The Japan Rail Pass: journey across Japan

The Japan Rail Pass provides access to all train lines operated by Japan Railways (JR) throughout Japan (except for some high-speed trains including the 'Nozomi' Shinkansen) for a period of 1, 2 or 3 weeks.

The Japanese railway network consists of more than 20 000 km of track. With this ticket, you can reach the main attractions on the 4 main islands of the Japanese archipelago.

The Japan Rail Pass can be used 24/7, all year long, even if it is sometimes difficult to get a seat during the holiday periods:

• From December 28th to January 6th: New year holiday during which most Japanese go back to their hometowns
• From April 27th to May 6th: 'Golden week', time during which Japanese people travel in the country
• Around August 15th: 'O-bon Festival', which brings families together.

The JR Pass allows unlimited use of JR trains, including bullet trains, for a certain period of time, and can save you money if you plan on taking multiple long-distance train journeys.

If you are traveling to multiple cities in Japan and plan on using the bullet train (Shinkansen) or other long-distance trains (local, express or limited-express trains), then the JR Pass can be a cost-effective option.

The Japan Rail Pass exchange voucher issued by Japan Experience is refundable up to one year after its date of issue. There is a 15% cancellation fee withheld from the refund whatever the date of cancellation.

If you lose your Japan Rail Pass, reimbursement can only occur if the pass has not been exchanged and 6 months from the issue date of the exchange coupon. The cancellation fee remains 15% as long as there is validation from our supplier that the exchange coupon has not been exchanged, whatever the date of cancellation up to one year after the date of issue.

You are eligible for a full refund if you booked a new Japan Rail Pass with the same duration or more. In the rare event of your Japan rail pass being lost in the post, you will be eligible for a full refund, but only 6 months after purchase - the time needed to check that the voucher has not been exchanged with JR in Japan. Proof of loss can be issued on request and forwarded to your insurance company.

Please note that unused JRP Vouchers can only be refunded when successfully returned to any of our reception offices within 365 consecutive days from the purchase date.

Delivery issues will not constitute an exception so please allow sufficient time to organise your return as we are unable to offer any extensions. To be eligible for a partial refund, we must receive the unused voucher within the agreed timeframe.

Please keep in mind that the refund will be dependent on the purchase price.

Japan Experience is not responsible for any denied exchange of the voucher for the Japan Rail Pass once in Japan, regardless of the reason.

You have already ordered your Japan Rail Pass, and upon reflection, you would like to change the duration, or switch from a normal pass to a Green pass. Either of these options are possible.

All you need to do is place a new order immediately. 

You must then return to us your first voucher for a full refund (excluding delivery costs of the first order), by registered mail, with a note of explanation, to the following address:

Japan Experience

Suite 14, 137-139 High Street Beckenham 

BR3 1AG, London

United Kingdom

Please note that there is still a delivery charge for the new delivery. We thank you in advance for checking that you will receive your delivery before your departure (estimate your delivery time) prior to confirming your Japan Rail Pass purchase online..

Since late 2023, the JR Pass can only be purchased online — it is no longer possible to buy it onsite in Japan. You can buy it either directly on Japan Railway's official website or through an official third-party seller such as Japan Experience.

While JR's website may seem like the obvious choice, official third-party sellers often offer better customer service, a more user-friendly purchase experience, more flexible usage dates, and dedicated assistance. It's recommended to check that your seller of choice appears on JR's official list of approved overseas dealers.

JR's official website only allows purchases in Japanese Yen, which means your bank may charge you a currency conversion fee. Most third-party sellers, including Japan Experience, let you pay in your local currency.

No. JR's website is in maintenance mode daily from 11:30pm to 4am (Japan time). Depending on your location, this can block access for a large part of your day, whether to purchase your pass or follow up on your order.

This depends on where you buy it. If purchased on JR's official website, you have 30 days to exchange your voucher for the actual pass in Japan. With third-party sellers like Japan Experience, you benefit from up to 90 days, giving you more flexibility to buy your pass well ahead of your trip.

With Japan Experience, you can choose to pick up your JR Pass at one of its physical stores in France, the UK, Spain, Germany or Italy, receive it at an address of your choice, pick it up at the airport in Japan, or have it delivered to your hotel in Japan.

