JR PASS

The JAPAN RAIL PASS is a special ticket that is available only to travelers visiting Japan from foreign countries for sight-seeing. To be eligible to purchase a JAPAN RAIL PASS you must meet one of the following two conditions.

1. You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing,under the entry status of temporary visitor.

Temporary Visitor entry status, according to Japanese Immigration Law, allows a stay in Japan of 15 days or 90 days for sight-seeing, etc. If you apply for a stay for sight-seeing when you enter Japan, entry personnel will stamp your passport as Temporary Visitor, as shown above. Only persons who have a passport bearing this stamp can use a JAPAN RAIL PASS.

CAUTION:
Even if you visit Japan with an Exchange Order, to be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS, the exchange cannot be made unless you have Temporary Visitor status; if you enter Japan under any other official status, such as Trainee, Entertainer, or Reentry Permit, you cannot change the Exchange Order for a JAPAN RAIL PASS. Please note that according to strict interpretation of the Japanese Immigration Law, Temporary Visitor status differs even from other types of stays that are also for only short time periods.

2. You are a Japanese national living in a foreign country,

1. who is qualified to live permanently in that country, or
2. who is married to a non-Japanese residing in a country other than Japan.

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

CAUTION:
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.

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.

1. Price of Exchange Orders (as of December 2023)

The above are yen (JPY) prices for a JAPAN RAIL PASS Exchange Order; the actual cost in local currency is calculated 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. PASS prices for children apply from age 6 to and including age 11. Prices are subject to change. The applicable price is the price valid on the date when an Exchange Order is issued.

2. Validity Period

• 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 a starting date has been assigned to the PASS, it cannot be changed.

1. Transportation Services

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

IMPORTANT INFO:

The JAPAM RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on "NOZOMI" and "MIZUHO" trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyusyu Shinkansen lines. If you would like to use only the PASS for taking Shinkansen bullet trains, please use it to take "HIKARI", "SAKURA", "KODAMA", or "TSUBAME" trains. From October 1, 2023, JAPAN RAIL PASS holders can use the "NOZOMI" or "MIZUHO" trains by purchasing an "[ONLY WITH JAPAN RAIL PASS] NOZOMI MIZUHO ticket" with the PASS. For more information, please visit the official page here.

2. Train Accomodations

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 table below for details. The cars with can be used with JAPAN RAIL PASS. Use of the cars with X requires paying additional charges.

Remarks:
Green private compartments are on certain limited express trains, such as "NARITA EXPRESS" and "Super-view Odoriko."

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. 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.

• 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. (Please note the office hours and closing days.) Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS within three months of the date the Order was issued.
• At the time of the exchange you will be asked to fill in a short application form and to show your passport with the Temporary Visitor stamp that you received on entry into Japan. You must show your passport* and this stamp to process the Rail Pass Exchange Order.
  * 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 in it.)* If you are a Japanese national resident in a country other than Japan and with permanent resident status in that country, please show, in addition to your passport, documents testifying to your status.
• The type of PASS described on the Exchange Order cannot be changed.

Stations with JAPAN RAIL PASS Exchange Office

Shinkansen and most limited express and ordinary express trains have reserved Green car seats and both reserved and nonreserved ordinary car seats.

*If you are a JAPAN RAIL PASS holder and want to use Tokai, Sanyo and, Kyusyu Shinkansen lines, please use "HIKARI", "SAKURA", "KODAMA" or "TSUBAME" trains. "To use the "NOZOMI" and "MIZUHO" trains, you need to purchase an "[ONLY WITH JAPAN RAIL PASS] NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket" separately for the corresponding section. When purchasing a ticket for a non-reserved seat in an Ordinary car, be sure to confirm the train has non-reserved seats before making a purchase.

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 boarding.

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:

• April 29 to May 7 On consecutive holidays during common travel seasons, some trains are crowded.
• August 11 to 16 During the Obon season, some trains are crowded with people returning to their hometowns.
• December 29 to January 3 aaaathe year end / New Year holiday period is the most popular travel time for Japanese people, for vacations and returns to hometown areas.

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.