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5 BEST TRAIN PASSES in JAPAN to Travel Japan ON A BUDGET in 2024 🚃



These are the 5 BEST TRAIN PASSES in JAPAN that I narrowed down after studying more than 40 train passes of different train operators across Japan. For each of the highlighted passes, you’ll find the EXAMPLES of WHERE you could visit, and also the PRICE of normal tickets COMPARED to the price of the passes to help you see how much you may save. If you plan your itinerary around a pass, it could help you SAVE MONEY significantly, in some cases up to or more than 50%! My list this time includes the best train passes for Tokyo as well as Kyoto, Osaka. So relax and enjoy the video! And Happy Planning! 🥰

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🚅 Questions/Topics covered in this video:

1. About the 5 best train passes in Japan 0:01
2. Pass 1 – Where to go? Price? How much you save? 1:14
3. Pass 2 – Where to go? Price? How much you save? 3:06
4. Pass 3 – Where to go? Price? How much you save? 5:37
5. Pass 4 – Where to go? Price? How much you save? 7:52
6. Pass 5 – Where to go? Price? How much you save? 9:00
7. 4 important notes about these passes 10:48

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Don’t forget to check for the latest updates and prices on their websites. The price of the tickets might slightly differ depending on time and date of your trips.

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Links mentioned in this video: **Not ads. Not affiliated whatsoever**
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EKI-NET – JR Official App to buy Shinkansen Tickets & Train Passes Online (North West Japan: Tokyo – Sendai – Hokkaido…):
https://www.eki-net.com/en/jreast-train-reservation/top/Index

Pass 1: https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/pass/tokyowidepass.html
Pass 2: https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/pass/eastpass_t.html
Pass 3: https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/kansai_hiroshima/
Pass 4: https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/kansaimini/
Pass 5: https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/pass/hokurikuarch.html
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8 MOST USEFUL Apps to help you travel Japan STRESS FREE: https://youtu.be/VFl83UJH0gY

How To Use Japan’s SUICA Card ON YOUR PHONE: https://youtu.be/thWCRQiF8tQ

How to travel Japan EASIER with IC Cards | What’s the BEST IC CARD for TOURISTS? https://youtu.be/NfUZajhLkPs

How to use Shinkansen in Japan | 15 Most Useful TIPS for First-time Travelers: https://youtu.be/H24n2p0B-Mc

JR PASS – REAL WORLD Experience & TIPS: https://youtu.be/DjltyiVnr_w

Narita Airport to Tokyo | NARITA EXPRESS | TOP 20 TIPS: https://youtu.be/-o_zK8f4XhM

How to get from NARITA Airport to Tokyo (Ueno, Nippori, Ikebukuro) by SKYLINER: https://youtu.be/I4BrqGKsGvc

How to get from HANEDA Airport to Tokyo Center (Hamamatsucho station) the FASTEST and EASIEST way – By Monorail: https://youtu.be/2ctgeiayE8k

How to travel Japan CHEAPER with JR PASS // 16 USEFUL TIPS: https://youtu.be/pqlyz5aqp1I

How to get to Mt Fuji | Kawaguchiko from Tokyo by train: https://youtu.be/v9Ijo2YKmwk

The BEST VIEW of Mount Fuji + Outdoor bath – The BEST HOTEL in Kawaguchiko – Japan: https://youtu.be/0Xgfa3-8BIA

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DISCLAIMER: This video, and the contents presented in it, are my personal opinions and are for entertainment purposes only.

