JAPAN RAIL PASS

JAPAN RAIL PASS types and prices

There are two types of JAPAN RAIL PASS: Green (for superior-class Green cars), and Ordinary. Each of these types is available as a 7-day, 14-day, or 21-day PASS.See "JAPAN RAIL PASS validity", for services that can be used with a JAPAN RAIL PASS.

Type:	Green		Ordinary
Duration	Adult	Child	Adult	Child
7-day	37,800 YEN	18,900 YEN	28,300 YEN	14,150 YEN
14-day	61,200 YEN	30,600 YEN	45,100 YEN	22,550 YEN
21-day	79,600 YEN	39,800 YEN	57,700YEN	28,850 YEN

The above are yen (or ) prices for a JAPAN RAIL PASS Exchange Order; the actual cost in local currency is calculated based on the Banker’s selling Rate (BSR) ,etc., at the time the Exchange Order is issued. Note that the purchase exchange rate may differ from the exchange rate in effect when you actually visit Japan.

The local currency price, applicable exchange rate, and issue date for an Exchange Order are specified on the Exchange Order itself. Children who are age 6 through 11 as of the date on which the exchange order is issued are eligible for child PASS prices. Prices are subject to change. The applicable price is the price valid on the date when an Exchange Order is issued.
*Prices shown are accurate as of September 2013. Prices are subject to change. Please see the JAPAN RAIL PASS website for more information.

JAPAN RAIL PASS validity

1. Transportation services

❏	The JAPAN RAIL PASS is valid for the railways, buses, and ferry boats shown in Table 1.

Railways:	All JR Group Railways-Shinkansen"bullet trains" (except any reserved or non-reserved seat on “NOZOMI”and”MIZUHO”trains)limited express trains, express trains, and rapid or local trains. (With some exceptions) JAPAN RAIL PASS holders can also use the Tokyo monorail. Aoimori Railway (Metoki-Aomori. However, the use of local or rapid trains between Aomori-Hachinohe, Aomori-Noheji and Hachinohe-Noheji is permitted. Passengers disembarking on Aoimori Railway lines in these sections must pay separate fares. However, passengers disembarking at Aomori Station, Noheji Station, or Hachinohe Station do not need to pay separate fares.
Buses:	Local lines of JR bus companies1 (excluding some local lines) (Pass validity for particular routes is subject to change.) 1 JR Hokkaido Bus, JR Bus Tohoku, JR Bus Kanto, JR Tokai Bus, West Japan JR Bus, Chugoku JR Bus, JR Kyushu Bus *The PASS is not valid for travel on express bus routes operated by JR bus companies.
Ferry:	Only the JR Miyajima ferry is covered. The JR Hakata-Pusan (Korea) ferry is not covered.

Important notes: The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines. (The pass holders must take “HIKARI,” “SAKURA,” “KODAMA,” or “TSUBAME” trains.) If you use a “NOZOMI” or “MIZUHO” train, you must pay the basic fare and the limited express charge, and for a Green Car the Green Car surcharge. In addition, if you use the GranClass car of the Tohoku Shinkansen, you must pay the limited express charge and the GranClass car surcharge. Note also that passengers using JR trains on non-JR lines must pay additional fares and charges for sections traveled on such lines.
Some JR trains use the lines of private railways for direct services.
Table 1

When the JAPAN RAIL PASS is used on JR trains that run through non-JR lines, fares and charges for the sections travelled on such lines must be paid to the private railway company concerned. Please pay these on the train or at a station on the said company’s line.

