The Japan Rail Pass is specifically designed for tourists and must be bought outside Japan. It allows unlimited travel on Japan Rail lines and affiliated buses and ferries. Passes are available in two classes, Green (First Class) or Ordinary (Economy Class) and for periods of 7, 14 or 21 days of consecutive travel, starting from your first day of travel. The Pass is excellent value for money with the 7 Day Ordinary Pass costing the same as one return ticket between Tokyo and Kyoto. The Japan Rail Pass also offers holders a 10% discount on reservations made locally for hotels within the Japan Rail Hotel Group (your Pass must be shown at check-in).
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 20% cancellation charge if the Exchange Order/Voucher is returned to our offices within the 3 month validity period. If it is 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.
Prices are subject to change without prior notice.
The Japan Rail Pass is specifically designed for tourists and must be bought outside Japan. It allows unlimited travel on Japan Rail lines and affiliated buses and ferries. Passes are available in two classes, Green (First Class) or Ordinary (Economy Class) and for periods of 7, 14 or 21 days of consecutive travel, starting from your first day of travel. The Pass is excellent value for money with the 7 Day Ordinary Pass costing the same as one return ticket between Tokyo and Kyoto. The Japan Rail Pass also offers holders a 10% discount on reservations made locally for hotels within the Japan Rail Hotel Group (your Pass must be shown at check-in).
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