Japan Experience is an official JR-approved seller and one of only 3 officially licensed worldwide sellers of all JR transportation products. It offers additional transportation options not covered by JR (Hakone Free Pass, Kintetsu Rail Pass, Keihan lines...), over 40 years of experience helping travelers to Japan, 7/7 customer assistance including an "Any Reason Cancellation Insurance," secure payment options like PayPal with no hidden fees, free airport pick-up in Japan, and a wide range of other travel products (accommodation, activities, SIM cards, Pocket Wi-Fi) available in one place.

Prices vary by pass type and duration. For adults, the Ordinary National pass costs 50,000 yen (7 days), 80,000 yen (14 days), or 100,000 yen (21 days), while the Green Car pass costs 70,000 yen (7 days), 110,000 yen (14 days), or 140,000 yen (21 days). Children's passes are available at roughly half these prices.

The pass covers nearly the entirety of Japan's JR-operated network, excluding Okinawa. This includes local JR lines (marked with a "JR" suffix or logo), all Shinkansen bullet trains including the express Nozomi and Mizuho (additional fee applies for these two), the Tokyo Monorail, overnight sleeper trains like the Sunrise Seto, select local JR bus networks, and the ferry to Itsukushima Island in Hiroshima.

Subway lines and private railway lines are not included, even if they run in the same cities as JR lines — examples include the Odakyu, Tozai, and Keio lines in Tokyo, the Midosuji, Tanimachi, and Yotsubashi lines in Osaka, and the Kuko, Hakozaki, and Nanakuma lines in Fukuoka. For these, travelers can use a prepaid IC card such as Suica, or consider a dedicated day pass for cities like Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto.

When ordering through Japan Experience, you receive an exchange voucher by mail rather than the pass itself. This voucher must be exchanged for the actual JR Pass at a registered exchange office ("midori no madoguchi") in Japan within 3 months of purchase. The activation date is chosen at the time of exchange (it doesn't have to be the same day) and marks the start of the pass's validity countdown — the first day counts as day one regardless of the time of activation.

Seat reservations for standard car seats are free with the JR Pass and can be made at JR Offices or ticket kiosks in stations. Travelers with oversized luggage (between 160cm and 250cm in total dimensions) also need to reserve storage space located at the front or back of the train car.

The pass, in paper card form, is inserted into the slot at the ticket gate and automatically returned to you before you pass through, since it's reusable. The same process is repeated when exiting at your destination. If you have a seat reservation, a second ticket is inserted alongside the JR Pass when entering, but only the JR Pass is needed when leaving.

Ordinary (standard) cars offer reclining seats, trays, coat hooks, openable windows, and power outlets, and include reserved and non-reserved options. Green Class Cars offer more legroom and further reclining seats, requiring a reservation and an extra fee unless you hold a Green Class JR Pass. Gran Class is the most luxurious tier, with an upscale interior and maximum comfort; it has no dedicated pass but can be accessed with either National JR Pass for an additional fee.

It's recommended to use the Jorudan app to track up-to-date train schedules and timetables (since Hyperdia ceased operating in 2022), to take advantage of the bus and ferry options included with the pass (such as the ferry to Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima), and to consider upgrading to Green Car or Gran Class seating during high tourism seasons or for added comfort on longer journeys.

Japan Experience offers a JRP Care service, giving travelers access to a local hotline for help and advice regarding their JR Pass, along with a full refund guarantee if the order needs to be canceled.

Regional rail passes are offered by individual JR companies (JR East, JR Central, JR West, JR Hokkaido, JR Shikoku, JR Kyushu) for travelers exploring a specific part of Japan rather than the entire country. They provide unlimited travel within a designated area and are often more economical for shorter or region-focused itineraries. Many also include extra transportation such as select buses, ferries, or private railway lines.

The Japan Rail Pass covers most JR lines throughout Japan, is available for 7, 14, or 21 days, and is best suited for long-distance, multi-region trips. Regional rail passes cover one specific region, are typically available for 2 to 7 days, usually cost less, and are best suited for exploring one region in depth.

Both offer unlimited travel during their validity period, access to JR-operated trains within their coverage area, reserved seat reservations on eligible services, travel on many Shinkansen and Limited Express trains, and availability to eligible international visitors under Temporary Visitor status. Depending on the pass, additional transportation like ferries, buses, airport trains, or select private railway lines may also be included.

Neither pass is automatically the better choice — it depends on your itinerary. The Japan Rail Pass offers excellent value for travelers making several long-distance Shinkansen journeys across multiple regions, while a regional rail pass often provides better value and similar convenience at a lower price for travelers focusing on a single region, such as Kansai, Kyushu, or the Japanese Alps and Hokuriku.