Rail pass
Japan Rail Pass
Probably, when you plan to visit Japan, you may think about using Japan Rail Pass.
It is certainly convenient.
You can use all JR trains in Japan. And you can use Shinkansen.
First, please check the official website.
Main points to use Japan Rail Pass
- Buy the pass on the official dedicated website, or at an overseas JR-designated sales office or agency.
- When you arrive in Japan, you get the real pass at the JR ticket office.
- You can use it for only the trains of JR lines including Shinkansen.
The third point means that you can't use the trains of the other companies and subways.
Use Japan Rail Pass when you travel around wide area in Japan
Let's check the price.
(The prices are for online purchases, and they are more expensive when buying at sales office or agency.)
For ordinary car (Adult fare / Child fare [6-11 years old])
- 7-days : 50,000 yen / 25,000 yen
- 14-days : 80,000 yen / 40,000 yen
- 21-days : 100,000 yen / 50,000 yen
For Green car (Adult fare / Child fare [6-11 years old])
(Green car is the first-class car, and only a few cars are connected in Shinkansen and most limited expresses.)
- 7-days : 70,000 yen / 35,000 yen
- 14-days : 110,000 yen / 55,000 yen
- 21-days : 140,000 yen / 70,000 yen
When we use Shinkansen by ordinary car between Tokyo and Kyoto (about 500 km), the fare is about 14,000 yen.
If you take Shinkansen train for that distance four or more times by 7-days pass, the pass is cheap.
Japan Rail Pass is a good ticket when you visit various places in wide area of Japan using Shinkansen and JR lines within a limited period.
When you use such Japan Rail Pass, you should plan an itinerary that you travel around wider area than that.
Ordinary Car, Reserved seat Car, Green Car
Three types of car are connected in a JR train.
Ordinary Car is non-reserved seat car.
Most cars of commuter train and local train are Ordinary Cars.
Shinkansen and limited expresses connect only a few Ordinary Cars.
You can sit the favorite empty seat, but if the train is full, you have to stand.
Reserved seat Car is the car your seat is reserved.
Most cars of Shinkansen and limited express are Reserved seat Car.
To reserve a seat on the train you want to get on, you must buy the reserved seat ticket in advance.
It is possible to buy on the website, by ticket vending machine and at ticket office in any JR station.
(If you don't have a reserved seat ticket, you can't enter the Reserved seat Car.)
By Japan Rail Pass for ordinary car, you can get on above trains.
When you get on Reserved seat Car, you show the pass and can get a reserved seat ticket.
Green Car of Shinkansen
Green Car is the first-class car of JR.
The seat and facility is high-grade, and the room is quiet.
One to three cars of Shinkansen, limited express, and some local trains in Tokyo area are Green Cars.
A mark of green four‐leaved clover is attached on the car.
Only Japan Rail Pass for Green Car is available for Green Car.
Rail Passes sold by each JR companies
Map of each JR companies
Japan Rail Pass is sold by the group of all JR companies.
But, the applicable area may be too wide to travel around Japan within your limited schedule.
JR is divided into six regional companies as you can see from the map.
Each company sells own Rail Pass for foreign tourists.
You can use them as a pass for local area.
The duration of using the pass is shorter and the price is cheaper than Japan Rail Pass.
JR Hokkaido : Available only within Hokkaido island.
Pass info of JR HokkaidoJR East : Available within Kanto, Tohoku and Koshinetsu regions
Tokyo, Sendai, Aomori, Niigata, Nagano, etc. are in the area.
Find Your Pass in JR EastJR Central : The area is not so wide, so several tourist passes for specific local areas are sold.
Tourist Pass of JR CentralJR West : Available within Kansai, Holkuriku and Chugoku regions
Osaka, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Hiroshima, Matsue, etc. are in the area.
Ticket & Passes in JR WestJR Shikoku : Available only within Shikoku island.
All Shikoku Rail PassJR Kyushu : Available only within Kyushu island.
JR Kyushu Rail Pass
Rail Passes sold by local railway companies
There are many railway companies other than JR in Japan.
