Super saver train & bus tickets only for foreign tourists

photo by whysojapan.com

Foreign tourists visiting Japan often encounter a dilemma between their desire to visit as many places as possible within limited time and high traveling expenses. When you come all the way from your country to experience great things about Japan, you of course wish to enjoy your trip without worrying too much about travel expenses. To solve this common dilemma, this column will introduce some train/bus ticket options that are exclusively allowed for foreign tourists, not for the Japanese in general. These tickets will make a huge difference in your budget planning so use them wisely to move around in Japan.

Unlimited train ride “Japan Rail Pass”

Japan Rail Pass by JR group is the ultimate fare ticket to travel in Japan. If you are planning to spend more than a week to visit a few cities, this is a must-have item. It allows the holder to enjoy unlimited ride on JR operated trains and buses including a bullet train, Shinkansen. It excludes Nozomi and Mizuho shinkansens, but except for these little restrictions it can be the most reliable train/bus ticket to travel all over Japan. What is more, there will be no extra charge to book a reserved seat on express trains.

Ordinary car: 7days JPY29,110, 14days JPY46,390, 21days JPY59,350
Green car: 7days JPY38,880, 14days JPY62,950, 21days JPY81,870

To be eligible to purchase Japan Rail Pass, you must be a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing, under the entry status of “temporary visitor”. A Japanese national living outside of Japan who has the right of permanent residence in that country, or is married to a non-Japanese residing in a country other than Japan is also eligible for Japan Rail Pass. This special fare ticket cannot be purchased in Japan. Buy your exchange order for the Japan Rail Pass from one of the designated travel agents before you come to Japan. Present your exchange order, passport and written proof of eligibility at an exchange office in major JR station to receive your ticket after your arrival in Japan. considering that standard travel expense for a trip between Tokyo and Osaka sums up to almost the same as 7days Japan Rail Pass, the cost performance of this ticket is almost too good to be true. No need to check fares or buy a ticket to destinations every time. Do nothing other than just showing your Japan Rail Pass and going through the gate.
See more details: Japan Rail Pass

Other than Japan Rail Pass which is a joint offering of the six companies comprising the JR Group, there are more fare tickets issued by each JR companies. Only foreign tourists under the entry status of “temporary visitor” are eligible for these tickets. If you are planning to travel within a certain region, these will be the best option. See each JR companies’ websites for more information.

JR-Hokkaido（Hokkaido Rail Pass)
JR-East（JR EAST PASS, JR TOKYO Wide Pass, JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass etc)
JR-Central (Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass, Ise-Kumano Area Tourist Pass etc）
JR-West（Kansai Area Pass, Kansai-Hirosima Area Pass, ICOCA & HARUKA etc）
JR-Shikoku（All Shikoku Rail Pass）
JR-Kyushu（JR Kyushu Rail Pass）

Unlimited ride on expressway buses “Japan Bus Pass”

Do you like rather travel on a bus than a train? If so, try Japan Bus Pass, an unlimited express bus ticket by WILLER TRAVEL, who runs a nationwide long-distance bus network. This fare ticket is for a non-Japanese passport holders to let them travel with their bus network that covers all the prefectures except for Hokkaido and Okinawa.

Mon to Thur Pass: JPY10,000 (3days), JPY12,500 (5days), 15,000 (7days)
All Day Pass: JPY12,500 (3days), JPY15,000 (5days)
Note: there is no child fare for this ticket. You are required to purchase a full price ticket(s) for your child (ren) regardless of their age.

You can book any dates within two months from purchase. Dates selected for the use of Bus Pass does not have to be consecutive. Bus Pass can be purchased on Willer website anytime before or after your arrival in Japan. After making a paperless online booking, you only have to go to the bus stop on time. Overnight highway bus deliver to the destination while you are resting so that you can spare extra time and energy for sightseeing. No matter of the size of your body frame, you can relax on a comfortable Willer’s bus seat which has been earning well-established reputation.
See more details: Japan Bus Pass

Unlimited ride between all Tokyo subway lines “Tokyo Subway Ticket”

Some tourists cannot be bothered to travel long distance and rather choose hopping on subway and just move around Tokyo city. If you feel the same, get Tokyo Subway Ticket which allows unlimited ride of all Toei subways and Tokyo Metro lines. This ticket itself is available to anyone who resides outside of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Gunma and Yamanashi. In addition, there is a special combination offer of Tokyo Subway Ticket and one-way or trip ticket to Haneda or Narita airport. This special combination ticket is only available to foreign tourists.

