This is by far the most comprehensive explanation video about the JR pass I found. Now, I know that since I'm traveling only from Tokyo to Kyoto, and then back to the cities in between the two, like Nagoya or Shizuoka, then back to Tokyo, I think I don't have to purchase JR Pass, (plus Nozomi Shinkansen isn't covered in the pass). Thank you. I just susbscribe! :)
I will say I’m a budget traveler. However, I plan to be in Tokyo for 10 days and don’t really plan going to another city since I heard there are many things to do in Tokyo especially for the first time in Japan, so do I need a JR pass? Does the JR pass include all their trains including ones within Tokyo so I can get around within the city? What If I decide to go to Yokohama for a day, I should just buy which ticket? Thx in advance
Thanks! First time Japan traveler. As a senior I thank you for the direct, step by step, exhaustively researched information. My anxiety is reduced video by video.
Thank you so much for this. I am overwhelmed with planning our trip which is approaching fast but this is the BEST video that I've seen detailing the JR Pass.
This is one of, if not the most, informative JR Pass travel videos I've seen! Thank you for making it! And thank you for the heads up that, if I purchase a pass now, I only have 90 days to use it. Planning on going to Japan on January so the Sept 29 old price deadline is a moot point. :(
The JR calculator makes it sound like getting a springtime Japan-wide pass is a toss-up for us, based on our hopeful itineraries. Your point about the convenience factor, as well as the additional opportunity for some JR local trains and such, has me sold on the JR pass….even at the higher price. Thanks for all of your videos.
Thank you so much for all this valuable information when planning a trip in Japan! The video answered most of my questions regarding travelling in Japan.
A word of caution if you’re planning on using non-reserved seating, some Shinkansen are reserved seating only. In particular, most of the Shinkansen on the Tohoku route, towards Hokkaido, are reserved seating only, and are often fully booked during busier times. I learned this the hard way. 😂
Thanks for sharing your experience. Sorry you learned the hard way. We included a list of some of the reserved-only trains (including the Hayabusa) in our Advanced Tips video: th-cam.com/video/VyRWmVzbAjQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=GksE7RisSdeF-lmY
Thanks for the tips. How can I use JR Pass in local trains please? i.e. Kyoto Station to Fushimi Inari I can take the Nara Line with JR Pass, but do I need to make a reservation before or just insert the pass into the machine and take the next train directly?
Thanks for the suggestion! We'll need to brainstorm some alternatives. This is another reason it's a good idea to have a JR Pass, then you can at least use the JR trains and buses.
Help! I have a trip to Japan in two weeks. I didn't get a chance to pre-order ticket ahead of time with an agent. I'm curious to know if I would be able to purchase a JR Pass at the airport with out purchasing online first? I'll be traveling to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Yokohama. Would I be able to use Sica or a different monorail pass for the city's?
Klook offers free 5-day worldwide delivery of the Exchange Order for the JR Pass. You could order today! Here's our affiliate link: kenshoquest.com/recommends/klook-jr-pass/ Otherwise, you can purchase the JR Pass in Japan, but only before October 1, 2023. In October, they are going to stop selling it in person. There are some local JR trains within Tokyo and Osaka that are covered by the JR Pass. Otherwise, for non-JR local trains you can use a SUICA card.
Can you talk about the Nozomi & Mizuho trains? It’s not included in the JR Pass. I’m not sure how it works. Does the extra charge only applied once or each & everytime I take the Nozomi & Mizuho trains to a different destination?
If you are buying the whole JR Pass then using the Nozomi or Mizuho will require an extra charge each time you want to ride on either of these trains. If you buy individual shinkansen tickets ( no pass ) then there is no extra charge. Do note, there is nothing special about these trains except that they have fewer stops and therefore arrive a little earlier at their destinations.
Great insights as always! Many thanks! Questions - is it possible to change the Activation Date for a 7-day JR Pass (purchased via JR Pass official website) to another date? Say I initially put down 3rd May as my activation date, and decide to bring it forward to 2nd May or push to 4th May (without compromising the total number of days ie 7). If change is allowed, can it be done online or has to be done in person at a ticket office? - for JR Pass purchased via official website, what if I miss the train with my reserved seat? Can I change to a next reserved seat online myself or do I have to see a ticket agent in person? - for a Green Car, if I miss h the train, does it forfeit my travel in Green Car for that day, or can I simply reserve seat for the next Green Car and jump on that? Many thanks! You guys are awesome!
Thank you so much this was very helpful, I read that you can no longer purchase a jr pass when you arrive but that you need to order it online before you come! Is that true?
Well done! It's clear, informative, concise and complete. I learned more from your video than any other vlog. I also appreciate that you don't have that ridiculous video thumbnail that has a wide open eyes & mouth with a can't believe it look on their face😊
Thank you for making this video. I am planning to go to Japan Osaka in a month time. But am confused with e-pass, mini pass and amazing pass sold in Klook. Can u advise?
DONT USE KLOOK FOR YOUR JR PASS!! They only give you an exchange order which you have to change into a jr pass once in Japan meaning you can’t prebook your trains before you get there, with all the tourists the trains are booking faster so go threw jr rails for your pass and you can book right away before you even get to Japan. Otherwise klook is pretty sweet
@@Indpendnt27 everywhere except directly threw jr but after going to Japan I learned that even with the jr directly sending it to you you still have to convert it to the ticket, I just feel more people need to explain that so everyone better knows I meant to update my comment but hopefully this explains it better lol
@@yinarios7136 after trying it and some research I don’t think you can, it’s really dumb because they say you can on the main site but until you get the jr pass from an actual jr store it seems that you can’t. Even after getting a green car pass we had issues trying to book so we ended up just winging it and only had an issue when going to fujiku highlands we were pretty cramped at the back of the train otherwise everywhere else no issues
Wondeful video. Thank you so much for the great info. One question I have is if you buy the pass online in the official site, do you still get the exchange order document?
I believe if you purchase from the official JR website you only get an email confirmation, not a mailed Exchange Order. You can buy from the official site within 30 days of using the pass in Japan.
I cannot change my dates, as I wish to go to universal studio only on 27th and 28th May as its a weekday and travelling with 2 kids. So keeping 2 whole day for USJ rather than spending on express pass. Althou I would have preferred 28th & 29th but than my 1 day Kansai pass would have gone wasted. Please suggest.
I am going to Japan 1 week from now, if I purchase the JR pass online how much time will it take for my exchange order to arrive? Can it be purchased at the airport? Feeling really anxious because this trip was not in my plans, just got an opportunity 1 week ago and took it
Hi, if you leaving in one week, your best bet is to purchase it online from the official website: japanrailpass.net. It's too risky at this point for any other method since you only have one week.
Could you please help me understand if its possible and how to buy a JR West pass before arriving in Japan BUT then be able to book online using your JR West pass PRIOR to arriving in Japan?
We normally only insert the JR Pass. If it doesn't work, we ask the attendant what to do. Sometimes we stacked two tickets together. But normally just the JR Pass.
Hi. Since you have the JR Pass, rather than purchasing tickets, you simply want to reserve seats, which is free to do with the JR Pass. You can either visit a JR ticket office or use a Reserved Seat Ticketing Machine at a train station. Or if you purchased your JR Pass directly from japanrailpass.net/en/ you can reserve seats on that website, as well. Here's our Beginner's Guide to Riding Shinkansen Bullet Trains in Japan: th-cam.com/video/f3JDRc5sl5I/w-d-xo.html
"The Narita Express "N'EX" is a fast, convenient, and comfortable limited express train that directly connects Narita International Airport with major cities and districts including Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Yokohama." source: www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/nex/ The Narita Express is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
Very helpful! How did you book the Hokkaido to Tokyo Shinkansen tickets? I want to go in GranClass to give my mom the experience on this once in a lifetime trip. Once in Tokyo, we’ll do 2 days of exploring within the city then take the train to Kyoto and eventually end up in Fukoka and fly out from there. Mahalo!
Hi. That's so sweet! You have a couple different options. Will your travel days for Hokkaido to Tokyo and Kyoto to Fukuoka be within 7 days? If so, it would be worth getting the Whole Japan Rail Pass for your trip. For instance you could get the 7-day Green JR Pass, and then at the train station pay to upgrade a portion of your trip to GranClass. If it will be spread out over more than 7 days, then you could buy separate train tickets. Will you be starting from Sapporo? From Sapporo to Hakodate there isn't a Shinkansen train. Instead, you can take the Hokuto Limited Express Train. Then from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto to Tokyo it's possible to ride a Shinkansen train in GranClass. If you want to buy that ticket separately, you can do so at: www.eki-net.com/
@@KenshoQuest Thanks for your fast reply and help! Yes, the travel from Hokkaido to Tokyo ->Kyoto-> Fukuoka will be within 7 days. We'll still have about 4 days in Fukuoka after the 7 day pass would expire so the cost may work out to be about even (Pass vs. purchasing individual tickets). Good to know you can upgrade at the train station from Green to Gran Class, I've seen conflicting info in online forums. After going around Hokkaido with a tour group wee'll go back to New Chitose airport and make our way down on our own. I think I saw in one of your videos that you stopped along the way when you took the train from Hokkaido to Tokyo...how does that work-hop on/hop-off Shinkansen? It looks like the train to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto takes about 3 hours, plus another 4 hours on the train to Tokyo could make for a long day. For us, I might break up the Hokuto Express train and Shinkansen to Tokyo in to two travel days. Lastly, do you have any insights on getting the Suica or Passmo card if we arriving in Hokkaido first (New Chitose)? We are oing in just a couple weeks for the snow festival :) Apologies for the long message and thank you so much for your time and valuable content creation.
Hi. We asked our assistant in Japan to double check about upgrading a JR Pass to GranClass. There may have been recent changes regarding that. Personally, I'd opt for a 7-day Green JR Pass. You will need to pay separately for transportation around Fukuoka either way, but that will be nowhere as expensive as taking the long distance Shinkansen trains. This winter we will use a 6-day JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass, so we will stop multiple times going from Sapporo to Tokyo. We have also done Sapporo to Tokyo all in one day, which was fine. It's a nice ride with a pretty view. You should be able to get a Kitaca IC Card in Sapporo. That's the one issued in Hokkaido, but you can use it throughout Japan. @@ajaharbert4437
Hello again. I could not find a definitive answer about upgrading a JR Pass to GranClass. It might be that it's only possible if you purchase directly through JR. So whatever you end up getting (separate tickers or pass) it's best to do it through the JR website: www.eki-net.com/en/jreast-train-reservation/top/Index@@ajaharbert4437
Great and very useful video! I have a question about the IC card. What if I still have money left in the card by the end of my travel, can I get those money back? Thank you.
Hi, thanks for watching! Unfortunately, there is no refund on either the Welcome SUICA nor the PASMO Passport offer refunds. Instead, there is no deposit on the cards. There are a couple of things you can do to minimize leaving a balance on your card: 1) Only top up the card when needed. We usually only charge 1000 Yen if we know we won't be using it much. 2) Then when you go through the ticket gates, right after you tap your card on the gate display it will tell you your balance. 3) You can install an app called Japan train card balance check. This app is super useful to check the balance of your IC card. All you need to do is open the app then tap your IC card to your phone and it will tell you your balance as well as where you used your card. I hope this helps!
Thank you for the wealth of info on the JR pass. If you have a green JR pass and you forgot to reserve a seat in the bullet train, can you use it you it on the regular seat without reservation ?
