Japan Rail Pass
The Japan Rail Pass is a special rail pass from JR (Japan Railways), the main Japanese railway company. Purchasing this pass allows unlimited travel on any JR train, including the high-speed trains that connect all the major cities in the country. Once a must-have for almost all tourists visiting Japan, the prices have nearly doubled since the end of 2023, making the pass less cost-effective than before. This page will explain how to buy it, how it works, and when it is worth purchasing.
How to Obtain the Japan Rail Pass
Obtaining the Japan Rail Pass involves two steps. First, you need to purchase the Japan Rail Pass. This can only be done online. Second, since the Japan Rail Pass is not digital but a physical pass, you need to obtain this pass. This can only be done in Japan at designated JR offices.
Purchasing the Japan Rail Pass
The Japan Rail Pass can only be purchased online. There are two options:
- The official website of Japan Railways. In this case, the purchase is made instantly by entering your passport details and a start date for the pass (within one month of the purchase date). Once the purchase is completed with a credit card payment, you can go to the dedicated JR offices at any time to obtain your pass by simply showing the passport used during the purchase.
- Authorized agencies. There are several around the world. For example, you can use the agency Jrailpass.com. This was the only way to obtain the Japan Rail Pass for many years before JR launched its official website in 2023. If you purchase through an authorized agency (you'll find many advertisements online), you'll need to provide, in addition to passport details, a physical address to which a so-called voucher will be sent (usually by express courier with delivery in 2-3 days). This voucher, along with your passport, will be necessary to obtain your physical pass in Japan. Many agencies do not ship to Japan, so you will need to purchase the Japan Rail Pass before your departure in this case. The voucher must be exchanged within three months of issuance. The start date of the pass is decided when you collect the physical pass at the JR offices in Japan.
We are honest with our readers: purchasing the Japan Rail Pass through the official website is slightly more convenient because you don't have to receive the voucher at home, and you only need your passport to collect the pass once in Japan.
In terms of price, however, there is no difference: the sale price is the same, and the voucher shipping is free and immediate. Additionally, by purchasing through the agency Jrailpass.com, you allow a free site like ours to earn a small commission, helping us keep the site up-to-date.
We thank everyone who purchases the pass through our partner agency.
Purchase the Japan Rail Pass through our partner agency
Collecting the Physical Japan Rail Pass
As explained, to obtain your physical pass, which must be inserted into the gates at stations to enter, you will need to go to one of the designated JR offices in Japan, regardless of how you purchased the pass. In Tokyo, these offices are located at Narita and Haneda airports, as well as at Tokyo, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno, Ikebukuro, and Shinagawa stations. In all major cities in Japan, there is at least one office where you can exchange the pass (
here is the complete list of designated offices and their opening hours). You will only need to show your passport if purchased through the official website, or passport and voucher if purchased through an authorized agency.
How Much Does the Japan Rail Pass Cost
The Japan Rail Pass is sold in yen, so its price in euros depends heavily on the euro-yen exchange rate at the time of purchase. In the fall of 2023, the prices of the Japan Rail Pass nearly doubled, making it less cost-effective than it was in the past. The weakness of the yen in the exchange market in 2024 has helped to mitigate the impact of the price increase.
| Official Prices of the Japan Rail Pass in Yen |
|---|
| Duration | Ordinary Class | Green Car |
|---|
| Adult | Child | Adult | Child |
|---|
| 7 days | 50,000¥ | 25,000¥ | 70,000¥ | 35,000¥ |
| 14 days | 80,000¥ | 40,000¥ | 110,000¥ | 55,000¥ |
| 21 days | 100,000¥ | 50,000¥ | 140,000¥ | 70,000¥ |
| Current prices of the Japan Rail Pass in Euros and US Dollars, exchange rates updated on 20-11-2024 |
|---|
| Duration | Ordinary Class | Green Car |
|---|
| Adult | Child | Adult | Child |
|---|
| 7 days | 304€ / 321$ | 152€ / 160$ | 425€ / 449$ | 212€ / 224$ |
| 14 days | 486€ / 513$ | 243€ / 256$ | 669€ / 706$ | 334€ / 353$ |
| 21 days | 608€ / 642$ | 304€ / 321$ | 851€ / 899$ | 425€ / 449$ |
Japan Rail Pass and Child Fare
Children under 6 years old can travel for free on all JR trains throughout the country and do not need a Japan Rail Pass.
The "child" fare applies to all children aged 6 to 11 years old, who are entitled to a 50% discount on the pass price.
Children aged 12 and over pay the same as adults. It is sufficient for the child to be 11 years old at the time the pass is purchased. Even if the child turns 12 in the days or weeks following, the pass will remain valid.
Green Car
The Green Car is a class above the standard class, available on all shinkansen trains and some limited express trains. Green Car passengers can enjoy larger, reclining seats, more legroom, and a quieter and more peaceful environment. All seats in Green Car carriages are reserved, so you need to choose and reserve a seat before boarding.
Coverage of the Japan Rail Pass
As a general rule, the Japan Rail Pass allows unlimited use of all and only JR railway lines. Note that there are many private railway companies in Japan where the Japan Rail Pass cannot be used, with rare exceptions that you can explore further below.
Where the Japan Rail Pass is valid
- JR Trains. The pass is valid on almost all trains operated on the JR national network, including shinkansen (except for nozomi and mizuho) and limited express trains.
- Tokyo Monorail. This line connects Tokyo Haneda Airport with Hamamatsucho Station in Tokyo.
