You may be wondering if you need to buy JR Pass for your next travel to Japan. Is it still worth to buy after the recent huge increase in their prices effective October 1, 2023?
Japan is one of the countries in the world that has the most extensive and efficient public transportation system which consists primarily of trains, subways and bus. It is highly regarded for its efficiency and punctuality. Its high-speed train (shinkansen) is the first bullet trains launched in the world. Travelling from one big city to other big city in Japan is more efficient and faster by taking high-speed train. Considering this, it is worth to consider if you need to buy JR Pass since JR Pass can be used to take shinkansen (mostly) in Japan.
In this article, we will briefly explain Japan’s public transportation system, followed by a detail explanation about different types of JR Pass, its eligibility, its price, how to purchase the pass, and its benefits.
Table of Contents
Japan’s efficient and extensive public transportation system
Japan has a reliable and efficient public transportation network around the country. Its famous of its punctuality and reliability. The transportation system practically can take you where ever you want to go around the country easily and comfortably, either by using train, bus or even plane.
About 70% of train and railway network in Japan is served by Japan Railways Group (commonly known as JR or JR Group), a group of six passenger railways companies. Passengers can travel across several JR companies throughout Japan without changing trains and without purchasing separate tickets. The most famous and commonly used type of ticket (pass) in Japan by international tourists or foreigners is JR Pass.
In major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya, you can find subway that cover a wide range of major areas/spots in the city such as business districts, shopping areas and tourist attractions.
Buses can be easily found in many areas in Japan. These especially serve areas that are not/cannot be served by train or subway, such as in rural area.
Different types of JR Pass & its eligibility and price
JR Pass is a nationwide railway pass that mostly used for long-distance travel in Japan by international tourists/foreigners. JR Pass can be used to travel unlimitedly within the validity of the pass on JR train networks such as shinkansen (bullet train), limited express, rapid and local train; Tokyo Monorail from/to Haneda airport, local JR buses and JR ferry to Miyajima Island.
There are two types of JR Pass, i.e., Green and Ordinary pass. Green pass is valid on green cars, first class cars that are luxurious, comfortable, more privacy and have extra wide seats compared to ordinary cars. In addition to that, Green cars have separate first class carriages, more luggage space and have extra free amenities, such as drinks, candy and hand towels.
You can purchase the pass (green or ordinary) that valid for 7. 14 or 21 consecutive days.
The price of JR Pass effective October 1, 2023 is as follows:
Who can purchase and use JR Pass?
JR Pass is only available for tourists who visit Japan from abroad for sight-seeing with “Temporary Visitor” status stamped on your passport. Temporary Visitor can stay in Japan from 15-days or 90-days for sight-seeing only. Other than that, Japanese who have been living abroad for 10 consecutive years or more can also purchase JR Pass to use in Japan.
How to purchase JR Pass?
You have two options to purchase JR Pass, online or from travel agency outside Japan.
If you purchase JR Pass online from its official website (JAPAN RAIL PASS Reservation https://www.japanrailpass-reservation.net/), you can you have to set the start date of the pass within one month after the purchase. In addition, you can book reserved seats on Shinkansen trains and limited express train online before arriving in Japan. Another advantage of purchasing JR Pass from the official website is that you only need to show your passport to pick up your pass when you arrive in Japan.
If you purchase JR Pass from so many travel agents either online or from authorized sales offices or agents offline (in-person), what you receive after the purchase is a voucher called Exchange Order. This voucher has to be exchanged with actual JR Pass (and showing passport) within three months of the purchase when you arrive in Japan. When you exchange with JR Pass, you have to set the start date of the pass within one month period.
JR Pass benefits and if it is still worth to purchase it
JR Pass used to be very famous among foreign tourists visiting Japan since it can be used to travel nationwide especially for long-distance train travel using Shinkansen in Japan. Aside for its convenience of just having one pass, you can take ride either by train (including Shinkansen), subway and bus within JR Group rail networks unlimitedly during the pass’s validity (7-day, 14-day or 21-day) period. In addition, if you travel long distance, say a return trip from Tokyo to Osaka by shinkansen, the 7-day ordinary pass (cost 29,650 Yen prior to increase in October 2023) pay off easily. However, the pass lost a lot of its appeal due to a huge price increase (average 70% increase) effective October 1, 2023.
Below is a comparison of JR Pass adult price before and after its increase in October 2023:
However, there are also some changes made during the announcement of the increase in the pass as follows:
a. Price to the changes, JR Pass does not cover the ride on either Nozomi train (Shinkansen’s fastest train along Tokaido/Sanyo route) or Mizuho train (fastest Shinkansen train along Sanyo/Kyushu route), not even if you want to pay extra. With the change, although the JR Pass is still cannot be used to ride Nozomi and Mizuho train freely, you have an option to purchase of additional ticket before boarding the train. The cost of the additional ticket depends on the distance travelled, for example, the price of the additional ticket to travel one way from Tokyo to Kyoto is 4,960 Yen.
b. Since October 1, 2023, the JR Pass holders will be able to receive special discounts or small gifts at selected shops and sightseeing spots. The discount is about 10% or 100 Yen.
When finding out if purchasing JR Pass after the huge increase is worth or not, it depends on how often you want to use the pass to travel long-distance within the validity period. If you travel extensively say from Tokyo to Kyoto to Hiroshima to Kanazawa and back to Tokyo within 7-day period, the JR Pass cost is less than the price of Shinkansen tickets for those routes if you purchase them separately. However, if you just want to stay mostly in Tokyo and neighbouring cities such as Yokohama and Hakone, the 7-day JR Pass cost more than the ticket price to travel between those cities.
Finally, the decision is with you. If you do not mind paying extra for the convenient of all-you-can-ride privilege (without having to buy multiple tickets) offered by JR Pass, it is still worth to consider.
