JR Pass/Tickets » Japan Rail Pass (JR) » Information for Japan Rail Pass

Who is eligible for a JAPAN RAIL PASS?

1. You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing, under the entry status of "temporary visitor."

"Temporary Visitor" entry status, according to Japanese Immigration Law, allows a stay in Japan of 15 days or 90 days for "sight-seeing, etc." If you apply for a "stay for sight-seeing" when you enter Japan, entry personnel will stamp your passport as "Temporary Visitor," as shown below. Only persons who have a passport bearing this stamp can use a JAPAN RAIL PASS.

Examples of the "Temporary Visitor" entry status stamp

2. You are a Japanese national living in a foreigncountry,

  • who is qualified to live permanently in that country, or
  • who is married to a non-Japanese residing in a country other than Japan.
Top

JAPAN RAIL PASS validity

1. transportation services

  • The JAPAN RAIL PASS is valid for the railways, buses, and ferry boats shown below.
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)
Buses: Local lines of JR bus companies (JR Hokkaido Bus, JR Bus Tohoku, JR Bus Kanto, JR Tokai Bus, West Japan JR Bus, Chugoku JR Bus, JR Shikoku Bus, JR Kyushu Bus) and some of JR highway bus services*.

* Sapporo-Otaru; Morioka-Hirosaki; Tokyo-Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka,Tsukuba Center; Nagoya-Kyoto, Osaka; Osaka-Tsuyama, Kasai Flower Center
Ferry: Only the JR Miyajima ferry is covered. The JR Hakata-Pusan (Korea) ferry is not covered.
Important notes:
The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on "NOZOMI" trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines.(The pass holders must take "HIKARI" or "KODAMA" trains.)If you use a "NOZOMI," you must pay the basic fare and the limited express charge, and for a Green Car the Green Car surcharge.
Note also that passengers using JR trains on non-JR lines must pay additional fares and charges for sections traveled on such lines.

2. Train accommodations

  • Most 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."
  • The cars with can be used with JAPAN RAIL PASS.
  • Use of the cars with requires paying additional charges.
  • There are no Green Cars on most HIKARI and KODAMA trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (Shin-Osaka, Hakata), or on TSUBAME trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen line(Shin - Yatsushiro - Kagoshima - chuo)
Trains Accommodations Green Ordinary
"NOZOMI" trains* on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinaknsen Green Car
Ordinary Car
"HIKARI" and "KODAMA" trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinknasen and any trains on the Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Joetsu, Nagano and Kyushu Shinkansen Green Car
Ordinary Car
Ordinary private Compartment
Limited express and ordinary express Green Car **
Ordinary
Green private Compartment
Ordinary private Compartment
Sleeping Car
Local and rapid trains Green Car
Ordinary Car

Remarks:

* The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved (incl. Green Car) or non-reserved, on "NOZOMI" trains.

** If you use a "DX Green" on "Relay TSUBAME" train (operated by JR Kyushu), you must pay the limited express charge in addition to the DX Green charge.

  • Private Compartments are available on some of "HIKARI" and "KODAMA" trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen.
  • Green Private Compartments are on certain limited express trains, such as "NARITA EXPRESS" and "Super-view Odoriko."
  • Private Compartments are available on some of "HIKARI" and "KODAMA" trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen.

3. Validity period

  • 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.
  • Use of "Home Liner" and other "liner" trains requires an additional charge.
Top

How to turn in an exchange order to receive a JAPAN RAIL PASS

 

  • You cannot use an Exchange Order when you travel on JR lines. Turn in your Exchange Order and obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS at one of the JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange offices.
  • Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS within three months of the date the Order was issued.

How to make seat reservations

  • Shinkansen,* most limited express and ordinary express trains have reserved Green Car seats and both reserved and non-reserved ordinary car seats.
    (The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on "NOZOMI" trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen.)
    *There are no Green Cars on most HIKARI and KODAMA trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (Shin - Osaka, Hakata), or on TSUBAME trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen line (Shin - Yatsushiro, Kagoshima - Chuo)
  • A non-reserved seat (except for "NOZOMI" trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen) can be used simply by showing your JAPAN RAIL PASS.
  • Seat reservations can be made without additional payment.To make a reservation, go to any Travel Service Center or a Reservation Office (Midori-no-madoguchi) at a JR station, or to the sales office of a JR-associated travel agency. There, show your PASS, and obtain your reserved-seat ticket before boarding.

Note: Do not use an automatic ticket-reading gate with a JAPAN RAIL PASS or a reserved-seat ticket. Please show the PASS at a manned ticket gate.

Caution:

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:

  • December 28 to January 6
    The New Year holiday period is the most popular travel time for Japanese people, for vacations and returns to hometown areas.
  • April 27 to May 6
    Due to consecutive holidays in a comfortable travel season, there is large-scale travel throughout Japan for leisure and recreation.
  • August 11 to 20
    Another time for traditional travel to hometown areas, called the Obon season.
Top