Yes! "You may use without paying any additional charges both standard cars and Green Cars with a Green Car pass" source: japanrailpass.net/en/about_jrp.html#anchor04
The higher price is a hard sell unless you're going futher afield to Kyushu or Hokkaido, as well as the regular golden trio. I think they may make more money from raising the prices, but they will also be reducing tourism dollars spent in rural areas due to less people travelling further afield.
Agreed. The JR Pass will only be worth it at the new prices for people who plan to go farther afield. I think they were trying to alleviate over use of the route from Tokyo to Kyoto.
I will say I’m a budget traveler. However, I plan to be in Tokyo for 10 days and don’t really plan going to another city since I heard there are many things to do especially for the first time in Japan, so do I need a JR pass? Does the JR pass include all their trains ? What about if I need to get around within Tokyo? If I decide to go to Yokohama for a day, I should just buy a round trip for that day only right? Thx in advance
Hello. I absolutely would NOT recommend a JR Pass if you are staying in Tokyo. The price of 50,000 Yen is way more than you are likely to spend on local transportation within Tokyo. An IC card would be the easiest way to get around Tokyo. There are some regional passes that include the Tokyo area, as well. We explained how to travel by train without a JR Pass in our most recent video: th-cam.com/video/7ejmnpcFFJg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=RYf4UYmoy03vvzqa And yes, just buy your tickets to and from Yokohama separately if you want to take a Shinkansen, or use an IC card to take a slower train.
We've used a Samsung Galaxy with Mobal, Ubigi and Airalo. All worked very well for us but we can't guarantee you will have the same, though in general we have heard only a few issues with Android phones, but we don't know the particular models.
How does the e-ticket work? How do i exchange it? Do i print it? Do i show the email to someone when exchanging it in Japan? lol Looking to purchase the regional 5 Day JR East Pass Nagano/Niigata. On Klook it says e-ticket. Everywhere else i can't purchase the pass as the date is not Available. Example: Today September 7 shows only until October 7...LOL I need my Pass for October 15 - 19. So debating to wait or get the e-ticket as we leave o Japan on October 9.
Hi. I'm seeing on Klook, "Easily redeem your pass with the electronic exchange voucher at the major JR East Stations to start exploring". It sounds like you can show the digital Exchange Order, or print it out, and take it to a JR office at the airport or a JR East train station.
Hi and ah ok! thank you so much! Read somewhere that print outs or phone codes were not excepted. Maybe it was on old post or something. But thank you again!!@@KenshoQuest
Hi, since you will be going after the price increase of the JR Pass, it might not be cost effective for you. Are you going round trip, do you plan to visit other places? Otherwise, we recommend you either purchase tickets individually or possibly fly. Let us know your details...
Hi. We do have a video on managing money while in Japan. We pay for quite a few things with credit card. Some restaurants only accept cash, but do provide change. The bus is one place that might not give change, but we normally use an IC card on the bus. Here are our tips: th-cam.com/video/J6AziGwySZo/w-d-xo.html
Hi. It depends how long your Japan trip is. Will your JR Pass cover your entire trip? If so, you can activate it the day you arrive. But if it won't cover your whole trip, it's most important for it to cover the days you will ride Shinkansen bullet trains.
Hi. Klook offers free 5 day global delivery of the Exchange Order. We received ours in 5 days. kenshoquest.com/recommends/klook-jr-pass/ *affiliate link
Your videos are super helpful, thank you! If i have a 21 day trip planned to japan (14 days tokyo and 7 days Golden Route) do you recommend getting a JR pass for the 21 days so i can use it for my whole trip? Or just a 7 day JR pass and for the Golden Route and use an IC card for Tokyo?
Hi, glad the videos are helpful :) Regarding your trip, if you are traveling before the price increase then the 7-day is probably enough. You can activate your JR pass for the first day you travel on the shinkansen. While in Tokyo, you can get round with other passes or just use an IC card. Note, there is a shortage of IC cards for public transport and currently the only place you can get them is at the airport. Where do you plan to visit?
Hi. Within the Japan Travel by Navitime app, you can go to "Route" then under "Tourist Pass" select "Japan Rail Pass". Once that filter is set, it will only show options included in the JR Pass. You can also set it to filter for other passes. 🌺 Heidi
Only if you want them to have their own seat. Otherwise, they can sit on your lap and ride for free. We usually don’t buy the pass for our kids who are under 6. But it can be more comfortable to spread out. If you travel in an unreserved car, there are usually plenty of seats available.
Hi. If I want to travel from Tokyo to Osaka and maybe some other cities for example, shall I purchase the JR Pass? If I purchased it, are all those routes included in the card, or do I have to pay every time seperate to make that journey? Or is it just once you pay the ¥50,000+the amount of the reserved seat, all the routes and normal JR lines included?
Hi. If you are just traveling from Tokyo to Osaka and maybe a couple other cities, such as Kyoto, the JR Pass is probably not worth it. The JR Pass provides unlimited rides on JR trains and includes reserved seats. The only time you would need to pay extra is if you want to ride either the Nozomi or Mizuho Shinkansen trains. The other Shinkansen trains are fully included.
Hi I see that the JR pass does not cover using the Nozomi line from Tokyo to Hiroshima. I've looked online and found that starting in October 2023, you can do it but it will cost a supplement fee. Any idea what that fee will be? Can't seem to find info on it. Thanks.
Are the exchange orders/ confirmations only given in physical form? I've already started travelling in asia and don't have an address to get mail before i arrive in Japan
A physical Exchange Order is mailed if you purchase through a travel agent. If you purchase a JR Pass directly from the official JR website japanrailpass.net/en/ then an email confirmation will be provided. You will still need to pick up your actual JR Pass once you are in Japan. 🌸 Heidi
@@KenshoQuest So glad I finally found confirmation that I can get a digital confirmation and the paper exchange order is not the only way. This point is often not made very clearly!
The Japan Rail Pass is shaped like a train ticket and can be inserted into automatic ticket gates at train stations. The purpose of the JR Pass is to allow unlimited rides on the included JR transportation, so that you do not need to purchase individual tickets.
I recommend installing the Japan Travel by Navitime app on your phone, and setting the filter to show trains included with the JR Pass. From Tokyo, you can take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen line to Nagoya. From Nagoya you can take a JR rapid train to Suzuka Station. @@steviegbcool
Very helpful video, I’ve been told we need to tell the people at the jr office where they give you the pass what specific routes you’ll be taking, is this true? Thank you
Hi! Hoping u are online- thanks for this. Ive watched loads of how to on JR pass. One question tho- the trains (included in pass) that show fare + seat prices, only the fare is included in the pass right? We have to pay for the reserved seat or unreserved seat ex. Sonic Hakata to Kokura fare is 1910JPY then shows 600JPY for unreserved and 1130 for reserved?
Hi. If you purchase the Whole Japan Rail Pass, reserved seats are included in the price of the pass. You can either ride in an unreserved car, or make a reservation for a seat in a reserved car. You do not need to pay extra for the reservation if you have a JR Pass. However, if you want to ride the Nozomi or Mizuho bullet trains, there is an extra fee for riding those with the JR Pass.
Good morning, I bought my JR pass through TripMasters, can I make seat reservations online? Also, my first stop is Osaka, how do I get to my hotel from Itami airport using JR pass? Thank you
Hi, you can only make advanced seat reservations online if purchased directly from the official site. Otherwise, you will need to wait until you have redeemed your voucher for your JR Pass at the ticketing office in Japan. THen you can make your seat reservations. At that point the easiest way will be via the ticketing office. If your are arriving at Itami then you have two options: take a limousine bus or take the local train to Shin-Osaka station. From here you will be able to change to other trains depending on where you will be staying in Osaka. We do not recommend activating your JR Pass until you will begin traveling, unless you ae only visiting for 7 days. Have a great trip :)
Hi, if you buy the JR Pass, transportation to Kyoto is included, no other ticket required. You can take either the Hikari ( fast option ) or the Kodama, slower option. No seat reservations are required. but they are recommended if you are traveling as a family with young children or traveling during a holiday season. If you do make a reservation, then you will get a seat reservation ticket. Reservations are free with the JR Pass. May we ask what you plan to do in Kyoto? Let us know if you have further questions.
Two questions: Can I buy the JR Pass now before September ends,, if I plan on traveling in the spring of next year? Two, should I buy this pass if I plan on seeing about 3 cities that are close together from Tokyo, such as Kyoto, Kobe and Osaka, and back to Tokyo?
Hi. It's too early to purchase the JR Pass for next spring. It can be purchased through an agent within 90 days of picking up your actual pass in Japan. By the spring the cost of the 7-Day Ordinary JR Pass will be 50,000 Yen per adult. We shared an example route where the newly priced JR Pass will still provide a savings in this separate video (Tokyo - Kyoto - Osaka - Hiroshima - Himeji - Tokyo): th-cam.com/video/onzBlwGmMNM/w-d-xo.html Alternatively, you could purchase separate Shinkansen train tickets between Tokyo and Kyoto. Here's our affiliate link for individual Shinkansen tickets: kenshoquest.com/recommends/japan-train-tickets/
Hi, do not need the JR Pass for this short distance. There are other Passes such as Hakone Free Pass that you may be interested in or you can just use your Suica. We have a video on Hakone free pass here: th-cam.com/video/XpuGU_2zNuQ/w-d-xo.html If you are using Klook, you can get a 5% discount by using coupon KenshoQuest. Of course, there are some exclusions but it includes a lot! Let us know if you need further clarification or have other questions :)
Hi. Im going to arrive in Narita Airport on 6th Jan 2024 and back to my country on 19th Jan 2024. Planning to go to Hokkaido, Osaka, Nara and Kyoto. Am I still eligible to buy the JR pass (14 days) in advance with the current price and use it once I arrived in Narita next year?
Hi, I'm sorry but the prices have already increased. The JR Pass is still available and you can purchase up to 90-days in advance if purchased through an agent like Klook.
I would like to know if some bus transportation is also included in the jr pass , I’m not sure of it but I read it somewhere that buses and a particular ferry is also accessible through the jr pass. And I’m planning on staying at Tokyo and visiting Hiroshima , Nara as a day trip and Kyoto and Osaka for 3 days . Do you thinks it worth to buy the jr pass ? I’m planning to travel in November but I’ll book my jr pass before October 😅
Yes, there are local JR buses included in the JR Pass: JR Hokkaido Bus, JR Bus Tohoku, JR Bus Kanto, JR Tokai Bus, West Japan JR Bus, Chugoku JR Bus, JR Shikoku Bus, JR Kyushu Bus. The Pass is NOT valid for travel on express bus routes operated by JR Bus. As far as ferry boats, only the JR-WEST Miyajima ferry is covered. Yes, the JR Pass is worth it at the current prices for your route. We recommend purchasing as soon as possible! When you pre-order your JR Pass from a travel agent, you must redeem it in Japan within 90 days. You are already within that 90 day window, so you can already pre-order your pass. Here's our Klook affiliate link: kenshoquest.com/recommends/klook-jr-pass/
Thank you for sending the link to your new video from my last reply on your other vid. If I order the JR Pass tickets and the exchange orders do not make it in time before our departure, is there a way to confirm when in Japan that the tickets were actually ordered? I did the fare calculator and I would have to spend another 13800 to save. That is times 4 people as well. You guys are so appreciated!
