Japan Rail Pass: How To Make The Most Of It

The Japan Rail Pass (JRP) can save you a LOT of money in Japan, but it takes some planning to make the most of it. Here is our full guide to buying, using and getting the best value from a Japan Rail Pass.

Japan Rail Pass: antb / Shutterstock.com

Japan Rail Pass: The Quick Explanation

Here are the basic facts about the Japan Rail Pass. For full details on each entry, scroll down.

• A Japan Rail Pass covers travel on all Japan Rail (JR) lines in Japan, as well as some JR bus lines and the JR Uno-Miyajima Ferry.
• There are 7-day, 14-day, and 21-day Japan Rail Passes.
• There are ordinary and Green Car (first class) passes.
• Prices for the Japan Rail Pass will be increased by about 70% in October 2023. All the figures quoted on this page are the present figures. The calculations and savings of a rail pass will change significantly after the price hike.
• You can buy the Japan Rail Pass online at an official partner of Japan Rail. This is the cheapest way to buy a Japan Rail Pass (see price tables below).
• You can also buy a Japan Rail Pass online direct from JR.
• You can also buy a Japan Rail Pass at a major JR train stations and airports after arriving in Japan.
• If you buy a pass online directly from JR, you will receive an email confirmation that you bring to a major JR station in Japan to convert into the actual pass.
• If you buy a pass online from a third-party vendor, you will receive an exchange order by post which you then exchange for the Rail Pass itself on arrival in Japan at the airport or at any JR Rail station.
• The exchange order must be converted into the actual pass within three months of the date the exchange order was issued.
• When you convert your exchange order into an actual Japan Rail Pass, you can set it to become “active” up to 30 days in advance (ie, at a later date).
• Once the pass is active, the clock is ticking (for example, a 7-day pass will last exactly 7 days from the day it becomes active, ie, the validity is for consecutive days).
• You can reserve seats with a Japan Rail Pass in person at train stations in Japan (but not from abroad). If you buy your pass online from JR, you can use the JR online reservation system.
• There are some clever tricks to get the most out of a Japan Rail Pass. We’ll discuss these in detail later on.
• Here are the prices for a Japan Rail Pass purchased online from JR or at a JR station inside Japan:

• Here are the prices for a Japan Rail Pass purchased from a third-party vendor outside Japan:

Shinkansen in Tokyo Station: Joshua Davenport / Shutterstock.com

Japan Rail Pass Introduction

The Japan Rail Pass is one of the world’s best travel deals. If you do just one round trip on the Narita Express (N’EX) train between Narita Airport and Tokyo, and one round trip on the shinkansen (bullet train) between Tokyo and Kyoto, a pass WILL save you money (for more details on savings, see the following section). But, more than just saving you money, an ordinary Japan Rail Pass makes travel much easier. Why? Because with the ordinary pass you don’t have to buy tickets or make reservations: you just breeze through the turnstiles like a VIP and get on the next train to your destination (in an unreserved car). That is huge, especially if you don’t speak or read Japanese, or just hate standing in line. Of course, the math for Japan Rail Passes will change when the prices are hiked in October 2023. It will still be a good deal, but you’ll have to do more long-distance train trips for it to really pay off.

500 Series Shinkansen in Himeji: Kapi Ng / Shutterstock.com

Is the Japan Rail Pass Worth It?

Here is the simple math behind the savings with a Japan Rail Pass:

• Round trip NE’X fare between Narita Airport and Tokyo: ¥6,140
• Round trip shinkansen fare between Tokyo and Kyoto: ¥26,640
• Total: ¥32,780
• Cost of 7-day ordinary Japan Rail Pass purchased from a third-party vendor: ¥29,650

So, right there, you’ve saved ¥3,130 (about US$23). But you’re likely to do much more travel than that in Japan, so you could save a hundred bucks or more with a 7-day pass. And, if you’re buying a 14-day or 21-day pass and really exploring Japan, you could save several hundred dollars.

Japan Rail Pass and Japanese cash: oatautta / Shutterstock.com

So buying a Japan Rail Pass is a complete no brainer. The only people who shouldn’t buy a Japan Rail Pass are those who intend to come to Japan and stay put in one city, or those who plan to travel around Japan by airplane or long-distance ferry. Of course, this will change when the prices go up in October 2023, and we’ll update accordingly then.

Green Car vs Ordinary Pass

Japan Railways calls their first-class cars “Green Cars.” You can find Green Cars on shinkansen and on limited express trains (known as “tokkyu” in Japanese). Sure, Green Cars are significantly more comfortable than regular cars, but, in some ways, a Green Car Japan Rail Pass is less convenient than an ordinary Japan Rail Pass. Why? Because all Green Car seats are reserved. So, unlike with an ordinary pass, you have to go into the ticket office and reserve your seats every time you travel. That’s sort of a pain. But, if you know your whole itinerary, you can take care of all your reservations with one stop at a Japan Railways office shortly after arriving in Japan.

