Thank you for the helpful video. I've read many websites on the Japan Rail Pass but it was your video that clearly explained the pros and cons of buying the pass online from JR directly vs. buying from an agent.
Thank you for watching. I'm glad you found the video useful. The price difference between agency and official site will be gone after the price hike in October 1.
We are going to Japan next week this video was very informative and it helped us a lot! Thank you for making the time to record it and edit it, it is a great video!! Thank you so much!!
Thanks for the great video. I am going in less than two weeks and I will watch this video again before I leave to prepare myself for when I pick up my pass!
Thank you for the great content. I purchased my JR pass online and already made the reservations online prior to arriving in Japan. Fantastic and so helpful!!!
Did you buy it from the official website? If so, did you show them your email confirmation of buying the tickets and they gave you your rail pass? Trying to figure out how they know you purchsed it from the official website and if you can pick up the pass anywhere when buying it from the official site. Thanks!
@@petertimberlake7345 Hi. They find out from the confirmation number and name in your email. It has to match with your passport information that you type when you purchase. You don't get any physical exchange order. Mr.Gerald in the video couldn't receive actual mail as he was traveling different parts of the world, so he purchased from the official site and booked all seats before he arrives Japan. Hope it helps. :)
こんにちは Kenchan, my journey in Japan will end today. Thank you so much for your information that really helped me to get the most of this JR Pass. どうもありがとうございます 😊
Oh wow! That's great you could get the most of the JR Pass! I hope you enjoyed the travel. Have a safe and great trip back to your country, and hopefully visit Japan someday again. ありがとうございました！
Kengo-san thank you so much for this valuable information. I’m going to Japan this summer and i still vague about JR Pass but this video help me so much about which train could go by JR and which isn’t. Have a great day Kengo-san! Once again thank you🙏🏼
Puji san, thank you for watching this video and your kind comment. I hope the video could give you some ideas and you enjoy your Japan trip in summer. Have a great day / evening. :)
Dear Kenchan-san, Another great vlog from you, very instructive and useful. I have always felt that Japanese trains are beautiful and superb, yet at the same time, a bit chaotic! So thanks for excellent JR Pass overview!! I can't wait for my Shinkansen/bento trip from Tokyo to Kobe this summer..
Thank you for watching Albie san always. I'm glad the video was useful. Wow, you are going many places in Japan this summer from Okinawa to Tokyo! Yes, it's always fun to eat bento on Shinkansen. ^^
Excellent and very relevant video. I was thinking about waiting until arriving at Shinjuku station to redeem the JR pass, hoping for a shorter line than at the airport. Thank you for checking multiple locations and confirming this.
Thank you for watching and your comment. Yes, Shinjuku has 2 counters and this is the one under the bus terminal near Southern Terrace Exit. The one in the East exit I saw long line (not as bad as Tokyo Station). This might be just the day I saw and it can change depends on the time of the day. The counter at Narita can be quite long after a long flight. If it's not that bad when you pass by, maybe you can drop in. 👍
Hi Kenchan, Thank you for the video. Your video (and a couple others) helped a great deal. We just came back from a 2-week trip and we had a 14-day JR Pass which we used every day. On many days, we went on trip that required 1 transfer, and we were able to make the transfer. We bought from an agency and reserved seats a day before. On a day trip from Kyoto to Hiroshima, the reserved cars were full for the time we selected so we just went in the unreserved car with no issue. In Tokyo Station, the ticket agent spoke English well. In Kyoto, the agent spoke into a tablet which transcribed in English. We used Navi Time Japan app to show the agents the trains we needed seat reservations. We also wrote them down when we asked for 3 different routes and that helped a lot. We also showed people or a train employee the seat reservation ticket to confirn that we are on the right train, just to be sure. Thanks again.
This was a great and informative video. Well done thank you. It solidifies my decision to avoid the pass for my itinerary if I can get the 21 day advanced discount.
Thank you for your video Kenchan. So informative!👍 One thing I'd like to know is, if i planned to go to Kyoto from Kumamoto, is it covered by the JR PASS or I need to purchase another one?
Yes, you can take Shinkansen from Kumamoto to Kyushu and it's covered by this JR Pass, except "Nozomi" and "Mizuho" Shinkansen. Thank you for watching. I hope you have a great trip. :)
Very good information, however I was looking for more info about voucher exchange places (concierge, travel ctr, ticket places in NRT, both Narita airport station and second building station. Hours at each places are different, but would like to know how crowded they are. We are staying at airport hotel and considering coming back to NRT at 6:30am for ticketing office. I’m bit worried since I need to be in Kyoto by 2pm on the same day. Knowing the risk, maybe I should line up on the day of plane’s arrival instead of next morning …could be more than 60 mins in line. (72 international flights arrive between noon and 18:00) Based on international arrivals, 6:00-9:00 shows only 6 international flights arrive, so definitely tempting during that time for exchange. Do you have any information about how crowded at each places and time frames?? Thx again for valuable info
Thank you for watching. Oh wow you did lots of research. I saw about 30-40 people in line at JR ticket counter at T1 (before the travel center opens). This was at 8am on this day. If you go there at 6:30, line should be shorter. You arrive Kyoto by 2 if you leave NRT before 10, so no worry about it, but you might be able to sleep longer if you exchange a day before depends on how tired you are. Have a great trip. :)
@@tokyokenchan That’s a great insight info, which I couldn’t find anywhere. I’m asking my sister to contact Kyoto Midori no madoguchi that NRT ticketing office also exchanges the voucher (6:30-8:30 and 20:00-21:45) as addition to the main JR East Travel center. The specific office must be picking up the slot for the JR East Travel concierge center (8:30-19:00.) Also, there is a Travel Center (10:00-18:00.) My understanding is 3 locations to exchange voucher at T1 (2 locations at T2.) Your information was great appreciated. Thx!!!
Hi. Thanks for the video. Will be going from Tokyo (4 days) to Kyoto (2 days) to Osaka (3 days) with day trips to Hakone, Nara and Kobe in between. For example, will be doing round trips from Tokyo to Hakone, Tokyo to Yokohama, Osaka to Nara, Osaka to Kobe. Flying into HND and out of KIX. Will a 7 day JR pass be worth it or ok without?
