Japan is one of the most captivating countries I’ve ever visited. Its peaceful mountains and temples, lively cities, incredible food, and deep history make it an unforgettable destination.
However, Japan has a reputation for being expensive, especially for budget travelers. Many suggest skipping Japan and heading to Southeast Asia, where your money stretches further. But here’s the truth: you can visit Japan on a budget. With some insider knowledge, you can find affordable food, attractions, and even accommodation, like capsule hotels.
That said, one area where Japan does live up to its pricey reputation is transportation, especially when it comes to trains. Japan’s famous bullet trains, or shinkansen, are fast, comfortable, and a marvel of engineering, zooming at speeds up to 320 km/h (200 mph). Unfortunately, they are also quite expensive.
But there’s good news! You can significantly reduce train costs by purchasing a Japan Rail (JR) Pass, which can cut your travel expenses by half or more. Honestly, if you’re planning to explore Japan, it’s worth getting a JR Pass because regular tickets are priced so high that it feels like they want to push you towards buying one.
In this guide, I’ll explain what the JR Pass is, how it works, how much it costs, and answer common questions about it.
What is the Japan Rail (JR) Pass?
The JR Pass is a pass designed for travelers to explore Japan by train, similar to the Eurail pass in Europe. JR, the largest train operator in Japan, offers unlimited rides on its trains for a fixed price, making it much more affordable for tourists.
The pass is available in three durations: 7, 14, or 21 consecutive days. Remember, these are calendar days, not just travel days. So if you’re traveling in Japan for two weeks, you’ll need the 14-day pass, even if you don’t take the train every day.
Several types of JR trains are included, with the shinkansen (bullet train) being the fastest and most popular, followed by tokkyu (limited express), kyuko (express), kaisoku (rapid), and kakueki-teisha or futsu-densha (local trains that stop at every station).
This means that you can travel quickly between regions on the shinkansen, or use local commuter-style trains within cities. For example, on my last trip, I used the JR Pass to get around both Kyoto and Tokyo without needing local metro tickets.
One thing to note is that the JR Pass must be purchased before arriving in Japan, and it will be mailed to you, so plan ahead.
How does the JR Pass work?
Using the JR Pass is simple — you just need to buy it in advance while still in your home country, as it’s only available to visitors. The pass comes in several options, all valid for consecutive days:
- 7 days: 50,000 JPY (or 70,000 JPY for a Green Pass)
- 14 days: 80,000 JPY (or 110,000 JPY for a Green Pass)
- 21 days: 100,000 JPY (or 140,000 JPY for a Green Pass)
The Green Pass is essentially a first-class ticket, but considering how great Japan’s trains already are, you probably don’t need it unless you want a little extra luxury. Green cars also require seat reservations in advance, which can be a hassle if you like to travel on the fly. With the regular pass, you can hop on and take any available seat.
In addition to the standard JR Pass, there are regional passes that can be even cheaper if you’re not planning to travel across the entire country. Each region offers a variety of passes, usually ranging from one to seven days.
You can buy JR passes for six different regions:
- JR East (for the main island)
- JR West (for the main island)
- JR Central (for the main island)
- JR Hokkaido (for the northern island)
- JR Kyushu (for the southwestern island)
- JR Shikoku (for the southeastern island)
When you receive your JR Pass, you have three months from the date printed on the exchange order to pick it up. However, you don’t need to activate it right away. For example, you can pick up the pass when you arrive in Japan but start using it later, within one month of exchanging the order. Just keep in mind that once the pass is activated, you can’t change the start date.
Once you have the pass, you can use it to board trains directly through the automatic gates, without worrying about individual tickets.
Additional benefits of the JR Pass
Besides covering shinkansen and other JR trains, the pass also grants access to:
- Local JR buses (like the tourist loop bus in Hiroshima)
- JR-operated ferries (like the one from Hiroshima to Miyajima)
- JR lines in major cities like Tokyo and Osaka
- Free seat reservations (normally costing around 320-730 JPY)
However, the JR Pass doesn’t cover the Nozomi and Mizuho shinkansen lines, and it’s only available for tourists, not Japanese residents or foreigners working in Japan.
Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it?
Absolutely! While the upfront cost might seem high, the savings add up quickly. For example, a round-trip ticket from Tokyo to Osaka alone costs about 36,000 JPY, but with a seven-day rail pass at 50,000 JPY, you get unlimited travel for much more than just that trip.
Even with the price hike in late 2023, the pass still pays for itself with just a couple of trips. Here are some examples of one-way ticket prices for shinkansen trains:
- Tokyo to Hiroshima: 23,480 JPY
- Tokyo to Kyoto: 17,950 JPY
- Kyoto to Hiroshima: 10,570 JPY
- Tokyo to Fukuoka: 27,620 JPY
As you can see, a couple of long-distance journeys easily justify the pass’s cost.
And even if you’re not using the bullet trains, the pass still makes sense. For instance, a local train from Kyoto to Tokyo costs around 10,000 JPY, but the journey takes nine hours and involves several transfers. The shinkansen, on the other hand, takes just three hours with no hassle. The time savings alone make the bullet trains worth it.
In short, the JR Pass is the way to go, allowing you to zip around Japan in comfort, speed, and style.