Hello, again. You really do need the Exchange Order as proof of purchase. If you're cutting it super close (less than a week) you could wait until you arrive in Japan to purchase your JR Pass. Have you considered getting just a 7-Day JR Pass to cover a portion of your trip? For instance, if it would work to cover Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka-Tokyo (to catch the train from Shinjuku to Hakone). Otherwise, the 14-Day Pass might be worth it depending on how much you use it in Tokyo and Osaka. We sometimes spend $20-30/person a day on local transportation, if we're going across the city. You can check on Google maps to see how much local transportation will cost.
Hi, really appreciate your replies considering I am one of thousands! 7 day won’t work as we are doing Tokyo 3 days, Kyoto 3, Osaka 5, Hakone 1, Tokyo 3. We have no idea what we are doing yet as I am hoping my young adult kids are supposed to figure out. 😅 So don’t know how much inter city transportation we will be doing. We are travelling first week of September and out of Canada. Again, much appreciated.
We'll be two persons from 2/10 to 20/10 at Japan and we want to go until Nagasaki!! We can use with jr pass and busses!! What do you suggest for 17 days at Japan to see... we are in good shape!!!
Thanks for the videos, appreciate y'all work on the detailed guides. Question, if we buy the JR Pass now in August and the trip to Japan is in November, we won't be affected by the price increase correct?
Correct. If you purchase a JR Pass in August through a travel agent, such as Klook, you can purchase it at the current prices. Then redeem it in Japan within 90 days of purchase. Here’s our separate video explaining the timeline: th-cam.com/video/PHZIxioFpuU/w-d-xo.html
Hm with the price increase i start to Wonder if the JR pass will be worth it for us, we plan to travel to japan next near. Tokio kyoto osaka anf back to tokio
Hi, if you are just doing the golden route: Tokyo > Kyoto > Osaka > Tokyo then it would be cheaper to purchase individual shinkansen tickets. However, if you are going farther places and/or making more stops along the way then the whole JR Pass can be worth it. We'll be making another video explaining when and how the whole JR Pass is still worth it and when it is not. Stay tuned, but also let us know if you have any specific concerns.
@@KenshoQuest hm yes i already calculated it, the trains for this trip is ~190€ but because of the days we have planned a 1-week pass will not work, we would need a 2-week pass, and that is 516€, i really doubt we will get the worth out of a two week pass for what we have planned.
Can i buy the JR pass like a month ahead so that I could still avail the cheaper price? I will be visiting in november, the price increase will be on october. Can I buy it in september and use it on november?
Hi. Yes! You can pre-order the JR Pass at the current price through a travel agent, such as Klook (affiliate link: kenshoquest.com/recommends/klook-jr-pass/). After you order, the agent will mail an Exchange Order to you. You then take the Exchange Order with you to Japan and swap it for your actual JR Pass within 90 days of purchase. But make sure you pre-order the JR Pass before Sept 29, 2023. Here's our separate video explaining the timeline: th-cam.com/video/PHZIxioFpuU/w-d-xo.html
"Activation date" is the first day that you will use your JR Pass. If you purchase through the *official* website, japanrailpass.net/, you will select your "start date" which is the same as your "activation date". If you purchase online from Klook, it will ask for "Planned Participation Date" which is the date of your flight to Japan. Klook will mail you an Exchange Order, which you can take to Japan and redeem for your actual JR Pass within 90 days of purchase. When you redeem your JR Pass, you will tell the attendant when you want your activation date to be, which can be within the next 30 days. Does that clarify?
Yes, the Whole Japan Rail Pass includes local JR trains and local JR buses. We go over exactly what's included in this follow-up video: th-cam.com/video/VyRWmVzbAjQ/w-d-xo.html
Hi! This is such an helpful video. Thank you! Just subscribed to your channel. We are a family of 4 with two teenage girls traveling to Japan for the first time late November. We arrive in Haneda airport and than proceed to Osaka. Staying there for 3 days and will make a day trip to Kyoto. After our stay in Osaka we will travel to Tokyo and stay in Yokohama for 4 days and fly out of Haneda. Do you recommend we buy the JR pass for our family?
Buying individual tickets will break even or actually save you money. (I'm surprised you are going to Osaka/Kyoto for only 3 days. You don't need 4 days in Yokohama.)
At the current price (29,650 Yen/7-day Pass), it would be worth getting the JR Pass, if all your long-distance travel days are within a 7 day period. Just make sure to order by Sept 29! Will you spend any nights in Tokyo? For individual Shinkansen tickets, Tokyo to Shin-Osaka ordinary non-reserved car costs 13,870 Yen/ adult. Then round trip Shin-Osaka to Kyoto would be 2,900 Yen (on a Shinkansen). And Shin-Osaka to Yokohama costs 13,540. For a total of 30,310 Yen/person. Plus, can also use the JR Pass for local JR trains in Osaka, such as the Osaka loop train. And the pass is super convenient! 🌺 Heidi
@@KenshoQuestThank you so much for your detailed response 😊 We are actually spending 4 days in Osaka and 5 days in Tokyo. I changed our hotel stay from Yokohama to one that is close to the Tokyo Station. I think we probably should get the JR pass. Can we purchase the JR pass through Klook if we reside in the US? I believe we would have 3 months to activate it from the time of purchase.
@@nateshf9303We are actually spending 4 days in Osaka and 5 days in Tokyo. I changed our hotel stay from Yokohama to one that is close to Tokyo Station 😊
@@nelushasridhar142 Yes, you can purchase the JR Pass from Klook while residing in the US. They offer free 4-day delivery of the Exchange Order. And yes, you can redeem your JR Pass within 90 days of purchase. Here's our affiliate link, in case you'd like to use it: kenshoquest.com/recommends/klook-jr-pass/
Thanks for the great video. Is it confusing if you are switching from a JR run line in Tokyo to a line run by another company as to whether you should be using the jr pass or a suica card? Can you mistakenly use your jr pass when entering and then when you go to exit find out you have used the wrong pass? Thanks.
Hi. There is usually a lot of walking involved to switch from a JR line to another train line or subway. If you try inserting your JR Pass into an automatic ticket gate for a non-JR line, it will probably be spit back out with a buzzing noise. I don't think it would accept your JR Pass and let you through the gate.
Buying round trip Shinkansen tickets Tokyo to Shin-Osaka would cost 27,740 Yen (non-reserved). If you wanted to get a JR Pass, you would need a 14 day pass (since you're staying more than 7 days in Osaka). The current price of the 14 Day JR Pass is 47,250 Yen. So yeah, that's not worth it for your itinerary. It's easy to buy individual Shinkansen tickets on Klook. Here's our affiliate link: kenshoquest.com/recommends/japan-train-tickets/
Hi, We’re not sure if the upgrade ticket will be available at the ticket counters or machine. Are you wanting to pay the new higher price specifically to be able to ride the Nozomi? If you’d rather pay the current price, you could preorder your JR Pass from a travel agent by Sept 30. We explain that option in this other video: th-cam.com/video/PHZIxioFpuU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=NvFZvqRJ9ckghWGh
Oh! If I purchase my JR rail pass before the price hike then when I go to Japan in October I cannot take advantage of riding the NOZOMI with their changes? It’s only if I pay the JR rail pass Price increase price?
@@Kikaidamashou Yes, I believe the Nozomi is only included if you purchased the JR Pass at the new prices. Sorry we didn't make that clear in the video.
First of all, thank you for your vlog. I want to buy a JR pass because I will travel from Tokyo to Osaka and would like to go to Busan, South Korea, from Fukuoka. Is there any way I can use the JR pass from Osaka to Fukuoka? thank you
Yes, of course! You can take a Shinkansen train from Shin-Osaka Station to Hakata Station (Fukuoka). We mentioned this route in our Advanced Tips for Using the JR Pass video: th-cam.com/video/VyRWmVzbAjQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=jzQ9vl0z9oIECgKC
Hello. I would not recommend purchasing through the official site japanrailpass.net/ which allows you to book seats online right away. The reason is that the official site only allows you to purchase a JR Pass 30 days before redeeming it in Japan. Which would mean you would need to purchase in October, after the price of the ordinary 7-Day JR Pass has increased to 50,000 Yen. Instead, I recommend purchasing through a travel agent. That way you have 90 days from purchase to redeem your JR Pass in Japan. Which means you can go ahead and purchase now at the current prices. As soon as you pick up your JR Pass in Japan you can make seat reservations. Here's our affiliate link for purchasing through Klook (we earn a commission if you purchase this way): kenshoquest.com/recommends/klook-jr-pass/
If you have a valid JR Pass there is no fee for reserving seats. If you don't have a JR Pass and are purchasing individual train tickets, then reserved seats are more expensive than unreserved. Yes, you can make reservations for the same day of travel, as long as there are seats available. 🌺 Heidi
@@Sophie_kent Once you have your JR Pass, you can reserve seats by visiting a JR ticket office or using a Reserved Seat Ticketing Machine. If you purchase your JR Pass from a travel agent, such as Klook, you will need to wait until you pick up your actual JR Pass in Japan to reserve seats. If you purchase online through the official website japanrailpass.net/ you can reserve seats online.
Hello !! Can you suggest me the below- M landing tokyo on 19th May. 20 & 21 - disneyland and disneysea 22-25 - 4 nights i have more in tokyo 26- i want to back in osaka by late evening. 27&28- universal studio 29-2nd June 5 nights - JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass. (I dont mind taking the JR Kansai only pass too, but not sure how will I cover Hiroshima than?) 3rd - 9 am return flight from Kansai Airport, so will stay closer to the airport on 2nd June. Kindly assist as I am not able to chalk out my plans even after seeing most of your videos. :)
HI, if you want to visit Hiroshima and Miyajima island then I do believe the Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass is your best choice as you have planned. You can also use the pass to ride the Haruka Express to take you to Kansai Airport. Just be sure to set your activation date to cover all the days you need. To get to Osaka from Tokyo purchase a one way shinkansen ticket. For your time in Tokyo you most likely do not need any type of pass. Instead using an IC card (Welcome SUICa or Pasmo Passport), which you can get upon arrival at the airport. If you want to visit the Kawaguchiko area of Mt. Fuji then we recommend reserving the Fuji Excursion, which will take you from Shinjuku Station to Kawaguchiko station. Here are some links for reference: geni.us/kansaihiroshimapass geni.us/shinkansen Hakone free pass: th-cam.com/video/XpuGU_2zNuQ/w-d-xo.html How to get to Mt. Fuji: th-cam.com/video/4828J9OtNiY/w-d-xo.html How to buy shinkansen ticket: th-cam.com/video/zwMKE3pmBP4/w-d-xo.html
Yes, there are JR buses included in the JR Pass, but not expressway buses. We covered exactly what's included in the Whole Japan Rail Pass in this separate video: th-cam.com/video/VyRWmVzbAjQ/w-d-xo.html
Hello, I have a question regarding the JR pass exchange order. If I purchase a 7 day pass now in September, but not arrive in Japan until February; will that make myJR pass invalid since it's well after 90 days for activation? Also is there a place I can purchase the pass now and not have an activation time on them?
Hi, correct. Unfortunately, you can only purchase a JR Pass up to 90 days in advance. Since you are traveling in February you will not be able to purchase until either November or December ( depending on your entry day in February ). Be sure to count the day of purchase and day you redeem when you count your 90 days. Once you redeem your pass you have 30 days to activate.
I’m about to go to japan this upcoming week (8/31/23) i just got my voucher in the mail… so i just show this to the ticket office? and then i get my JR PASS?
