Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass)

Japan Rail Pass, also known as JR Pass.

• Do I need it when I visit Japan?
• Is it worth the cost?
• How much is it?
• Where do I purchase it?
• How to use the JR Pass?

You may have heard about JR Pass and I'm sure you will be asking the above questions about JR Pass. Don't worry. I will explain all about it in this post.

Here are some of the things you need to know about JR Pass:

1. JR Pass must be used on consecutive days within its allocated timeframe. For instance, if you buy a 7-day JR Pass, you have to use it in 7 days consecutively. After the 7th day, it will no longer be valid. Even if you did not use for one day, it is considered used. For example, if you start using it on Monday (5th February 2018), the pass is valid until Sunday (11th February 2018). If you did not use on Wednesday (7th February 2018), there is no refund, and it cannot be transferred to 12th February.
2. JR Pass can only be used to take JR trains/lines. You cannot use it on local buses, subways, non-JR trains.
3. JR trains are not available everywhere around Japan. Don't assume that it will take you to any city in Japan. Some places have no JR trains.
4. JR Pass must be purchased outside of Japan before your arrival in Japan which means you have to buy it in your country through an agency.
5. JR Pass cannot be used for travel on NOZOMI and MIZUHO trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen lines.

If you want to know whether buying tickets per ride is cheaper than JR Pass, you can put in your desired starting and end destinations on Google Maps to search for the price. Select the transit. The options, cost, time will be shown, including for JR and non-JR trains fare.

There are other regional pass such as the Kansai Thru Pass with unlimited rides on inter-city trains, subways, buses. It can be used on non consecutive days. In addition to that, you get discounted entry fee to multiple places of attractions.

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Let's say you have decided to buy and use the JR Pass. Let's see what's it all about.

There are two types of JR Pass: Green and Ordinary. Each type is available for a 7-day, 14-day, and 21-day.

GREEN      ADULT       CHILD

7-day           ¥38,880        ¥19,440
14-day         ¥62,950        ¥31,470
21-day         ¥81,870        ¥40,930


ORDINARY      ADULT       CHILD
7-day                  ¥29,110       ¥14,550
14-day                ¥46,390       ¥23,190
21-day                ¥59,350       ¥29,670


*Price as of October 2017
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HOW TO PURCHASE AND USE JR PASS

1. First, you must purchase an Exchange Order in a country other than Japan. You cannot buy the JR Pass on the spot. Buy the Exchange Order first and when you arrive in Japan, you must go to any major JR station and turn in your Exchange Order to obtain your JR Pass.
2. You cannot use the Exchange Order to take trains. Therefore, you have to change the Exchange Order to get the JR Pass from the JR station counter in Japan.
3. Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a JR 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). There are tourists whom are not informed of this and they bought in advance too early from their arrival date, and when they arrived in Japan, they were told it was not valid because it has expired after three months.
4. 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.
5. 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. When exchanging the Exchange Order for a JAPAN RAIL PASS, you must show your passport* and the Temporary Visitor stamp/sticker.
6. The JR Pass is valid only for the person whose name appears on the pass. The user must be a foreign national visiting Japan with the entry status of Temporary Visitor.
7. In order to receive a JR Pass, the name appearing on the claim ticket must match the name appearing in your passport. Without your passport, the pass exchange will not be made. (A photocopy of your passport is also not acceptable because you must show the "Temporary Visitor" stamp/sticker in it.)
8. When you begin to use your JR Pass, present it to the attendant at the ticket gate. The attendant will stamp in the space provided for official use. 
9. When passing through the gate, always present your pass to the attendant so that the period of validity is visible.
10. When using your JR Pass, you must carry your passport and be prepared to present it to a station attendant or car conductor if requested.
11. Please note that JR Pass cannot be re-issued in the event that it is lost or stolen.
12. Once you have started using JR Pass, the validity period cannot be extended, nor will any refund be issued even if trains and other transportations services are suspended or delayed for any reason.

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In conclusion on whether it's cheaper and cost saving to buy and use the JR Pass or not, it really has to depend on your itinerary. If your route is within a city which only requires taking the local bus or subways, then you DO NOT need the JR Pass.

But if you travel more from one city to another city in long distance, then JR Pass might be cost saving for you. Please do research on your itinerary and search from Google Maps the cost of each destination you're visiting. 

Lastly, if you have any query, feel free to ask in the comment. I will talk about the Kansai Thru Pass in the next post.