Japan with the Family: What Are the Prices for Children?
- Published on : 13/08/2026
- by : Phoebe
- Youtube
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Good news for families traveling to Japan: children are eligible for reduced fares! However, child prices vary from one service to another, based on criteria that do not always make sense to foreign travelers. Which age groups are eligible for discounts? What documents should you present at the ticket counter? Japan Experience explains everything you need to know.
Foreign children are not always classified in the same way as Japanese children
In Japan, some pricing systems are based on children’s age and school grade. For foreign visitors, establishments generally use the child’s age, since their home-country school systems are not always comparable with the Japanese system. In many cases, a child aged 6 to 11 will therefore qualify for the child fare, while from age 12, the adult fare applies. Children under 6 can often travel free of charge, subject to certain conditions.
There are, however, exceptions. In some cases, a 12-year-old child who is still in elementary school can retain the child fare. This is notably the case on JR networks and at certain attractions. For foreign visitors, this school-year-based exception can be more difficult to demonstrate: the child’s passport is therefore the document you should keep with you, especially when a fare is linked to age. JR East also specifies that a passport or another document may be requested to prove a traveler’s age when purchasing certain passes.
Traveling with children in Japan
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Half-price fares on public transportation
Train travel
With JR, children aged 6 to 11 generally pay half the adult fare for the basic ticket, as well as for Limited Express surcharges and reserved seats.
This rule is particularly useful for families traveling around Japan by Shinkansen. For example, on the Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, JR Central applies a half-price child fare for children aged 6 to 11. As an indication, for a Nozomi journey during a regular period, an adult ticket with a reserved seat currently costs 14,720 yen, compared with 7,350 yen for a child. Fares may vary depending on the travel period.
For younger children, the rule is even more advantageous: children under 6 can travel free of charge if they do not occupy their own seat. However, if you wish to reserve a seat for a young child on a Shinkansen, a child ticket is required. Free travel is also subject to limitations when several young children are traveling with a single adult.
Prendre le train au Japon avec des enfants
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What about the Japan Rail Pass?
Foreign visitors can also find child fares on certain rail passes. The JR PASS, for example, is priced at 25,000 yen for 7 days for a child aged 6 to 11, compared with 50,000 yen for an adult.
To qualify for a pass intended for foreign visitors, travelers must meet the eligibility requirements and present their original passport. The passport is therefore not only a travel document: it can also serve as proof of age and eligibility.
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Subways, buses and local transportation
In major cities, the principle is similar. Urban railway networks generally have a child category for ages 6 to 11, with fares significantly lower than adult fares. However, rules can vary from one network to another: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and Fukuoka do not have the same fare structures or passes.
For families making frequent journeys, it is therefore worth comparing the price of individual tickets, IC cards and tourist passes rather than automatically buying the same type of ticket for everyone.
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