Transportation costs typically occupy the majority of travel expense during your stay in Japan. Japan Rail Pass is the most known discount pass that can be widely used on JR Line. While this pass can be used to ride JR lines across Japan, it costs as expensive as roughly 30000yen for a 7days pass. Also, there are some restrictions, for example, it is not valid for Nozomi and Mizuho of Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen, which is the main route of the whole Shinkansen network. If you feel hesitant to purchase Japan Rail Pass due to these disadvantages, consider getting JR local passes which can be purchased from local JR branches.
Booking JR local pass
Who is eligible?
While Japan Rail Pass is for foreign tourists and Japanese citizens residing in overseas, other JR passes are only for foreign passport holders. Furthermore, only Temporary Visitor visa holders are allowed to purchase these passes. If your visa is other than Temporary Visitor, you are not eligible for JR passes regardless of the length of your stay in Japan. Your exchange orders will be invalid if hold incorrect visa on your passport.
How to purchase
To get JR local passes, you firstly need to purchase an exchange order for each pass at one of the designated travel agency in your country, then exchange it at a JR ticket office after you arrive in Japan. Alternatively, you may purchase a pass directly from a JR ticket office in Japan. In both cases, you are required to present your passport to show you have an appropriate visa to be eligible for the pass.
※Online booking is available on JR West website.
※JR Central and JR Kyushu passes cannot be purchased after arriving in Japan. Make sure to purchase an exchange order outside Japan.
JR Hokkaido
Unlimited rides on both reserved and non-reserved seats of limited express, express, local and special trains of all JR Hokkaido lines except for Hokkaido Shinkansen within validity period. It also comes with discount vouchers of some local shops and stores.
Adult fares: 16500yen (3days), 22000yen (5days), 22000yen (Flexible 4days), 24000 (7days)
JR East
JR East Pass (Tohoku Area)
Unlimited rides on both reserved and non-reserved seats of the whole line of Tohoku, Akita and Yamagara Shinkansen, in addition to unlimited rides on both reserved and non-reserved seats of limited express, express, local and special trains of JR East line within the designated area, including Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen. Discount of fare applies if purchase an exchange order outside Japan.
Adult fare: 20000yen (Valid 5 days within 14 days from the day of issue)
JR East Pass (Nagano, Niigata Area)
Unlimited rides on both reserved and non-reserved seats of Joetsu, Hokuriku Shinkansen, in addition to limited express, express, local and special trains of JR East line within the designated area. Discount of fare applies if purchased outside of Japan. Discount of fare applies if purchase an exchange order outside Japan.
Adult fare: 18000yen (Valid 5 days within 14 days from the day of issue)
JR TOKYO Wide Pass
Unlimited rides on limited express, express, local and special trains of JR local lines within Kanto area, Tokyo Monorail, Izukyu Line, Fujikyu Line, Joshin Dentetsu, part of Saitama New Urban Transit Line, Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit Line, including Shinkansen.
Adult fare: 10000yen (Valid for 3days)
※More discounted passes are available from JR East in addition to the above passes.
JR Central
Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass
This pass is designed to travel around Kansai Airport, Hokuriku area including Kanazawa and Toyama through to Nagoya. It allows unlimited rides on Hokuriku Shinkansen and JR local trains within the designated area, as well as reservation of seat on limited express train up to 4 times.
Adult fare: 14000yen (Valid for 5days)
Ise-Kumano-Wakayama Area Tourist Pass
This pass is designed to travel around within the Kii Peninsula including Osaka, Wakayama, Shirahama, Ise and Nagoya. It allows unlimited rides on ordinary car of limited express, express, local and special trains of JR and Ise Line within the designated area. It also can be used for Wakayama Electric Railway, Mie Kotsu buses and Kumano Kotsu buses.
Adult fare: 11000yen (Valid for 5days)
Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Tourist Pass
This pass is designed to travel around Nagoya, Hida, Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route, Matsumoto to Kiso-Hukushima. It allows unlimited rides on non-reserved seat of limited express, express, local and special trains of JR Line as well as railways and buses of Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route.
Adult fare: 17500yen (Valid for 5days)
JR West
Kansai Area Pass
This pass allows unlimited rides on Kansai Airport Limited Express “Haruka” and non-reserved seats of express, limited stop and all stops trains of JR Lines as well as JR buses. Additional fees applies to book a reserved seat. This pass does not cover Shinkansen and limited express trains other than Haruka.
Adult fare: 2200yen (Valid for 1day), 4300yen (Valid for 2days), 5300yen (Valid for 3days), 6300yen (Valid for 4days)
Kansai WIDE Area Pass
This pass can be used within Kansai and a part of Chugoku area as well as a part of Tokushima prefecture. It allows unlimited rides on non-reserved seats of limited express, express, local and special trains of JR Lines within the designated area, including Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Okayama.
Adult fare: 9000yen (Valid for 5days)
Sanyo-San’in Area Pass
This pass can be used within Kyoto, Osaka, Wakayama, Sanyo and San’in areas. It allows unlimited rides on non-reserved seats of limited express, express, local and special trains of JR Lines within the designated area, including Sanyo Shinkansen within the designated area, as well as unlimited rides on Miyajima Ferry.
Adult fare: 19000yen (Valid for 7days)
※More discounted passes are available from JR West in addition to the above passes.
JR Shikoku
ALL SHIKOKU Rail Pass
This pass allows unlimited rides on the whole lines of JR Shikoku Line, Iyotetsu Line, Tosaden-Traffic, Tosa-Kuroshio Line, Asato Line and Kotoden Line. Discount of fare applies if purchase an exchange order outside Japan.
Adult fare: 9500yen (Valid for 3days), 10500yen (Valid for 4days), 11500yen (Valid for 5days), 12500yen (Valid for 7days)
JR Kyushu
All Kyushu Area Pass
This pass can be used on the whole JR Kyushu Line except for Shinkansen line between Kokura and Hakata. You can book reserved seat on limited express trains up to 10 times with a 3days pass, and up to 16 times with a 5days pass. This pass does not cover any railways other than JR, buses and subways.
Adult fare: 15000yen (Valid for 3days), 18000yen (Valid for 5days)
Northern Kyushu Area Pass
This pass allows unlimited rides on the whole lines of JR Kyushu within the designated area, except for Shinkansen between Kokura and Hakata. You can book reserved seat on limited express trains up to 10 times with a 3days pass, and up to 16 times with a 5days pass. This pass does not cover any railways other than JR, buses and subways.
Adult fare: 8500yen (Valid for 3days), 10000yen (Valid for 5days)
Southern Kyushu Area Pass
This pass allows unlimited rides on the whole lines of JR Kyushu within the designated area, including Shinkansen. You can book reserved seat on limited express trains up to 10 times. This pass does not cover any railways other than JR, buses and subways.
Adult fare: 7000yen (Valid for 3days)
See Japan out of the train window
Some likes traveling around Japan within a short period of time, and others just prefers to stay in the same area for long to look around well. If you are the former, Japan Rail Pass would be the best one for you. Otherwise, it is worth thinking about getting other JR passes as these may better deals. Check these special passes sold by each JR branch before you head to Japan!
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