Japan Rail Pass – Is It Worth It?

Should you get a Japan Rail Pass (JR Rail Pass)? Is it worth it? Will it save you money? And if you want one, where can you buy it? Read on for our complete guide.

Japan Rail Passes: oatautta / Shutterstock.com

The Takeaway:

• The Japan Rail Pass can save you a LOT of money. See below for details.
• The Japan Rail Pass is cheaper when purchased from a third-party vendor outside of Japan.
• 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 JR Rail. Once you purchase the pass online, you will be sent 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.
• You can also buy the Japan Rail Pass online direct from JR.
• Finally, you can buy the Japan Rail Pass at major train stations in Japan.
• If you just make one round trip between Tokyo and Kyoto on the shinkansen (bullet train) and use the pass to travel between Narita and Tokyo, you’ve already saved money with the pass. See below for details.
• You can only use a Japan Rail Pass with a tourist visa (people on longer-term visas like work visas, student visas and permanent residence visas cannot use Japan Rail Passes).
• Japan Rail Passes can be used on JR trains across Japan, including shinkansen (bullet trains). The passes can also be used on certain JR buses and ferries.
• Note that the pass cannot be used for private train lines or subways within cities.
• For more tips and suggested itineraries using your Japan Rail Pass, see our page Japan Rail Pass: How To Make The Most Of It.

How Much Does a Japan Rail Pass Cost?

Note that the “Green” pass below is the equivalent of the first-class pass. It entitles you to ride green (first-class) cars on all JR trains that have them.

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:

Will a Japan Rail Pass Save You Money?

Note that the cost of a normal one-way shinkansen (bullet train) ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto is ¥13,320 and the roundtrip fare is ¥26,640. An ordinary one-week pass is ¥29,650. A one-way trip on the JR N’EX (Narita Express from Narita International Airport into Tokyo) costs ¥3,070. Thus, if you use the pass to travel from Narita to Tokyo, then on to Kyoto and back, you’ve already saved money. You can also use the pass to get from Kansai International Airport to Kyoto. Thus, for most people, the pass will save them money. However, as noted above, prices for the Japan Rail Pass will be raised by about 70% in October 2023. At that point, the calculations will change and you’ll only save money with Japan Rail Passes if you do a lot of long-distance train travel.

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What Are The Advantages of Buying a Japan Rail Pass?

Obviously, saving money is the money is the main reason to buy a Japan Rail Pass, but the advantages don’t stop there. The pass is very easy to use: it’s valid on all JR lines and covers the shinkansen (bullet train). With the pass, you don’t have to worry about buying tickets and fishing for change in your pocket/wallet each time you take a trip: you just show the pass to the attendant at the turnstiles and you board the next available train (in an unreserved car). Just keep in mind that the pass does not cover the Nozomi shinkansen (the very fastest class of bullet train) but it covers the Hikari shinkansen, which is nearly as fast. The speed difference between these trains is minimal: usually just a few minutes for the trip between Tokyo and Kyoto.

Where To Buy The Japan Rail Pass

You can buy Japan Rail Passes online direct from JR, in person at major JR stations in Japan, or in advance from third-party vendors (which is the cheapest option). Buy the Japan Rail Pass online at an official partner of JR Rail. Once you purchase the pass online, you will be sent 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.

Further general information about the Japan Rail Pass is also available on the official site

Should You Buy a Green Pass or Ordinary Pass?

See Japan Rail: Green Cars vs Ordinary Cars for a complete breakdown of the pros and cons of a Green Pass versus Ordinary Pass.

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