Hello. Thank you for watching. If you fly in to HND and out from KIX, it might not pay off the pass price. You might be able to save a bit by online booking Smart EX. This video about online booking might help too. th-cam.com/video/zjiIWXZNr5Q/w-d-xo.html
Hi. I’m planning for a bike touring trip to Wakayama and will be bringing my bicycle. It will be packed in a proper bike bag. Can I bring my bike bag on to the JR train from Kansai airport to Wakayama? Thanks!
@@JoshuaNg-ud9ed Yes you can. There is a photo instruction here: faq-support.westjr.co.jp/hc/en-us/articles/8880731490575-Can-I-take-my-bike-or-other-large-luggage-on-board-with-me
Kenchan, do you have Hakone video? I really appreciate If you can make a video of Owakudani and Hakone trip. BTW, I haven’t seen any video that you are driving a car during your trip. Is driving a hassle than train if we are traveling with kids
Hi. Only recent Okinawa video is by driving, but I just came back from Kyushu driving trip. I use public transportation because most travelers hesitate to drive in Japan, but there are lots of place you can only access by car. If you are visiting major cities, it might be a bit challenging to drive a car for some drivers and train might be easier, but car is better to go to suburbs or countryside with children. I explain a bit about the rental car in the beginning part of Okinawa video.
I am arriving in Japan in September, however I don’t need a pass until about halfway through my trip. Does the pass start the day you pick it up? Or does it start on your arrival date in Japan?
Hello. You don't have to receive the pass on the day you arrive Japan. You can receive anytime while you are in Japan. You can also set the date of start later, and not the day you receive the pass. Hope you have a great trip in Japan. :)
Thank you so much. This is so informative. I had no idea that we can reserve seat one month in advance. We are traveling during Christmas and New Year season. It’s really going to help.
@@vwlover5450 Thank you for watching. If you purcahse at the official site, you can make reservation in advance. The reservation starts a month prior to the date you take each train.
Kengo-San! You make the most informative videos! We learned so much watching your videos that we didn’t know. This past trip we had 14 day pass and we made so good use of it all over. Even to Kusatsu Onsen! We went into and out of many train stations just to buy dinner or to shop and the pass comes in so handy even if you don’t ride train. Arigatou Kengo-San!!🙋🏻♂️
Davy san, thank you for watching this video too! Probably you know more than me about the pass. ^^ Oh that's a great idea to use the pass to go through or go in to the stations! Thank you for sharing. 🚃
Hi Ken-chan. I bought the pass from Klook. Once arrived in Japan, do I have to go to JR Office to exchange the pass or I can just use green machine to get the JR Pass. Prefer machine coz always no queue there.
Hi, thank you for watching. As for the JR Pass, everyone has to go to the office once to receive the actual pass. It's same even if you purchase on the official site. If you are not using right away after your arrival, you might be able to find somewhere with less crowds in Tokyo.
You can use JR pass for routes between JR Kyoto station to Saga-Arashiyama (7min. walk from major parts of Arashiyama) and Kyoto to Inari (Fushimi Inari). That is the major routes you can use JR pass inside Kyoto city. :)
Hello. For train, take Nankai line from KIX (regular trains or "Rapit") to Namba, and change to Kintetsu line to Kintetsu Nara station. As of today, the bus from KIX to Nara is not operating. www.kate.co.jp/en/timetable/detail/NR
Thank you for your informative JR Pass info!!! I have a family of 7 arriving in Japan in November. 10 days of passes are needed and I liked the idea of getting a 3-day Tokyo pass and 7-day whole JR pass. Can the JR ticket counter at Narita Term 1 exchange my vouchers or do I have to go to the JR Pass Service Center. Which will accommodate my arrival time at 530pm? We will be on the train the next day for Osaka from Narita airport Term 2. Thank you for any and all help...
Hello. Thank you for watching. The service center at NRT opens until 19:00 it says. Please make sure to get the pass within September at agency if you'd like to get the price before going up. www.jreast.co.jp/e/customer_support/service_center.html
Thanks for the video! One question I have, if I’m going from Osaka to Nara To kyoto and finally to Tokyo is Suica card enough or do I need to get a pass. Thanks!
When using the jr pass from Kyoto to Tokyo, what rail would you use? In most websites I look through only show the nozomi Shinkansen which is the a rail we can’t use with the jr pass? So what can we use to get back to to Tokyo with our jr pass?
You can use Hikari instead of Nozomi. It's on the same route called Tokaido Shinkansen. Hikari stops 2-3 more stations comparing with Nozomi, and it takes a little longer.
@@tokyokenchan thank you very much for the information! Many of the websites I was looking at didn’t explain that we can use hikari for the jr pass to get back to Tokyo!
Hello! Yes, if you like to get on green car of other trains, you need to make reservations since all green cars are reserved seats. No need for regular JR trains in the city.
Dear Kenchan-San, thank you for the great video. We will arrive at Narita airport on terminal 3. According to JR there is no service station there. Do you know if we can get to terminal 1 or 2, or do we have to pick up our railway pass in the city? Best regards, Luca
Hello. In case you take JR line, the nearest station from T3 is Terminal 2 station. So you can go to the counter at T2. If you don’t use the pass soon, you can also move to the city by bus and go to counter at Tokyo station or in others stations. Please call me Kenchan. :) Thank you for watching.
hi, i'd like to ask something about West JR pass for 1 day. If I've purchased the pass through klook, is it usable for haruka train from KIX to Osaka Sta? And do I need spend another money to get the ticket from vending machine in KIX before boarding to the train? thanks in advance!
Hi. Yes, you can use it for Haruaka. The KIX station is right in front of the airport, so you only need to go to the JR counter and recieve the pass and make reservation for Haruka. For KIX-Osaka, you don't need any extra money. Have a great trip. :)
Hi, may I know if the JR pass covers JR line in the Hokkaido region? Do I need to get another JR pass for my travel there? I am planning to visit quite a few places in the Hokkaido region. Thank you.
Kengo-san, I have a question. If I purchsae the pass from the official site, do I still have to stand in line with the exchange order to get the pass at Narita?