Green Car on a shinkansen in Hokkaido: Piti Sirisriro / Shutterstock.com

For a full breakdown of the differences between Green Cars and ordinary cars, with pictures of seats, check out JR Trains: Green Cars Versus Ordinary Cars.

Can You Reserve Seats With an Ordinary Japan Rail Pass?

Yes, you can reserve seats with an ordinary Japan Rail Pass (ie, not just a Green Car Pass). If you are going to travel on a shinkansen (bullet train) or limited express (tokkyu), you can reserve seats up to one month in advance of your actual travel. Just drop into an Japan Railways ticket office with your pass. So, you could reserve all of your seats with one stop at a JR ticket office. Note, if you buy a Japan Rail Pass online directly from JR, you can also use their online seat reservation system before or after arriving in Japan. For more details, see How to Make Japan Train Reservations.

Shinkansen ticket office in Shinagawa Station: Laboo Studio / Shutterstock.com

Are There Any Trains You Cannot Ride With a Japan Rail Pass?

You cannot use the pass on the Nozomi shinkansen or the Mizuho shinkansen. The Nozomi runs on the Tokaido/Sanyo line between Tokyo and Hakata (Kyushu). The Mizuho runs between Osaka and Kagoshima (Kyushu). This doesn’t really matter to tourists since there are other shinkansen on the same routes that travel on the same lines and only take a bit longer. For example, the Nozomi takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes between Tokyo and Kyoto, while the Hikari (another type of shinkansen that runs on the same line) takes about 2 hours and 38 minutes.

Shinkansen and Mt Fuji: IamDoctorEgg / Shutterstock.com

How to Buy a Japan Rail Pass

Most people buy their Japan Rail Pass online before arriving in Japan. When you buy a Japan Rail Pass online from a third-party vendor, you will receive an “exchange order” (see photo below) in the mail. You can also buy the pass online directly from JR using the official JR Rail Pass site.

Japan Rail Pass Exchange Order – image © Chris Rowthorn

Upon arriving in Japan, you must exchange your exchange order (from a third-party vendor) or email confirmation (from JR) for the actual rail pass. You’ll need your passport to do so. You can do this immediately upon arrival at Narita Airport, Haneda Airport or Kansai International Airport (among others). Or you can do so at major train stations in Japan like Tokyo, Shinjuku, Ueno, Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya (among others). However, you may not want to exchange the pass immediately (see the following section for an explanation).

You can also buy Japan Rail Passes inside Japan at major JR Stations and ticket offices. Here is a full list of Japan Rail Pass purchase locations inside Japan.

When to Buy a Japan Rail Pass

If you’re going to buy your Japan Rail Pass before arriving in Japan, keep in mind that you must convert the exchange order into the actual pass within three months of its date of issue. So, don’t buy the pass too far in advance. But, don’t leave it to the last minute if you’re going to purchase from a third-party vendor, because the exchange order will be sent to you by post and this can take several days. So, we recommend buying your pass about one month before you leave for Japan. Of course, if you buy online direct from JR, you can do it right before your departure or even after arriving in Japan.

Japan Rail Pass ticket side: Peter Gudella / Shutterstock.com

How to Make the Most of Your Japan Rail Pass

Here is the main point: A Japan Rail Pass only saves you money on long-distance train travel on shinkansen and limited expresses. You should pay for short hops on city trains like the Tokyo Loop Line (Yamanote-sen) or the Osaka Loop Line (Kanjo-sen) with cash or, better yet, with a smart card like a Suica, Pasmo or Icoca card.

The reason is simple: short hops on local lines are cheap, while long-distance travel is expensive, and the Japan Rail Pass only pays off when you use it to cover expensive travel. Here’s the math: A 7-day ordinary pass costs about ¥4,235 per day. Six short hops on the Tokyo Loop (Yamanote) Line to explore Tokyo would cost you ¥1,200 (at an average fare of ¥200 per trip). So, you’d be wasting money to pay for that with a pass that costs ¥4,235 per day. In contrast, a one-way journey on the shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto costs ¥13,320, so you’re way ahead with the pass (you save ¥9,085 [US$67] for that day).

Narita Express train in Tokyo: EQRoy / Shutterstock.com

Many people start their Japan trips in Tokyo at Narita, which is connected to Tokyo by the fast and efficient Narita Express (NE’X). So, some people activate their passes at the airport to cover that NE’X ride and then they use it to cover local travel in Tokyo. This is a bad idea, not only because it would be cheaper to pay for local travel with cash, but also because Tokyo is best explored with subways, which are not covered by the pass.

People in line at JR Station in Narita: TK Kurikawa / Shutterstock.com

There’s another reason not to get your pass at the airport: The line at the JR Travel Services Office (where you convert the exchange order into the actual pass) at Narita is often very long and slow. Who wants to wait on line after a long international flight? Why not do it the following day at Tokyo Station or Shinjuku Station, when you’re rested? And then, set it to become active the day you leave Tokyo to start exploring Japan.