【Major JR Trains Running Through Non-JR Lines and the Sections Concerned】

Train	Main route	Section requiring separate fares and charges	Private railway company involved
Odoriko, Super View Odoriko	Shinjuku・Tokyo ~ Izukyu-Shimoda	Between Ito and Izukyu-Shimoda	Izu Kyuko
Odoriko, Super View Odoriko	Tokyo ~ Shuzenji	Between Mishima and Shuzenji	Izuhakone Railway
Nikko, Spacia Nikko	Shinjuku ~ Tobu Nikko	Between Kurihashi and Tobu Nikko	Tobu Railway
Kinugawa, Spacia Kinugawa	Shinjuku ~ Kinugawa Onsen	Between Kurihashi and Kinugawa Onsen	Tobu Railway
Hakutaka	Echigo Yuzawa ~ Kanazawa	Between Muikamachi and Saigata	Hokuetsu Express
Wide View Nanki	Nagoya ~ Shingu	Between Kawarada and Tsu	Ise Tetsudo
Hashidate, Tango Discovery	Kyoto ~ Amanohashidate・Toyooka	Between Fukuchiyama and Toyooka	Kitakinki Tango Railway
Monju, Tango Explorer	Shin- Osaka ~ Amanohashidate・Toyooka	Between Fukuchiyama and Toyooka	Kitakinki Tango Railway
Super Hakuto	Kyoto ~ Tottori・Kurayoshi	Between Kamigori and Chizu	Chizu Express
Nanpu, Shimanto, Ashizuri	Okayama・Takamatsu・Kochi ~ Nakamura・Sukumo	Between Kubokawa and Sukumo	Tosa Kuroshio Railway
Hokutosei, Cassiopeia	Ueno ~ Sapporo	Between Morioka and Metoki	IGR Iwate Ginga Railway
Hokutosei, Cassiopeia	Ueno ~ Sapporo	Between Metoki and Aomori	Aoimori Railway

*For the section of the Aoimori Railway Line between Aomori and Hachinohe, the JAPAN RAIL PASS can be used in the following limited cases: the case where the passenger transits through the section between Aomori Station to Hachinohe Station without getting off the train anywhere in that section and the case where the passenger changes to the Ominato Line at Noheji Station.
(However, passengers using a train with sleeper cars must pay the Aoimori Railway Line fares and charges.)

2. Train accommodations

❏	Most JR trains have Ordinary Cars (coach class) while many long-distance trains also offer Green Cars (superior class). With a Green-type JAPAN RAIL PASS you can use either class, while with an Ordinary-type JAPAN RAIL PASS you can use only Ordinary Cars without paying an additional charge. Refer to the table2 below for details.
❏	The cars with can be used with JAPAN RAIL PASS.
❏	Use of the cars with requires paying additional charges.
❏	There are no Green Cars on most HIKARI and KODAMA trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (Shin-Osaka ·Hakata), or on TSUBAME trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen line(Shin-Yatsushiro – Kagoshima- chūō )

Trains

Accomodations

Green

Ordinary

“NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen*1

Green Car

Ordinary Car

“HIKARI,” “SAKURA,” “KODAMA” and “TSUBAME” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen and any trains on the Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Joetsu and Nagano Shinkansen.

GranClass *4

Green Car

Ordinary Car

Ordinary private Compartment

Limited express and ordinary express

Green Car

Ordinary Car

Green private Compartment

Ordinary private Compartment

Sleeping Car

Local and rapid trains

Green Car

Ordinary Car

Table 2

Remarks:

*1	The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved (incl. Green Car) or non-reserved, on ”NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains.
*2	There are no Green Cars on most “HIKARI” and “KODAMA” trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (Shin-Osaka―Hakata), or on some “SAKURA” and “TSUBAME” Series 800 trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen line.
*3	If you use a “DX Green” (operated by JR Kyushu), you must pay the limited express charge in addition to the DX Green charge.
*4	If you use the GranClass car, only the basic fare is covered with your JAPAN RAIL PASS for both Green Car and Ordinary Cars and you must pay the limited express charge and the GranClass car surcharge additionally.
❏	Private Compartments are available on some “HIKARI” trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line.
❏	Green Private Compartments are on certain limited express trains, such as “Super-view Odoriko.”
❏	Use of “Home Liner” and other “liner” trains requires an additional charge.

3. Validity period

❏	The validity period of a JAPAN RAIL PASS is the consecutive 7, 14, or 21 days beginning on the date the PASS is first used.
❏	Within three months from the date the Exchange Order was issued, you must turn in your Exchange Order to obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS (for example, an Exchange Order issued on April 15 would have to be turned in by July 14). At that time, you have to specify the date that you want to start using the PASS. It can be any date within one month from the date the PASS is received.
❏	Once the PASS has a starting date written on it, the date cannot be changed.

