Information about Japan Rail Pass

Japan Rail Pass

The Japan Rail Pass (called JR pass) is a special rail pass for foreign tourists that enable the holders to use almost all JR services untill its expiry date. The holders can apply this rail pass to not only usual trains but limited express trains and Shinkansen and use them freely. There are 2 types of pass; for ordinary cars and green car. If you have Japan Rail Pass for green cars, you can use green seats by making seat reservations (free).

The Price of Japan Rail Pass in 2014

Types

For Green Cars

For Ordinary Cars

Division

Adult

Child

Adult

Child

7-days

38,880 yen

19,440 yen

29,110 yen

14,550 yen

14-days

62,950 yen

31,470 yen

46,390 yen

23,190 yen

21-days

81,870 yen

40,930 yen

59,350 yen

29,670 yen

(Only children who are 6-11 years old can use child prices.)

The Japan Rail Pass cannot be purchased in Japan. If you want to buy this pass, you need to pay the cost and recieve a voucher from an office or agent in your country firstly. After coming to Japan, you can exchange the voucher for the Japan Rail Pass at a Japan Rail Pass exchange office. Japan Rail Pass offices are located in international airports and major stations. The detailed information is written in an official site.

Who Can Use The Japan Rail Pass?

(1) Foreign tourists visiting Japan as a temporary visitor (短期滞在) Japan Rail Pass can be used by temporary visitors who can stay Japan for 90 days at most. The visitors as a worker, a student, or a trainee cannot use the Japan Rail Pass. When you exchange the voucher for the Japan Rail Pass, staffs ascertain that you fulfill the qualification by inspecting stamps or seals on your passport. Therefore, you need to bring your passport when exhanging it.

(2) Japanese nationals living outside of Japan who have permanent residency of the country or who married someone living in outside of Japan
All such people can also use the Japan Rail Pass but they need to have bring not only their passport but materials that show the fulfillment of the other qualifications. The rquired materials are showed at an official site.

What Services Can The Japan Rail Pass Apply to?

JR groupes operates not only train services but bus and ferry services. Of course, Japan Rail Pass holders can apply the pass them, but please notice that there is limitation.

Applicable Trains

Names of Trains

Types of Seats

Pass for Green Car

Pass for Ordinary Car

Shinkansen "Nozomi (のぞみ)" and Shinkansen"Mizuho (みずほ)" 

Green Car

Unavailable

Unavailable

Ordinary Car

Unavailable

Unavailable

Other Shinkansen

Glan Class

Additional charge is needed

Additional charge is needed

Green Car

Available

Additional charge is needed

Ordinary Car

Available

Available

Ordinary Compartment Seats

Additional charge is needed

Additional charge is needed

Limited Express and Express

Green Car

Available

Additional charge is needed

Ordinary Car

Available

Available

Green Compartment Seats

Additional charge is needed

Additional charge is needed

Ordinary Compartment Seats

Additional charge is needed

Additional charge is needed

Sleeping Car

Additional charge is needed

Additional charge is needed

Usual Trains

(Local and Rapid Trains)

Green Car

Available

Additional charge is needed

Ordinary Car

Available

Available

Tokyo Monorail

and Aoimori Railway Line

Ordinary Car

Available

Available


  1. Even if you have the Japan Rail Pass, you must buy your ticket in order to use Shinkansen Nozomi or Mizuho.
  2. If you want to use resrved seats or green seats, you must make seat reservation before getting on Shinkansen. Japan Rail Pass holders can make seat reservations without fee. (How to make seat reservation
  3. Some Shinkansen such as Hayabusa, Hayate, and Komachi include only reserved seats. Therefore, if you want to use these Shinkansen, you must make seat reservation before getting on.

Applicable Buses

Local JR buses - Applicable
Express buses and highway buses - Unapplicable

Applicable Ferry

JR Miyahuma ferry can be applied. JR Miyajima ferry operates between Honsyū (main island of Japan) and Miyajima. In Miuajima, one of the world cultual heritages, "Itsukushima shrine (厳島神社)", is located.

How to Use My Japan Rail Pass?

When you use the Japan Rail Pass, you must have not only it but your passport. Sometimes, JR staffs require you to show your passport when you use your pass.
If you use trains without seat reservations, there is nothing what you have to do. You can use trains by only showing your Japan Rail Pass to JR staffs who is at ticket gates.
If you use Shinkansen with seat reservations, you have to visit a ticket office for seat reservations. The ticket offices called Midori-no-Madoguchi (みどりの窓口) are located at almost all stations. Please visit there, and tell staff
  1. Name of Shinkansen
  2. Departure Station
  3. Destination Station
  4. Date and time of departure
  5. Class of seats
If you don't know the accurate time of departure or arrive, please tell the roughly time. Then, the staffs search trains what meet your requirement. If you cannot speak and understand Japanese, please use this form. Please fulfil the form and show it staffs. Staffs understand the ticket what you want and issue it.


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