Can you save with a Japan Rail Pass?

I get this question a lot from readers.

Is the Japan Rail pass a good value? I mean it’s expensive and honestly, I really don’t want to spend so much on a train if I can save in other ways.

Travel in Japan is expensive, it’s just a fact of the situation there.

Yes, there are opportunities to use slower trains between some of the destinations but I found this to be a bit more difficult without local knowledge. Particularly if you have to change trains! Generally, employees and locals in the country will point you towards the “normal” options as this is what most tourists too.

Shinkansen Trains - Japan

So is it a good deal?

A round trip between many of the major cities is pricey in its own right. For instance, the train between Tokyo and Kyoto is basically the same price as the Japan Rail pass. If you add in the train trip between Narita and Tokyo you will certainly save money.

So almost positively Yes you will save money if you are traveling between cities. I saved considerable amounts of money traveling between Tokyo and Hiroshima with various stops at destinations that were of interest to me. Hundreds of dollars in fact.

The pass is good for overnight trains as well (although you often have to pay a surcharge for sleeper cars etc). You can do this when you make your reservation.

– Important Considerations –

The Rail pass MUST be purchased outside of Japan. This pass is for visitors to the country.

It is only for temporary visitors of Japan who are there on tourist visas. Those there for work, military, etc. may be denied use of the pass. Even if you are there temporarily for a reason other than tourism you can be denied (if you have a different visa). It nearly happened to a friend of mine although he was able to convince them to allow him to use it. Just a warning in case you find yourself in this situation.

Japan nationals (outside of Japan) may require additional proof that they don’t live in Japan.

The pass cannot be used on the Nozomi or Mizuho trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Lines. This is generally ok as the other bullet trains are only slightly slower, to be honest.

Valid for days of continuous travel. Once you validate the pass the clock starts.

Pass must be exchanged within 3 months of Purchase.

There are no refunds once you activate the pass. However, if the pass is inactivated you can obtain a refund (less 10% fee) at a JR exchange office.

Prices

Japan Rail passes come in two types, Green and Ordinary. The green ones are basically “first class”. You get a more comfortable ride. Although in my personal opinion you are better off saving your money and getting the ordinary pass. I found them to be plenty comfortable.

Plus not all train options will have Green cars, so you may be paying a premium and not always even get the benefit.

	Green		Ordinary
Duration	Adult	Child	Adult	Child
7-Day	38,880 ¥	19,440 ¥	29,110 ¥	14,550 ¥
14-Day	62,950 ¥	31,470 ¥	46,390 ¥	23,190 ¥
21-Day	81,870 ¥	40,930 ¥	59,350 ¥	29,670 ¥

* Prices are subject to change and of course in USD prices may differ depending on conversion rates, surcharges, etc.

Where to Purchase

Since you need to purchase the Japan Rail Pass outside of the US you need to contact some vendors within your own country to buy the pass. In the United States, I tended to always buy the Passes from STA Travel. They seemed to have the best prices generally over the years and were really reliable in terms of sending me the passes, etc. I’ve been getting the passes for years now and in the beginning, STA was one of the few places to obtain it in the USA.

There are more now but I tend to go with this option due to ease and reliability.

Click here to check the current pass prices

How to Activate

When you get the Japan Rail Pass in the main you’ll get a voucher in the mail. The voucher needs to be brought to a Japan Rail Office within Japan to be converted to your actual pass. There is an office downstairs in the Narita Airport if you plan to activate your pass then. There are also several offices in downtown Tokyo as well.

One of my passes actually was labeled to be exchanged at the Japan Airlines Office (I found this odd), however, it still needed to be exchanged at the JR Office.

*** Note *** You must specify the activation date of the pass when you exchange it.

You can find the list of exchange offices here.

How to Use

The pass itself is fairly easy to use. You can make a reservation for trains from the train station and generally, this does not cost extra. However, some lines and trains require a surcharge for use. For example, some of the overnight sleeper trains require both reservations and fees to use. Additionally, you might have to pay extra if you use one of the other classes of service that are not covered by your pass.

Not all trains require reservations. For non-reserved seats, you show the pass to the attendant on duty to get through the gates. This is probably the easiest pass to use. You can often just hop on a train going in a direction and just hop off and walk out of the station just showing the attendant. This allowed me to make unscheduled stops as I saw fit (such as visiting Himeji Castle).

Other Discounts

One thing most people don’t pay attention to is that your Rail Pass is valid on other transportation options beyond simply just the Rail lines.

For instance, many of the JR buses allow you to use your JR pass for travel on them (Although not the express buses generally)

Also, the ferry between Miyajima and Hiroshima is covered by the pass.

Additionally, some of the JR Hotels offer discounts for Pass holders.

* * * * *

Quick Takeaways

If you are planning to travel between more than a round trip long-distance trip you will likely be better off purchasing the Japan Rail Pass.

There are two classes of travel Ordinary and Green. Green is a nicer ride but I found Ordinary to be very comfortable. Definitely worth saving money here.

You MUST buy the pass outside of Japan. Here is where I usually buy mine.

You will receive a voucher for the pass in the mail (with your info) that you must exchange at a JR office in Japan. Validity begins on the date you specify at the exchange office.

Only valid for visitors on tourist visas.