Getting your JR Pass

The JR Pass needs to be purchased before arriving  in Japan, and collected once in Japan. JR Passes can be easily purchases online. Simply click here to get started.

After purchasing, you will be issued an exchange order. The exchange order can then be used at exchange order offices to redeem your JR Pass.

Pass eligibility

The JR Pass is for tourists travelling to Japan only. Those living in Japan permanently or working visas are not eligible.

Here are some other eligibility requirements;

• Free for children aged 0-5 as long as they will not occupy separate seats and travelling with a pass holder.
• Valid only for non-Japanese passport holders with a “Temporary Visitor” Visa stamp on the passport. Non-Japanese passport holders with a permanent residence in Japan cannot use this product
• Secure a Temporary Visitor Stamp at immigration to be eligible for a JR Pass. Do not pass through the automated gates, as no stamp will be applied
• Japanese passport holders who have been residing outside of Japan for 10+ years are eligible to use a JR pass if they have 1) a valid Japanese passport and 2) a Copy of Overseas Residential Registration/Certificate of Overseas Residence from the Japanese embassy or legation of Japan in your foreign country of residence
• Age is determined based on your booking confirmation date
• Your exchange order must match your passport. Ensure that all information is correct before purchasing. 

🚋 JR Pass Types and Pricing

The JR Pass opens up the country to you for a cost-effective rate. Plan on travelling across Japan, going to the major tourist cities, and everywhere in between. The JR Pass will be crucial, as you can take as many daily trips to anywhere as long as Japan Rail operates the service.

The value you get out of the Japan Rail Pass depends on the itinerary you have, and what you are wanting to do. If you are only going to stay in one city or region or region, then the pass isn’t for you. However, if you plan on taking the bullet train often to get around the country, it is an invaluable resource to attain and can quickly pay for itself when done correctly.

While trains are generally cheap for around town, long-distance trains are a different story. Popular destinations like Sapporo, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima and Fukuoka can be far apart. And if you are planning on hitting all the biggest tourist destinations, then domestic travel can add up very quickly. For example, the bullet train from Tokyo to Osaka is about 15,000JPY, one way. On the bullet train, Osaka to Hiroshima is a little over 11,000JPY. With the flexibility to jump on local train lines, express trains, and long-distance trains, then the Japan Rail Pass can really become a huge asset, which, depending on your itinerary, could save you big time.

If you want to get the most out of your JR Pass be sure to;

1. Use it for long-distance trips – Shinkansen and Limited Express trains are typically expensive and therefore chip away at the cost quickly.
2. Use the pass to reserve train tickets – this will guarantee seats on the Shinkansen, and can be used for oversized luggage storage on trains too.
3. Prioritise JR Lines when in cities – While travel within large cities is cheap, there are typically a few travel options, including metro and subways, which aren’t usually covered by the pass. Where possible, use the JR pass to get around the cities to chip away at the cost of the pass and make it more worthwhile. This won’t make a huge difference for the 7-day pass, but as you get into the 14 & 21-day passes, you’ll see more of the benefit.
4. Don’t see value as just cost – the convenience and ease of use also factor in to making the pass worthwhile. Simply insert your JR Pass into a ticket gate or to reserve tickets for the Shinkansen – Gone are the days of staring up at complex fare zone maps. 
5. You don’t have to activate the pass right away. If you’re going to be in Tokyo for the first few days if your trip, and then spending 7-21 days elsewhere in the country, activate your pass for the day you leave Tokyo – this will maximise the time with your pass for more worthwhile journeys. Simply tell the JR staff when at the counter with your exchange order what date you’d like to activate it on, using cash to pay for your local lines until the day your pass activates.