With the JAPAN RAIL PASS, you can freely board almost any train on Japan Railways Group ( JR Group ) lines throughout the country. For modern, convenient sight-seeing, JAPAN RAIL PASS is a traveler's best friend. Please read the following rules and conditions:
The JAPAN RAIL PASS is a special ticket that is available only to travelers visiting Japan from foreign countries for sight-seeing. To be eligible to purchase a JAPAN RAIL PASS you must 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".
Caution: 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, or
B. who is married to a non-Japanese residing in a country other than Japan.
Note: Persons meeting conditions A and 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.
Transportation services
1. 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)
2. Train accommodations
All JR trains have Ordinary Cars (coach class) while many long-distance trains also offer Green Cars (superior class). With a Green-type JAPAN RAIL PASS you can use either class, while with an Ordinary-type JAPAN RAIL PASS you can use only Ordinary Cars without paying an additional charge. Refer to the table below for details.
RAILWAYS
ALL JR-Group Railway Trains:
Shinkansen trains
("bullet train"),
except the "Nozomi"
type
Limited Express
trains
JR-Express trains
JR-Rapid trains
JR-Local trains
BUSES
JR Bus Companies-Local lines
of:
JR Bus Tohoku
JR Bus Kanto
JR Tokai Bus
West Japan JR Bus
Chugoku JR Bus
JR Bus Divisions-Local bus
lines of:
JR Hokkaido
JR Shikoku
JR Kyushu
HIGHWAY
BUSES
JR Highway Bus Lines:
Morioka to Hirosaki,
Aomori and Towadako
Tokyo to Nagoya,
Kyoto, Osaka, and
Tsukuba Center
Nagoya to Kyoto and
Osaka
Osaka to Tsuyama Car
Shed and Kasai
Flower Center
FERRY
Between Miyajima
and Miyajima-guchi (near Hiroshima)
except "Beetle U" (Hakata-Pusan)
Period of Validity
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.
Once the PASS has a starting date written on it, the date cannot be changed.
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
7days
37,800 yen
18,900 yen
28,300 yen
14,150 yen
14days
61,200 yen
30,600 yen
45,100 yen
22,550 yen
21days
79,600 yen
39,800 yen
57,700 yen
28,850 yen
*The above are yen prices for a JAPAN RAIL PASS Exchange Order; 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.
How to turn in an exchange order to receive a JAPAN RAIL PASS
Turn in your Exchange Order and obtain
your JAPAN RAIL PASS at one of the JAPAN
RAIL PASS exchange offices shown on the
pages below (Please note the office 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.
At the time of the exchange you will be asked to fill in a short application form and to show your passport with the Temporary Visitor stamp that you received on entry into Japan. You must show your passport and this visa stamp to process the Rail Pass Exchange Order.
The type of PASS described on the Exchange Order cannot 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.
Seat reservations can be made without additional payment. To make a reservation, apply at any Travel Service Center or a Reservation Office (Midori-no-madoguchi) at a JR staion, or at a sales office of a JR-associated travel agency. There, show your PASS, and obtain your reserved-seat ticket before boarding.
Note：
The sign for a
reservation office
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:
12/29-1/5 The New Year holiday period is the most popular travel time for Japanese people, for vacations and returns to hometown areas.
4/29-5/5 Due
to consecutive
holidays in a
comfortable travel
season, there is
large-scale travel
throughout Japan for
leisure and
recreation.
8/13-15 Another time for traditional travel to home-town areas, called the Obon season.
Travel Service Center(Yaesu
North)
Travel Service Center(Yaesu
Central)
Ticket Office
10:00-19:00
10:30-19:30
5:30-23:00
Ueno
Travel Service Center
10:30-20:00
Shinjuku
Travel Service Center(East)
11:00-19:00
Shibuya
Travel Service Center
11:00-20:00
Ikebukuro
Travel Service Center(West)
Travel Service Center(East)
11:00-20:00
11:00-19:00
Shinagawa
Travel Service Center
Ticket Office
10:30-20:0
05:50-22:50
Yokohama
Travel Service Center
11:00-19:00
Shin-Yokohama
Ticket Office
5:30-23:00
Odawara
Ticket Office
6:00-23:00
Mishima
Ticket Office
5:30-22:20
Shizuoka
Ticket Office
5:00-23:00
Hamamatsu
Ticket Office
5:30-23:00
Nagoya
JAPAN RAIL PASS
Exchange Corner
10:00-18:00
Kyoto
Ticket Office
8:30-21:00
Shin-Osaka
Ticket Office
5:30-23:00
Osaka
Ticket Office
5:30-23:00
Kansai Airport
Ticket Office
5:30-23:00
Sannomiya
Ticket Office
5:30-23:00
Okayama
Ticket Office
6:30-23:00
Hiroshima
Ticket Office
5:30-23:00
Shimonoseki
Ticket Office
5:30-23:00
Takamatsu
Travel Service Center
10:00-18:00
Matsuyama
Travel Service Center
10:00-18:00
Kokura
Travel Service Center
10:00-19:00
Hakata
Travel Service Center
Ticket Office
10:00-20:00
5:30-10:0
20:00-23:00
Nagasaki
Travel Service Center
10:00-19:00
Kumamoto
Travel Service Center
10:00-19:00
Oita
Travel Service Center
10:00-19:00
Miyazaki
Travel Service Center
10:00-18:30
Kagoshima-Chuo
Travel Service Center
10:00-19:00
Note
Indicated office hours are for weekdays. Hours vary among offices on weekends and holidays. Some Travel Service Centers are closed during the New Year holiday
period. Offices and office hours are subject to change or discontinuation without notice.
