Japan Rail Pass: Is it Worth it & How Much does it Cost?

Japan Rail Pass & Shinkansen Bullet Trains

What is the Japan Rail Pass?

The Japan Rail Pass is a convenient ticket that allows travelers unlimited rides on JR transportation (the main provider of public transport). The pass makes traveling through Japan fast and easy, allowing you access to the extensive train network.

Fun fact: In Japan, everything is incredibly well organized, meaning trains are never late!

• Choose a pass for 7,14, or 21 consecutive days of travel
• Passes are only available for foreign visitors who are traveling to Japan for a maximum of 90 days
• You can choose between an ordinary pass or a green pass. A green pass allows you to sit in the green cars (first class) when they are available, mostly on Shinkansen trains.

Did you know? Shinkansen bullet trains travel at a speed of up to 320 km/h and get you from Tokyo to Kyoto in a little over 2 hours! If you’re looking for a fast, fun, and relaxed way to explore all the best things to do in Japan, this is it! 

How much does the Japan Rail Pass cost?

The pricing of Japan Rail Pass is based on several factors. Here’s the average pricing per number of days:

• A 7-day Japan Rail Pass is about 368 USD
• A 14-day pass is about 588 USD
• A 21-day pass is about 740 USD

Reservations for first class (Green Car) require an additional charge. Please note that prices have been raised in 2024.

Where Can I Use the Japan Rail Pass?

Whether you want to travel to Koyasan to live with Buddhist monks or enjoy views of magical Mount Fuji, these exciting trains make it easy to reach beautiful destinations in Japan!

JR Express Trains

The Express Trains are often used for transport from major airports around Japan. For example:

Tokyo Airport

You can use your pass to access the Tokyo Monorail to travel between Haneda Airport and Tokyo.

If you land at Narita Airport, take the Narita Express to Tokyo. The Narita Express is reserved only, so make sure to reserve your seats in advance! 

Kansai Airport (Osaka)

The Limited Express Haruka can take you from Kansai International Airport to Osaka and Kyoto. This train only has two or three cars for non-reserved seating, so we recommend reserving your seats in advance.

Exclusions

You cannot travel on non-JR trains or trains using non-JR tracks with your Japan Rail Pass. Most of these trains are small and located in the suburbs of bigger cities, so don’t worry, you probably won’t need to take these trains anyway.

Note: Most subways/metros in cities are excluded. However, the bigger cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto have an amazing train network that will get you anywhere you need to go.

Limited Express Trains

The Limited Express trains only stop at the biggest train stations in Japan, making them perfect for traveling long distances, such as Tokyo-Sapporo. 

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Rapid Trains

Although these trains are a bit slower than the limited express trains, they still skip the smaller stations. Moreover, they’re very affordable, making them a great option for travel to popular tourist spots. 

Shinkansen Bullet Trains

The Shinkansen Bullet Trains travel at ultra-high speeds of up to 320 km/h. They’re one of the world’s fastest trains and one of the best things to do in Japan. Follow The Golden Route to explore all the highlights with your Japan Rail Pass. 

Golden Route: Tokyo – Kanazawa – Kyoto – Nara (roundtrip) – Himeji (roundtrip) – Hiroshima – Osaka – Tokyo

Shinkansen Tickets

Though they’re very convenient, the bullet trains are also quite expensive. Luckily, all the Shinkansen trains can be used with your Japan Rail Pass. Hop on multiple Shinkansen Bullet trains while following our 2-Week Japan Itinerary to visit all of Japan’s highlights.

Buses

Your Japan Rail Pass also allows you to use several handy local buses. However, it does exclude the use of highway buses. A few bus routes that could be useful on your Japan trip:

• Tokyo Station – Tokyo Big Sight
• Lake Towada (part of your route from Tokyo)
• Tourist Loop Bus in Hiroshima

Miyajima Ferry

Hop on the Hiroshima – Miyajima Ferry (pay a 100 yen visitor tax) to discover the Itsukushima Shrine and hike Mount Misen! There are also lots of other incredible highlights on the island. 