Question: Not buying any passes. Do I need to pre-purchase tickets for these routes? Plan: - Osaka -> Kyoto -> Tokyo: From KIX, take JR Haruka to Kyoto. From Kyoto, take Shinkansen (Hikari or Nozomi) to Tokyo. - Nikko: Use NIKKO PASS world heritage. - Tokyo -> Hakone: Take Odakyu train from Shinjuku to Odawara, then transfer to Hakone Tozan Line. - Hakone -> Fuji Five Lakes: Bus from Togendai to Gotemba. Then, Fujikyu Bus from Gotemba to Kawaguchiko. - Fuji Five Lakes -> Matsumoto: Fujikyu Bus to Mishima, Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya, then Shinano Limited Express. - Matsumoto -> Kanazawa: JR Oito Line to Shinano-Omachi. Then, Hokuriku Shinkansen from Toyama to Kanazawa. - Kanazawa -> Hida-Takayama: Hokuriku Shinkansen to Toyama, then JR Takayama Line. - Kyoto: JR Takayama Line to Nagoya, Tokaido Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka, then JR Kyoto Line to Kyoto. Note: This is from September 14th to September 27th. Stopping at Kyoto for luggage (studying there for 4.5 months).
It sounds like you’ve got it pretty well figured out! Can you clarify what you mean by “pre-purchase”? Are you referring to buying tickets before arriving in Japan? Of course you will need to buy tickets for Shinkansen trains before heading to the platform. Some of the buses you may be able to pay cash or use IC card when boarding.
I mean pre-purchase as in buying at least a day before the train leaves. As far as I understand, it is okay to buy Shinkansen tickets a few hours before from the station outside of the main season. @@KenshoQuest
@@undertaker5003 I’m not familiar with every single one of those, but for the most part I think you would be fine buying tickets the day of your travels.
Hi. The official website japanrailpass.net/ will only allow you to purchase a JR Pass up to 30 days in advance. Perhaps you were looking at another website with JR pass in the name? Travel agents can sell an Exchange Order, which must be redeemed in Japan within 90 days of purchase. 🌺 Heidi
Hi, the JR Pass will only be on sale at the current price until end of Sept. After that it will be on sale at the new price. If you purchase from an agent outside of Japan before end of Sept, then yes, you can activate in November, since you will have 90 days to do so.
Yes, we didn't mention about getting an IC card on an iPhone. I have one set up on my phone. The main limitation is that we only charge it using cash at the machine. We don't have it set up to charge our credit card, as our particular credit card would count that as a cash advance. 🌺 Heidi
A confusing thing I saw on another video: a guy with a JR Pass bought a Shinkansen ticket with a reserved seat. The machine issued two pieces of paper. What do you use at the automated gate? He couldn't get through the gate. The video comments were confusing, some people said to feed your JR Pass and the ticket into the gate. How exactly? One immediately after the other? This could be really confusing to a 1st time traveler. You have a JR Pass, a Shinkansen ticket, and a seat reservation. Three pieces of paper that all look similar. Exactly what do you use at the gate and how??
Hi. When we were using the JR Pass, most of the time we only fed the JR Pass through the automatic gate. We held onto the seat reservation tickets for reference. There was once or twice that we fed our JR Pass plus train ticket through at the same time, the two stacked together. We did this based upon instructions from the gate attendant. By default, I would insert only the JR Pass. If that doesn’t work (it rejects it and makes a noise) then try asking an attendant or stacking the tickets. 🌺 Heidi
As someone with an disability, when entering into the country by the border does the border let the disabled go immediately to the border office and receive an temporary stamp for the travels? Usually when i show my disability card at the Heathrow Border lines/office they'd let you pass quicker as an disability person, but not sure how it's like in Japan, specially at the Narita Airport. Also for passports, would I need an visa to enter Japan if lets say my passport is an Israeli Passport? This video so far is super helpful, im traveling for 21 days, it's been a big dream of mine since as a kid
Hi. In Japan there is usually a priority line at immigration for "disabled, pregnant, families with babies, etc". Japan is very good about that type of thing. I do not know which countries require a visa to visit Japan. You might check with your Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Thank you so much for such a detailed explanation. >< Just wanted to check if its worth it to buy a 14 day JR pass traveling from Tokyo >Kyoto >Osaka > Kyoto >Nara >Tokyo? We be traveling from 16th November and going for 17 days. If we do buy the JR pass, we need to make sure to order it before 30th Sept which is soon! However, we are conflicted because our online search says normal shinkansen is a little bit cheaper than JR pass but unsure if that is accurate.
HI, glad the video is helpful :) The length of the JR Pass you need depends on when you need to be taking the shinkansen. If you are doing your loop within a 7 day period then maybe you only need a 7 day pass. For instance, if you start in Tokyo but do not leave for Kyoto for a few days then head to south and only spend about 7 days in the Kyoto Osaka area then you might be able to get by with only a 7 day pass. Now if you're doing a lot of traveling between cities during the 14 day period then the 14 day pass would be worth it at the current lower price. It is true that purchasing individual shinkansen tickets may be cheaper but please consider the convenience of the JR Pass. You can hop on and off pretty much anytime and not have to worry about the schedule of individual tickets. Also, with the JR Pass you can ride on local JR Trains, this will be more useful in the Tokyo area and Osaka and if you time it right you will be able to use it to get back to the airport as well. Also, if you can avoid purchasing on 30 Sept, please purchase sooner as things can go wrong, systems can be down... I hope this helps, let us know if you have further questions :)
@@KenshoQuest thank you so much !! Most of our activities are in Osaka and Kyoto and we staying there for 10 days which doesn't work for the 7 day pass and 14 days is a bit of stretch for 2 rides. But we like the convenience of the JR pass. Without the pass, is getting the individual ticket in person difficult for foreigners? And queuing time too since alot of people are traveling in Japan.
@@aoisky5475 the shinkansen ticketing machines can be very crowded at times which can make it difficult. But you can also purchase them from the ticketing office which is the easiest method but there might be a long line here too. For the Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka area the easiest way to purchase is online through Klook. You will receive a QR code which you scan on the ticketing machine to get your shinkansen ticket. There is one more method using SmartEX. Again we will have videos on both of these soon. But if you need it right away, Klook is pretty easy for your route.
@@KenshoQuestThank you!! We looking to book the shinkansen tickets though Klook but it doesn't mention which station 'name' just the city... does the ticket work in all the stations? Thanks >
When buying a Shinkansen ticket on Klook, it is for a specific departure station and specific arrival station. It can only be used for the trip you book. Some station names are the same as city names (Tokyo, Kyoto). Here is our video showing how to buy train tickets on Klook: th-cam.com/video/zwMKE3pmBP4/w-d-xo.html@@aoisky5475
Yeah, the JR Pass is no longer financially worth it if just visiting those 3 cities. In that case it's better just to buy individual Shinkansen tickets: th-cam.com/video/zwMKE3pmBP4/w-d-xo.html
@@KenshoQuest Don't assume we know the difference between all rail networks. It's an overload of information. Which is the entire reason folks are searching out this video.
@@VJ4rawr2 Sorry, I’m still not clear what you are saying. If you are wondering exactly which transportation is covered by the JR Pass, we explain that in the follow-up video: th-cam.com/video/VyRWmVzbAjQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=eG3DTEsaCAfKAGUl
We appreciate the commissions we earn when you purchase your JR Pass through our affiliate link: kenshoquest.com/recommends/klook-jr-pass/
I usually don't use links made by blogs but, in your case I will make an exception. Love your videos.
@@jayccarlos1018 Thanks! We appreciate it.
This is by far the most comprehensive explanation video about the JR pass I found. Now, I know that since I'm traveling only from Tokyo to Kyoto, and then back to the cities in between the two, like Nagoya or Shizuoka, then back to Tokyo, I think I don't have to purchase JR Pass, (plus Nozomi Shinkansen isn't covered in the pass). Thank you. I just susbscribe! :)
Glad to help! Thanks for joining us.
Isn't Nozomi now covered by the pass as of October 2023? I'm conflicted, many sited have been updated with this information?
I will say I’m a budget traveler. However, I plan to be in Tokyo for 10 days and don’t really plan going to another city since I heard there are many things to do in Tokyo especially for the first time in Japan, so do I need a JR pass? Does the JR pass include all their trains including ones within Tokyo so I can get around within the city? What If I decide to go to Yokohama for a day, I should just buy which ticket? Thx in advance
I heard the trains are always on time, so if you miss one, another one will come by.
Thanks! First time Japan traveler. As a senior I thank you for the direct, step by step, exhaustively researched information. My anxiety is reduced video by video.
Happy to help! Let us know if you have any questions! Thank you!!
Thank you so much for this. I am overwhelmed with planning our trip which is approaching fast but this is the BEST video that I've seen detailing the JR Pass.
Hi, so glad this was helpful! Where are you planning to visit? Do you have concerns or challenges?
This is one of, if not the most, informative JR Pass travel videos I've seen! Thank you for making it! And thank you for the heads up that, if I purchase a pass now, I only have 90 days to use it. Planning on going to Japan on January so the Sept 29 old price deadline is a moot point. :(
Glad it was helpful! Sorry you'll miss out on the current prices of the JR Pass.
Thank you so much for the informative video! This is the most helpful one I've watched :)
Glad it was helpful!
The JR calculator makes it sound like getting a springtime Japan-wide pass is a toss-up for us, based on our hopeful itineraries. Your point about the convenience factor, as well as the additional opportunity for some JR local trains and such, has me sold on the JR pass….even at the higher price. Thanks for all of your videos.
Glad to help. Have a wonderful time in Japan! We're also planning a spring visit, to see the cherry blossoms.
This video is very helpful. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much for all this valuable information when planning a trip in Japan! The video answered most of my questions regarding travelling in Japan.
You’re welcome! We have lots more videos about Japan travel here on Kensho Quest.
Thank you very much, this vis is really helpful for my next travel to japan
Happy to hear that!
A word of caution if you’re planning on using non-reserved seating, some Shinkansen are reserved seating only. In particular, most of the Shinkansen on the Tohoku route, towards Hokkaido, are reserved seating only, and are often fully booked during busier times. I learned this the hard way. 😂
Thanks for sharing your experience. Sorry you learned the hard way. We included a list of some of the reserved-only trains (including the Hayabusa) in our Advanced Tips video: th-cam.com/video/VyRWmVzbAjQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=GksE7RisSdeF-lmY
It worked out anyway, I just had to use indirect routes and a few more transfers
Thanks so much for this helpful video!
You’re welcome!
Thanks for the tips. How can I use JR Pass in local trains please? i.e. Kyoto Station to Fushimi Inari I can take the Nara Line with JR Pass, but do I need to make a reservation before or just insert the pass into the machine and take the next train directly?
There are no reservations for local trains. Simply insert the JR Pass into the automatic ticket gate for a local JR train.
Hi can you make a video on how to get icoca cards or other ic cards since there is a shortage what alternatives can u suggest
Thanks for the suggestion! We'll need to brainstorm some alternatives. This is another reason it's a good idea to have a JR Pass, then you can at least use the JR trains and buses.
thank you very much. this is my very first time viewing/and considering to go to Japan
We love traveling to Japan! It's one of our favorite destinations.
Thanks for sharing info. Very useful and well explained
Help! I have a trip to Japan in two weeks. I didn't get a chance to pre-order ticket ahead of time with an agent. I'm curious to know if I would be able to purchase a JR Pass at the airport with out purchasing online first? I'll be traveling to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Yokohama. Would I be able to use Sica or a different monorail pass for the city's?
