The Japan Rail Pass: journey across Japan

Japan Experience will send you a voucher to your shipping address in your home country or even to your place of accommodation in Japan. 
This voucher is not the pass itself but will be used to exchange for your pass in Japan. 

To exchange your voucher for the Japan Rail Pass, follow the instructions below:

• Take your voucher(s) to one of the JR exchange offices. Many offices will be located inside JR train stations, as well as at a number of major airports. Note that not all major airports in Japan will have an exchange office. 
   
• Present your voucher(s) to the JR exchange office staff along with the passport(s) associated with each. You will be asked to confirm your activation date. Remember, your activation date and exchange date DO NOT have to be the same. If you intend to use your pass on a later day, you are free to do so, as long as it is within 30 days of the exchange date. 
   
• Receive your usable JR Pass and, if you wish, you'll be able to make reservations for any upcoming train rides with reserved-seating options. This can also be done at a later time at a JR office or at the machines also available at JR stations. 

• The Japan Rail Pass is valid on all JR lines throughout Japan. This includes free use of almost all Shinkansen (Hikari, Sakura, Kodama, Hayabusa etc). 
  Since 1st of October 2023, the Shinkansen Nozomi and Mizuho can also be used with the Japan Rail Pass. To take these two trains, travellers have to pay an extra charge in stations for the mandatory seat reservation (4.000 - 8.000 Yen).
• The JR Pass is valid on the Tokyo Monorail, some lines of Aomori Railways and some local JR buses.
• The JR Pass is valid on the JR Miyajima ferry in Hiroshima.
• The Japan Rail Pass is not valid on private (non-JR) railway lines such as: Hakone-Tozan, Nankai-Koya, Fujikyu, Kitakinki-Tango. 
  Some JR trains do travel over non-JR tracks and JR Pass holders are required to pay a supplement for this part of the journey (either on board or at the station).

Nationwide JR Route Map
JR Map in Tokyo area
Map of JR and non-JR trains in Kyoto and Osaka Area

The Japan Rail Pass is accessible to any traveler, with a non-Japanese passport, traveling to Japan with a "temporary visitor" visa of 90 days or less: tourist, business trip, family visit, etc...

People who travel to Japan for more than 90 days (working holiday, military, diplomatic, cultural, research, working visa, etc.) are not eligible. 

Japanese citizens can buy and use the JR Pass if they reside abroad and have proof of a ten-year consecutive residency. This proof must be issued before purchasing the Japan Rail Pass.

Be aware, however, that the conditions are very restrictive.

You must obtain and fill in one of the following documents:

1 - An "Overseas Residential Registration" from the Japanese Embassy of your place of residence

2 - A "Certificate of Overseas Residence" from the Japanese Embassy of your place of residence

3 – For the United States, Brazil and Canada, a permanent residency card (the length of residence must be at least 10 years on the day you purchase the JR Pass).

For more information, please see our JR Pass FAQ below

• Airplane cabin-sized suitcases (115cm)
• Airplane checked suitcases (≈160cm)

Each passenger can bring up to two pieces of less than 160cm luggage.

The “oversize baggage area”, located behind the last row of seats as seen below, is usable only by the travelers on these seats. If you wish to use this area to store luggage, you need to reserve these seats prior to boarding.

To note :

Luggage can be stored without a reservation in the designated “oversize baggage compartment”, in the area between cars, pictured below.

If total dimensions exceed 250cm, luggage is not allowed onboard.

The JR "Green Pass" allows you to travel using the "Green Car", the equivalent of First Class, on all valid Shinkansen (excluding Nozomi and Mizuho) and certain express lines.

The Green Japan Rail Pass offers a great value for the money, providing the option for extra comfort, spacious luggage storage, additional legroom, and amenities such as hot towels and complimentary drinks on certain lines.

If you plan on travelling during peak travel seasons (such as May, August, and September), purchasing the Green JR Pass is an excellent option, since it is less crowded and offers a great experience when riding the Shinkansen!

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.