One of the best options to move comfortably around Japan is to use the Japan Rail Pass, a pass that allows you to use all types of trains of the JR network (both Shinkansen and other types of trains) without having to pay for each ticket and, depending on your destinations, will allow you to optimize your budget on your trip to Japan. Although in recent years the prices of global passes have risen significantly, it is still advisable if you are going to make a long trip or if you are going to travel in depth in a particular area, as there are many types of regional passes. Below we explain how to buy and use a Japan Rail Pass, the different types of passes that exist and our recommendations in each case. In Asiahop we are experts in designing customized trips and we can advise you to find the best option according to your availability and budget.
How to buy your Japan Rail Pass
The first thing you should know is that you will buy this pass before traveling to the country and you will redeem it in Japan at one of the JR offices throughout the country. In addition, your pass will start to be used the day you decide, so even if you redeem it as soon as you land, you will be able to mark that it will not be activated until a specific day of your trip. This is an important point because in some places you will not use it and it does not make sense to spend days of the pass (for example, the days you are in Tokyo we do not recommend to have it activated because you will move by subway and, although the JR works for some lines, we believe it is better to use a card like the Suica and book the JR Rail Pass for other destinations).
Purchase requirements
To use a rail pass in Japan, temporary visitors must have a visitor’s stamp in their passport and present this document when purchasing the pass. You will get this stamp when you land and pass through customs. The Japan Rail Pass is a pass that can only be used by tourists, so Japanese residents in Japan, foreigners with long-term visas and permanent residents in Japan cannot access these services.
Where to buy
There are authorized agencies to make the purchase easily and safely. In Asiahop we make this procedure for you so you do not have to worry about anything and we do not charge you for this service if you contract a trip with us.
How to redeem
What you will receive at home before traveling is a document to be able to exchange it for the pass when you are in Japan. It is not necessary to do it when you land, although depending on your destination or when you want to start using it, you may already do it at the airport. You will only have to look for a JR office at the stations and hand in the document you received in Spain and present your passport. You will receive a ticket showing the days of validity of your pass, which you will use to enter and exit the train stations. This is the list of places where you can exchange your JR Rail Pass in Japan.
How to use your Japan Rail Pass in Japan
Once you have your JR Rail Pass in your possession after passing through a redemption office, you have two options for each trip: you can use it to board the trains directly without a reservation or you can make advance reservations. Normally it is not necessary to make a reservation to enjoy the service, whether on Shinkansen or other trains, but you must be careful on special dates such as Golden Week, or at peak hours on the routes between Tokyo and Kansai. In case of not booking you should look for the “non-reserved” trains that will be indicated on the screens on the platform and in the train cars (with the kanji 自). If you want to book in advance you can do it for free online (on most passes) or at machines or counters at any major station. In this case you will receive a specific ticket that will be the one you will use for that trip.
Main types of passes
The complete JR Pass
The full JR pass is available for 7, 14 and 21 days, with prices starting at 50,000 ¥ (about 300 €) for 7 days. Although it has had a significant price increase in recent years, it is an interesting option in certain cases. We recommend analyzing the destinations very well if you only plan to use the 7-day pass, since in case of only traveling to Tokyo to Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka, Nara…) you will probably not be compensated for the purchase. From a stay of 14 days with long trips through the Japanese geography is when we consider that the ticket begins to compensate. Keep in mind that the advantages are not only economic, since the JR Rail Pass allows you to get on any train without reservation, and get off at any stop. At Asiahop we are specialists in optimizing travel with the JR Rail Pass so you don’t have to worry about anything.
Japanese Alps
The Hokuriku Arch Pass is a regional option that allows unlimited travel on the Hokuriku Shinkansen and is ideal if your trip will connect Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, and explore less crowded destinations such as Kanazawa, Nagano or Fukui. It costs 30,000 ¥ (about 180 €) and is valid for 7 days, providing excellent value for money. If you are going to make a 15-day tour of Japan including the Japanese Alps, and you are going to spend some initial and/or final days in Tokyo, you may be interested in this pass since you can activate it outside your stay in Tokyo and take advantage of a week in transit between the area of the Alps and Kansai. There is also the Takayama-Hokuriku Rail Pass, a 5-day pass for 20,000 ¥ (about 120 €), which connects only the Kansai region with the Takayama area and includes bus lines with which you can visit Shirakawa-go.
Kansai Regional Passes
The Kansai region offers several affordable passes covering key cities such as Osaka, Kyoto and Nara. The JR Kansai Area Pass is very flexible and can be purchased for 1 or 4 consecutive days, while the JR Kansai Wide Area Pass allows 5 consecutive days and covers more destinations, including Okayama and Kinosaki Onsen. To combine Kansai with the Hiroshima and Miyajima area you can buy the JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass for a price of 17,000 ¥ (about 100 €) for 5 consecutive days.
Tōhoku and Hokkaidō
If you want to move by train from Tokyo to Hokkaidō, the JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass can be a good option. This pass connects Tokyo with Sapporo and allows unlimited travel on the JR East network, including some areas of Kanto such as Nikko or the cities of Sendai, Yamagata or Aomori in the Tōhoku region. The price is 18,000 ¥ (about 110 €) for 6 consecutive days. It should be noted that, in case you want to travel in depth the island of Hokkaidō, it is advisable to rent a car as the north of the island does not have good rail communications.
Kyūshū
To reach the island of Kyūshū and move around the north of the island in comfort from the Kansai region, we recommend the Sanyo-San’in Northern Kyushu Pass, which allows unlimited travel for 7 consecutive days in the Chugoku region, northern Kyushu and parts of Kansai for a price of 25,000 ¥ (about 160 €).
Although these are some of the passes you can use on your route through Japan, there are many more regional options that combine train with other means of transportation such as buses. Do you want to travel to Japan and have us help you optimize your travel within the country? Contact us and we will design the perfect experience for an unforgettable trip.