Hello. In this case almost everyone purchased from agencies so he could skip the line, but not sure from now on. You might need to be in the line anyway, but the line may get shorter as less people purchase the pass.
can i benefit from the JR pass to travel within Tokyo subway? or it is only for traveling between cities within japan. do i have to get a suica ic card along with the jr pass?
Hi. You don't get any benefit of getting JR pass if you are staying in Tokyo. Getting an IC card might make your trip go smoother. Have a great trip. :)
Hi thank you for your kind reply. am still confused here. so the jr pass is for traveling through cities within the jr line right? but i cant use it inside tokyo sub systems so i have to get an ic card right? @@tokyokenchan
@@Pale_Crow Right. You can use JR pass across Japan as long as its JR line including most of the Shinkansens (bullet trains), and of course JR lines in Tokyo. But considering the price of the pass, it's not necessary to get the pass for just being in Tokyo. In Tokyo, there are (1)JR lines and (2)subways, and (3)private railways. You can use JR pass only for (1)JR line, but not for subways and other trains. If you have IC card (prepaid and top up as the balance goes down) , you can get on any of (1)-(3) without purchasing tickets, which is easier. Please let me know if there is something not clear. 👍
Thank you for the video! I am confused about one thing. When you exit the big stations like Shinjuku station, do you put your Jr pass inside the ticket exit gate?
Yes, you usually insert your pass to the gate when you enter and leave the statoin. Only some stations in rural area, you can show to the staff if they don't have the machine. Thank you for watching. :)
Wife and I just returned. We used ours extensively and the gates did not eat them up. We also kept ours nice and flat in a plastic ID card holder separate from our actual tickets.
I will arrive at the Narita Airport. From there I’ll go to Tokyo, then Kyoto and Osaka for a total of 11 days. Do I need to get just one JR Pass? If so, which one, JR East, or JR West, or JR Central…, or does it matter? One JR pass can be used on all rails to some extend?
Hello. If 11 days, 7 days pass cannot cover your itinerary and 14 days pass doesn't pay off with your itinerary, so you might not need any pass for your itinerary. You can consider Narita Express round trip tickets and online reservation (Smart EX) for Shinkansen that you might be able to save more than the pass.
I am coming to your wonderful country in January. I am unsure whether to do a short stay in Tokyo the travel south on the jr pass, or head south in day 1 then work my way back to Tokyo for a week there. Anyone gave input? Suggestions? Also, I have heavy but warm and waterproof boots. Should those be brought for January weather and walking?
My wife and I just returned from our long-overdue annual, 2+ weeks cherry blossom trip. We always activate our JR pass the day after we arrive so not to use up a day on the pass and save Tokyo for the end of our tip for easy airport access on the Narita Express, and to do shopping and eating.
You can purchase with the same price as the official website until March 2024 according to the official website. But the refund policy and some rules are different from official website.. Unless you have a specific reason, I recommend you to purchase online at the official website.
Hello! If I buy the JR pass through an agency, Can I use only unreserved cars if I want to? (for my route that includes Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima). Another question, I need to exchange the voucher for the JR pass as soon as I arrive in Japan, this pass they give me, is it valid for the tickets? What do I have to show to enter and exit the shinkansen/train/metro?
Hello. The JR pass you get at agencies and official site are the same. You can use your JR pass to reserve seats for no additional cost. You can exchange your pass at the airport if you need to, and make reservation for your destination.
@@annetteperez9195 Oh then you might not be able to get enough of JR pass. It depends on what your other plans are (day trips etc), but if you are arriving Haneda and making a round trip to Kyoto, not necessary. My "JR Pass alternative" video also might help to save some more. th-cam.com/video/zjiIWXZNr5Q/w-d-xo.html
Do NOT activate your JR Pass the same day you arrive in HND unless your flight gets in very early in the morning and you plan to get to Kyoto (or somewhere far) right away.
Thank you so much for explaining all the options of getting JR pass. The video is very detailed. I do have a question regarding using JR pass on non-JR railway. For example, if I book train ticket from Tokyo to Kawaguchiko station using Jr pass, do I get one ticket and pay additional fee for the segment between Otsuki to Kawaguchiko ? Or do I use Jr pass to go from Tokyo to Otsuki, get off the train at Otsuki station and buy a separate ticket to Kawaguchiko using Fujikyu train? I would prefer the first option if that’s possible. Thank you.
Thank you for watching. Yes, you can pay the additional cost at the station you get off. But you can make payment when you reserve your seat at the counter too. As for Fuji Excursion, it's almost impossible to get non-reserved seats, so I recommend you to make reservation, and consider the bus if the train is full.
I plan to travel for 8 days and getting the 7-day JR Pass. Is there any option what to use on the 8th day to still go around Tokyo and also take the Narita Express?
Hi. I can't think of any pass that can be good just for one day for your last day here, so either purchase the tickets separately or you can also take another cheaper way like Skyliner or bus, depends on where you stay in Tokyo. :)
@@tokyokenchan I just saw the Suica & N’Ex package. So I just thought to use it on the 1st Day and 2nd to 8th Day the JR pass. Thanks for all your videos.😊
Thank you Kenchan for the very informative video. I am planning a trip for 5 people in June. We will land in Fukuoka and then go to Hiroshima, Osaka and fly out of Tokyo. If we purchase our JR Rail Pass from the official website will we be able to reserve seats for all 3 legs of our trip online before we arrive in Japan? Will we able to reserve all 5 seats at the same time or do we have to do each seat separately? Thank you for all of your videos - I look forward to your videos 👍😊
Hello Yamamoto san. Thank you for watching. Yes, in case you purchase from the official site, you can reserve those routes online from a month before the each train trip. The official site says you can purchase up to 6 in addition to the main person, so you might be able to reserve together if purchased by one person. But in case you purchase separately, maybe each of you can reserve seat and choose the seats next to each other. :)
My wife and I just returned from a long-awaited 2-weeks trip. I opted out of buying the passes through the JR official site to save $ and used one of the JR vending machines very early in the morning (in Hiroshima actually) and printed out a bunch of tickets.
aren't the the paper JR pass's done with though? I heard they're now actual cards and you still need to use the JR station to reserve the shinkansen tickets
Thanks for the video! Two quick questions: 1) if I want to go to Shimoda/Izu, and part of the route is not covered by JR pass, how does that work? Would I just use SUICA at the Atami station transfer gate? And would I need to buy a limited express reservation ticket first? Thanks! 2) when did the JR pass become a ticket the machine can read?
