Japan Rail Pass


The Japan Rail Pass, also called the JR Pass, is a rail pass for overseas visitors sold by the Japan Railways Group, and is valid for travel on all major forms of transportation provided by the JR Group in Japan, with a few exceptions. The Rail Pass is designed to stimulate travel and tourism throughout the country. It is only cost effective for long-distance travel, particularly by bullet train. While the savings from extensive travel can be considerable, those who travel too little may in fact lose money on a rail pass. The Japan Rail Pass is of limited use within larger cities. In Tokyo, for instance, it does cover the Yamanote Line which goes to several popular tourist areas as well as in Osaka on the Osaka Loop Line, plus in Kyoto on the Nara Line and Sagano Line.

Rail Pass

The national Rail Pass comes in two varieties, one for each class of service, Standard Car and Green Car. Furthermore, the pass is time limited based on the length of pass purchased. Three time periods are available: seven, fourteen and twenty-one consecutive day passes, which provide the user nearly unlimited use of JR transportation services. The table below summarizes the prices for each pass. The amounts are listed in Japanese Yen. When purchasing the Exchange Order, the purchaser will pay the appropriate amount in the purchaser's home country currency based on the current exchange rate.
Purchase before going to Japan:
Purchase in Japan :

Exchange Order

While the Rail Pass is sold by the JR Group, it is obtained by purchasing an Exchange Order from a travel agency located outside Japan. The exchange order can also be purchased from All Nippon Airways; Japan Airlines stopped selling exchange orders in March 2017. The Exchange Order cannot be obtained in Japan. However, from March 8, 2017 to March 31, 2020, as part of a trial basis, the Japan Rail Pass will be available for direct purchase in Japan at a select number of major airports and train stations, though at a higher price of between 10%-13% depending on the pass type.
The Exchange Order will have a 90 day validity period from the date it's issued by an Authorized Seller. It then needs to be exchanged over to a Japan Rail Pass in Japan within that time period.
The Exchange Order itself cannot be used for travel, and must be exchanged at a JR Midori no Madoguchi ticket office. Exchange Orders can be exchanged for a Japan Rail Pass at the following designated major JR train stations.
*This station is on the Tokyo Monorail line. JR East maintains a travel service center at this station where the pass can be obtained.

Valid transportation

The pass is valid for travel on Japan Railways Group transportation throughout the country in the class of service indicated on the pass.

Train

The pass is valid on all JR-operated lines, including the Shinkansen, limited express trains and regular commuter services, including Local and Rapid trains.
The pass is also valid on the following non-JR lines:
The pass is valid on the local routes of the following bus companies:
The pass is also valid for travel on JR Ferry service on the following route:
The Rail Pass is designed for tourist use, and therefore has conditions for its purchase and exchange.

Eligibility

The user must meet one of the following two conditions:
The exchange order must be exchanged for a Japan Rail Pass within three months from the date the order was issued.

Exchange procedure

  1. The person designated on the Exchange Order must apply for the Rail Pass at an exchange office, and there,
  2. Present the order, along with passport.
  3. Fill in the application form provided at the office.
  4. Specify the desired first day of use, which must be within one month from the date of exchange. For example, if the exchange is made on January 1, then the date of first travel must be selected before February 1.

    Conditions of use

The Rail Pass is valid on almost all forms of transportation operated by the companies of the JR Group. However, there are exceptions and conditions of use of the Rail Pass.
JR Group has announced that it will be selling Japan Rail Passes inside Japan to tourists on an experimental basis from
March 8, 2017 ‒ March 31, 2020.
The Japan Rail Pass also allows the holders to obtain discounts when staying at JR Group Hotels.
Regional Rail Passes are also available for JR-Hokkaido, JR-Central, JR-East, JR-West, JR-Shikoku, and JR-Kyushu lines. Unlike the full JR Pass, some regional passes allow holders to travel on Nozomi and Mizuho trains.
From Spring 2020, users of the Japan Rail Pass will be able to make seat reservations for trains over the internet in four languages and use automatic ticket gates at stations.