Getting your Japan Rail Pass

You can buy the Japan Rail Pass online up to 90 days in advance. Either buy your pass on the official website or order your pass online here. Or you can check the calendar below if it is still available.

After purchase, a voucher will be sent to your home address in 2 or 3 days. This voucher is proof of payment that you will exchange at ticket offices for the Japan Rail Pass. 

Tip: We recommend buying the pass at least 2-3 weeks before your visit to make sure you receive your voucher in time.

Ordinary or Green Pass?

You can choose between an ordinary pass and a green pass for your trip. 

Ordinary Pass 

Allows you to use the normal cars in all JR trains and to reserve your seats for free. 

The Green Pass

Allows you to travel in the first class green cars. You’ll find green cars on valid Shinkansen trains and some Express lines.

These cars offer a bit more comfort, like more legroom, wider seats, complimentary drinks, and some extra luggage space. They’re also particularly convenient in high season because they’re less crowded. 

Exchanging Your Voucher

Make sure you add your voucher (proof of payment) to your packing list. When you reach Japan, you’ll need to take this voucher to an exchange office to receive your Japan Rail Pass.

Many of these exchange offices will be JR ticketing offices in train stations. However, you’ll also find them in some major airports, such as Kansai International Airport, Haneda Airport, and Narita Airport.

Tip: Exchange offices can get very busy. When possible, exchange your voucher first thing after going through immigration. You can check the list of exchange offices here.

You’ll need: 

• Passport (no photocopies allowed)
• Exchange order (this is your voucher)
• Temporary visitor stamp/ sticker in your passport

Note: If you’re traveling with multiple people, make sure each traveler is present when you exchange your vouchers. It’s impossible to exchange someone else’s voucher. 

Activating your Japan Rail Pass

When you present your voucher, you’ll be asked to confirm your activation date. Your activation date is the first day your voucher will be valid.

Top tip: This does not need to be the same date you exchange your voucher! You can choose an activation date within 7 days of the exchange.

Things to keep in mind:

• Your activation date counts as day 1, no matter what time you start using it.
• If you take a train that departs just before midnight on your last valid day, your pass will still cover the entire ride.
• If you are only traveling during the second week, buy a 7-day pass and choose an activation date starting 7 days after your exchange date. This will save on costs.
• Dates can only be used consecutively
• Once you’ve activated your Japan Rail Pass, dates cannot be changed!

How to Use the Japan Rail Pass

During your travels, your Japan Rail Pass is your ticket to use all trains, including Shinkansen. You can feed your pass to the automatic machines to enter train stations. It’s super fast and easy, but make sure you retrieve your ticket on the other side of the gate, as your Japan Rail Pass is not replaceable!

The ticket is also thin and easily damaged, so keep it in your wallet or in your phone case so it doesn’t get damaged.

Make sure to always have your passport with you when you are traveling with your Japan Rail Pass. You need to be able to show your passport when the conductor is checking your ticket.

 Do I Need to Reserve My Seat?

You don’t necessarily need to reserve a seat to travel through Japan. The Japan Rail Pass also allows you to use unreserved cars. This means you can step on board any train at any given moment — perfect for spontaneous travelers! 

However, with your Japan Rail Pass, you can also reserve your seats at no extra cost! That means you can sit wherever you like and even reserve seats near luggage compartments.

Note: Unreserved cars tend to be busier, so sitting together might not always be possible if you haven’t reserved your seat. 

Important Information

• You can reserve your seats up to a month in advance at a booking office, JR ticket office, or automatic ticket machines.
• Make sure to keep your seat reservation ticket (you’ll need it on the train to show proof of reservation).
• We strongly recommend reserving your seat if you’re traveling with suitcases, during peak hours (between 7 – 9 AM and 6 – 8 PM), and during holidays.
• You’ll see signs on the platform showing where reserved-only and unreserved cars will stop. This way, you can line up for the right car in advance!