These have popular tourist attractions in own area, so such companies sell rail passes.
The area is narrow, so the passes are generally valid for 1 or 2 days.
Anyone can buy the pass anytime at the company's station ticket office.
Some of them are the ticket packages that include buses, cable cars, and other transportation.
Tohoku Region
Sanriku Railway
Map of Sanriku Railway
Sanriku Railway runs along the coast of Iwate and Aomori Prefectures.
The length of the railway is 163 km.
JR Lines are connected from the inland area of Iwate Prefecture.
There are many scenic spots around the coast.
To visit the wide area including Morioka area, some special tickets are sold.
Sendai city (仙台)
Railway map of Sendai city
Sendai is the largest city in Tohoku region.
JR lines to Yamagata, Matsushima and Sendai Airport branch from here.
And, two subway lines managed by Sendai City Transportation Bureau run in the area.
The one-day and two-day passes to visit the sightseeing spots in and around Sendai city are sold.
Aizu area
Area map of Aizu area
Aizu area is the western part of Fukushima Prefecture.
The spirit of the samurai remains and the area is rich in nature.
Aizu-Wakamatsu is the center of the area and is a historic city.
Kitakata city is famous for its old storehouses and tasty ramen.
There are some sightseeing spots such as Lake Inawashiro, Mount Bandai, Goshikinuma Ponds, etc. around the cities.
"Aizu Gurutto Card" is the 2-day free pass to ride trains and buses in this area.
Kanto Region
Subway in Tokyo
Dense subway network in central Tokyo
The subway in Tokyo is not the railway lines of JR.
So, you cannot take the subway with Japan Rail Pass.
Tokyo Metro (13 lines) and Toei (4 Lines) are the subway comapanies.
Toei is Bureau of Transportation, Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
Each company sells the one-day pass.
Passes are available for own lines only, as well as for both companies.
Greater Tokyo Pass
There are many railway companies to the suburbs of Tokyo.
And some lines connect to the subways in Tokyo.
You can visit plenty of places without using JR lines.
This pass can be used on all railways and subways other than JR in Tokyo and Yokohama areas for 5 days.
The passes of the railway companies to the suburbs of Tokyo
Main railway companies in Tokyo sell own discounted tickets and passes.
Tobu Railway : From Asakusa to Nikko, Kinugawa-Onsen, Aizu, Kawagoe
Tobu RailwaySeibu Railway : From Ikebukuro, Shinjuku to Kawagoe, Chichibu (Saitama Pref.)
Seibu Railway (Saitama area)Keisei Railway : Limited express "Skyliner" (Narita Airport to Tokyo) and subway in Tokyo
Keisei RailwayTokyu Railway : Own lines and sightseeing spots
Tokyu Railway (Tokyo and Yokohama)Keikyu Railway : Own lines and sightseeing spots
Keikyu Railway (Tokyo and Kanagawa Pref.)Odakyu Railway : From Shinjuku to Hakone, Kamakura
Odakyu Railway (Hakone, Kamakura areas)
Koshinetsu Region
Mount Fuji
Railway map around Mt.Fuji
1) Kawaguchiko side 5th station
2) Fujinomiya side 5th station
3) Subashiri side 5th station
4) Gotenba side 5th station
Fujikyu railway runs on the northern side of Mount Fuji.
There are five lakes, scenic Arakura Fuji Sengen Shrine, popular amusement park "Fuji-Q Highland" around the area.
Fujikyu sells the 2-days pass for own railway line and the buses running around the area.
JR Central operates the railway lines in Shizuoka Prefecture on the southern side of Mount Fuji and Tokaido Shinkansen is also included.
It sells the pass to travel around Shizuoka Prefecture.
Hokuriku Region
Toyama Chihou Railway
Railway map around Toyama city
Toyama Chihou Railway runs from Toyama station to the starting points of Kurobe Gorge and Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route.
Both are popular tourist destinations in Toyama Prefecture.
And, Toyama Chihou Railway operates the streetcars in Toyama city.
