Add Your Banner To The Japan Banner Exchange - Add Now

Back to the Japan Guide	JR - Japan Rail Pass	Submit an article

The JR Japan Rail Pass
The JAPAN RAIL PASS is the most economical way to travel throughout Japan by rail. And the key to convenient sight-seeing in Japan.	Who is eligible? Types and Prices Validity Validity Period Where exchange orders are sold How to turn in an exchange order to receive a JAPAN RAIL PASS Caution

Who is eligible for a JAPAN RAIL PASS?

1. You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing,under the entry status of "temporary visitor."

2.You are a Japanese national living in a foreigncountry.

"Temporary Visitor" entry status, according to Japanese Immigration Law, allows a stay in Japan of 15 days or 90 days for "sight-seeing, etc." If you apply for a "stay for sight-seeing" when you enter Japan, entry personnel will stamp your passport as "Temporary Visitor." Only persons who have a passport bearing this stamp can use a JAPAN RAIL PASS.

A) Who is qualified to live permanently in that country, or

B) Who is married to a non-Japanese residing in a country other than Japan.

Note: Persons meeting conditions a or b above must be required to show proof of same at the point of purchase of an Exchange Order and obtaining a JAPAN RAIL PASS. Also note: The former condition about a Japanese national "who has been living in a foreign country for ten or more years" is discontinued from 1 April 2004 purchase.

JAPAN RAIL PASS Types and Prices

There are two types of JAPAN RAIL PASS:
Green (for superior-class Green cars), and Ordinary.

Each of these types are available as a 7-day, 14-day, or 21-day PASS.

Type:	Green		Ordinary
Duration	Adult	Child	Adult	Child
7-day	37,800 YEN	18,900 YEN	28,300 YEN	14,150 YEN
14-day	61,200 YEN	30,600 YEN	45,100 YEN	22,550 YEN
21-day	79,600 YEN	39,800 YEN	57,700YEN	28,850 YEN

The actual cost in local currency is calculated at the time the Exchange Order is issued. Note that the purchase exchange rate may differ from the exchange rate in effect when you actually visit Japan.

The local currency price, applicable exchange rate, and issue date for an Exchange Order are specified on the Exchange Order itself.

PASS prices for children apply from age 6 to and including age 11. Prices are subject to change. The applicable price is the price valid on the date when an Exchange Order is issued.?

JAPAN RAIL PASS Validity

The JAPAN RAIL PASS is valid for the railways, buses, and ferry boats here:
Railways:	All JR Group Railways-Shinkansen"bullet trains" (except any reserved or non-reserved seat on "NOZOMI" trains), limited express trains, express trains, and rapid or local trains. (With some exceptions)
Buses:	Local lines of JR bus companies (JR Hokkaido Bus, JR Bus Tohoku, JR Bus Kanto, JR Tokai Bus, West Japan JR Bus, Chugoku JR Bus, JR Shikoku Bus, JR Kyushu Bus) and some of JR highway bus services. Sapporo-Otaru; Morioka-Hirosaki; Tokyo-Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka,Tsukuba Center; Nagoya-Kyoto, Osaka; Osaka-Tsuyama, Kasai Flower Center
Ferry:	Only the JR Miyajima ferry is covered. The JR Hakata-Pusan (Korea) ferry is not covered.
Important notes: The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on "NOZOMI" trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines.(The pass holders must take “HIKARI” or “KODAMA” trains.)If you use a "NOZOMI," you must pay the basic fare and the limited express charge, and for a Green Car the Green Car surcharge. Note also that passengers using JR trains on non-JR lines must pay additional fares and charges for sections traveled on such lines.

Validity Period

1.The validity period of a JAPAN RAIL PASS is the consecutive 7, 14, or 21 days beginning on the date the PASS is first used.

2. Within three months from the date the Exchange Order was issued, you must turn in your Exchange Order to obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS. At that time, you have to specify the date that you want to start using the PASS. It can be any date within one month from the date the PASS is received.

3. Once the PASS has a starting date written on it, the date cannot be changed.

Where exchange orders are sold

Exchange Orders can be purchased from the following JR authorized sales offices and agents:
JTB Corp., Nippon Travel Agency, KINTETSU INTERNATIONAL, Toptour Corporation, Japan Airlines*, All Nippon Airways, JALPAK, and their associated agencies.
* In this case, you must book a JAL Group flight.
A JAPAN RAIL PASS cannot be purchased inside Japan.
You must purchase an Exchange Order from an authorized sales office or agent before you come to Japan. List of agents can be found here: International agents

After you arrive in Japan, you turn in the Exchange Order to receive your JAPAN RAIL PASS at an applicable JR station that has a JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange office.

How to turn in an exchange order to receive a JAPAN RAIL PASS

Exchange Order + Passport = JR 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. (Please note the Service hours and closing days.)

Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS within three months of the date the Order was issued.

When you make the exchange you will be asked to fill in a simple application form (You can fill in the form when you are in Japan. You must show the Temporary Visitor visa that was stamped in your passport when you entered Japan. You must show your passport with the Temporary Visitor stamp in it in order for your Rail Pass exchange order to be screened.

Caution

Rsevation Office(Midori-no madoguchi)	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 28 to January 6 The New Year holiday period is the most popular travel time for Japanese people, for vacations and returns to hometown areas.
		April 27 to May 6 Due to consecutive holidays in a comfortable travel season, there is large-scale travel throughout Japan for leisure and recreation.
		August 11 to 20 Another time for traditional travel to hometown areas, called the Obon season.

Back to the Japan Guide
Go to the Japan Forum to ask questions or get more information

Thinking about traveling to Japan?
Get free travel brochures to many places in Japan Click here for FREE Japan travel Brochures!

Home Page - Links - Personals - Gallery - Forum - About Japan - Learn Japanese - Japan Books - Shopping - Contact Us

JR - Japan Rail Pass