Sample Itineraries to Make the Most of a Japan Rail Pass

1) A week or so: Tokyo and Kyoto with a 7-day Japan Rail Pass

Tokyo skyline with Tokyo Tower: Blue Planet Studio / Shutterstock.com

If you have a week or 10 days in Japan and just want to see Kyoto and Tokyo, here’s the smart way to do it with a 7-day Japan Rail Pass.

• Arrive at Narita and pay with cash or a credit card for the NE’X to Tokyo.
• Spend two days in Tokyo using a Suica or Pasmo card to pay for trains and subways.
• Drop into a JR ticket office sometime during those two days with your passport and set your pass to become active on the day you travel to Kyoto.
• Travel by shinkansen to Kyoto using your pass.
• Base yourself in Kyoto for five days.
• If you need a break from Kyoto, you can take day trips to places like Nara, Osaka or Himeji (for the castle). These trips will be covered by the pass.
• Travel by shinkansen back to Tokyo. This will also be covered by your pass.
• Spend one night in Tokyo.
• Use the pass to cover the NE’X back to Narita for your flight home.

Cost of train tickets if bought separately: ¥32,780
Cost of 7-day ordinary Japan Rail Pass: ¥29,650
Cost of one-way on the NE’X: ¥3,070
Total cost of pass plus NE’X: ¥32,720
Total savings: ¥60*

*The savings will be much greater if you take day trips to Nara, Osaka or Himeji.

You can also view the full size version of this map.

For more details, see the full itinerary for this 7 to 10 days Japan trip.

2) A week or so: Tokyo, Kanazawa and Kyoto with a 7-day Japan Rail Pass

Fushimi-Inari Shrine in Kyoto: Luciano Mortula – LGM / Shutterstock.com

If you’d like to add one city to the above route and cover it with a 7-day Japan Rail Pass, here is what we recommend:

• Arrive at Narita and pay with cash or a credit card for the NE’X to Tokyo.
• Spend two days in Tokyo using a Suica or Pasmo card to pay for trains and subways.
• Drop into a JR ticket office sometime during those two days with your passport and set your pass to become active on the day you travel to Kanazawa.
• Travel by the new Hokuriku shinkansen from Tokyo to Kanazawa using your pass.
• Spend one night in Kanazawa.
• Travel from Kanazawa to Kyoto on the Thunderbird Express using your pass.
• Base yourself in Kyoto for three or four days.
• If you need a break from Kyoto, you can take day trips to places like Nara, Osaka or Himeji (for the castle). These trips will be covered by the pass.
• Travel by shinkansen back to Tokyo. This will also be covered by your pass.
• Spend one night in Tokyo.
• Use the pass to cover the NE’X back to Narita for your flight home.

Cost of train tickets if bought separately: ¥39,620
Cost of 7-day ordinary Japan Rail Pass: ¥29,650
Cost of one-way on the NE’X: ¥3,070
Total cost of pass plus NE’X: ¥32,720
Total savings: ¥6,900 (US$51)*

*The savings will be much greater if you take day trips to Nara, Osaka or Himeji.

You can also view the full size version of this map

For more details, see the full itinerary for this 10-day Japan trip.

3) 15 Days: Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hiroshima/Miyajima and Naoshima with a 14-day Japan Rail Pass

“Floating” torii (shrine gate) at Miyajima: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com

If you’ve got 15 days in Japan and want to see a lot of the country, here’s the smart way to do it with a 14-day Japan Rail Pass.

• Arrive at Narita and pay with cash or a credit card for the NE’X to Tokyo
• Spend two days in Tokyo using a Suica or Pasmo card to pay for trains and subways
• Drop into a JR ticket office sometime during those two days with your passport and set your pass to become active on the day you travel to Kyoto.
• Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto on the shinkansen using your pass.
• Base yourself in Kyoto for four days.
• Travel from Kyoto to Osaka using your pass.
• Spend one night in Osaka.
• Travel from Osaka to Hiroshima using your pass. Explore Hiroshima and spend one night there. Consider a side trip to Miyajima with an overnight there (not included in the totals for this itinerary).
• Travel from Hiroshima to Okayama and then down to Takamatsu and take the ferry to Naoshima (Japan’s “Art Island”). This is all covered by the pass except for the Takamatsu-Naoshima ferry, which costs Y520.
• Spend one night on Naoshima.
• Travel from Naoshima to Okayama via Uno and continue to Tokyo by shinkansen (all covered by the pass).
• Spend one night in Tokyo.
• Use the pass to cover the NE’X back to Narita for your flight home.

Cost of train tickets if bought separately: ¥54,840
Cost of 14-day ordinary Japan Rail Pass: ¥47,2590
Cost of one-way on the NE’X: ¥3,070
Total cost of pass and NE’X: ¥50,320
Total savings: ¥4,520 (US$33)

You can also view the full size version of this map.

Kyoto District Map

• Arashiyama
• Central Kyoto
• Northwest Kyoto
• Nishijin
• Northern Higashiyama
• Southern Higashiyama
• Downtown Kyoto
• Kyoto Station Area
• South East Kyoto