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JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Pass)
Practical information to best organize your trip to this destination with details on when to go, necessary documents, how to get around and much more
WHAT IS the JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Pass)
The Japan Rail Pass (also known as the JR Pass) is a multi-use ticket that allows unlimited travel on Japan's national network. It is valid for travel on all JR domestic trains, including the famous Shinkansen bullet trains and Narita Express, the JR Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka lines, and the JR Bus and JR Ferry lines. You can choose between a 7, 14 or 21-day validity, and between a First Class Pass (Green Pass) or a Standard Pass. Note that the Nozomi and Mizuho trains - which are even faster - are not part of the JR national group and therefore are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, but you can use them by paying a price difference.
Order your JR Pass online and you will receive an Exchange Order that you can exchange for a JR Pass at the ticket counters when you arrive in Japan.
Although until recently it could only be purchased outside of Japan, it can now be purchased while you are already in the country, although it is much more expensive, so we recommend booking the 7, 14 or 21 day Japan Rail Pass with shipping included from your home country.
Generally speaking, we think it is worth buying the JR Pass, especially if your travel itinerary passes through the essential places to see in Japan and you have to take several trains.
HOW TO USE the JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Pass)
How to use the Japan Rail Pass is one of the most frequently asked questions when you start planning a trip to Japan (we asked ourselves this question too). The JR Pass is considered the best way to travel around Japan, both for the price and for the ease of use. Once you have collected the Pass and activated it in one of the many JR offices, you just need to use that ticket at the turnstiles at the entrance and get on the train. However, we recommend reserving seats (for free) at the ticket office or at the appropriate counters. If you are travelling with large suitcases, reserving a seat with space for your suitcase is mandatory (and free).
WHAT JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Pass) INCLUDES
All Shinkansen trains* - All Shinkansen lines
Tokaido Shinkansen
Sanyo Shinkansen
Hokuriku / Nagano Shinkansen
Hokkaido Shinkansen
Tohoku Shinkansen
Yamagata Shinkansen
Akita Shinkansen
Kyushu Shinkansen
Rapid and local trains - Main local train lines
Among others, also:
Yamanote Line (Tokyo)
Chuo-Sobu Line (Tokyo)
Keihin-Tohoku Line (Tokyo)
JR Nara Line (Kyoto)
Sagano JR Line (Kyoto)
Osaka Circular Line (Osaka)
Tozai Line (Osaka)
JR Bus Services - How to get to major attractions
Among others, also:
Mount Fuji
Nara
Nikko
Fushimi Inari
Himeji Castle
Kanazawa
Tokyo Disneyland
Selected Ferries
Ferry to/from Miyajima Island / Itsukushima
Main Airport Transfers
From Narita to Tokyo (Narita Express)
From Haneda to Tokyo (Tokyo Monorail)
From Kansai Airport to Osaka (Haruka Express)
From Kansai Airport to Kyoto (Haruka Express)
WHERE TO BUY the JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Pass)
We recommend purchasing the Japan Rail Pass outside of Japan, directly from your home country. You can pre-order it here with shipping included.
Shipping to Europe is free for a minimum order of around 500 euros, children aged 0 to 5 travel for free and children aged 6 to 11 get a 50% discount.
Remember that you need to activate your JRP within 90 days of the purchase date, so this must be the maximum amount of time in advance of your trip that you can purchase the Japan Rail Pass. If you buy it earlier it is possible, but they will only process your pass 90 days before the period in which you will need it. When purchasing you will be asked for your arrival date in Japan.
Free Delivery in 24/48 hours
Home delivery worldwide
Possibility to receive the pass in Japan
Delivery within 2 working days
Confirm via email and online tracking number
Safe and Fast Delivery
With the express and secure services of UPS and FedEx to make deliveries all over the world. After placing your order, you will receive a confirmation email containing your unique tracking number.
HOW MUCH DOES the JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Pass) COSTS
The price of the Japan Rail Pass may seem expensive at first, but we assure you that it costs much less than buying the routes of the various trains separately (just think that a Tokyo - Osaka route can cost around € 100).