- JR Ferry to Miyajima. You will still need to pay a 100¥ landing fee on the island, which is generally included in the ferry price.
- Non-JR trains needed to reach some isolated JR lines. These are rare cases in rural areas of the country. Some JR lines are isolated from the rest of the railway network, and you need to take private company trains to reach them. As tourists, you will rarely need to use these lines.
- Some local JR bus lines. As tourists, you will rarely need to use these lines.
Where the Japan Rail Pass is not valid
- On all trains of private railway companies, with very few exceptions (see above). The subway networks of Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, as well as public buses and trams, are not operated by JR and therefore are never covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
Where the Japan Rail Pass is only partially valid
In a few cases, the Japan Rail Pass covers routes only partially, and you need to pay a supplement:
- On Nozomi and Mizuho shinkansen trains. These trains are no different from other shinkansen except that they make fewer stops and arrive slightly earlier at their destination. The cost of the supplement depends on the distance traveled and varies between about 4000¥ and 8000¥.
- On night trains. These trains have compartments or sleeping berths that must be paid for separately.
- In some very rare cases where JR trains also use non-JR railways. As tourists, you will rarely need to use these lines.
How to use your Japan Rail Pass
Generally, the Japan Rail Pass works as a paper ticket to pass through the turnstiles at stations. Nothing else is needed if it is for local trains or trains without reserved seats. Just insert the paper pass into the designated automatic turnstiles and board the desired train. We recommend also taking a look at the
Guide to trains in Japan.
Seat Reservation
If you want to use a train that also has reserved seats, you will need to obtain a seat reservation ticket, which will specify the car and reserved seat number.
Seat reservations are free for Japan Rail Pass holders and can be made at ticket offices or through automatic machines. Those who purchased the pass through the official website can also make seat reservations online on a dedicated site and then collect the tickets from designated automatic machines. To pass through the turnstiles, you will need to insert both the Japan Rail Pass and the seat reservation ticket together. Remember to collect both the pass and the ticket before proceeding. Below is an explanatory video made by JR.
automatic machines for shinkansen and a JR ticket office
Pros and Cons of the Japan Rail Pass
Traveling in Japan with the Japan Rail Pass: Is it still worth it?
Before the significant price increase in October 2023, the Japan Rail Pass was an almost mandatory purchase for foreign tourists planning even a short trip to Japan. Just a few long-distance trips were enough to recoup the pass's cost. However,
with current prices, the Japan Rail Pass is often no longer advantageous. This is particularly true for those who have in mind the most common tourist itinerary among foreign tourists, which includes the route from Tokyo to the Osaka and Kyoto area, then proceeding to Hiroshima, and finally returning to Tokyo.
When is the Japan Rail Pass worthwhile?
Despite the price increase, the Japan Rail Pass can be worthwhile in two specific cases:
- If you plan an intensive tour of Japan, covering long distances almost every day during the pass's validity period. For example, a 7-day pass is advantageous if you follow an itinerary like: Tokyo - Kanazawa - Kyoto - Hiroshima - Tokyo.
- If you want to explore various areas of Japan always starting from the same point, buying many round-trip tickets, the pass easily pays for itself. For example, a 7-day pass is already advantageous if, starting from Tokyo, you buy a round-trip Tokyo-Kyoto and another round-trip Tokyo-Kanazawa.
Other considerations in choosing
- On the downside, to get good value from the Japan Rail Pass, you need to take many trains during the validity period, taking several hours of your days away from your available time in Japan. If you have such an intensive tour of the country planned, for some routes it might be more convenient to take the night bus, which saves time (you travel at night, leaving all days free) and money (no need to pay for a hotel). For very long routes, even a plane might be a better alternative to the train to save time.
- Also, the Japan Rail Pass, during its validity period, does not cover all railway expenses. In addition to the pass cost, you will surely need to add other transportation expenses. For example, if you plan a trip Tokyo-Kanazawa-Kyoto-Osaka-Hiroshima-Tokyo, you would activate the pass on the day of departure for Kanazawa. Therefore, in the first days in Tokyo, you will need to pay for all transportation (train from the airport, city lines, any trains for excursions outside Tokyo). Public transport other than urban JR railway lines must always be paid for separately.
- On the positive side, activating a Japan Rail Pass offers more freedom to modify the itinerary during the trip, adding stops or impromptu stops that you might otherwise not consider for cost reasons. Having the pass allows you to explore more freely, visiting places you might not otherwise visit. With the Japan Rail Pass, you can stop wherever you want and make all the excursions you want (if the destination is reached by JR) without worrying about the additional cost.
Purchase the Japan Rail Pass
Guided tours, activities and other things to do
If you are planning a trip to Japan and you want to do something more than just visiting famous places and monuments, we suggest you to use
Rakuten Travel Experiences.
How to use Rakuten Travel Experiences
Rakuten Travel is a very useful website to
enrich your travel experience, especially if you are going solo or it's your first time in Japan.
Because of the language barrier (and more), in Japan it is very difficult to interact with the locals and to get off the tourist track.
Thanks to Rakuten Travel you can find a lot of interesting and sometimes unique
guided tours and activities all over Japan (and not only in Japan), that you would otherwise never be able to enjoy.
But there's more: on Rakuten Travel you can also
buy tickets for several famous attractions, events, transportation and other useful services for tourists. Last but not least, you can
reserve a table in hundreds of restaurants.
Some examples
Take a look at Rakuten Travel Experiences
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automatic machines for shinkansen and a JR ticket office
