The JAPAN RAIL PASS is offered by the six companies that make up the Japan Railways Group (JR Group).
The most convenient, efficient, and economical to travel throughout Japan.
The JAPAN RAIL PASS is a special ticket that is available only to travelers visiting Japan from foreign countries for sight -seeing. You are eligible to purchase a JAPAN RAIL PASS if you meet one of the following two conditions:
1.You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing,under the entry status of “temporary visitor”
“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,” as shown below. Only persons who have a passport bearing this stamp can use a JAPAN RAIL PASS.
Even if you visit Japan with an Exchange Order, to be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS, the exchange cannot be made unless you have “Temporary Visitor” status; if you enter Japan under any other official status, such as “Trainee,” “Entertainer,” or “Reentry Permit,” you cannot change the Exchange Order for a JAPAN RAIL PASS. Please note that according to strict interpretation of the Japanese Immigration Law, “Temporary Visitor” status differs even from other types of stays that are also for only short time periods.
2. You are a Japanese national living in a foreign country
a.who is qualified to live permanently in that country, orb.who is married to a non-Japanese residing in a country other than JapanNote: 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.
There are two types of JAPAN RAIL PASS: Green (for superior-class Green cars), and Ordinary. Each of these types is available as a 7-day, 14-day, or 21-day PASS.See “JAPAN RAIL PASS validity“, for services that can be used with a JAPAN RAIL PASS
Type: | Green | Ordinary | ||
Duration | Adult | Child | Adult | Child |
7-day | 38,880 YEN | 19,440 YEN | 29,110 YEN | 14,550 YEN |
14-day | 62,950 YEN | 31,470 YEN | 46,390 YEN | 23,190 YEN |
21-day | 81,870 YEN | 40,930 YEN | 59,350 YEN | 29,670 YEN |
The above are yen (¥) prices for a JAPAN RAIL PASS Exchange Order ; the actual cost in local currency is calculated based on the Banker’s Selling Rate (BSR), etc.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.
Children who are age 6 through 11 as of the date on which the exchange order is issued are eligible for child PASS prices.
(Prices are subject to change. The applicable price is the price valid on the date when an Exchange Order is issued. )
*Prices shown are accurate as of March 2016. Prices are subject to change.
1. Transportation services
The JAPAN RAIL PASS is valid for railways, buses, and ferry boats.
| 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. | |
2. Train accommodations
Trains | Accommodations | Green | Ordinary | ||||||||||
“NOZOMI” trains* on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen | Green Car | x | x | ||||||||||
| Ordinary Car | x | x | |||||||||||
| “HIKARI” and “KODAMA” trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinknasen and any trains on the Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Joetsu, Nagano and Kyushu Shinkansen< /td> | Green Car | O | * | ||||||||||
| Ordinary Car | O | O | |||||||||||
| Ordinary private Compartment | * | * | |||||||||||
Limited express and ordinary express | Green Car | O** | * | ||||||||||
| Ordinary Car | O | O | |||||||||||
| Green private Compartment | * | * | |||||||||||
| Ordinary private Compartment | * | * | |||||||||||
| Sleeping Car | * | * | |||||||||||
Local and rapid trains | Green Car | O | * | ||||||||||
| Ordinary Car | O | O | |||||||||||
Remarks:
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3. Validity period
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.
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.
Where exchange orders are sold
JAPAN RAIL PASS Cannot be purchased inside Japan!!!
You need to purchase a JAPAN RAIL PASS Exchange Order from an authorized sales agent before you come to Japan. 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.
You can not 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.
Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a Japan Rail Pass within 3 months of the date the Order was issued.
At the JR Pass Exchange offices, fill in an application form to accompany your Exchange Order, and submit it, along with your passport, when you turn in your Exchange Order.
The type of Pass described on the Exchange Order can not be changed
Shinkansen and most limited express and ordinary express trains have reserved Green car seats and both reserved and non-reserved ordinary car seats. A non-reserved seat can be used simply by showing your JAPAN RAIL PASS.
To use a reserved seat, apply at any Travel Service Center or reserved-seat ticket office (Midori-no-madoguchi) at a JR station, or at a sales office of a JR-associated travel agency. There, show your JAPAN RAIL PASS, and obtain your reserved-seat ticket before you trip.
* Seat reservations cannot be made outside Japan!!
Do not use an automatic ticket-reading gate with a Japan Rail Pass . Please show the Pass at a manned ticket gate.
