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Japan<\/a> is one of my favorite countries in the world. The serene beauty of the mountains and temples, the hustle and bustle of the sprawling cities, the exquisite food, and its long history make for a fascinating place to visit. <\/p>\n However, Japan has a reputation, especially among budget travelers, as being too expensive. \u201cBetter skip Japan and head to Southeast Asia<\/a>, where your money goes further,\u201d they say. <\/p>\n Yet you can travel Japan on a budget<\/a>. Food, attractions, and even accommodation (it\u2019s the land of capsule hotels!) can be found for a relatively low cost if you know where to look.<\/p>\n Yet one aspect of traveling in Japan that does<\/em> live up to its costly reputation is transportation \u2014 particularly train travel. <\/p>\n Japan\u2019s iconic bullet trains (called shinkansen<\/em>) are beautiful, comfortable, convenient, and fast. They are world-class wonders of transportation, racing around at speeds up to 320 kilometers (200 miles) per hour. They run on special tracks separate from the other trains and are an impressive feat of engineering. <\/p>\n Yet they\u2019re super expensive. There’s just no way around that fact. <\/p>\n Thankfully, there is one easy thing you can do to cut your train ticket prices in half (or more): buy a Japan Rail Pass<\/a>. You really shouldn’t be traveling around the country without one (and I’m pretty sure they price the pass and regular tickets out in a way that really forces you to buy one). <\/p>\n In this post, I\u2019ll introduce the JR Pass and explain how it works, how much it costs, and answer common questions I get about the pass.<\/p>\n Table of Contents<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Japan Rail Pass (also known as the JR Pass) was created to help travelers get around the country (similar to the Eurail pass<\/a> in Europe). JR is the largest train operator in Japan, and the pass provides unlimited access to all its trains for a set price. <\/p>\n The pass comes in 7-, 14-, and 21-day options. Note that these are consecutive<\/strong> days, not travel days. So, if you want to travel around Japan for two weeks, you\u2019ll need to purchase the 14-day option, even though you won\u2019t be taking the train every day. <\/p>\n Several JR trains are included in the pass. The most popular is the shinkansen<\/em> (bullet) train, which is the fastest train and goes to nearly every destination and region. The next fastest is the tokkyu<\/em> (limited express). The kyuko<\/em> (express) train comes next, followed by the kaisoku<\/em> (rapid) and kakueki-teisha<\/em> or futsu-densha<\/em> (local trains that make every stop).<\/p>\n In short, this means that there are JR trains that rapidly travel between regions, some that go between cities with multiple stops, and local commuter-style trains that are slow (but cheap).<\/p>\n Additionally, JR trains also serve some metropolitan areas, so they can be used within cities. For example, on my last visit, I used my JR Pass to get around Kyoto<\/a> and Tokyo<\/a> instead of buying local metro tickets. <\/p>\n The JR Pass<\/a> needs to be purchased before<\/em> you arrive in Japan and it has to be mailed to you so you’ll want to order it well in advance (more below).<\/p>\n The JR Pass is very easy to use \u2014 you just need to remember to purchase it beforehand, in your home country. As the pass is only available to visitors, you cannot get it within Japan.<\/p>\n The pass has several options (each valid for consecutive days, not just travel days):<\/p>\n The Green Pass is the first-class option. Since the trains in Japan are already amazing, you likely don\u2019t need to buy the Green Pass unless you really want some luxury. Additionally, traveling in green cars can be more of a hassle if you like to be spontaneous, as you must always reserve a seat in advance in green cars, requiring you to visit the ticket office or automatic reservation machines ahead of time to do so. In ordinary cars, you can just hop on and take any available seat. <\/p>\n In addition to the standard and green JR passes, there are regional passes in case you\u2019re not traveling across the entire country. These options can save you even more money since they are cheaper than the regular JR passes. Each region has several pass options, usually ranging between one and seven days. <\/p>\n You can buy JR passes for six regions:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re just going to be focusing on one region of the country, consider buying a JR regional pass. If you want access to the entire country, get the regular JR Pass. <\/p>\n If you\u2019re a first-time visitor to Japan, you\u2019ll likely want the regular JR Pass<\/a>, as it covers all the major destinations.<\/p>\n In sum, to get a pass, you need to:<\/p>\n The easiest way to get a Japan Pass is by ordering it online (there are many official online providers but I recommend this one<\/a> as it’s been selling passes for the longest time). <\/p>\n Once you purchase a pass, you\u2019ll receive an \u201cexchange order\u201d in the mail, stamped with a date, that you\u2019ll turn in to pick up your actual pass in Japan. Don\u2019t forget your exchange order at home, as you must bring this document to pick up your pass in Japan! <\/p>\n Once you get to Japan, you will exchange your exchange order (hence the name) for a JR Pass at a JR office. Make sure you have your passport on you (not a photocopy) when you go to collect it, as they will check to make sure that you have a temporary visitor stamp in your passport. The JR Pass is only available to visitors, and they are pretty strict about verifying you’re a tourist.