Japan Rail Pass (JRP) 7 days from € 322 (price updated to December 2023)
Japan Rail Pass (JRP) 14 days from € 533 (price updated to December 2023)
Japan Rail Pass (JRP) 21 days from € 645 (price updated to December 2023)
You can also upgrade to 1st Class (Green Pass) in which you will have more space, separate toilets and exclusive smoking areas on some bullet trains.
HOW TO USE the JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Pass)
The first thing you need to do to use the Japan Rail Pass is to activate the 7, 14 or 21-day JRP that you purchased previously.
Remember that what you will receive at the address you provided will be ONLY a voucher and you will have to redeem the Japan Rail Pass at any JRP office, there are some in all the main cities of Japan, in stations and airports (we went to the one in Shibuya in Tokyo)
Once you arrive at the JRP office, you will have to show your passport and the Japan Rail Pass voucher (the one you received at home) and indicate the day you will start using it (from here the 7, 14 or 21 days will start to count).
Keep in mind that the start date of the JRP must be within 30 days of when you exchange it for the voucher you received.
With the 7, 14 or 21-day JR Pass you can ride any train included in the JRP, regardless of whether you have a reserved seat or not. If you do not reserve a seat, you must board the carriages marked "without reservation", which are usually full. However, you can always board the train, even if you do not have a reservation.
HOW TO BOOK TICKETS with the JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Pass)
After exchanging the voucher for the 7, 14 or 21-day JRP, you can get train tickets in several ways:
Book all the tickets for your trip to Japan (recommended if you have a defined itinerary): This is the option we recommend if you have a decided and defined itinerary and you are clear about the dates and times in which you want to take each of the routes. In this case, at the same office where you purchased the JRP you can ask to make the reservation for all the routes (local trains, such as the one from Kyoto to Nara, do not require reservations).
Keep in mind that the Japan Rail Pass includes unlimited travel, so if necessary, you can make multiple reservations or travel on the trains you want without reservations during the validity period of the JRP. Once you have made all the reservations, they will give you all the single train tickets, on which you can see all the information, including the car and the reserved seat.
Book only a few tickets (recommended if you are unsure about your route through Japan): This is the most recommended option if you are not sure about the route you want to take during your trip to Japan or are unsure about some routes. In this case, you can use your JRP to book only the routes that are decided or do it when you need it.
Booking from time to time or traveling on carriages without reserved seats available: This option is not the most recommended, especially in high season or on holidays, due to the presence of many people, where you risk not finding a seat.
HOW TO ACCESS THE TRAIN with the JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Pass)
Once you have obtained the 7, 14 or 21 day JRP and the train tickets, if you have made the reservation, you must follow these steps:
Remember to always have the Japan Rail Pass on hand both to access the platforms and on board the train (and also to exit the stations). Be careful NOT to LOSE the JR Pass because you will have to buy it again.
To access the platforms there are machines in which you must put the tickets to open the barriers. Having a Japan Rail Pass (JRP) does not give you the right to skip the lines or have priority of any kind. In Japan it is essential to always respect the queues and wait for the staff to give permission to pass.
Once you have passed the barriers, you must look at the information panels on the platform from which your train departs, whether it is a shinkansen or a local. Keep in mind that, depending on the type of train, it will depart from one area or another of the station.
After knowing which platform your train is departing from, all you have to do is follow the instructions you see on the signs.
After following the instructions, in some cases, depending on the type of train, you will have to show your JRP again to access the platforms.
Once you are on the platform, you need to look for the information panels, where you will see the name of the train, the number of carriages the train has and the carriages you can go to if you do not have a seat reservation.
IS IT WORTH BUYING the JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Pass)?
In addition to how to use the Japan Rail Pass (JRP), the most important question is whether or not it is advisable to buy the JPR and for how many days it is the best option.
Let's start with the fact that there is no general rule, it all depends on the type of itinerary you take. To find out if the JR Pass is advantageous in your case, we recommend that you run a simulation of your route, noting all the routes and their prices.
