The Japan rail pass is probably one of the TOP JAPAN TRAVEL TIPS anyone visiting the country must be aware of. Although it is not needed by everyone, The majority of travelers and tourists visiting Japan will certainly make good use of this one ticket that can UNLOCK JAPAN TRAVEL.
I have used many Japan rail pass or JR PASS throughout my many trips to Japan, so let me help you with your Japan Rail Pass planning!
Here are a list of companies that you can check out yourself. ( Please note that I may have not personally used them all)
Jrpass.com
https://japanrailpass.net
https://www.jrailpass.com
A comprehensive guide can also be found here:
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361.html
Time stamps:
00:00 Intro
00:49 What is A Japan Rail pass?
02:26 How to get a JR pass
03:34 Overview of passes
03:41 National Rail pass
05:07 Regional passes
10:27 How to use the JR pass in Japan
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29 Comments
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We have been tallying the numbers on this as well! The exchange rate is so in favor right now! 🚆
Please note the error in the text: Children UNDER the age of 6 Travel for free!
I get the JR pass every time we go. In March we will be getting 2 Kansai Wide passes as we will be based in Osaka for a month and a 14 day JR full pass. We use Passmo or Suica card for other non JR related trains 🚄♥️🌸⛩
Hi, JR pass is fantastic, I have just used it last time in Japan. Thanks for your video. Bey. 🚄
Hi
We are due to visit Japan next May.
Our trip starts in Osaka and staying in Nara. This is our first time. Can we use the Kansia JR pass for Osaka, Nara, Kyoto and to travel to Tokyo for the day? I did have a look, but it's confusing. Thanks for the info.
Very useful to us Japan travel wannabes! 👍
Many thanks Nathan – invaluable information for me as I plan my November visit to Japan. It's looking like the full monty National JR Pass is probably the way to go for me. Keep up the great work with these videos 🤘🙏🚅
I never used any JR pass. I did use a Kansai Thru Pass (Surruto Kansai) which covers a very wide area for nearly every non-JR train, subway, and some buses and even cable car. There are 3 different versions of Kansai Thru Pass–the most flexible is the one for foreign visitor so make sure you get that version of it. The big difference is that you can pick non-consecutive days. It is sold at Kansai Airport and a few major train stations in the area. You don't need to activate it the day you purchase it. There is a limited express surcharge for Nankai and Kitetsu trains that's not covered by this pass but rapid trains which have no surcharge are usually fast enough for most routes.
As good as that pass may be, for many, the best option is no-pass at all. There are many discounted excursion tickets for foreign visitors in Kansai. The no-pass approach of using a Suica or Icoca card or application gives the flexibility that you just pay for what you use and whatever is the most convenient at the time. Sometimes JR is faster than private train and at others, it is the opposite. You might be walking around and you just happen to be closer to a particular train station than the other. Ironically, it is sometimes easier to not be tied to a pass at all.
Super informative and helpful. Thank you!
🚄 I can’t wait to rebook my JR pass for my spring trip! 🚄
Once important note I learned earlier today is if you have larger (checked size) luggage you have to get a special oversized bag reserve for shinkansen or have your luggage forwarded via a service.
Have gotten the JR Railpass the last 6 times I've visited Japan. I usually stay in Tokyo and Osaka or Kyoto for 7 or 8 days each on my normal 16 day trips. I usually purchase through JR Rail website and usually get the green Railpass as I normally travel on the Shinkansen from my base city to cities throughout that area, Like from Tokyo, going to Aomori, Kanazawa, Matsumoto, Shizuoka and Kawaguchiko. Then from Osaka/Kyoto, I go to Kagashima, Hakata, Hiroshima and Himeji. So, having this Green pass allows for reserving the first class seat reservations, which are less crowded and much more comfortable than the regular class cars. Well worth the price difference!
Thanks for this. Going at the end of the month to Shikoku. I heard there is a change with luggage rules… i have so many shinkansen trips. Even short ones require me to take tokaido-sanyo trains which I assume is the shinkansen? I was wondering if I have to get seat reservations for even those short trips if I have a larger luggage? Also if i can make reservations for every trip at a aingle jr ticket office?
