the 7-day JR Pass. However, if you only travel one route, for example from Tokyo to Osaka, then the JR Pass is not worth it.

It is best to think in advance about which regions you want to see and whether JR trains or JR buses run there.

How can I buy the JR Pass now?

1. Buy online

You can easily order the JR Pass online. Be sure to select the correct number of passengers and the correct time period.

Buy JR Pass*

2. Receive a voucher

After you have placed your order, you will receive a voucher. You can choose whether this should be sent to your home or directly to your accommodation in Japan. Keep in mind, however, that shipping abroad may incur additional costs. Delivery usually takes 1 to 4 days.

3. Exchange voucher for ticket

You then only need to exchange the received voucher for the actual JR Pass in Japan. This is very easy to do at one of the many JR Exchange Offices .

4. Let's go!

Now you can either reserve seats in advance, or just hop on the train. Have fun!

How does delivery work?

The voucher is usually shipped within 24 to 48 hours of your purchase. Sometimes delivery can be delayed by a few days, especially on holidays. The JR Pass website provides more information on shipping costs and delivery times. For some selected countries, free shipping is also offered from a certain purchase amount. You can find out more here .

Calculate delivery times*

Can all buses and trains be used with the JR Pass?

Generally, only vehicles operated by the Japan Railway Company, abbreviated JR, can be used. The Shinkansen line from Tokyo to Kyoto is included here, for example. However, local transport within Tokyo is operated by several companies. The famous Yamanote Line, which runs in a circle and connects many major stations, can be used with the JR Pass, for example. However, you will have to buy tickets for lines from other providers. Many long-distance buses are also not operated by JR. It's best to check in advance which lines belong to JR.

JRPASS.com Map - https://www.jrpass.com/de/map

Open map

What transportation is included in the JR Pass?

In addition to all train lines, including many of the super-fast Shinkansen, the Japan Railway also operates buses and ferries. These can also be used with the JR Pass, such as the ferry to Miyajima.

JR operates express trains, fast trains, night trains and regional trains , for example:

Aoimori Railway Line between Aomori and Hachinohe
IR Ishikawa Railway Line between Kanazawa and Tsubata
Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line between Toyama and Takaoka
Narita Express from Narita Airport to Tokyo

In addition, the JR Pass can be used on these two lines in Tokyo :

Monorail Yamanote Line
Keihin-Tohoku Line

And these are the JR Bus Lines :

JR Hokkaido Bus
JR Tohoku Bus
JR Kanto Bus
JR Tokai Bus
West Japan JR Bus
JR Chugoku Bus
JR Shikoku Bus
JR Kyushu Bus

Transportation that cannot be used with the JR Pass:

The Shinkansen express trains Mizuho and Nozomi. These two trains are the fastest Shinkansen in all of Japan and are excluded from the JR Pass. However, the “normal” Shinkansen such as Hikari and Kodama are also super fast. These, in turn, can be used with the JR Pass.
Private bus and metro lines
Subways or trams that are not operated by the Japan Railway Company
Express bus lines (this includes JR lines)
the JR Kyushu ferry between Busan and Hakata

How and where can I reserve seats?

While it is not mandatory to reserve a seat, it is free of charge with the JR Pass and very easy to do. You can do this both at the Travel Service Center and at the ticket counter at the station. Simply state when and where you want to travel and that you would like to reserve a seat.

Use Google Maps to Help

With Google Maps, you can not only plan your route, you can also get some additional information. For example, the app shows you the train prices and the name of the individual railway lines. The Hyperdia and Japan App apps are also useful.

ALT IMPORTANT — Google Maps: Very helpful!

Conclusion: Is the JR Pass worth it?

Definitely! With the pass, you can use a lot of transportation for free and you have a lot of choice in your route planning. If you travel a lot by Shinkansen, you can also save a lot of money. Especially if you plan your route based on the JR transportation.