After buying plane tickets, the JR Rail Pass is the next thing travellers search for in preparation for their trip to Japan. But do you really need to get one and how much will you save?
If you already have a basic idea of the major centers you will travel to while in Japan, it’s pretty easy to calculate.
Let's actually calculate
-
01
The JR Rail Pass - An Introduction
JR Shinkansen
The JR Rail Pass, also known as the Japan Rail Pass, lets you travel on basically any JR line train for a certain period of time.
When you are buying the rail pass, it comes with a few different options:
• It is available in two types; the Ordinary Pass is for regular reserved or unreserved seating, and the Green pass is for business-class style seating and service in the Green Car.
• You can choose from three time periods; 7 days, 14 days, or 21 days. The pass is valid for that period of time from the day that it is first used.
• There is a children's ticket available for children aged 6 to 11 years old. -
02
See AlsoJR Pass Calculator: Planning Your Japan Rail Pass Savings - TRAVELUNIVERSALLY.COMJapan Rail Pass Rechner - Verliebt in JapanJapan Rail Pass Schnellzug Ticket (Kosten, Infos & Tickets) | Japan Reisen | Japanische Fremdenverkehrszentrale (JNTO)Japan Rail (JR) Passes Calculator - Find the best for youJR Rail Pass prices -
JR trains
A 7-day Ordinary Pass will cost 50,000 yen for adults and 25,000 yen for children.
A 7-day Green Car Pass will cost 70,000 yen for adults and 35,000 yen for children.A 14-day Ordinary Pass will cost 80,000 yen for adults and 40,000 yen for children.
A 14-day Green Car Pass will cost 110,000 yen for adults and 55,000 yen for children.A 21-day Ordinary Pass will cost 100,000 yen for adults and 50,000 yen for children.
A 21-day Green Car Pass will cost 140,000 yen for adults and 70,000 yen for children. -
03
Shinkansen ticket prices
JR Shinkansen
The way shinkansen tickets are priced can be a little confusing, as the price is often shown (on Japanese websites as well as on the ticket itself) as being broken up into two separate components.
The first is the base price to travel from station A to station B on any train, and the second is the price to travel on the shinkansen specifically. For example, to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto the base price is 8,360 yen.
As you may know if you have read our ultimate guide to riding the shinkansen, there are three different types of seats you can book: a non-reserved Seat will be the cheapest at 4,960 yen, a reserved seat will guarantee you a place to sit for 5,610 yen, and a Green Car seat will have you relaxing in comfort at 10,480 yen.
Combine these two prices and you have the total cost of the shinkansen ticket; 13,320 yen for a non-reserved seat, 13,970 yen for a reserved seat, and 18,840 yen for a Green Car seat.
-
04
Train ticket prices (one-way) for popular routes -
JR train from Tokyo to Kyoto (Japan Travel by NAVITIME)
From Tokyo -
Tokyo to Kyoto: 13,320 yen
Tokyo to Osaka: 13,870 yen
Tokyo to Nara: 13,870 yen
Tokyo to Hakone: 3,280 yen
Tokyo to Hiroshima: 18,380 yen
Tokyo to Nagoya: 10,560 yen
Tokyo to Kobe: 14,420 yen
Tokyo to Takayama: 14,190 yen
Tokyo to Kanazawa: 13,850 yen
Tokyo to Nikko: 5,680 yenFrom Osaka:
Osaka to Nara: 820 yen
Osaka to Kyoto: 1,450 yen
Osaka to Kobe: 1,530 yen
Osaka to Hiroshima: 9,890 yen
Osaka to Hakata (f*ckuoka): 14,750 yen
Osaka to Naoshima: 6,570 yen
Osaka to Tottori: 8,080 yen
Osaka to Kagoshima: 21,780 yen
Osaka to Beppu: 16,990 yen -
05
How to calculate how much you will save
Most route finder sites and apps aren’t able to accurately represent the amount you would save by using a JR Rail Pass because they often choose routes or trains that can be faster or cheaper but not valid; usually because they are run by other train companies. This can create a situation where a train trip that you thought would be covered by the JR Rail Pass becomes an extra expense once you are here.
By using the , and selecting ‘Japan Rail Pass’ in the ‘Several Pass / Tickets selected’ menu, you can search exclusively for routes that are free to use for JR Rail Pass holders.
By adding up the trips to the destinations you will travel to while in Japan, you can see how much you will save by picking up a rail pass. You can also get the same search results in the Japan Travel by NAVITIME app for iOS and Android .
When you're ready to get your Japan Rail Pass, you can purchase online from here.
If you’re not planning on getting a JR Rail Pass — maybe because you will stay in Tokyo or Osaka while you are here — the can also be helpful, as you can also get routes based on the Tokyo Metro ‘Tokyo Subway Ticket’ and Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau’s ‘Osaka Amazing Pass’.
***All prices in this article are correct as of April 2024***
Japan Travel by NAVITIME Train & Route Finder
Japan Travel by NAVITIME Train & Route Finder
Related article:
Travel Tips in Japan：What to Wear and Packing Checklist