#japan #travel #tokyo #osaka #kyoto #japantravelguide
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5 BEST TRAIN PASSES in Japan to Travel Japan On A Budget in 2024 | TOP 5 JAPAN TRAIN PASSES | How to travel Japan On A Budget | Best Rail Passes in Japan |

Today I want to share with you my top five  Japan train passes that I think are the best train passes to help you travel Japan on a budget in 2024 there are so many passes introduced by different train operators across Japan   to save you time I’ve studied more than 40 passes

And narrow them down to the best five passes that can help you save money significantly if you plan your itinerary around them when you visit Japan for each of the selected passes I’m going to give an example of places to go

And compare the normal ticket price to the pass price just so you have an idea of how much you can save I also include four  important things to note when using a train pass   so that you know what to expect when you purchase  a train pass in Japan

By the way this video is not sponsored or affiliated this is just my personal opinion and I hope it could be a useful reference for you when planning your trip to Japan all right let’s Dive Right In  number one on my list is the Tokyo Wide Pass

This is a 3-day pass with a cost  of 15,000 Yen or roughly $102 US what can you do with this pass this pass gives you unlimited rides  on the JR lines in Tokyo as well as a few express and bullet trains

You can use it to visit many  places within Tokyo and popular places close to Tokyo here’s an example of where you can go with  this pass and how much it can save you

Let’s say on day one you arrive at Narita airport and use  this pass to get on the Narita Express to get to Shinjuku station on day two you can take a day trip from Shinjuku to Nikko to visit the world heritage shrines and temples and on day three you  can take a day trip to Kawaguchiko

To enjoy the beautiful view of Mount Fuji reflecting over  Lake Kawaguchi the total cost of these trips is slightly more than 19,000 Yen or roughly $132 US which means you can save at least 22%   if you buy this Tokyo Wide Pass in a more effective scenario instead of using this pass to get from the airport to Tokyo

You can use it for another day trip let’s say taking the train and the shinkansen to Gala Yuzawa for a one-day ski trip then you can save more than 50% of the cost with this Tokyo Wide Pass number two on my list is the JR East Pass Tohoku area

This is a 5-day pass and the cost is 30,000 yen or about $204 US you can use this pass to travel in the Northeast part of Japan from Tokyo Station to Shin-Aomori station  it’s about 700 km or more than 430 Mi  

The best part of this pass is that it gives you unlimited  rides on the bullet trains including the fastest one with no extra cost let me show you an example  of where you can visit using this pass and how much it can save you

Let’s say on day one you take the  fastest Shinkansen from Tokyo Station all the way to Shin-Aomori station and visit the beautiful nature of Oirase gorge on day two you can take the bullet train from Shin-Aomori Station to Sendai Station and enjoy their signature dish Gyutan Yaki which is absolutely delicious

And then take a train to Koriyama and Aizu Wakamatsu to visit the historic village of Ouchijuku on day three take the shinkansen to to Yamagata station try one of their most popular soul foods Yamagata Abura Soba a kind of dry Ramen which is super super delicious  

And then go to Mount Zao to see the snow monsters after  that you can take the shinkansen to go back to Tokyo   on day four you can take the express train from  Shinjuku to Nikko and on day five you can have a one-day ski trip to Gala Yazawa

The total cost of these trips is more than 74,000 Yen or about  $506 US whereas the cost of the pass is only  30,000 yen which means you can save more than 50% now let’s move to Osaka and Kyoto areas oh and before that if you find this video helpful don’t forget to hit the like button

And consider subscribing to my channel to help  me continue to create more videos like this I really appreciate it next up number three on my list is the Kansai Hiroshima Pass this is a 5 day pass with a cost of 177,000 Yen or about $116 US

This pass gives you unlimited rides on the JR West lines and the Sanyo shinkansen for five 5 days in the Kansai area there are so many things you can do with this pass  because not only does it cover Osaka Kyoto Nara and  Hiroshima it also gives you access to other amazing places

Like Okayama Himeji Kobe Tottori and  even to the capital of Udon which is Kagawa prefecture if you plan to discover the western  part of Japan definitely check out this one here’s an example of where you can go with this pass and  how much it can save you

Let’s say on day one you arrive at Kansai International Airport and take the express train to Kyoto station and spend day one and day two in Kyoto this pass won’t be able to save you a lot of money during the time you are in Kyoto

Since you may have to use the local city buses most of the time on day three you can visit Nara and the beautiful Himeji Castle in Himeji and then take the bullet train to Hiroshima on day four you can take the train from Hiroshima Station  to Miyajimaguchi Station to visit Miyajima

