Japan Rail Pass

Travel throughout Japan!

PLEASE NOTE THAT PASSES MUST BE VALIDATED WITHIN 3 MONTHS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE

The Japan Rail Pass bis a discounted ticket allowing unlimited rail travel throughout Japan over a 7, 14 or 21 consecutive day period. It is available in either an Ordinary (2nd class) or Green (1st class) version. The pass is valid to travel almost anywhere in Japan, along the 12,400 miles of track of Japan Railways.

The Japan Rail Pass can provide you with convenience and great savings if used wisely, but it is a discount ticket and some restrictions on trains do apply, even if there are no restrictions on date or season. Please note that there is no similar pass available within Japan.

Unlike some airfares, the price of Japan Rail tickets is always very closely related to the distance travelled. The key to getting the best savings from a Japan Rail Pass is to maximize the distance you travel. It does not matter if you use a seven-day rail pass for only two or three days of actual travel as long as you do enough long-distance train travel during those days. For example, if you travel from Tokyo to Kyoto one day, from Kyoto to Hiroshima on a second day, and back to Tokyo on a third day, you will have very good savings with a seven-day pass even though you are using only three days out of seven. On the other hand, if you travel extensively only in the area around Tokyo over the same period, you will probably not be travelling far enough to have any consistent savings and you might be better off buying regular tickets once in Japan.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
All trains operated by the Japan Railways Group are included with only a few exceptions. The extensive Shinkansen network, also known as ‘Bullet Train’, is fully covered with the exception of the Nozomi-type train (see ‘What is not included’ below).
All JR Limited Express and Express trains to cities such as Kanazawa are also covered. In addition, thousands of local trains both in cities and rural areas are included. You may see references in older materials to 'ferries.' Before the construction of the Seikan Tunnel to Hokkaido and the Seto Bridge to Shikoku, these islands were linked by JR Ferries, but these have been replaced by train links. Only the small Miyajima ferry near Hiroshima is presently included.

Rules

Prices are subject to change without prior notice.
The Japan Rail Pass is a special ticket that is available only to travelers visiting Japan on a non-Japanese passport from foreign countries for sight-seeing. To be eligible to purchase a Japan Rail Pass you must be a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad, under the entry status of "temporary visitor". Please note that according to strict interpretation of the Japanese Immigration Law, "Temporary Visitor" status differs from other types of stays. Persons with specialty visas (such as working, student, trainee, entertainer, cultural or government visas) are not eligible. Additionally, Japanese nationals currently residing in a foreign country, married to a foreigner and living abroad can apply for the Japan National Railpass only (they cannot apply for any of the regional passes).
You must purchase an Exchange Order before you come to Japan. You must turn in an exchange order to receive a JAPAN RAIL PASS. You cannot use an Exchange Order when you travel on JR lines. Turn in your Exchange Order and obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS at one of the JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange offices. Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS within three months of the date the Order was issued. At the time of the exchange you will be asked to fill in a short application form and to show your passport with the Temporary Visitor stamp that you received on entry into Japan. You must show your passport and this stamp to process the Rail Pass Exchange Order. Without your passport, the pass exchange will not be made. (A photocopy of your passport is also not acceptable because you must show the "Temporary Visitor" stamp in it.) The type of PASS described on the Exchange Order cannot be changed.
There is a 25% cancellation penalty on any unused Exchange Order/Voucher returned to our office within the 12 month from issue. If it returned after this period, the voucher is non refundable.
Caution: Please note that during crowded periods you cannot be guaranteed a seat on a specific train. The periods when seat reservations are particularly difficult to secure are as follows: December 29 to January 5: The New Year holiday period is the most popular travel time for Japanese people, for vacations and returns to hometown areas; April 29 to May 5: Due to consecutive holidays in a comfortable travel season, there is large-scale travel throughout Japan for leisure and recreation; and August 13 to 15: Another time for traditional travel to home-town areas, called the Obon season.
At present, the Japan Rail Pass does not cover Nozomi-type Shinkansen “bullet trains” on the Tokaido/Sanyo lines connecting Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Hakata (Fukuoka) and other cities.
A Japan Rail Pass cannot be purchased inside Japan.