In case you take local train from Atami (like the one I took around 3:33 of this video:th-cam.com/video/gjAOOMAZyeA/w-d-xo.html) you can just get on with IC card to Shimoda as it's all non-reserved seats. If you take Odoriko from Tokyo, you can make reservation and pay at the counter for Izukyu part. It seems JR pass became tickets in 2020. They also opened the official site during pandemic.
JR System is efficient in reservation, this is also yet to be incorporated in numerous malls, kiosk-reservations-Foreign services desk/counter(s) for the purpose of reconciliations in businesses, ease of work, configurability and being efficient as well in foreign exchange fees-handling time amongst countries. This JR cards are efficient, tried it at some of the railway at H.K and you can use it to purchase Items inside H.K railway or outside railway at malls, Kowloon, Victoria park, The Peak, its points system that the card has and it is good for the stay and transfers from H.K and province areas and establishments. H.K Congratulations, JP-JR and countries, these can be incorporated as well. Xiexie, Xiu-Haik!
Planing to go to Japan In Middle March 2024, noticed that JR pass for 21 days prices are going up in October. If i buy the pass around on 26th September 2023, Activate the pass in Japan on 22nd March. Will it be valid for 21days after activation? Many thanks
Hello. Unfortunately, the pass is valid for 3 months after the purchase to be activated, and you can set the start the date within a month when you activate in Japan. So if JR sells the pass with current price until the end of September (they haven't published actual date of raise), the latest day to start the pass will be January 2024. :(
Hello! Thank you so much for your great video! I'm going to visit Japan next month and planning to book JR Pass from Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo-Osaka. I would like to ask you about what JR Pass can cover, can we also use the JR Pass ticket when we take the train in Osaka? Does it cover like Osaka Metro or other main trains/subways in the other city? Thank you so much..
Hello. Sorry for my late response. You can use the JR pass only for JR lines in Osaka city. It's not usable for Osaka Metro and other private railways. You might be able to get different passes to get around Oaska.
@@tokyokenchan Thank you so much for your reply. I will get Suica later and maybe take the JR lines so that I can use my JR pass too. Thank you again! :)
Hi, thank you before for the great video! I was thinking to buy Hokuriku Arch Pass because but I'm still confused if it does cover the private lines such as Osaka Metro, Keihan ER, Hankyu Railway, Osaka Metro, Keifuku ER because I'm going to Kyoto, Nara etc. Hope you can answer it, thanks :D
Thank you so much for this detailed video. If I order from the JR site does that mean the voucher can/will be sent by email? Will I be able to show the email to exchange for pass in Japan?
I saved $ by ordering a JR Pass from an online agent. Being able to reserve seats online was not important for me since I was able to reserve and print all my tickets from one of the new vending machines. And even if you buy your pass through JR’s official site, you still have to stand in line like everyone else to claim your physical pass when you arrive.
hello kenchan! thanks for the informative video :) i have purchased the jr pass from an agency and was wondering if we have to know the exact date and station to reserve our seats on the shinkansen to the counter staffs for them to proceed with my reservation?
Amanda san, thank you for watching. :) Yes, you can reserve the seats for the specific train, so date and time, origin and destination have to be provided. For the train time, they can check available train for you. If you don't want to decide yet, you can also make reservation after you make decision during your trip. Hope it helps. :)
Thank you for this video. I have a question please. I'm travelling to Japan in October with my cousin and we would like to reserve a few train trips before we leave. Our problem is we are coming from 2 different countries and meeting up in Tokyo to start our trip. If we reserve tickets on the official site, before leaving for Japan, how do we ensure we are sitting together on the train? We are purchasing our JR Pass separately from each other. We would like to book our first destination which is Takayama and looks like we will be there for the Autumn festival (Oct 9), lovely. We have booked accomodation already thankfully, as it will be busy.
For a family traveling together I know each member must have his own pass. My question Is for the reservación of a seat. The reservation Is one member at a time or how can all make the reservation and get seated together? Would It be better to make reservation at the counter?
Hello. On the machine, the option comes up "how many people traveling with you" and ask you to scan all JR passes. So you can reserve seats altogether. The counter is also ok.
My wife and I just returned from a 2-weeks trip and found the vending machines fun and easy to use. The two minus are that you have to enter all the passport #s over and over again. (I'd already memorized ours so the process was easier.) Also, the passport # you enter must correspond to the right JR pass holder. If not then you have to start all over. (The last 4 digits of the passport # is at the left bottom corner of the physical pass.) The second and the biggest downside to the machine is that you cannot cancel/undo once the tickets are printed out so you have to go inside the JR ticket office which is a real pain because lines can be really long. Hope this helps.
I only want to go from Yokosuka to Kyoto for two days and then I will be returning. Is it worth it to buy the JR pass or just a regular one way ticket to Kyoto and then back? I am from the US? :)
You might not save much with JR Pass if you just make one round trip to Kyoto. If you use online reservations in advance, it gets cheaper. Also if you live here, you may not be able to get Jr pass. Have a great trip. :)
Hi Kengo-San, I have purchased a Railpass for my trip in 2 weeks and I was wondering if you would know how I could get to Arakurayama sengen park from Tokyo? And my trip ends before golden week, My trip is 12th - 28th so would my trip be considered during peak period?
Hi, the Golden Week starts on 29th, so you are safe. :) I have detailed guide for the park (Chureito) here th-cam.com/video/XBAvctn-88g/w-d-xo.html . JR pass doesn't cover routes there, so you need some additional cost for the Fujikyu railway. Have a great trip in Japan. :)
Hey you, thank you so much for your video! It is super informational and well described. I have one additional question: When I have the JR Pass, do I still have to reserve tickets in advance to my trip. Let's say if I want to go from Tokyo to Kyoto - can I just hop on the train or do I have to get the tickets in advance. I would really appreciate your help :) best wishes
Hello Markos san, you can do both. If you like to guarantee your seats, you can reserve your seats which works especially when you get on from the middle station. You can also hop on Hikari's non-reserved seats (Car 1-5). You can be in the line and get seats if getting on from first station such as Tokyo and Shin-Osaka/Okayama.