Klook offers free 5-day worldwide delivery of the Exchange Order for the JR Pass. You could order today! Here's our affiliate link: kenshoquest.com/recommends/klook-jr-pass/
Otherwise, you can purchase the JR Pass in Japan, but only before October 1, 2023. In October, they are going to stop selling it in person.
There are some local JR trains within Tokyo and Osaka that are covered by the JR Pass. Otherwise, for non-JR local trains you can use a SUICA card.
Can you talk about the Nozomi & Mizuho trains? It’s not included in the JR Pass. I’m not sure how it works. Does the extra charge only applied once or each & everytime I take the Nozomi & Mizuho trains to a different destination?
If you are buying the whole JR Pass then using the Nozomi or Mizuho will require an extra charge each time you want to ride on either of these trains. If you buy individual shinkansen tickets ( no pass ) then there is no extra charge. Do note, there is nothing special about these trains except that they have fewer stops and therefore arrive a little earlier at their destinations.
Great insights as always! Many thanks!
Questions
- is it possible to change the Activation Date for a 7-day JR Pass (purchased via JR Pass official website) to another date? Say I initially put down 3rd May as my activation date, and decide to bring it forward to 2nd May or push to 4th May (without compromising the total number of days ie 7). If change is allowed, can it be done online or has to be done in person at a ticket office?
- for JR Pass purchased via official website, what if I miss the train with my reserved seat? Can I change to a next reserved seat online myself or do I have to see a ticket agent in person?
- for a Green Car, if I miss h the train, does it forfeit my travel in Green Car for that day, or can I simply reserve seat for the next Green Car and jump on that?
Many thanks! You guys are awesome!
Thank you so much this was very helpful, I read that you can no longer purchase a jr pass when you arrive but that you need to order it online before you come! Is that true?
Yes. You can no longer purchase the JR Pass in person in Japan. You can still purchase it online from japanrailpass.net/
@@KenshoQuest thank you for the reply 🙏💜🦋🕊
Well done! It's clear, informative, concise and complete. I learned more from your video than any other vlog. I also appreciate that you don't have that ridiculous video thumbnail that has a wide open eyes & mouth with a can't believe it look on their face😊
Glad to have helped! We’re trying to get away from those thumbnails 😂. Nice to know you prefer this style. 🌺 Heidi
Thank you for making this video. I am planning to go to Japan Osaka in a month time. But am confused with e-pass, mini pass and amazing pass sold in Klook. Can u advise?
Thank you both for the extremely helpful video. God bless you guys 🙏
DONT USE KLOOK FOR YOUR JR PASS!! They only give you an exchange order which you have to change into a jr pass once in Japan meaning you can’t prebook your trains before you get there, with all the tourists the trains are booking faster so go threw jr rails for your pass and you can book right away before you even get to Japan. Otherwise klook is pretty sweet
I thought you have to exchange regardless of where you purchase your JR Pass. 🤔
@@Indpendnt27 everywhere except directly threw jr but after going to Japan I learned that even with the jr directly sending it to you you still have to convert it to the ticket, I just feel more people need to explain that so everyone better knows I meant to update my comment but hopefully this explains it better lol
@@dkrol997 thank you. ☺️
I am so fond trying to buy my jr pass, can you explain to me how can I pre book if I get the pass on the oficial website?
@@yinarios7136 after trying it and some research I don’t think you can, it’s really dumb because they say you can on the main site but until you get the jr pass from an actual jr store it seems that you can’t. Even after getting a green car pass we had issues trying to book so we ended up just winging it and only had an issue when going to fujiku highlands we were pretty cramped at the back of the train otherwise everywhere else no issues
Wondeful video. Thank you so much for the great info. One question I have is if you buy the pass online in the official site, do you still get the exchange order document?
I believe if you purchase from the official JR website you only get an email confirmation, not a mailed Exchange Order. You can buy from the official site within 30 days of using the pass in Japan.
@@KenshoQuest thank you
As a fellow vlogger in japan, your channel helped me a lot!
Happy to hear that!
Awesome. Very helpful
I cannot change my dates, as I wish to go to universal studio only on 27th and 28th May as its a weekday and travelling with 2 kids. So keeping 2 whole day for USJ rather than spending on express pass. Althou I would have preferred 28th & 29th but than my 1 day Kansai pass would have gone wasted. Please suggest.
I am going to Japan 1 week from now, if I purchase the JR pass online how much time will it take for my exchange order to arrive? Can it be purchased at the airport? Feeling really anxious because this trip was not in my plans, just got an opportunity 1 week ago and took it
Hi, if you leaving in one week, your best bet is to purchase it online from the official website: japanrailpass.net. It's too risky at this point for any other method since you only have one week.
Could you please help me understand if its possible and how to buy a JR West pass before arriving in Japan BUT then be able to book online using your JR West pass PRIOR to arriving in Japan?
at the gate only insert the JR pass or both with reserved seat ticket ?
We normally only insert the JR Pass. If it doesn't work, we ask the attendant what to do. Sometimes we stacked two tickets together. But normally just the JR Pass.
How do you purchase tickets from tokyo station to osaka if you already have the Japanese Rail Passs ???
Hi. Since you have the JR Pass, rather than purchasing tickets, you simply want to reserve seats, which is free to do with the JR Pass. You can either visit a JR ticket office or use a Reserved Seat Ticketing Machine at a train station. Or if you purchased your JR Pass directly from japanrailpass.net/en/ you can reserve seats on that website, as well. Here's our Beginner's Guide to Riding Shinkansen Bullet Trains in Japan: th-cam.com/video/f3JDRc5sl5I/w-d-xo.html
What is super limited and limited narita express?is japanese pass valid for both of them
"The Narita Express "N'EX" is a fast, convenient, and comfortable limited express train that directly connects Narita International Airport with major cities and districts including Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku and Yokohama." source: www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/nex/ The Narita Express is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
Very helpful! How did you book the Hokkaido to Tokyo Shinkansen tickets? I want to go in GranClass to give my mom the experience on this once in a lifetime trip. Once in Tokyo, we’ll do 2 days of exploring within the city then take the train to Kyoto and eventually end up in Fukoka and fly out from there. Mahalo!
Hi. That's so sweet! You have a couple different options. Will your travel days for Hokkaido to Tokyo and Kyoto to Fukuoka be within 7 days? If so, it would be worth getting the Whole Japan Rail Pass for your trip. For instance you could get the 7-day Green JR Pass, and then at the train station pay to upgrade a portion of your trip to GranClass. If it will be spread out over more than 7 days, then you could buy separate train tickets.
Will you be starting from Sapporo? From Sapporo to Hakodate there isn't a Shinkansen train. Instead, you can take the Hokuto Limited Express Train. Then from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto to Tokyo it's possible to ride a Shinkansen train in GranClass. If you want to buy that ticket separately, you can do so at: www.eki-net.com/
@@KenshoQuest Thanks for your fast reply and help! Yes, the travel from Hokkaido to Tokyo ->Kyoto-> Fukuoka will be within 7 days. We'll still have about 4 days in Fukuoka after the 7 day pass would expire so the cost may work out to be about even (Pass vs. purchasing individual tickets). Good to know you can upgrade at the train station from Green to Gran Class, I've seen conflicting info in online forums. After going around Hokkaido with a tour group wee'll go back to New Chitose airport and make our way down on our own. I think I saw in one of your videos that you stopped along the way when you took the train from Hokkaido to Tokyo...how does that work-hop on/hop-off Shinkansen? It looks like the train to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto takes about 3 hours, plus another 4 hours on the train to Tokyo could make for a long day. For us, I might break up the Hokuto Express train and Shinkansen to Tokyo in to two travel days.
Lastly, do you have any insights on getting the Suica or Passmo card if we arriving in Hokkaido first (New Chitose)? We are oing in just a couple weeks for the snow festival :) Apologies for the long message and thank you so much for your time and valuable content creation.
Hi. We asked our assistant in Japan to double check about upgrading a JR Pass to GranClass. There may have been recent changes regarding that. Personally, I'd opt for a 7-day Green JR Pass. You will need to pay separately for transportation around Fukuoka either way, but that will be nowhere as expensive as taking the long distance Shinkansen trains.
This winter we will use a 6-day JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass, so we will stop multiple times going from Sapporo to Tokyo. We have also done Sapporo to Tokyo all in one day, which was fine. It's a nice ride with a pretty view.
You should be able to get a Kitaca IC Card in Sapporo. That's the one issued in Hokkaido, but you can use it throughout Japan. @@ajaharbert4437
Hello again. I could not find a definitive answer about upgrading a JR Pass to GranClass. It might be that it's only possible if you purchase directly through JR. So whatever you end up getting (separate tickers or pass) it's best to do it through the JR website: www.eki-net.com/en/jreast-train-reservation/top/Index@@ajaharbert4437
What a fabulous well thought out and thorough video. Thank you
You are so welcome :)
Great and very useful video! I have a question about the IC card. What if I still have money left in the card by the end of my travel, can I get those money back? Thank you.
Don't get the Suica Welcome card for 2 reasons - You cannot load it with Apple Wallet or from your bank card app and you cannot redeem unused amount.
Hi, thanks for watching! Unfortunately, there is no refund on either the Welcome SUICA nor the PASMO Passport offer refunds. Instead, there is no deposit on the cards. There are a couple of things you can do to minimize leaving a balance on your card: 1) Only top up the card when needed. We usually only charge 1000 Yen if we know we won't be using it much. 2) Then when you go through the ticket gates, right after you tap your card on the gate display it will tell you your balance. 3) You can install an app called Japan train card balance check. This app is super useful to check the balance of your IC card. All you need to do is open the app then tap your IC card to your phone and it will tell you your balance as well as where you used your card.
I hope this helps!
Thank you!
Thank you for the wealth of info on the JR pass. If you have a green JR pass and you forgot to reserve a seat in the bullet train, can you use it you it on the regular seat without reservation ?
Yes, but why would you if you already paid a premium for the green pass?
Yes! "You may use without paying any additional charges both standard cars and Green Cars with a Green Car pass" source: japanrailpass.net/en/about_jrp.html#anchor04
The higher price is a hard sell unless you're going futher afield to Kyushu or Hokkaido, as well as the regular golden trio.
I think they may make more money from raising the prices, but they will also be reducing tourism dollars spent in rural areas due to less people travelling further afield.
Agreed. The JR Pass will only be worth it at the new prices for people who plan to go farther afield. I think they were trying to alleviate over use of the route from Tokyo to Kyoto.
This is so helpful! Thank you 😊
You're so welcome! Are you planning to get a JR Pass?
Sucks about the price increases in October. I’ll be ordering mine at the end of August. For future trips I’ll most likely be flying domestic.
It is a bummer that the price is increasing so much.
I will say I’m a budget traveler. However, I plan to be in Tokyo for 10 days and don’t really plan going to another city since I heard there are many things to do especially for the first time in Japan, so do I need a JR pass? Does the JR pass include all their trains ? What about if I need to get around within Tokyo? If I decide to go to Yokohama for a day, I should just buy a round trip for that day only right? Thx in advance
Hello. I absolutely would NOT recommend a JR Pass if you are staying in Tokyo. The price of 50,000 Yen is way more than you are likely to spend on local transportation within Tokyo. An IC card would be the easiest way to get around Tokyo. There are some regional passes that include the Tokyo area, as well. We explained how to travel by train without a JR Pass in our most recent video:
th-cam.com/video/7ejmnpcFFJg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=RYf4UYmoy03vvzqa
And yes, just buy your tickets to and from Yokohama separately if you want to take a Shinkansen, or use an IC card to take a slower train.