The railway company sells the one-day and 2-days pass for own railway line.
Tokai Region
Izu Peninsula
Railway map of Izu Peninsula
Izu Peninsula is located in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture.
The whole area is mountainous and many hot spring resorts are dotted throughout the peninsula.
Izukyu Railway and Izuhakone Railway run in the peninsula.
Each railways sell the railway passes for 1 to 3 days.
Subway in Nagoya
Subway network in Nagoya city
The subway in Nagoya is not the railway lines of JR.
It is operated by the Transportation Bureau City of Nagoya.
So, you cannot take the subway with Japan Rail Pass.
The subway is the main transport in Nagoya city.
It connects Nagoya station and Sakae, Nagoya Castle, Atsuta Shrine, etc.
One-day ticket is sold.
Meitetsu Railway
Main Railways around Nagoya
Meitetsu Railway has many lines centrated on Nagoya.
Especially, Meitetsu is the only train line serving Chubu International Airport.
Nagoya is the main city in the region and the great castle is popular.
Inuyama is the city with a popular castle, and Tokoname and Seto are traditional pottery towns.
To these cities, Meitetsu is the only train line.
Meitetsu sells the one-day and 2-days pass for own railway lines.
And, the ticket for the train and express bus to Takayama is sold at Chubu International Airport station.
Kansai Region
Kyoto city (京都)
Railway map of Kyoto city
Kyoto is the most popular sightseeing city.
Main railway lines run around the outskirts of the town.
Therefore, city buses and subways are the main way to get around the city for sightseeing.
The one-day passes are sold.
And, Randen, Eizan Railway, Keihan Railway also offer passes that include their own lines.
Kansai Railway Pass Lite
In Osaka city, there are some subway lines by Osaka Metro.
There are major sightseeing cities such as Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, etc. around Osaka.
JR Lines and some other railway companies connect these cities.
You can visit plenty of places without using JR lines.
Kansai Railway Pass Lite can be used on all railways and subways other than JR in this area.
The passes of the railway companies in Kansai region
Main railway companies in Kansai region sell own discounted tickets and passes.
Kintetsu Railway : From Osaka to Nara, Yoshino, Kyoto, Ise, Nagoya
Kintetsu RailwayNankai Railway : From Osaka to Wakayama, Kansai Airport, Koyasan
Nankai RailwayHankyu Railway : From Osaka to Kyoto, Kobe, Takarazuka
Hankyu RailwayKeihan Railway : From Osaka to Kyoto, Uji
Keihan RailwayHanshin Railway : From Osaka to Kobe
Hanshin Railway
Chugoku Region
Hiroshima Electric Railway
Railway map of Hiroshima city
In Hiroshima city, Hiroshima Electric Railway operates streetcars in the center of the city.
By the streetcar, you can visit Atomic Bomb Dome and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
And, there is the route to Miyajima with Itsukushima Shrine which is a National Treasure shrine floating on the sea.
Some economical tickets are sold for the tourists.
Ichibata Railway
Railway map of Ichibata Electric Railway
Ichibata Electric Railway is a railway running in Shimane Prefecture.
It connects Matsue city, the prefectural capital, and the sacred Izumo Taisha Shrine in Izumo city.
You can enjoy views of Lake Shinji and idyllic rural scenery from the train window.
One-day tickets and a few tickets for the tourists are sold.
Kyushu Region
Fukuoka city (福岡)
Railway map of Fukuoka city
Fukuoka is the biggest city in Kyushu island.
The Fukuoka City Subway runs in the center of the city, and Nishitetsu Railway leaves for the southern part of the prefecture.
A discount ticket to travel around in Fukuoka city is available.
And, there is also a pass to travel around Fukuoka Prefecture.
Okinawa island
Okinawa island is the central island of Okinawa Prefecture and is located about 500 km south of Kyushu island.
It is a subtropical island that acts as a tropical resort.
The central city is Naha, and a monorail is operated between Naha Airport and the city.
There is no railway, but the bus network is well-developed.
For toutists, the pass of the bus and monorail is available.