How to turn in an exchange order to receive a JAPAN RAIL PASS

❏

You cannot use an Exchange Order when you travel on JR lines. Turn in your Exchange Order and obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS at one of the JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange offices. shown on the pages to the right. (Please note the Service hours and closing days.)
*It may take time to turn in your Exchange Order and receive a JAPAN RAIL PASS if the service counter is busy. Please ensure you leave enough time when you visit the exchange office.

❏

Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS within three months of the date the Order was issued.(for example, an Exchange Order issued on April 15 would have to be turned in by July 14)

❏

At the exchange office, you will be asked to fill in a short application form and to show your passport with the Temporary Visitor stamp/sticker you received on entry into Japan. You must show your passport and this stamp/sticker to process the Rail Pass Exchange Order.

* You are a Japanese national living in a country other than Japan (having entered the country on a Japanese passport),
     a. who has the right of permanent residence in that country
     b. who is married to a non-Japanese residing in a country other than Japan.
     Note: Present the following documentation along with your Japanese passport when you purchase the Exchange Order and when you exchange it for a JAPAN RAIL PASS:
Persons meeting condition (a) must provide written proof of the following:
     ・Right of permanent residence
     ・That they are living in a country other than Japan
Persons meeting condition (b) must provide written proof of the following:
     ・That they are living in a country other than Japan
     ・That they are married to a foreign national
     ・That their spouse (a foreign national) is living outside Japan

If an applicant is unable to provide written proof that he or she meets condition (a) or (b) and the clerk is unable to verify compliance using electronic data or other means, the PASS may be denied.

❏

The type of PASS described on the Exchange Order cannot be changed.

❏

If the Exchange Order is lost or stolen, or you are unable to provide it for another reason, no exchange for a JAPAN RAIL PASS can be made.

❏

You will not be able to exchange your Exchange Order for a PASS if you fail to satisfy the eligibility requirements.

How to make seat reservations

❏	Shinkansen,* most limited express and ordinary express trains have reserved Green Car seats and both reserved and non-reserved ordinary car seats. (The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen. Please use “HIKARI,” “SAKURA,” “KODAMA,” and “TSUBAME” trains.)
❏	A non-reserved seat (except for “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen) can be used simply by showing your JAPAN RAIL PASS.
❏	Seat reservations can be made without additional payment.To make a reservation, go to any Travel Service Center or a Reservation Office (Midori-no-madoguchi) at a JR station, or to the sales office of a JR-associated travel agency. There, show your PASS, and obtain your reserved-seat ticket before the boarding. (“NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains and the trains marked with * in table 2 require the payment of an additional charge.)
	* There are no Green Cars on most “HIKARI” and “KODAMA” trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (Shin-Osaka—Hakata), or on Series 800 trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen line. The JR buses“Mizuumi-go”between Aomori and Towadako and“Oirase-go”between Hachinohe and Towadako require reservations. Please obtain your reserved-seat ticket before boarding these buses. Use of Homeliner or other Liner trains is subject to additional fees. Some trains have no non-reserved seating (all seats are reserved). It may take time to make a seat reservation if the service counter is busy. Please ensure you leave enough time to make your reservation.
	Note: Do not use an automatic ticket-reading gate with a JAPAN RAIL PASS or a reserved-seat ticket. Please show the PASS at a manned ticket gate.

Caution:

The sign for a Resevation Office(Midori-no madoguchi)

Please note that during crowded periods you cannot be guaranteed a seat on a specific train.
The periods when seat reservations are particularly difficult to secure are as follows:

❏	December 28 to January 6 The New Year holiday period is the most popular travel time for Japanese people, for vacations and returns to hometown areas.
❏	April 27 to May 6 Due to consecutive holidays in a comfortable travel season, there is large-scale travel throughout Japan for leisure and recreation.
❏	August 11 to 20 Another time for traditional travel to hometown areas, called the Obon season.