JAPAN RAILWAY PASSES

JR Pass Purchase Information
- Eligibility for use
- Scope of Validity
- Train accomodations
The clerk at the location where you purchase your Exchange Order will explain the eligibility requirements for the JAPAN RAIL PASS. Be sure that you understand these requirements before purchasing an Exchange Order.
In the event that you are unable to receive a PASS because you fail to meet the eligibility requirements, the JR Group is not liable for any charges or fees associated with your use of JR lines while in Japan.
● If you are unable to receive a PASS, you can return your Exchange Order to the overseas travel agency from which you purchased it for a refund. (*Fees apply.)
● If you have any questions about the Exchange Order, please inquire directly them to the travel office where you made the purchase.
Eligibility for use
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.
- Who has the right of permanent residence in that country.
- Who is married to a non-Japanese residing in a country other than Japan Note: Present the following documentation along with your Japanese Passport when you purchase the Exchange Order and when you exchange it for a JAPAN RAIL PASS.
Persons meeting condition (a) must provide written proof of the following:
-Right of permanent residence*
-That they are living in a country other than Japan
Persons meeting condition (b) must provide written proof of the following:
-That they are married to a foreign national
-That they are living in a country other than Japan
-That their spouse (a foreign national) is living outside Japan
Validity Period
The validity period of a JAPAN RAIL PASS is the consecutive 7, 14, or 21 days period 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 (for example, an Exchange Order issued on April 15 would have to be turned in by July 14).
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 a starting date has been assigned to the PASS, it cannot be changed.
Scope of Validity
Transportation services
- The JAPAN RAIL PASS is valid for the railways, buses, and ferry boats shown in the table below
- The routes and trains for which the JAPAN RAIL PASS is valid are subject to change after the start of service of the Hokkaido Shinkansen.
All JR Group Railways-Shinkansen"bullet trains" (except any reserved or non-reserved seat on “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains) limited express trains, express trains, and rapid or local trains, and the BRT. (With some exceptions)
*JAPAN RAIL PASS holders can also use the Tokyo Monorail.
*Aoimori Railway services between Aomori and Hachinohe (but only for travel on local or rapid service trains encompassing the segments between Hachinohe and Aomori, Aomori and Noheji, and Hachinohe and Noheji. Travel is not covered if you disembark at any other station on the Aoimori Railway line other than Aomori, Noheji, and Hachinohe.)
*The IR Ishikawa Railway Line between Kanazawa and Tsubata. However, travel must be conducted on local or limited express trains and must encompass the full segment between these two stations. Travel is not covered if you disembark at any station on the IR Ishikawa Railway line, within or outside the segment (excluding Kanazawa or Tsubata).
*The Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line between Toyama and Takaoka. However, travel must be conducted on local trains and must encompass the full segment between these two stations. Travel is not covered if you disembark at any station on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway line, within or outside the segment (excluding Toyama or Takaoka).
Local lines of JR Bus (excluding some local lines) (Pass validity for particular routes is subject to change.) (JR Bus : 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) *The PASS is not valid for travel on express bus routes operated by JR Bus.
Only the JR-WEST Miyajima ferry is covered. *Hydrofoil ferry service operated by JR-KYUSHU between Hakata and Pusan (Korea) is not covered
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
Trains |
Accommodations |
Green |
Ordinary |
“NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen*1 |
Green Car |
× |
× |
Ordinary Car |
× |
× |
|
“HIKARI,” “SAKURA,” “KODAMA” and “TSUBAME” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen and any trains on the Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Hokkaido, Joetsu and Nagano Shinkansen. |
GranClass *4 |
★ |
★ |
Green Car |
●*2 |
★ |
|
Ordinary Car |
● |
● |
|
Ordinary private Compartment |
★ |
★ |
|
Limited express and ordinary express |
Green Car |
●*3 |
★ |
Ordinary Car |
● |
● |
|
Green private Compartment |
★ |
★ |
|
Ordinary private Compartment |
★ |
★ |
|
Sleeping Car |
★ |
★ |
|
Local and rapid trains |
Green Car |
● |
★ |
Ordinary Car |
● |
● |
*1 The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved(incl. Green Car) or non-reserved, on "NOZOMI" and "MIZUHO" trains.
*2 There are no Green Cars on most"HIKARI" and "KODAMA"trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (Shin-Osaka--Hakata), or on some "SAKURA"and"TSUBAME"Series 800 trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen line.
*3 If you use a "DX Green"(operated by JR Kyushu), you must pay the limited express charge in addition to the DX Green charge.
*4 If you use the GranClass car, only the basic fare is covered with your JAPAN RAIL PASS for both Green Car and Ordinary Cars and you must pay the limited express charge and the GranClass car surcharge additionally.
■ Private Compartments are available on some "HIKARI" trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line.
■ Green Private Compartments are on certrain limited express trains, such as "Super-view Odoriko.“
■ Use of "Home Liner"and other"liner"trains requires an additional charge
Please click on the map above before purchasing any pass.