Reserved Trains

Be aware that some trains are reserved only! These are normally Shinkansen or Express trains. However, it can be hard to figure out which specific trains are reserved only. We recommend showing an attendant at the ticketing office (e.g., when you exchange your voucher) and asking them if there are any reserved-only trains on your route. If so, you can immediately reserve seats with the attendant.

Some reserved only trains:

• Narita Express (Narita Airport to Tokyo)
• Kagayaki Shinkansen
• Hayate Shinkansen
• Fuji Excursion
• Komachi Shinkansen

Top Tips for Traveling with Your Pass

Here are some tips to make your Japan Rail Pass experience as fun and easy as possible!

• Japan Travel by Navi Time: This travel app allows you to select the Japan Rail Pass as a filter when looking for trains. Best of all, it’s free!
• Find city loop trains: Since metros are not included in your pass, we recommend looking at loop trains. Loop trains go in a circle around bigger cities, such as Tokyo, and will get you close to most top locations.
• Reserve your seat during holidays: Trains get very busy during Japanese holidays. We highly recommend reserving your seats for free with your Japan Rail Pass.

• Luggage: Always check your luggage allowance. On some Shinkansen trains, you are required to reserve special seats if the sum of your suitcase’s height, length, and width is between 161 and 250 cm. Luggage with dimensions above 250 cm is not allowed onto the Shinkansen at all, except for a few exceptions, such as musical instruments or skis. Use Yamato Transport to send big luggage to your destination.
• Late-night arrival: If you have a late flight and arrive close to midnight, wait until midnight before activating your pass so you can use it for an extra day.
• Shinkansen tickets: Take as many Shinkansen Bullet trains as possible to travel comfortably and get your money’s worth!

Is the Japan Rail Pass Worth it?

Now that you know everything you need to know about the Japan Rail Pass, there’s only one question left: is the Japan Rail Pass worth it?

In our opinion, YES! The Japan Rail Pass allows you to travel the entire country quickly, easily, and comfortably. You can even reach remote destinations, such as Yudanaka, to see the Snow Monkeys. 

However, prices have increased in 2024, so if you’re traveling only one-way through Japan — for example, flying into Osaka, taking a train to Kyoto, and then continuing by train to Tokyo before flying out — the Japan Rail Pass isn’t worth it. You want to have a few more stops or a return flight from the same city to make the Japan Rail Pass worth it.

Pass Benefits

• Saves money: If you plan on traveling long distances around Japan, the Japan Rail Pass will save you money on transport! Separate Shinkansen tickets can be very expensive, especially when traveling between bigger cities. For example, Shinkansen tickets from Tokyo to Osaka or Kyoto already cost around 100 USD for a one-way ticket.
• Better for busy itineraries: If you’re planning on visiting multiple places in a short amount of time, you’re better off buying the Japan Rail Pass instead of separate Shinkansen tickets. Even if it would be slightly cheaper to buy separate tickets, we would consider getting the pass for comfort and ease.
• Greater flexibility: The pass allows you to easily change your itinerary to explore more destinations without worrying about extra costs. It’s perfect for traveling spur-of-the-moment!

Note: If you plan on mostly staying in one place and visiting only one or two destinations, it might be better to buy separate train tickets. Check here for individual train ticket prices. 

Important Routes

One of the most popular routes around Japan is the Golden Route, which includes a lot of major highlights. If you’re planning on doing this route, the Japan Rail Pass will save you a whopping 135 USD (126 EUR) on Shinkansen tickets!

Here are other popular routes in Japan for which you can also use the Japan Rail Pass:

• 7 Days: Narita Airport – Tokyo – Kyoto – Hiroshima – Kanazawa – Tokyo – Narita Airport
• 14 Days: Narita Airport – Tokyo – Kanazawa – Kyoto – Nara (roundtrip) – Himeji (roundtrip) – Hiroshima – Fukuoka – Osaka – Hakone – Tokyo – Narita Airport
• 21 Days: Narita Airport – Tokyo – Sapporo – Sendai – Kanazawa – Kyoto – Nara (roundtrip) – Himeji (roundtrip) – Fukuoka) – Hiroshima – Osaka – Hakone – Tokyo – Narita Airport