Hi Kenchan, thank you for the informative explanation! I have purchased the JR Hokuriku Arch Pass, however I'm still a bit confused about it. Does JR Hokuriku Arch Pass also covers conventional lines in Tokyo? If it does, what lines does it cover? Thank you so much! Have a nice day :D
I have an urgent question!!! So, my husband and I are traveling Japan this may. However I will be staying in Japan a little over a month before my husband arrives. We planned on using the jr pass once my husband comes. That means I will be in japan more than a month before I activate the jr pass, is that possible????
The official website seems to be "currently unavailable for maintenance purposes" for months now. Does it only work on specific times? That's what I read on reddit.
@@PenguinWithAGuitar Yes it does especially if you are traveling during the peak seasons. But two weeks ago during the peak cherry blossom season I used a vending machine at a JR Station at 6am while everyone was still asleep and reserved and printed all my tickets on the shinkansens for about 8-9 legs, and got seats together with my wife! Maybe I was just lucky. Have fun!
Hello Kengo! Thanks for your informative videos - I'll be taking a 21 day solo trip to Japan in November and I want to focus on solely exploring Tokyo (mainly because I'm also lazy to travel outside of a region at a time 😆). Is it recommended to buy a JR rail pass, or would the regular suica/pasmo card suffice?
Hello, thank you for watching. That's exciting you'll stay here for 21 days! I think in that case you mainly stay in Tokyo, you can travel without this JR pass. You can get around with IC card.:) I wish you the best Autumn stay in Tokyo!
@@tokyokenchan Thanks for the reply! But would it be more convenient/time-saving if I were to use the JR pass to travel around Tokyo? Or does it make no difference with the regular IC card?
There is no specific rules except Tokaido Shinkansen. You can get on either non-reserved seats or reserved seats. On Tokaido Shinkansen, rule wise, you need to make a reservation for seats with oversized baggage space.
Hi Kenchan. I know there's always a long line at the ticket office to exchange for the JR Pass. Can I skip the line if I purchased through the official website and show them the email?
Hi. That was what happened at Narita T1 counter, but it's not like there is a separate line, so not guaranteed. I guess most of the travelers purchase from the agency. We were told to leave the line and come to the desk with staff. Sorry I couldn't be of your help.
I arrived in NRT a week ago. There was one line, everyone was in the same line, no ‘express lane.’ That was one of the reasons I did not buy it from the official site.
my family is planning a short trip in january (4 days 3 nights). landing in Osaka, day trip to Tokyo, then Kyoto and back to Osaka. is it advisable to get the jr pass or not?
For the route, I personally recommend online reservation which is cheaper and no need to be in the line, especially if you travel in a short time period.
Hello! If I order from the official JR pass website, do they ship it to me? Other websites mention a 2 day shipping time to receive it but I can’t find any information on the official website. I know I’m supposed to activate it over there.
Hello. If you purchase from official site, you only receive email so show that to the counter staff and you receive the pass. You don't get anything in actual mail. You can make reservation for trains after you purchase even before your arrival to Japan.
Hello. Yes, you can use the JR pass for Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto (the route is called Tokaido Shinkansen, and service name is Hikari). You can take seat E (regular car) or D (Green Car -1st class) to see Mt.Fuji. Hope you have a great time.
Hello Kenchan I'll be around 30 days in Japan soon, I wonder why there's no 30-days pass... do you know if it's possible for 1 person to buy 2 different tickets (1x 21 day-pass and 1x 7 day-pass) and combine them? I'd use the 7 day pass first, make a short break and then use the 21 day pass afterwards separately. I can't find any info if that's possible or not and why there's no 30-days pass
For my taste its to complicated. I saw a lot of other Videos here about travel in Japan and I have the feeling, that driving with busses is much easier. Exspecial if you are use overnight busses. Or another option use a ferry over night. And the prizes are okay, cause you make two things in one, ride and sleep like in a hotel. 😌
When deciding whether or not to get the JR pass I ran into a bit of a wrinkle. I need to take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Takayama right before the autumn festival, and to make sure I can get a seat I want to reserve it as far in advance as possible. Which means even if I get the JR pass I'll still be stuck paying full price for that ticket 😵
Hi. Right, if you try to use JR Pass and and try to get a seat in busy season, it's better to get at the official site and book a month before the date. The sales for Golden Week starts in a few days ( a month before Apr.29), and the major trains in good time is probably difficult to reserve after arriving in Japan. I wish you good luck. Festival sounds good!
@@tokyokenchanplease advise what pass shall I buy if I will stay in tokyo for few days then go to osaka 3 days and day trip to Kyoto and return to Tokyo . Thank you in advance
Hi Kenchan! In the JR official website says that you can also purchase the JR pass in Japan.. is it correct? did you see any tourists buying it in Narita Airport? I'm from Argentina and it's a little complicated purchasing the JR passes online (because we have a lot of taxes!). Thank you for your videos! :)
Yes, the site says you can purchase until March 2024. I was actually talking with a person purchasing the pass at the counter without any reservation, but she disappeared from the line while I was filming.
I purchased 2 tickets through Japan Experience, very reliable site, with fast free shipping and no tax. (Not sure why there is so much tax in Argentina.)
Damn, after many years of watching videos of Japan, I can’t believe tomorrow I’m finally using my jrpass, dreams do come true ❤
Oh wow! That's amazing! I wish you the best train trip in Japan with JR pass!! Thank you for your comment. :)
how it was?
@ better than I could have imagined
@@PersonalVx nice man! I´ll be in Tokyo in 2 weeks, can´t wait
Thanks sir.
Very good info & explanation.
We will be in Japan December 8 and thank you for this video Kenchan. It made it a little easier for me
That's great you are visiting here soon! Have a great trip in Japan. :)
Thanks for the info!
Thank you so much for your support for the video. Have a great trip in Japan. :)
Thank you for the helpful video. I've read many websites on the Japan Rail Pass but it was your video that clearly explained the pros and cons of buying the pass online from JR directly vs. buying from an agent.
Thank you for watching. I'm glad you found the video useful. The price difference between agency and official site will be gone after the price hike in October 1.