What's the best sim card to buy for Japan having a UK android phone?
We've used a Samsung Galaxy with Mobal, Ubigi and Airalo. All worked very well for us but we can't guarantee you will have the same, though in general we have heard only a few issues with Android phones, but we don't know the particular models.
We are getting the JR North Kyushu Pass only from Klook. Are the reserved seats included as well? TYSM
Hi, yes, reserved seats are included but you will need to make those reservations either via the ticketing office or reservation ticketing machines.
How does the e-ticket work? How do i exchange it? Do i print it? Do i show the email to someone when exchanging it in Japan? lol
Looking to purchase the regional 5 Day JR East Pass Nagano/Niigata. On Klook it says e-ticket.
Everywhere else i can't purchase the pass as the date is not Available. Example: Today September 7 shows only until October 7...LOL
I need my Pass for October 15 - 19. So debating to wait or get the e-ticket as we leave o Japan on October 9.
Hi. I'm seeing on Klook, "Easily redeem your pass with the electronic exchange voucher at the major JR East Stations to start exploring". It sounds like you can show the digital Exchange Order, or print it out, and take it to a JR office at the airport or a JR East train station.
Hi and ah ok! thank you so much! Read somewhere that print outs or phone codes were not excepted. Maybe it was on old post or something. But thank you again!!@@KenshoQuest
I think the 5 Day JR East Pass is a little different than, say, the Whole Japan Rail Pass, which requires a physical Exchange Order. @@rubylunex
Hello first tome going to japan arriving on april 29 to haneda going to osaka until may 4 and then to kyoto until the 10 what should i take
Hi, since you will be going after the price increase of the JR Pass, it might not be cost effective for you. Are you going round trip, do you plan to visit other places? Otherwise, we recommend you either purchase tickets individually or possibly fly. Let us know your details...
Hi! Do you have a guide on the best way to make payments on your trip to Japan? Do you usually use cash? Are you expected to provide exact change?
Hi. We do have a video on managing money while in Japan. We pay for quite a few things with credit card. Some restaurants only accept cash, but do provide change. The bus is one place that might not give change, but we normally use an IC card on the bus. Here are our tips:
th-cam.com/video/J6AziGwySZo/w-d-xo.html
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Hi there. Should I activate my 14 day JR pass the same day I arrive to NRT to take NEX to Tokyo Station? What do you recommend?
Hi. It depends how long your Japan trip is. Will your JR Pass cover your entire trip? If so, you can activate it the day you arrive. But if it won't cover your whole trip, it's most important for it to cover the days you will ride Shinkansen bullet trains.
@@KenshoQuest thank you for the advice. Happy New Year! 🎊🎆
Hey, great video, thanks for the info. How long did it take for you to get your voucher in the mail? Does it take long?
Hi. Klook offers free 5 day global delivery of the Exchange Order. We received ours in 5 days. kenshoquest.com/recommends/klook-jr-pass/ *affiliate link
thanks😄
You're welcome! Here's our overview video of how to plan a trip to Japan: th-cam.com/video/5o_PFG8xWWQ/w-d-xo.html
Your videos are super helpful, thank you! If i have a 21 day trip planned to japan (14 days tokyo and 7 days Golden Route) do you recommend getting a JR pass for the 21 days so i can use it for my whole trip? Or just a 7 day JR pass and for the Golden Route and use an IC card for Tokyo?
Hi, glad the videos are helpful :) Regarding your trip, if you are traveling before the price increase then the 7-day is probably enough. You can activate your JR pass for the first day you travel on the shinkansen. While in Tokyo, you can get round with other passes or just use an IC card. Note, there is a shortage of IC cards for public transport and currently the only place you can get them is at the airport. Where do you plan to visit?
Thank you for the super helpful video!
Wanna ask about the JapanTravel app, are all the routes they shows included in the JR rail pass?
Hi. Within the Japan Travel by Navitime app, you can go to "Route" then under "Tourist Pass" select "Japan Rail Pass". Once that filter is set, it will only show options included in the JR Pass. You can also set it to filter for other passes. 🌺 Heidi
do you recommend that we buy a jr pass for our 4 yr old?
Only if you want them to have their own seat. Otherwise, they can sit on your lap and ride for free. We usually don’t buy the pass for our kids who are under 6. But it can be more comfortable to spread out. If you travel in an unreserved car, there are usually plenty of seats available.
Hi.
If I want to travel from Tokyo to Osaka and maybe some other cities for example, shall I purchase the JR Pass? If I purchased it, are all those routes included in the card, or do I have to pay every time seperate to make that journey? Or is it just once you pay the ¥50,000+the amount of the reserved seat, all the routes and normal JR lines included?
Hi. If you are just traveling from Tokyo to Osaka and maybe a couple other cities, such as Kyoto, the JR Pass is probably not worth it. The JR Pass provides unlimited rides on JR trains and includes reserved seats. The only time you would need to pay extra is if you want to ride either the Nozomi or Mizuho Shinkansen trains. The other Shinkansen trains are fully included.
Also how can i cover pokemon train in the route?
Sorry, the Pokemon train doesn’t run on that route.
Thanks for the clear guide! Your Japan videos really help me plan my upcoming trip :D
You’re very welcome! Which cities do you plan to visit?
@@KenshoQuest I'm going to Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. I'm also going to USJ and the Kirby cafe, so I also enjoyed your videos on those topics!
@@eswesje Sounds like so much fun! Have a wonderful time.
Hi I see that the JR pass does not cover using the Nozomi line from Tokyo to Hiroshima. I've looked online and found that starting in October 2023, you can do it but it will cost a supplement fee. Any idea what that fee will be? Can't seem to find info on it. Thanks.
Hi, if you mean the additional cost, I believe it will be 6,500 Yen per adult. Here is the chart: www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/pdf/press_20230801.pdf
Are the exchange orders/ confirmations only given in physical form? I've already started travelling in asia and don't have an address to get mail before i arrive in Japan
A physical Exchange Order is mailed if you purchase through a travel agent. If you purchase a JR Pass directly from the official JR website japanrailpass.net/en/ then an email confirmation will be provided. You will still need to pick up your actual JR Pass once you are in Japan. 🌸 Heidi
Thank you so much 🙏🙏
@@KenshoQuest So glad I finally found confirmation that I can get a digital confirmation and the paper exchange order is not the only way. This point is often not made very clearly!
so is this like a card you swipe on on and off at train stations are do you have to individually buy each ticket?
The Japan Rail Pass is shaped like a train ticket and can be inserted into automatic ticket gates at train stations. The purpose of the JR Pass is to allow unlimited rides on the included JR transportation, so that you do not need to purchase individual tickets.
@@KenshoQuest cool ok so how do i plan a trip that only uses jr lines. I want to get from tokyo to suzuka to watch the gp
I recommend installing the Japan Travel by Navitime app on your phone, and setting the filter to show trains included with the JR Pass. From Tokyo, you can take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen line to Nagoya. From Nagoya you can take a JR rapid train to Suzuka Station. @@steviegbcool
Very helpful video, I’ve been told we need to tell the people at the jr office where they give you the pass what specific routes you’ll be taking, is this true? Thank you
Hi. Only if you want to reserve seats on trains.
Hi! Hoping u are online- thanks for this. Ive watched loads of how to on JR pass. One question tho- the trains (included in pass) that show fare + seat prices, only the fare is included in the pass right?
We have to pay for the reserved seat or unreserved seat ex. Sonic Hakata to Kokura fare is 1910JPY then shows 600JPY for unreserved and 1130 for reserved?
Hi. If you purchase the Whole Japan Rail Pass, reserved seats are included in the price of the pass. You can either ride in an unreserved car, or make a reservation for a seat in a reserved car. You do not need to pay extra for the reservation if you have a JR Pass. However, if you want to ride the Nozomi or Mizuho bullet trains, there is an extra fee for riding those with the JR Pass.
We are purchasing just the JR North Kyushu- this includes the reserved seats as well, no extra?
Thanks so much for taking time to reply!🫶
@@spottedbyd I believe it includes both unreserved and reserved seats. You would need to make a reservation for a reserved seat.
Good morning, I bought my JR pass through TripMasters, can I make seat reservations online? Also, my first stop is Osaka, how do I get to my hotel from Itami airport using JR pass? Thank you
Hi, you can only make advanced seat reservations online if purchased directly from the official site. Otherwise, you will need to wait until you have redeemed your voucher for your JR Pass at the ticketing office in Japan. THen you can make your seat reservations. At that point the easiest way will be via the ticketing office.
If your are arriving at Itami then you have two options: take a limousine bus or take the local train to Shin-Osaka station. From here you will be able to change to other trains depending on where you will be staying in Osaka. We do not recommend activating your JR Pass until you will begin traveling, unless you ae only visiting for 7 days. Have a great trip :)
@@KenshoQuest Thank you very much for your tip. I will do that!
If u have jr pass do you need to buy ticket to kyoto or just use jr pass instead without reserve seat thanks
Hi, if you buy the JR Pass, transportation to Kyoto is included, no other ticket required. You can take either the Hikari ( fast option ) or the Kodama, slower option. No seat reservations are required. but they are recommended if you are traveling as a family with young children or traveling during a holiday season. If you do make a reservation, then you will get a seat reservation ticket. Reservations are free with the JR Pass.
May we ask what you plan to do in Kyoto? Let us know if you have further questions.
Two questions: Can I buy the JR Pass now before September ends,, if I plan on traveling in the spring of next year? Two, should I buy this pass if I plan on seeing about 3 cities that are close together from Tokyo, such as Kyoto, Kobe and Osaka, and back to Tokyo?
Hi. It's too early to purchase the JR Pass for next spring. It can be purchased through an agent within 90 days of picking up your actual pass in Japan. By the spring the cost of the 7-Day Ordinary JR Pass will be 50,000 Yen per adult. We shared an example route where the newly priced JR Pass will still provide a savings in this separate video (Tokyo - Kyoto - Osaka - Hiroshima - Himeji - Tokyo): th-cam.com/video/onzBlwGmMNM/w-d-xo.html
Alternatively, you could purchase separate Shinkansen train tickets between Tokyo and Kyoto. Here's our affiliate link for individual Shinkansen tickets: kenshoquest.com/recommends/japan-train-tickets/
If I stay in Tokyo for 7 days, and I only go around like Mt. Fuji - Hakone - Kamakura, do I still need JR pass or only Suica? Thank for the info.
Hi, do not need the JR Pass for this short distance. There are other Passes such as Hakone Free Pass that you may be interested in or you can just use your Suica. We have a video on Hakone free pass here:
th-cam.com/video/XpuGU_2zNuQ/w-d-xo.html
If you are using Klook, you can get a 5% discount by using coupon KenshoQuest. Of course, there are some exclusions but it includes a lot! Let us know if you need further clarification or have other questions :)
Hi. Im going to arrive in Narita Airport on 6th Jan 2024 and back to my country on 19th Jan 2024. Planning to go to Hokkaido, Osaka, Nara and Kyoto.
Am I still eligible to buy the JR pass (14 days) in advance with the current price and use it once I arrived in Narita next year?
Hi, I'm sorry but the prices have already increased. The JR Pass is still available and you can purchase up to 90-days in advance if purchased through an agent like Klook.