WELCOME! Tokyo Subway Ticket

This is a combination of Tokyo Subway Ticket and a Keikyu line ticket between Haneda Airport International Terminal and Sengaku-ji station. The tickets are sold at Keikyu Tourist Information Center, 2nd Floor of Haneda airport international terminal station. You can purchase a ticket after presenting your passport or other evidence of your visa status. The information center offers multi-lingual service in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean for tourists’ convenience.
Ticket with one-way or round trip from Haneda airport: JPY1,200(1Day), JPY1,600(2Days), JPY1,900(3Days)
See more details: WELCOME! Tokyo Subway Ticket

Keisei Skyliner & Tokyo Subway Ticket

Visitors entering Japan from Narita airport can purchase this combination ticket of Keisei Skyliner & Tokyo Subway Ticket. Narita is farther from the center of Tokyo than Haneda, though it takes minimum only 36 minutes by Skyliner between Narita and Nippori, the price is set rather high. The ticket can be purchased in Narita airport or some travel agencies in overseas.
Ticket with access to Natita airport: JPY4,700(1Day), JPY5,100(2Days), JPY5,400(3Days)
See more details: Keisei Skyliner & Tokyo Subway Ticket

Useful tickets to travel in provincial cities

Along with the increasing number of tourists from overseas, other tourists’ destination cities are becoming more enthusiastic to attract foreign travelers. They offers many discount tickets or passes. The followings are major examples of those tickets and passes.

Mt.Fuji Round Trip Ticket

Everyone wants to conquer FUJIYAMA at least once before leaving Japan, with a budget price, of course. This is your dream ticket which can be purchased only for limited time, July to November every year. The ticket is a special package of JR round trip ticket between central Tokyo and Otsuki including limited stop express trains, unlimited ride of FujiKyu Railway and Mt. Fuji Climber’s bus. The cost is JPY5,600 for one adult which is almost half of the standard round trip fare from Shinjuku to Fifth Station of Mt.Fuji, a great discount. This ticket is available to all non-Japanese passport holders.
See more details: Mt.Fuji Round Trip Ticket

ALL NIKKO PASS / 2 DAY NIKKO PASS

Starting with the world heritage Nikko Toshogu, Nikko is full of must-see spots such as the Kegon Falls, the Chuzenji Lake, or Edo Wonderland if you are with your family. There are two special fare tickets exclusively available to foreign tourists. All Day Nikko Pass is valid for 4days covering areas including Kirifiri Highland and Nikko Yumoto Onsen. With 2Day Nikko Pass, you can enjoy a quick travel in the area as well as a discount at shops and facilities in Nikko and Kinugawa. JPY4,520 for All Nikko Pass and JPY2,670 for 2Days Nikko Pass. Book tickets online by 4days before your departure and present a confirmation sheet to receive the tickets at the Tobu Sightseeing Service Center in Asakusa station. Also 20% discount on a Limited Express ticket, which requires a separate ticket, if you purchase it with these special discount tickets.
See more details: ALL NIKKO PASS / 2 DAY NIKKO PASS

FUKUOKA TOURIST CITY PASS

Fukuoka might be less famous than Kyoto and Osaka, but over a million tourists visit here from overseas every year. In this city, a special one day pass, which allows unlimited rides on buses and trains operating in Fukuoka City, is available to foreign tourists under the entry status of temporary visitor. Passes are two types: JPY820 pass covers Fukuoka city only and JPY1,340 pass covers Fukuoka city and Dazaifu. You can receive a discount at tourists facilities, for example a discounted entry fee, by showing this pass. The pass can be purchased at Fukuka airport, Hakata station, Hakata bus terminal and some other places (you will be requested to present your passport).
See more details: FUKUOKA TOURIST CITY PASS

The wheels of the train go’round and ‘round

All the fares shown in this column are for adults. Children who are 6years to 11years old are charged half price of adult fares, and children and infants under 6years are free of charge. However, extra fees might apply if the number of children per adult exceeds two. Inquire the service provider in such case. Also, Japan Bus Pass fully charges for child’s tickets. Save your travel expenses by using any of these tickets and upgrade your accommodations or meals to enjoy your travel a few times more.