All about JR Passes

Mar. 08 Fri by Jennifer Things to Know

When you're traveling in a foreign country one of the things many people consider is ease of getting from place to place. As languages can be a difficult barrier, and asking for directions or reading signs can get challenging, many travelers are looking for the simplest way to travel within a foreign country.

For those traveling to Japan, many people want to travel all through the country. While that can be a lot of distance to cover, Japan makes it easy for travelers and foreigners with something called a Japan Rail Pass. With a Japan Rail Pass, referred to more commonly as a JR Pass, travelers can travel almost all throughout Japan using JR line bullet trains after paying one initial fee.

What is a Japan Rail Pass?

What exactly is a Japan Rail Pass though? A JR Pass is way to let foreigners travel by train throughout Japan using one pass with one cost instead of having to buy multiple tickets. The trains used are Japanese bullet trains that run through the JR lines, and can only be used on JR lines. But rest assured, the JR lines run all across Japan making it the most fast and convenient way to travel from prefecture to prefecture for the price.

All you have to do is purchase a JR voucher here in the United States, and then exchange it in Japan. Once you have it, you can use it at all train stations that have a JR (train) line running through it. Many people use it to travel from popular destinations that are far apart like Tokyo and Kyoto.

For FAQ please scroll to the bottom of the page.

Types of JR Passes

For a classic Japan Rail Pass, you can choose from 6 different option. The option are either an ordinary pass or a green pass, and you can also choose between a 7-day, 14-day, or 21-day option.

Ordinary vs Green Pass
Ordinary Japan Rail Passes are regular JR Passes with standard seating. With an ordinary pass you do not have to reserve seats, although it is recommended.

For an extra cost, you can choose a Green Pass which is essentially the train equivalent of first-class seating. The main difference between an ordinary pass and green pass is that with a green pass, you get extra leg room and more comfortable seats. Sometimes small little amenities and the like are offered in some green cars that are not offered in ordinary as well. It's important to note that with Green Passes, you will need to reserve your seats in advance (See "Steps to getting a JR Pass" section), but for ordinary passes, it is not required. There are some JR Lines that do not have a green car section.

Prices of JR Passes

The prices vary not only by class and day, but also based on conversion fluctuations for many vendors. We (H.I.S.) updates our prices weekly based on the most current conversion rate of that time.

Prices range in USD based on the conversion rate. Here are the prices in Japanese yen.

Duration	Green	Ordinary
7-day	Adult: 38880 JPY Child: 19440 JPY	Adult: 29110 JPY Child: 14550 JPY
14-day	Adult: 62950 JPY Child: 31470 JPY	Adult: 46390 JPY Child: 23190 JPY
21-day	Adult: 81870 JPY Child: 40930 JPY	Adult: 59350 JPY Child: 29670 JPY

For our weekly prices in USD, please click here.

What benefits does the JR Pass have for you?

With the JR Pass, you save on cost and time. It is the most economical way to travel throughout Japan for the amount of time you save and amount of money you spend. Flying across Japan can get expensive unless you find package deals, and taking a private car is just not efficient and can get equally as pricey. Regular trains can be painstakingly slow, and it's often much harder to find a route that can get you from one end of the island to the other - in fact you'll usually end up taking at least one JR line anyways so you might as well have it included in your unlimited JR rides instead of paying a separate ticket fee for it as it can get pricey!

The JR Pass allows you to pay a one-time fee, and then you can ride in all of the JR line trains an unlimited amount of times. The amount you spend on that one pass often ends up being cheaper than purchasing multiple train tickets especially if you're planning on traveling all over Japan. Use your JR Passes on short trips within a city or for long distances like Tokyo to Hiroshima!

Who do we recommend the JR Pass for?

Honestly anyone whos traveling in Japan may benefit from a JR Pass, but sometimes it isn't totally necessary. However if you're planning on being in Japan for a week or more, or if you have plans to travel all throughout Japan visiting multiple prefectures, we would definitely recommend the rail pass.

How to obtain a JR Pass

There are some rules regarding who can obtain a JR Pass and how to go about obtaining a JR Pass. Not just anyone can purchase one, and there are a few steps you need to take before getting one.

Eligible Users

You must be qualified to obtain a Japan Rail Pass in the first place. Here are the people who are eligible for obtaining a JR Pass:

-Foreign Tourists that are visiting Japan under the entry status of temporary visitor. Even with a voucher, if your passport does not have the temporary visitor stamp, you will not be allowed to obtain a JR Pass

-People with a Japanese passport that have been residing in a foreign country for 10 consecutive years or more. You must obtain written proof of your residency in the form of a certificate of your overseas residence or a copy of your overseas residential registration, and present that along with your Japanese passport to obtain a JR Pass.