I would like to know if some bus transportation is also included in the jr pass , I’m not sure of it but I read it somewhere that buses and a particular ferry is also accessible through the jr pass. And I’m planning on staying at Tokyo and visiting Hiroshima , Nara as a day trip and Kyoto and Osaka for 3 days . Do you thinks it worth to buy the jr pass ? I’m planning to travel in November but I’ll book my jr pass before October 😅
Yes, there are local JR buses included in the JR Pass: JR Hokkaido Bus, JR Bus Tohoku, JR Bus Kanto, JR Tokai Bus, West Japan JR Bus, Chugoku JR Bus, JR Shikoku Bus, JR Kyushu Bus. The Pass is NOT valid for travel on express bus routes operated by JR Bus. As far as ferry boats, only the JR-WEST Miyajima ferry is covered.
Yes, the JR Pass is worth it at the current prices for your route. We recommend purchasing as soon as possible! When you pre-order your JR Pass from a travel agent, you must redeem it in Japan within 90 days. You are already within that 90 day window, so you can already pre-order your pass. Here's our Klook affiliate link: kenshoquest.com/recommends/klook-jr-pass/
Thank you for sending the link to your new video from my last reply on your other vid. If I order the JR Pass tickets and the exchange orders do not make it in time before our departure, is there a way to confirm when in Japan that the tickets were actually ordered? I did the fare calculator and I would have to spend another 13800 to save. That is times 4 people as well. You guys are so appreciated!
Hello, again. You really do need the Exchange Order as proof of purchase. If you're cutting it super close (less than a week) you could wait until you arrive in Japan to purchase your JR Pass. Have you considered getting just a 7-Day JR Pass to cover a portion of your trip? For instance, if it would work to cover Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka-Tokyo (to catch the train from Shinjuku to Hakone). Otherwise, the 14-Day Pass might be worth it depending on how much you use it in Tokyo and Osaka. We sometimes spend $20-30/person a day on local transportation, if we're going across the city. You can check on Google maps to see how much local transportation will cost.
Hi, really appreciate your replies considering I am one of thousands! 7 day won’t work as we are doing Tokyo 3 days, Kyoto 3, Osaka 5, Hakone 1, Tokyo 3. We have no idea what we are doing yet as I am hoping my young adult kids are supposed to figure out. 😅 So don’t know how much inter city transportation we will be doing. We are travelling first week of September and out of Canada. Again, much appreciated.
if i am travelling to japan 18'th December 2023 , can i buy the JR pass before October before the price increase of will be expired ?
Hi, Yes! You are still in the window. Just be sure to purchase by 29 September to be safe. Good luck!
kenshoquest.com/recommends/klook-jr-pass/
We'll be two persons from 2/10 to 20/10 at Japan and we want to go until Nagasaki!!
We can use with jr pass and busses!!
What do you suggest for 17 days at Japan to see... we are in good shape!!!
I always ask people what they would like to do and see...onsen towns? history? architecture? shopping?
What types of things are you interested in doing?
We want to see more places,good food and locals life!!
@@nikosrousiotis6088 If you are heading to Nagasaki, then consider stopping at Shimomoseki, one of the best seafood ports in Japan.
Thanks for the videos, appreciate y'all work on the detailed guides.
Question, if we buy the JR Pass now in August and the trip to Japan is in November, we won't be affected by the price increase correct?
Correct. If you purchase a JR Pass in August through a travel agent, such as Klook, you can purchase it at the current prices. Then redeem it in Japan within 90 days of purchase. Here’s our separate video explaining the timeline:
th-cam.com/video/PHZIxioFpuU/w-d-xo.html
@@KenshoQuest Got it, thanks! We bought it through your Klook link :)
@@ThePandaDoctor Thanks! Have a wonderful time in Japan.
Hm with the price increase i start to Wonder if the JR pass will be worth it for us, we plan to travel to japan next near. Tokio kyoto osaka anf back to tokio
Hi, if you are just doing the golden route: Tokyo > Kyoto > Osaka > Tokyo then it would be cheaper to purchase individual shinkansen tickets. However, if you are going farther places and/or making more stops along the way then the whole JR Pass can be worth it. We'll be making another video explaining when and how the whole JR Pass is still worth it and when it is not. Stay tuned, but also let us know if you have any specific concerns.
@@KenshoQuest hm yes i already calculated it, the trains for this trip is ~190€ but because of the days we have planned a 1-week pass will not work, we would need a 2-week pass, and that is 516€, i really doubt we will get the worth out of a two week pass for what we have planned.
Can you activate the pass at an international Airport?
Hi, yes you can!
Can i buy the JR pass like a month ahead so that I could still avail the cheaper price? I will be visiting in november, the price increase will be on october. Can I buy it in september and use it on november?
Hi. Yes! You can pre-order the JR Pass at the current price through a travel agent, such as Klook (affiliate link: kenshoquest.com/recommends/klook-jr-pass/). After you order, the agent will mail an Exchange Order to you. You then take the Exchange Order with you to Japan and swap it for your actual JR Pass within 90 days of purchase. But make sure you pre-order the JR Pass before Sept 29, 2023. Here's our separate video explaining the timeline: th-cam.com/video/PHZIxioFpuU/w-d-xo.html
So activation day is the date your forced to put in while purchasing the JR online? Or the first day you use it? Every video I see is different.
"Activation date" is the first day that you will use your JR Pass. If you purchase through the *official* website, japanrailpass.net/, you will select your "start date" which is the same as your "activation date".
If you purchase online from Klook, it will ask for "Planned Participation Date" which is the date of your flight to Japan. Klook will mail you an Exchange Order, which you can take to Japan and redeem for your actual JR Pass within 90 days of purchase. When you redeem your JR Pass, you will tell the attendant when you want your activation date to be, which can be within the next 30 days.
Does that clarify?
@@KenshoQuest it does thank you.
Can I take local trains and buses with the JR pass?
Yes, the Whole Japan Rail Pass includes local JR trains and local JR buses. We go over exactly what's included in this follow-up video: th-cam.com/video/VyRWmVzbAjQ/w-d-xo.html
Hi! This is such an helpful video. Thank you! Just subscribed to your channel.
We are a family of 4 with two teenage girls traveling to Japan for the first time late November. We arrive in Haneda airport and than proceed to Osaka. Staying there for 3 days and will make a day trip to Kyoto. After our stay in Osaka we will travel to Tokyo and stay in Yokohama for 4 days and fly out of Haneda. Do you recommend we buy the JR pass for our family?
Buying individual tickets will break even or actually save you money. (I'm surprised you are going to Osaka/Kyoto for only 3 days. You don't need 4 days in Yokohama.)
At the current price (29,650 Yen/7-day Pass), it would be worth getting the JR Pass, if all your long-distance travel days are within a 7 day period. Just make sure to order by Sept 29! Will you spend any nights in Tokyo? For individual Shinkansen tickets, Tokyo to Shin-Osaka ordinary non-reserved car costs 13,870 Yen/ adult. Then round trip Shin-Osaka to Kyoto would be 2,900 Yen (on a Shinkansen). And Shin-Osaka to Yokohama costs 13,540. For a total of 30,310 Yen/person. Plus, can also use the JR Pass for local JR trains in Osaka, such as the Osaka loop train. And the pass is super convenient! 🌺 Heidi
@@KenshoQuestThank you so much for your detailed response 😊 We are actually spending 4 days in Osaka and 5 days in Tokyo. I changed our hotel stay from Yokohama to one that is close to the Tokyo Station. I think we probably should get the JR pass. Can we purchase the JR pass through Klook if we reside in the US? I believe we would have 3 months to activate it from the time of purchase.
@@nateshf9303We are actually spending 4 days in Osaka and 5 days in Tokyo. I changed our hotel stay from Yokohama to one that is close to Tokyo Station 😊
@@nelushasridhar142 Yes, you can purchase the JR Pass from Klook while residing in the US. They offer free 4-day delivery of the Exchange Order. And yes, you can redeem your JR Pass within 90 days of purchase. Here's our affiliate link, in case you'd like to use it: kenshoquest.com/recommends/klook-jr-pass/
Thanks for the great video. Is it confusing if you are switching from a JR run line in Tokyo to a line run by another company as to whether you should be using the jr pass or a suica card? Can you mistakenly use your jr pass when entering and then when you go to exit find out you have used the wrong pass? Thanks.
Hi. There is usually a lot of walking involved to switch from a JR line to another train line or subway. If you try inserting your JR Pass into an automatic ticket gate for a non-JR line, it will probably be spit back out with a buzzing noise. I don't think it would accept your JR Pass and let you through the gate.
we only plan on going from Tokyo to osaka, then 10 days later from osaka back to tokyo. this seems expensive for just 2 rides
Buying round trip Shinkansen tickets Tokyo to Shin-Osaka would cost 27,740 Yen (non-reserved). If you wanted to get a JR Pass, you would need a 14 day pass (since you're staying more than 7 days in Osaka). The current price of the 14 Day JR Pass is 47,250 Yen. So yeah, that's not worth it for your itinerary. It's easy to buy individual Shinkansen tickets on Klook. Here's our affiliate link: kenshoquest.com/recommends/japan-train-tickets/
I'll be going in October with my JR rail pass.
How do we get the special ticket to ride the NOZOMI line from Tokyo to Osaka?
Hi, We’re not sure if the upgrade ticket will be available at the ticket counters or machine. Are you wanting to pay the new higher price specifically to be able to ride the Nozomi? If you’d rather pay the current price, you could preorder your JR Pass from a travel agent by Sept 30. We explain that option in this other video:
th-cam.com/video/PHZIxioFpuU/w-d-xo.htmlsi=NvFZvqRJ9ckghWGh
Oh! If I purchase my JR rail pass before the price hike then when I go to Japan in October I cannot take advantage of riding the NOZOMI with their changes? It’s only if I pay the JR rail pass
Price increase price?
@@Kikaidamashou Yes, I believe the Nozomi is only included if you purchased the JR Pass at the new prices. Sorry we didn't make that clear in the video.
First of all, thank you for your vlog. I want to buy a JR pass because I will travel from Tokyo to Osaka and would like to go to Busan, South Korea, from Fukuoka. Is there any way I can use the JR pass from Osaka to Fukuoka? thank you
Yes, of course! You can take a Shinkansen train from Shin-Osaka Station to Hakata Station (Fukuoka). We mentioned this route in our Advanced Tips for Using the JR Pass video: th-cam.com/video/VyRWmVzbAjQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=jzQ9vl0z9oIECgKC
Do JR pass cover metro tickets??
Hi, no, does not because metro tickets are a separate company from JR.
Hello - I am coming to Japan Nov 10-24. Should I get the JR Pass that allows advanced seat reservations? Thank you.
Hello. I would not recommend purchasing through the official site japanrailpass.net/ which allows you to book seats online right away. The reason is that the official site only allows you to purchase a JR Pass 30 days before redeeming it in Japan. Which would mean you would need to purchase in October, after the price of the ordinary 7-Day JR Pass has increased to 50,000 Yen.
Instead, I recommend purchasing through a travel agent. That way you have 90 days from purchase to redeem your JR Pass in Japan. Which means you can go ahead and purchase now at the current prices. As soon as you pick up your JR Pass in Japan you can make seat reservations. Here's our affiliate link for purchasing through Klook (we earn a commission if you purchase this way): kenshoquest.com/recommends/klook-jr-pass/
Oh - that's right. I forgot about the 30 day limitation. Thanks! I just used your affiliate link to buy 4 adult passes. @@KenshoQuest
Thanks for using our link!@@Panda-ik4uk
Is there a fee for reserving a seat? and can you reserve on the same day of travel?