Hi. Thanks for making this very informative video.
Thank you for watching. I hope you have a great trip in Japan. :)
Great video! Thank you for all of the helpful information!
We are going to Japan next week this video was very informative and it helped us a lot! Thank you for making the time to record it and edit it, it is a great video!! Thank you so much!!
Thank you for watching and your kind message about the video. I'm glad you found the video helpful. I wish you the best trip in Japan! :)
Hi, Very happy to found your video here, it’s really useful information for me to plan the Japan trip for my family❤
Thank you for sharing😊
Thank you for watching the video. I hope you and your family have a great trip in Japan. :)
Thanks for the great video. I am going in less than two weeks and I will watch this video again before I leave to prepare myself for when I pick up my pass!
Thank you for watching. That's exciting you are coming here soon! I wish you the best train trip in Japan. :)
This was such a helpful video thank you!
Thank you for the great content. I purchased my JR pass online and already made the reservations online prior to arriving in Japan. Fantastic and so helpful!!!
Thank you for watching! That's great you purchased from the official site and have everything ready. Have a great trip in Japan. :)
Did you buy it from the official website? If so, did you show them your email confirmation of buying the tickets and they gave you your rail pass? Trying to figure out how they know you purchsed it from the official website and if you can pick up the pass anywhere when buying it from the official site. Thanks!
Good question Peter! Dont you need the physical exchange order?
@@petertimberlake7345 Hi. They find out from the confirmation number and name in your email. It has to match with your passport information that you type when you purchase. You don't get any physical exchange order. Mr.Gerald in the video couldn't receive actual mail as he was traveling different parts of the world, so he purchased from the official site and booked all seats before he arrives Japan. Hope it helps. :)
@@eurialofelici9310 Hi. You don't need physical exchange order in case you purchase from official site. You need it if you purchase from agency. 👍
Very helpful, thanks. I will be in JP in June/July.
Thank you for watching and your comment. I wish you the best trip in early summer. :)
Thank you for all the great info. I've been having fun planning my trip so your useful videos have been a great help.
Thank you for watching. I'm glad you found my videos helpful. :) Wish you the best trip in Japan.
Thanks a lot for this video…I was lost before on how to proceed with the registration. I follow step by step and was super easy.
Thank you for watching. I'm glad you found out your way. :)
こんにちは Kenchan, my journey in Japan will end today. Thank you so much for your information that really helped me to get the most of this JR Pass. どうもありがとうございます 😊
Oh wow! That's great you could get the most of the JR Pass! I hope you enjoyed the travel. Have a safe and great trip back to your country, and hopefully visit Japan someday again. ありがとうございました！
Thank you so much Kengo San for a detailed explanation of the JR pass. My sister and I will be traveling soon to Japan.
You are very welcome. Wow that's great you are visiting here soon! I wish you and your sister the best trip in Japan. 😄
Hai! Arigatogozaimasu!! We’ll be there next month, October 😅
Great video, Arigato!
Thank you for watching. :)
Thanks for an awesome breakdown Ken. JR are about to hike their prices something serious from October onward.
Thank you for watching. Yes, I made some videos about it. :)
Your videos are always very clear and thorough 👍. Thank you!
Thank you for watching! 👍
I get to use my JR pass in 8 days I’m super excited ahhhh
This was so helpful
Thank you so much 🙏🏻
I'm glad you found the video helpful. Thank you for watching!
Kengo-san thank you so much for this valuable information. I’m going to Japan this summer and i still vague about JR Pass but this video help me so much about which train could go by JR and which isn’t. Have a great day Kengo-san! Once again thank you🙏🏼
Puji san, thank you for watching this video and your kind comment. I hope the video could give you some ideas and you enjoy your Japan trip in summer. Have a great day / evening. :)
Dear Kenchan-san, Another great vlog from you, very instructive and useful. I have always felt that Japanese trains are beautiful and superb, yet at the same time, a bit chaotic! So thanks for excellent JR Pass overview!! I can't wait for my Shinkansen/bento trip from Tokyo to Kobe this summer..
Thank you for watching Albie san always. I'm glad the video was useful. Wow, you are going many places in Japan this summer from Okinawa to Tokyo! Yes, it's always fun to eat bento on Shinkansen. ^^
Excellent and very relevant video. I was thinking about waiting until arriving at Shinjuku station to redeem the JR pass, hoping for a shorter line than at the airport. Thank you for checking multiple locations and confirming this.
Thank you for watching and your comment. Yes, Shinjuku has 2 counters and this is the one under the bus terminal near Southern Terrace Exit. The one in the East exit I saw long line (not as bad as Tokyo Station). This might be just the day I saw and it can change depends on the time of the day. The counter at Narita can be quite long after a long flight. If it's not that bad when you pass by, maybe you can drop in. 👍
We went to Tokyo station JR exchange office before it opened.
Konichiwa! What is the luggage size that you can put above your head on the Shinkansen? Arigato!
Konnichiwa! You can put above your head if the total dimention is 160cm. Usually suitcases in that size fits above your seats. :)
Hi Kenchan, Thank you for the video. Your video (and a couple others) helped a great deal. We just came back from a 2-week trip and we had a 14-day JR Pass which we used every day. On many days, we went on trip that required 1 transfer, and we were able to make the transfer. We bought from an agency and reserved seats a day before. On a day trip from Kyoto to Hiroshima, the reserved cars were full for the time we selected so we just went in the unreserved car with no issue. In Tokyo Station, the ticket agent spoke English well. In Kyoto, the agent spoke into a tablet which transcribed in English. We used Navi Time Japan app to show the agents the trains we needed seat reservations. We also wrote them down when we asked for 3 different routes and that helped a lot. We also showed people or a train employee the seat reservation ticket to confirn that we are on the right train, just to be sure. Thanks again.
Thank you Kengo san, i have a feeling we're going to be 'Lost In Japan' 🤣
haha, that is also an interesting experience to get lost in Japan. :)
Thx for your great videos🎉 i have a question...can i get Into Tokyo Station at the gate with only my JR Pass Ticket or do i need to tap a IC card??
If you have JR Pass, you can enter and leave the station gate without IC card. 👍
@@tokyokenchan Thank you sir
This was a great and informative video. Well done thank you. It solidifies my decision to avoid the pass for my itinerary if I can get the 21 day advanced discount.