Not looking forward to the tourists!
Will get mine this week. Always got one in my previous 4 trips. Got 2 times the 21day pass and 2 times the 14day pass. Most likely will get another 21day pass this next trip
I am going to be there 10/18-10/29 traveling to Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo. Is there any way to get around the most expensive pass?
Hi Nija Monkey, I like your t-shirt: Geisha Coffee. I live where they grow it here in Panama. I'm looking forward to seeing how it tastes in Japan–most of the crops of Geisha are exported–many to Japan.
Yup, definitely found them useful but as you rightly say, it is not for everyone especially for some that really stay in close by or even within one city. It should be noted that some regional passes are better than the full jr pass in that you are allowed to travel on the fastest bullet train available! E.g the tohoku , the hiroshima osaka pass ! I also saw that jr east pass now is all online where you can buy and reserve seats on it!
🚅 >>> ===~~~ let’s go!
🚄🚅 Another great video, dude! Keep 'em coming!
EDIT – On a related note: I do recommend getting the JR pass and have your accommodations and desired places to visit as close to any JR Bus/Rail line as you can. I’ve only been here 3 days and already spent about ¥5000 on transit alone. The only silver lining is the school giving me a commuter pass on a Student Discount which I’m hoping extends at least to Yokohama Station from Ikebukuro Station. Currently I have to take 3 different train agencies for this type of commute. Would be nice to get at least 2 at a sweet discount.
I didn’t actually the JR pass because I’m on an actual current “Tourist Visa,” and was so confused as to whether or not I would even qualify to use the JR pass. I still have the option to buy it in the US and have it shipped here to Japan, but I’m wondering if having the actual “90-day tourist visa” slapped in my passport makes me void of using it.
Quasi-related note: This was my experience flying to Haneda from Seatac (Seattle): 3 people were told to piss off for not having traveler’s medical insurance. Upon hearing this from eavesdropping I immediately got out of the line and purchased mine, but once I got back in line they didn’t even bother asking me for it. . . Uhh OK!
6 other people got the boot for either having an expired or incorrect PCR test. They WILL ask for both vax card or PCR test before and after.
Upon arrival, 10 other people got pulled aside (more than likely have to quarantine).
Oh and at Haneda, be prepared to walk. . . A lot. Holy cow I’m still recovering from the back pain from the 10lbs worth of stuff I had in my backpack and surprised I haven’t pulled a hernia considering I just had surgery less than a month ago. That walk at Haneda Airport before you even make it to customs was probably the most brutal part of the whole trip.
Finally after an hour of that brutal experience and the anxiety of even any remote possibility of getting rejected (officer did ask if I was in fact only here for tourism but had to explain that I signed up for a 6 week language course hence the short term tourist visa), I finally made it to the Keikyu train and to my new (but temporary) home.
Honestly, even though it’s gotten so much easier to get in, I will say even these small regulations are probably still enough to keep people out. I don’t expect an influx of foreigners coming in for the rest of the year, let alone come next Tuesday. I do expect to see that number slowly increase, but it’s not until Sakura season 2023 when I expect to see pre-COVID gaijin levels increase in Japan.
Hi, I heard that there are new rules with regards to large baggage. As in we cannot onboard large baggage. Is that correct?
Thank you for such a helpful video! Keep up the great work – quick question, can we book seats for the train ahead of arriving into Japan? Or can this only be done after you have exchanged?
I used JR pass a few years ago, and it was limited to the central island. I visited Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Hiroshima and returned to Tokyo. If I remember well, it cost me about 250 GBP in 2017. I used it only for bullet trains. I booked tickets and rescheduled when needed without any problem. I honestly recommend it
Perfect timing! Thank you for outlining all of this so clearly. Went ahead and grabbed a 21 day nation wide pass for my upcoming trip. Thanks for all of the hard work you put into these videos! 🚅
Love your videos! Going to Japan the 13th of October, and your videos have been beyond helpful.
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