After that take the shinkansen to Shin-Osaka station and spend  day four and day five to explore Osaka and on day five you can take the express train from Osaka  to Kansai International Airport the total cost of these trips is more than 32,000 Yen or about  $220

Whereas the cost of the pass is only 177,000 Yen or $116 US which means you can save about 47% number four on my list is another pass for Osaka and Kyoto areas and that is the Kansai mini pass this is the cheapest pass on my list this time

The cost is only 3,000 yen or roughly $20 US for  3 days to visit Osaka Kyoto Kobe and Nara   here’s an example of where you can go with this pass  and how much it can save you

Let’s say on day one you arrive at Kansai International Airport  and use this pass to take the Express train to Osaka on day two you can use this pass to visit  Kobe and Nara and on day three you can explore Osaka going to Universal Studio Namba station  and then take the train to Kyoto

The total cost of these trips is more than 7,000 yen or about  $48 whereas the cost of the pass is only 3,000 yen which means you can save about 58% number five  the last one on my list this time and probably the best option for many first time travelers to Japan that is the Hokuriku Arch Pass

If you are visiting Japan for the first time this pass is  a very good option to consider since it covers both Tokyo and Osaka Kyoto areas this is a 7-Day pass and the cost is only 25,500 Yen or about $173

Here’s an example of where you can go with  this pass and how much it can save you let’s say on day one you arrive at Narita Airport and use  this pass to get on the Narita Express to get to Tokyo station

On day two you can use this pass to  explore Tokyo going to Shibuya Shinjuku Ikebukuro or Ueno station on day three take the shinkansen to Kanazawa  station and then take a bus to visit Japan’s most beautiful villages in Shirakawago on day four take the express train to Kyoto station  

And spend day four and day five to explore Kyoto on day six you can use this pass to visit Nara and Osaka and on day seven take the train and  shinkansen to go back to Tokyo

The total cost of these trips is about 50,000 yen or about 338  US whereas the cost of the pass is only $25,500 Yen which means you can save about 48% there are four things worth noting about these train passes number one where can you buy these passes

You can buy these passes online directly from the JR official websites before you come to Japan or you can buy after you arrive in Japan at JR travel offices at the airports or at some major stations in the city

Number two you only get the pass after arriving in Japan even if you buy it online before you come to Japan if you buy a pass online what you get is something like a voucher and then when you arrive in Japan you bring that voucher and your passport to a travel office of JR

Or at some special ticket vending machines that have the passport readers and exchange for the actual pass that you can use I have no idea why but that’s how it works so just keep that in  mind

Number three if you use a normal train or a commuter train you can just use a pass to get on those trains no extra work is needed but if you want to board an Express train or a bullet  train you need to use the pass to reserve a seat  

At a vending machine or a ticket counter unless  they have non-reserved seats on the trains   number four given the so diversified transportation  system in Japan a train pass won’t be able to cover all of the transportation means in an area for you

For example you may need to use subways in Tokyo Osaka or you may need to use the  city buses in Kyoto in addition to the pass so it may be a good idea to have an IC card during your time in Japan the IC cards for visitors are free of charge

Top up the card and let it  pay for the subway and bus fares automatically   and save you lots of time and headache just don’t top up a lot of money to an IC card for visitors because it’s only valid for 28 days

And you will lose your money if you don’t use it up before that so there you go these are the five best train passes to save money when traveling in Japan in my opinion do you know any other options that you want to share please let me know in the comment section below

Please check out the official websites of these passes for all the details and the latest price and updates links in the description below this video again I’m not affiliated or sponsored by any of them this is just my personal opinion and I hope you found some useful information here thank you so much for watching

Until next time take care and have a nice day

8 Comments

  1. Thank you Yoko. I enjoy your presentations style in all your videos, along with the information and tips.

  2. Good research 👍👍 i used your information on my Japan trip last year november! Much appreciated ! 🎌

  3. Thank you so much again for another clear and informative video, and the valuable information and tips! The video is also so nicely done as always! Thank you! 🙂

  4. Even with the price hike for the Hokuriku Arch Pass to 30,000 Yen in mid march, the example itinerary you provided still provides significant savings! 👀

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