If you have a valid JR Pass there is no fee for reserving seats. If you don't have a JR Pass and are purchasing individual train tickets, then reserved seats are more expensive than unreserved. Yes, you can make reservations for the same day of travel, as long as there are seats available. 🌺 Heidi
Once I purchase a ticket, how do I reserve seats?
Are you asking about purchasing an individual Shinkansen ticket, or a JR Pass?
@@KenshoQuest jr pass
@@Sophie_kent Once you have your JR Pass, you can reserve seats by visiting a JR ticket office or using a Reserved Seat Ticketing Machine. If you purchase your JR Pass from a travel agent, such as Klook, you will need to wait until you pick up your actual JR Pass in Japan to reserve seats. If you purchase online through the official website japanrailpass.net/ you can reserve seats online.
Hello !! Can you suggest me the below-
M landing tokyo on 19th May.
20 & 21 - disneyland and disneysea
22-25 - 4 nights i have more in tokyo
26- i want to back in osaka by late evening.
27&28- universal studio
29-2nd June 5 nights - JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass. (I dont mind taking the JR Kansai only pass too, but not sure how will I cover Hiroshima than?)
3rd - 9 am return flight from Kansai Airport, so will stay closer to the airport on 2nd June.
Kindly assist as I am not able to chalk out my plans even after seeing most of your videos. :)
How to cover Tokyo major places without jr pass. Mt. Fuji etc.
HI, if you want to visit Hiroshima and Miyajima island then I do believe the Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass is your best choice as you have planned. You can also use the pass to ride the Haruka Express to take you to Kansai Airport. Just be sure to set your activation date to cover all the days you need.
To get to Osaka from Tokyo purchase a one way shinkansen ticket.
For your time in Tokyo you most likely do not need any type of pass. Instead using an IC card (Welcome SUICa or Pasmo Passport), which you can get upon arrival at the airport.
If you want to visit the Kawaguchiko area of Mt. Fuji then we recommend reserving the Fuji Excursion, which will take you from Shinjuku Station to Kawaguchiko station.
Here are some links for reference:
geni.us/kansaihiroshimapass
geni.us/shinkansen
Hakone free pass: th-cam.com/video/XpuGU_2zNuQ/w-d-xo.html
How to get to Mt. Fuji: th-cam.com/video/4828J9OtNiY/w-d-xo.html
How to buy shinkansen ticket: th-cam.com/video/zwMKE3pmBP4/w-d-xo.html
Can I use JR Pass for the bus in Japan?
Yes, there are JR buses included in the JR Pass, but not expressway buses. We covered exactly what's included in the Whole Japan Rail Pass in this separate video: th-cam.com/video/VyRWmVzbAjQ/w-d-xo.html
Hello, I have a question regarding the JR pass exchange order. If I purchase a 7 day pass now in September, but not arrive in Japan until February; will that make myJR pass invalid since it's well after 90 days for activation? Also is there a place I can purchase the pass now and not have an activation time on them?
Hi, correct. Unfortunately, you can only purchase a JR Pass up to 90 days in advance. Since you are traveling in February you will not be able to purchase until either November or December ( depending on your entry day in February ). Be sure to count the day of purchase and day you redeem when you count your 90 days. Once you redeem your pass you have 30 days to activate.
@@KenshoQuest Okay, Thank you for information.
I’m about to go to japan this upcoming week (8/31/23) i just got my voucher in the mail…
so i just show this to the ticket office? and then i get my JR PASS?
Yes, bring both the confirmation and your stamped passport to the JR ticket office.
Question: Not buying any passes. Do I need to pre-purchase tickets for these routes?
Plan:
- Osaka -> Kyoto -> Tokyo: From KIX, take JR Haruka to Kyoto. From Kyoto, take Shinkansen (Hikari or Nozomi) to Tokyo.
- Nikko: Use NIKKO PASS world heritage.
- Tokyo -> Hakone: Take Odakyu train from Shinjuku to Odawara, then transfer to Hakone Tozan Line.
- Hakone -> Fuji Five Lakes: Bus from Togendai to Gotemba. Then, Fujikyu Bus from Gotemba to Kawaguchiko.
- Fuji Five Lakes -> Matsumoto: Fujikyu Bus to Mishima, Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya, then Shinano Limited Express.
- Matsumoto -> Kanazawa: JR Oito Line to Shinano-Omachi. Then, Hokuriku Shinkansen from Toyama to Kanazawa.
- Kanazawa -> Hida-Takayama: Hokuriku Shinkansen to Toyama, then JR Takayama Line.
- Kyoto: JR Takayama Line to Nagoya, Tokaido Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka, then JR Kyoto Line to Kyoto.
Note: This is from September 14th to September 27th. Stopping at Kyoto for luggage (studying there for 4.5 months).
It sounds like you’ve got it pretty well figured out! Can you clarify what you mean by “pre-purchase”? Are you referring to buying tickets before arriving in Japan? Of course you will need to buy tickets for Shinkansen trains before heading to the platform. Some of the buses you may be able to pay cash or use IC card when boarding.
I mean pre-purchase as in buying at least a day before the train leaves. As far as I understand, it is okay to buy Shinkansen tickets a few hours before from the station outside of the main season. @@KenshoQuest
@@undertaker5003 I’m not familiar with every single one of those, but for the most part I think you would be fine buying tickets the day of your travels.
Hello.. u said the JR pass purchased from the JR website can be exchanged within 30 days, but the websites says 3 months.. plz confirm
Hi. The official website japanrailpass.net/ will only allow you to purchase a JR Pass up to 30 days in advance. Perhaps you were looking at another website with JR pass in the name? Travel agents can sell an Exchange Order, which must be redeemed in Japan within 90 days of purchase. 🌺 Heidi
Can someone confirm for me. I only see the JR pass for sale till end of sept. So can I get that and only activate in Nov?
Hi, the JR Pass will only be on sale at the current price until end of Sept. After that it will be on sale at the new price. If you purchase from an agent outside of Japan before end of Sept, then yes, you can activate in November, since you will have 90 days to do so.
or use you smart phone to get suica with the phones RF ID
Yes, we didn't mention about getting an IC card on an iPhone. I have one set up on my phone. The main limitation is that we only charge it using cash at the machine. We don't have it set up to charge our credit card, as our particular credit card would count that as a cash advance. 🌺 Heidi
A confusing thing I saw on another video: a guy with a JR Pass bought a Shinkansen ticket with a reserved seat. The machine issued two pieces of paper. What do you use at the automated gate? He couldn't get through the gate. The video comments were confusing, some people said to feed your JR Pass and the ticket into the gate. How exactly? One immediately after the other? This could be really confusing to a 1st time traveler. You have a JR Pass, a Shinkansen ticket, and a seat reservation. Three pieces of paper that all look similar. Exactly what do you use at the gate and how??
Hi. When we were using the JR Pass, most of the time we only fed the JR Pass through the automatic gate. We held onto the seat reservation tickets for reference. There was once or twice that we fed our JR Pass plus train ticket through at the same time, the two stacked together. We did this based upon instructions from the gate attendant. By default, I would insert only the JR Pass. If that doesn’t work (it rejects it and makes a noise) then try asking an attendant or stacking the tickets. 🌺 Heidi
As someone with an disability, when entering into the country by the border does the border let the disabled go immediately to the border office and receive an temporary stamp for the travels? Usually when i show my disability card at the Heathrow Border lines/office they'd let you pass quicker as an disability person, but not sure how it's like in Japan, specially at the Narita Airport.
Also for passports, would I need an visa to enter Japan if lets say my passport is an Israeli Passport?
This video so far is super helpful, im traveling for 21 days, it's been a big dream of mine since as a kid
Hi. In Japan there is usually a priority line at immigration for "disabled, pregnant, families with babies, etc". Japan is very good about that type of thing. I do not know which countries require a visa to visit Japan. You might check with your Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Thank you so much for such a detailed explanation. >< Just wanted to check if its worth it to buy a 14 day JR pass traveling from Tokyo >Kyoto >Osaka > Kyoto >Nara >Tokyo? We be traveling from 16th November and going for 17 days. If we do buy the JR pass, we need to make sure to order it before 30th Sept which is soon! However, we are conflicted because our online search says normal shinkansen is a little bit cheaper than JR pass but unsure if that is accurate.
HI, glad the video is helpful :) The length of the JR Pass you need depends on when you need to be taking the shinkansen. If you are doing your loop within a 7 day period then maybe you only need a 7 day pass. For instance, if you start in Tokyo but do not leave for Kyoto for a few days then head to south and only spend about 7 days in the Kyoto Osaka area then you might be able to get by with only a 7 day pass.
Now if you're doing a lot of traveling between cities during the 14 day period then the 14 day pass would be worth it at the current lower price. It is true that purchasing individual shinkansen tickets may be cheaper but please consider the convenience of the JR Pass. You can hop on and off pretty much anytime and not have to worry about the schedule of individual tickets. Also, with the JR Pass you can ride on local JR Trains, this will be more useful in the Tokyo area and Osaka and if you time it right you will be able to use it to get back to the airport as well.
Also, if you can avoid purchasing on 30 Sept, please purchase sooner as things can go wrong, systems can be down...
I hope this helps, let us know if you have further questions :)
@@KenshoQuest thank you so much !! Most of our activities are in Osaka and Kyoto and we staying there for 10 days which doesn't work for the 7 day pass and 14 days is a bit of stretch for 2 rides. But we like the convenience of the JR pass. Without the pass, is getting the individual ticket in person difficult for foreigners? And queuing time too since alot of people are traveling in Japan.
@@aoisky5475 the shinkansen ticketing machines can be very crowded at times which can make it difficult. But you can also purchase them from the ticketing office which is the easiest method but there might be a long line here too. For the Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka area the easiest way to purchase is online through Klook. You will receive a QR code which you scan on the ticketing machine to get your shinkansen ticket. There is one more method using SmartEX. Again we will have videos on both of these soon. But if you need it right away, Klook is pretty easy for your route.
@@KenshoQuestThank you!! We looking to book the shinkansen tickets though Klook but it doesn't mention which station 'name' just the city... does the ticket work in all the stations? Thanks >
When buying a Shinkansen ticket on Klook, it is for a specific departure station and specific arrival station. It can only be used for the trip you book. Some station names are the same as city names (Tokyo, Kyoto). Here is our video showing how to buy train tickets on Klook: th-cam.com/video/zwMKE3pmBP4/w-d-xo.html@@aoisky5475
I'm trying to purchase the rail pass through the official website but it's trying to charge my credit card $50,000 instead of 50,000 yen.🤨
It should only be 50,000 Yen. Is the website you’re using
japanrailpass.net/en/ ?
I think if you're just visiting the big 3: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, then you don't need the JR pass.
Yeah, the JR Pass is no longer financially worth it if just visiting those 3 cities. In that case it's better just to buy individual Shinkansen tickets: th-cam.com/video/zwMKE3pmBP4/w-d-xo.html
lets go....hopefully the price increase will be small.....
This video is not helpful. It's very annoying. It's not a "beginner" guide at all. WAYYYY too much useless information.
What would you like to know about the JR Pass?
@@KenshoQuest Don't assume we know the difference between all rail networks. It's an overload of information. Which is the entire reason folks are searching out this video.
@@VJ4rawr2 Sorry, I’m still not clear what you are saying. If you are wondering exactly which transportation is covered by the JR Pass, we explain that in the follow-up video: th-cam.com/video/VyRWmVzbAjQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=eG3DTEsaCAfKAGUl