-People with a Japanese passport in the United States, Brazil, or Canada that have been residing in said countries for 10 consecutive years or more. You must present a permanent resident card that confirms your stay for 10+ years in addition to your passport to obtain a JR Pass.

Here's a quick flowchart to simplify things a bit:

Steps to getting a Japan Rail Pass

Once you determine if you are eligible to obtain a JR Pass, you are ready to get a voucher for your pass. You must get that before you visit Japan, as it usually can only be obtained outside of the country.

1. Purchase a Japan Rail Pass voucher from a vendor. H.I.S. offers JR Passes here.
2. Once in Japan, you must exchange your voucher for a JR Pass so that you can start using it. There are specific places only where you can make the exchange including at Narita and Haneda Airport in Tokyo. A lot of the major airports in Japan, and major train stations have a JR specific booth or store where you can exchange your voucher.
3. An additional step you can take is to reserve your seats at the ticket offices in the train stations. You cannot reserve your seats at the JR station, and instead must do it at a travel service center or designated ticket offices. The sign will usually say in Japanese "みどりの窓口" (Midori no Madoguchi) and have "Ticket Office" written below it. Sometimes there will only be an indicator denoted by a green sign of a person sitting on a chair. The staff members at this window may or may not be able to speak English, so we recommend being prepared for that as well. You can choose to reserve all your planned train rides all at once, or one at a time.

*Please be aware that if you reserve a seat, you will need to choose a specific train with a designated time. If you miss that train, you will forfeit your reserved seats and must reserve it again, or take a chance on getting a seat without reserving a seat in advance. Also please note that for those with Green JR Passes, you must reserve your seats in advance. If you miss your scheduled train, you must re-reserve your seats again for another train.

Other Types of JR Passes

Although it may seem unnecessary, there are regional JR Passes in addition to the country pass. But actualloy the regional passes can be very beneficial depending on your travel plans. Regional Passes are great for those who are only staying within a specific region as the passes are cheaper, and it makes for easy and unlimited transportation within the area you are staying in. Here is a list of the types of regional JR Passes:

Kansai Pass: Ones in Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara

Hokkaido Pass: Ones in Sapporo, Hakodate, and Kushiro

West Pass: Ones in Hiroshima, Himeji, and Okayama

Central Pass: Ones in Takayama, Kanazawa, and Kyoto

East Pass: Ones in Hakone, Tokyo, and Nagano

Kyushu Pass: Ones in Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Nagasaki

Shikoku Pass: Ones in Takamatsu, Tokushima, and Kochi

There are many different types of regional passes within even one region. Days of use, places of validity, etc can vary based on which pass you choose. Please click here for a further breakdown of the passes.

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So that's about the basic of what you should know about a JR Pass. However, there are some fine details that you can check below in the FAQ section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reserve seats in advance?

Yes, please go to Travel Service Centers, Travel Agency ticket sales office, or ticketing offices called "Midori no Madoguchi" located at JR stations. Please refer above for details.

Should I get a regional or a country pass?

That depends largely on the places in Japan you plan on visiting. Choosing which is right for you is based upon your own discretion, but it is important to consider things like cost, distance, and the length of your stay in Japan.

How long of a pass is right for me?

It depends on how often you are planning on taking a bullet train, and also on the duration of your stay in Japan. We recommend talking to a travel agent to discuss the plan right for you.

How far in advance can you order a JR Pass voucher?

Your travel date to Japan must be three months or less to obtain a JR Pass voucher.

What do I need to purchase a JR Pass voucher?

You must provide the names of the passengers as stated exactly on their passport. Some places may require you to bring in your passport or a copy of your passport.

Are the number of days the pass is good for, consecutive days or total allowable days?

The JR Pass days are consecutive. Once you use the JR Pass, your number of days start from the first day. For example if you first use your 7-day JR Pass on March 1st, the last day it is valid is March 7th until the end of the day.

Does the JR Pass start from the day we exchange it or the day we use it?

The day starts from the day you use it. When exchanging your voucher, you can let the attendant know which day you would like to start using the pass from.

Can I use the JR Pass on all bullet trains?

JR Passes can be used on all JR lines except for the Nozomi and Mizuho lines. In addition, the validity of use may vary based upon the JR Pass you have purchased.

Can I purchase a JR Pass for another person?

Yes you may, but please be prepared with the exact spelling of their name as written on their passport. It may be helpful to obtain a copy of their passport.

Do the 10 years spent living in a foreign country have to be the same country?

Yes, your written proof or permanent residency card must state that you have been living in the same foreign country for 10 consecutive years.