I'm using 21 day discount too tomorrow. :)
Thank you for your video Kenchan. So informative!👍
One thing I'd like to know is, if i planned to go to Kyoto from Kumamoto, is it covered by the JR PASS or I need to purchase another one?
Yes, you can take Shinkansen from Kumamoto to Kyushu and it's covered by this JR Pass, except "Nozomi" and "Mizuho" Shinkansen. Thank you for watching. I hope you have a great trip. :)
Hi KEN...is the National JR Pass covers the Shinkansen going to Gala Yuzawa?
Yes it does in winter season. :)
@@tokyokenchan We are planning to visit Tokyo this coming December...Hopefully we can visit Gala Yuzawa on the 2nd week of December...Many Thanks...
Very good information, however I was looking for more info about voucher exchange places (concierge, travel ctr, ticket places in NRT, both Narita airport station and second building station. Hours at each places are different, but would like to know how crowded they are.
We are staying at airport hotel and considering coming back to NRT at 6:30am for ticketing office. I’m bit worried since I need to be in Kyoto by 2pm on the same day.
Knowing the risk, maybe I should line up on the day of plane’s arrival instead of next morning …could be more than 60 mins in line. (72 international flights arrive between noon and 18:00)
Based on international arrivals, 6:00-9:00 shows only 6 international flights arrive, so definitely tempting during that time for exchange.
Do you have any information about how crowded at each places and time frames??
Thx again for valuable info
Thank you for watching. Oh wow you did lots of research. I saw about 30-40 people in line at JR ticket counter at T1 (before the travel center opens). This was at 8am on this day. If you go there at 6:30, line should be shorter. You arrive Kyoto by 2 if you leave NRT before 10, so no worry about it, but you might be able to sleep longer if you exchange a day before depends on how tired you are. Have a great trip. :)
@@tokyokenchan That’s a great insight info, which I couldn’t find anywhere.
I’m asking my sister to contact Kyoto Midori no madoguchi that NRT ticketing office also exchanges the voucher (6:30-8:30 and 20:00-21:45) as addition to the main JR East Travel center. The specific office must be picking up the slot for the JR East Travel concierge center (8:30-19:00.) Also, there is a Travel Center (10:00-18:00.) My understanding is 3 locations to exchange voucher at T1 (2 locations at T2.)
Your information was great appreciated. Thx!!!
Thank you! My family is planning to go Tokyo and then to Yamaguchi. Does this JR pass covers travel to the Ube city?
Hello, thank you for watching. Yes, JR Pass covers Ube too. :) Have a great trip to Japan!
@@tokyokenchan Thank you very much!
Hi. Thanks for the video. Will be going from Tokyo (4 days) to Kyoto (2 days) to Osaka (3 days) with day trips to Hakone, Nara and Kobe in between. For example, will be doing round trips from Tokyo to Hakone, Tokyo to Yokohama, Osaka to Nara, Osaka to Kobe. Flying into HND and out of KIX. Will a 7 day JR pass be worth it or ok without?
Hello. Thank you for watching. If you fly in to HND and out from KIX, it might not pay off the pass price. You might be able to save a bit by online booking Smart EX. This video about online booking might help too. th-cam.com/video/zjiIWXZNr5Q/w-d-xo.html
Thank you!
Hi. I’m planning for a bike touring trip to Wakayama and will be bringing my bicycle. It will be packed in a proper bike bag.
Can I bring my bike bag on to the JR train from Kansai airport to Wakayama?
Thanks!
@@JoshuaNg-ud9ed Yes you can. There is a photo instruction here: faq-support.westjr.co.jp/hc/en-us/articles/8880731490575-Can-I-take-my-bike-or-other-large-luggage-on-board-with-me
Kenchan, do you have Hakone video? I really appreciate If you can make a video of Owakudani and Hakone trip. BTW, I haven’t seen any video that you are driving a car during your trip. Is driving a hassle than train if we are traveling with kids
Hi. Only recent Okinawa video is by driving, but I just came back from Kyushu driving trip. I use public transportation because most travelers hesitate to drive in Japan, but there are lots of place you can only access by car. If you are visiting major cities, it might be a bit challenging to drive a car for some drivers and train might be easier, but car is better to go to suburbs or countryside with children. I explain a bit about the rental car in the beginning part of Okinawa video.
I am arriving in Japan in September, however I don’t need a pass until about halfway through my trip. Does the pass start the day you pick it up? Or does it start on your arrival date in Japan?
Hello. You don't have to receive the pass on the day you arrive Japan. You can receive anytime while you are in Japan. You can also set the date of start later, and not the day you receive the pass. Hope you have a great trip in Japan. :)
Is jr pass cover takayama & kanazawa? Also gala yuzawa.
Thanks
Yes it does. Thank you for watching. :)
Hi, Do you know about the last date to reserve a ticket before the price hike? Thanks.
It's on September 30th. This 1 min. video might help you. th-cam.com/video/oetBDrRm4Xw/w-d-xo.html Thank you. :)
Thank you so much. This is so informative. I had no idea that we can reserve seat one month in advance. We are traveling during Christmas and New Year season. It’s really going to help.
@@vwlover5450 Thank you for watching. If you purcahse at the official site, you can make reservation in advance. The reservation starts a month prior to the date you take each train.
Kengo-San! You make the most informative videos! We learned so much watching your videos that we didn’t know. This past trip we had 14 day pass and we made so good use of it all over. Even to Kusatsu Onsen! We went into and out of many train stations just to buy dinner or to shop and the pass comes in so handy even if you don’t ride train. Arigatou Kengo-San!!🙋🏻♂️
Davy san, thank you for watching this video too! Probably you know more than me about the pass. ^^ Oh that's a great idea to use the pass to go through or go in to the stations! Thank you for sharing. 🚃
Japan train stations are amazing to explore and the rail pass is a fantastic thing to have to access the areas beyond the gates! 🙋🏻♂️
Hi Ken-chan. I bought the pass from Klook. Once arrived in Japan, do I have to go to JR Office to exchange the pass or I can just use green machine to get the JR Pass. Prefer machine coz always no queue there.