<\/p>\n You have three months from the date printed on the exchange order to pick up your JR Pass, but you do not need to start using the pass on the same day that you pick it up. <\/p>\n For example, say that you want to pick up the pass once you arrive but you want to spend some time in Tokyo before heading on to see the rest of the country. You can select any date within one month of exchanging the order as your starting date. (But once the pass is issued, you can\u2019t change the starting date.) <\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve got your pass in hand, you don\u2019t need to worry about getting tickets, as you simply use your pass to go right through the automatic turnstiles. <\/p>\n In addition to using the shinkansen<\/em> and other trains, the JR pass gives access to:<\/p>\n The JR Pass is not valid for: <\/p>\n Absolutely! Even though you might get sticker shock initially when purchasing a pass, you\u2019ll save hundreds of dollars during your trip with one \u2014 even if you just visit 2-3 cities. For example, without a rail pass, a ticket from Tokyo to Osaka costs around 36,000 JPY (round-trip), yet you can get a seven-day rail pass that includes unlimited travel on JR trains for 50,000 JPY. <\/p>\n Given that you’ll likely be using the train for more than just for one trip, it’s a no-brainer. While the drastic price increase of the pass in the fall of 2023 makes it less of a steal than it used to be, it’s still the best option for most travelers as it pays for itself in just a few trips. <\/p>\n Here are some more examples of one-way train tickets on the shinkansen<\/em> trains with non-reserved seats in the \u201cordinary\u201d (non-green car) class:<\/p>\n As you can see, it only takes two longer-distance journeys (such as Tokyo to Hiroshima or Hakodate to Tokyo) to justify the cost of the pass. And you\u2019ll likely use it much more than that! <\/p>\n And even if you aren’t taking the bullet trains, the pass still makes sense. For example, a trip on a local train from Kyoto to Tokyo costs around 10,000 JPY \u2014 instead of 17,950 JPY for the bullet train. However, the local train journey takes nine hours and requires several transfers, instead of a direct three hours, making it a less than ideal choice for most travelers (especially if you\u2019re tight on time). It\u2019s often simply not worth the cost savings.<\/p>\n You\u2019re better off using the bullet trains and reveling in the high-speed experience as it whisks you from one incredible destination to another! <\/p>\n Is JR Pass only for tourists?<\/strong> Can Japan Rail Pass be used on the Tokyo subway?<\/strong> Can I change the days on which I wish to use the Japan Rail Pass?<\/strong> How do I activate the Japan Rail Pass?<\/strong> Can I use JR Pass from Tokyo to Kyoto?<\/strong> Are buses included in JR Pass?<\/strong> Can I cancel my Japan Rail Pass?<\/strong> Train travel is the best way to see Japan<\/a>. The trains are clean, fast, and the scenery gorgeous. I love traveling the country by train. While buying a rail pass might seem like a costly choice, it will save you a ton of money \u2014 and it\u2019s a uniquely Japanese experience that you won\u2019t forget! <\/p>\n Book Your Flight<\/strong> Book Your Accommodation<\/strong> Don’t Forget Travel Insurance<\/strong> Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?<\/strong> Be sure to check out the Japan Rail Pass<\/a> if you’ll be traveling around the country. It comes in 7-, 14-, and 21-day passes and can save you a ton of money! <\/p>\n\n\n
What is the Japan Rail (JR) Pass?<\/h3>\n
How the JR Pass works<\/h3>\n
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Getting and using Your JR Pass <\/h3>\n
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Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it?<\/h3>\n
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Japan Rail Pass Frequently Asked Questions<\/h3>\n
\nYes. Only people visiting on a tourist visa can use the JR Pass<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nYep, some of the subway lines (though not all) in Tokyo are run by JR, which means you can access them for free with your JR Pass. This is true for the entire country. Metro lines and local subway lines are excluded from the pass.<\/p>\n
\nNo. Once the pass has been activated, the dates are set in stone.<\/p>\n
\nTo activate the JR Pass, bring your exchange order and your passport to a JR office in Japan. Once they verify your identity and visa status, they will activate your pass.<\/p>\n
\nYep! The distance is 445 kilometers (283 miles), and the trip takes under three hours on the bullet train.<\/p>\n
\nYes, JR does run some bus lines, which are included in the JR Pass. Some destinations where JR has buses include Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu.<\/p>\n
\nYou can cancel your pass as long as it has not been activated, but once it is activated, you can’t.<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n\nBook Your Trip to Japan: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n
\nUse Skyscanner<\/a> to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned!<\/p>\n
\nYou can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a> as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com<\/a> as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. <\/p>\n
\nTravel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:<\/p>\n\n
\nCheck out my resource page<\/a> for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too. <\/p>\n