A Japan Rail Pass (or JR Pass) is a multi-use ticket that allows you to ride unlimited times during a specific period on all major JR trains.
Tickets are valid for seven, fourteen, or twenty-one days. This can save you money if you plan to journey all around Japan during your stay.
In this article, you’ll learn whether a JR Pass is worth it for your Japan trip, where to purchase, and how to buy a pass.
DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure here.
How to buy a Japan Rail Pass
You can purchase your Japan Rail Pass online at a dedicated website, through a sales office or agency, or in Japan.
While you can purchase your pass in Japan, I recommend purchasing your JR Pass before leaving your home country (it’s just so much more convenient and a time-saver!).
There are many sites to purchase Japan Rail Passes, but I recommend buying from either:
- Official Japan Railway Website
- Klook – easiest and has the best deal (most of the time!)
JR Passes can be activated up to three months after the issue date. Once you activate the pass in Japan, you can choose a start date up to 30 days from activation.
Once in Japan, you will pick up your pass at a JR ticket office. Note that you must show them passports for all Japan Rail Passes.
Do I need to buy a JR Pass?
Contrary to popular belief, you do NOT always need to purchase a JR Rail Pass.
Japan Rail passes can be a cost-effective way to travel through Japan. However, starting October 1st, pass prices will increase by 70%, making the cost-saving benefit of the pass not worth it for most travelers.
For example, the pass won’t be worth it if you only plan on doing one long trip (i.e., Tokyo to Osaka/Kyoto, then back to Tokyo).
It’s also worth noting that the pass does not cover all Shinkansen, like the Mizuho and Nozomi lines (and the Nozomi line is the fastest in the country, which can shave off a lot of travel time for you!). Some privately owned lines, such as the Odakyu Express, are also not covered by the JR rail pass.
✨ You can use this JR Pass calculator to see if a Japan Rail Pass is worth it for your trip.
If you choose not to purchase a JR Pass, you can still ride JR trains and the Shinkansen. You will just need to buy tickets individually for each trip.
You can purchase your Shinkansen tickets either at the station or online.
READ NEXT: “What to Book Before Your Trip to Japan”
Looking for more Japan travel tips?
💌 Sign-up for my newsletter where you’ll be the first to know of new Japan travel content available + get Japan travel tips and recommendations straight to your inbox!
✨ Follow me on YouTube, Instagram, Threads, Pinterest, and TikTok.
🌸 Join my membership and get access to exclusive posts and the full archive of Japan travel tips provided in past newsletters.
Leave a Reply