The most convenient app for doing this is Hyperdia (or from Klook - to see how much the individual routes cost). Available in English, Japanese and Chinese, Hyperdia allows you to choose departure and arrival stations and travel times.
Once you have the price of each individual train you need, all you have to do is compare the total prices with the prices of the Japan Rail Pass, to see which option is best suited to your needs. In the event that the price difference between individual tickets is very small, we recommend thinking about the convenience of the JRP, since it also includes the JR lines of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, in addition to the JR Buses and JR Ferry lines.
TRAVEL TIPS for USING the JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Pass) in JAPAN
Although we think we have already explained the most important aspects of the Japan Rail Pass, we want to leave you with some tips on how to use it or some situations you may find yourself in to make the whole process as easy and intuitive as possible.
At least the first time you use the Japan Rail Pass (JRP), go to the station early because even if the process is much simpler than it may seem, the first time it is not intuitive and it may take a little longer to understand everything well (also, many stations are really big).
If you do not have a reservation, before entering the platforms, check the carriages marked as unreserved to go directly to the area where they will stop and go to the station in advance to make sure you get a seat.
Remember that your pass is valid for 7, 14 or 21 consecutive days. Once activated, the dates cannot be changed.
Remember that for the Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto Metro lines the Pass is not valid (only on JR lines), so here you will have to pay for the various routes, we recommend that you buy (or download on your phone) the Suica or Pasmo App.
Consult the Practical Information for the trip
CHEAP CAR RENTAL in JAPAN
To travel far and wide in Japan you can do it by train, alternatively if you want to venture out with a guide you will need a rental car. We have chosen to rely on DiscoverCars.com, the best car rental website where you can search, compare and save up to 70%, a real bargain right? They will help you choose the perfect car for your next trip, without having surprises of car delivery surcharges, and where it suits you best. Then just download their App to manage your booking wherever you are.
ATTENTION: You need an International Driving Permit valid for Japan (Geneva Convention) - the one valid for 1 year - and in Japan remember that you drive backwards.
TRAVEL INSURANCE for JAPAN
Before any trip it is good to take out insurance to cover any inconveniences that could ruin the experience. We always rely on HeyMondo which allows you to choose the right insurance for every need. We recommend that you always protect yourself with health insurance and coverage for any cancellations, delays and, if you use them, for theft or breakage of electronic equipment. Medical treatment in Japan can be very expensive. Health insurance in this country is not mandatory by law but is strongly recommended; without it, even a routine visit can make you shell out staggering amounts.
You will get an immediate Discount
INTERNET & PHONE CALL in JAPAN - eSIM CARD
How many times do we go abroad and the first thing we do is call home to say we have arrived. How often are we in a city on vacation and we need to find a place to eat using Google Maps or the internet. How many times do we need to send messages and photos on WhatsApp without spending a salary.
Tired of spending millions when abroad calling or using the internet?
Here is the SOLUTION we use: Holafly, a new technology with eSIM. Order your eSIM on the website and within minutes you will receive an email with a QR code. Just scan it and you'll be connected to the internet right away. You save time, stress and above all do something good for the environment by not having a physical SIM. If you are in a hurry and have to leave tomorrow and have not thought about the internet problem, you can solve it very quickly with this eSIM, and there is no problem that you could accidentally lose it or damage it while traveling. Most importantly, with the eSIM you don't have to change or remove your regular SIM card, you can leave it in the phone and use the eSIM instead of the physical one.
Don't waste time and above all don't spend millions, activate your Holafly eSim.
It is very easy, but how to do it? It only takes 3 steps and voila!
Holafly also offers data plans with unlimited data to many of the main destinations in the world: for example USA, Indonesia, Europe, Mexico, Thailand and many more.
This is a "new" technology and not all devices are compatible with it, but you can check which phones are already compatible with the eSIM at this link: https://esim.holafly.com/how-to/esim-phones.
You will get an immediate discount of 5% with the "WORLDMAPPERS" Discount Code
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