Hi, thank you for watching. As for the JR Pass, everyone has to go to the office once to receive the actual pass. It's same even if you purchase on the official site. If you are not using right away after your arrival, you might be able to find somewhere with less crowds in Tokyo.
Can you share details on how to maximize the JR pass in Kyoto?
You can use JR pass for routes between JR Kyoto station to Saga-Arashiyama (7min. walk from major parts of Arashiyama) and Kyoto to Inari (Fushimi Inari). That is the major routes you can use JR pass inside Kyoto city. :)
What would you suggest for tourist with large luggage to go from KIX airport to Kintetsu, Nara station? I assume it needs two different train. Thanks.
Hello. For train, take Nankai line from KIX (regular trains or "Rapit") to Namba, and change to Kintetsu line to Kintetsu Nara station. As of today, the bus from KIX to Nara is not operating. www.kate.co.jp/en/timetable/detail/NR
Thank you for your informative JR Pass info!!! I have a family of 7 arriving in Japan in November. 10 days of passes are needed and I liked the idea of getting a 3-day Tokyo pass and 7-day whole JR pass. Can the JR ticket counter at Narita Term 1 exchange my vouchers or do I have to go to the JR Pass Service Center. Which will accommodate my arrival time at 530pm? We will be on the train the next day for Osaka from Narita airport Term 2. Thank you for any and all help...
Hello. Thank you for watching. The service center at NRT opens until 19:00 it says. Please make sure to get the pass within September at agency if you'd like to get the price before going up. www.jreast.co.jp/e/customer_support/service_center.html
Thanks for the video! One question I have, if I’m going from Osaka to Nara To kyoto and finally to Tokyo is Suica card enough or do I need to get a pass. Thanks!
Thank you for watching. Do you go back to Osaka from Tokyo? If not, you might not need a JR pass.
When using the jr pass from Kyoto to Tokyo, what rail would you use? In most websites I look through only show the nozomi Shinkansen which is the a rail we can’t use with the jr pass? So what can we use to get back to to Tokyo with our jr pass?
You can use Hikari instead of Nozomi. It's on the same route called Tokaido Shinkansen. Hikari stops 2-3 more stations comparing with Nozomi, and it takes a little longer.
@@tokyokenchan thank you very much for the information! Many of the websites I was looking at didn’t explain that we can use hikari for the jr pass to get back to Tokyo!
@@carolinabautista2951 Yes, you can use Hikari with JR pass. (Kodama too but slower). Have a great trip to Tokyo and Kyoto. :)
From Tokyo to Kyoto, can I reserve a seat on the green car with an ordinary JR pass by paying extra? Thanks
Helllo. Unfortunatelly, it seems you cannot upgrade to Green Car with the regular JR pass. Thank you for watching.
Hello! If we have green car JR passes do we need to reserve seats on JR trains that are not Shinkansens?
Hello! Yes, if you like to get on green car of other trains, you need to make reservations since all green cars are reserved seats. No need for regular JR trains in the city.
@@tokyokenchan Great thank you for replying! :)
Dear Kenchan-San, thank you for the great video. We will arrive at Narita airport on terminal 3. According to JR there is no service station there. Do you know if we can get to terminal 1 or 2, or do we have to pick up our railway pass in the city? Best regards, Luca
Hello. In case you take JR line, the nearest station from T3 is Terminal 2 station. So you can go to the counter at T2. If you don’t use the pass soon, you can also move to the city by bus and go to counter at Tokyo station or in others stations. Please call me Kenchan. :) Thank you for watching.
@@tokyokenchan hi Kenchan, thanks a lot for your swift reply and your help, I appreciate it a lot. Have a nice day!
hi, i'd like to ask something about West JR pass for 1 day.
If I've purchased the pass through klook, is it usable for haruka train from KIX to Osaka Sta?
And do I need spend another money to get the ticket from vending machine in KIX before boarding to the train?
thanks in advance!
Hi. Yes, you can use it for Haruaka. The KIX station is right in front of the airport, so you only need to go to the JR counter and recieve the pass and make reservation for Haruka. For KIX-Osaka, you don't need any extra money. Have a great trip. :)
@@tokyokenchan thanks for your reply! it helps. thank you!
Hi, may I know if the JR pass covers JR line in the Hokkaido region? Do I need to get another JR pass for my travel there? I am planning to visit quite a few places in the Hokkaido region. Thank you.
Hi, yes JR pass covers all the JR Hokkaido rails from Wakkanai to Nemuro, Hakodate. That sounds like an amazing trip in Hokkaido. :)
Noted, thank you very much! :)
Kengo-san, I have a question. If I purchsae the pass from the official site, do I still have to stand in line with the exchange order to get the pass at Narita?
Hello. In this case almost everyone purchased from agencies so he could skip the line, but not sure from now on. You might need to be in the line anyway, but the line may get shorter as less people purchase the pass.
@@tokyokenchan Thank you for responding. Appreciate it Kengo-san
can i benefit from the JR pass to travel within Tokyo subway? or it is only for traveling between cities within japan. do i have to get a suica ic card along with the jr pass?
Hi. You don't get any benefit of getting JR pass if you are staying in Tokyo. Getting an IC card might make your trip go smoother. Have a great trip. :)
Hi thank you for your kind reply. am still confused here. so the jr pass is for traveling through cities within the jr line right? but i cant use it inside tokyo sub systems so i have to get an ic card right? @@tokyokenchan
@@Pale_Crow Right. You can use JR pass across Japan as long as its JR line including most of the Shinkansens (bullet trains), and of course JR lines in Tokyo. But considering the price of the pass, it's not necessary to get the pass for just being in Tokyo. In Tokyo, there are (1)JR lines and (2)subways, and (3)private railways. You can use JR pass only for (1)JR line, but not for subways and other trains. If you have IC card (prepaid and top up as the balance goes down) , you can get on any of (1)-(3) without purchasing tickets, which is easier. Please let me know if there is something not clear. 👍
Thank you for the video! I am confused about one thing.
When you exit the big stations like Shinjuku station, do you put your Jr pass inside the ticket exit gate?
Yes, you usually insert your pass to the gate when you enter and leave the statoin. Only some stations in rural area, you can show to the staff if they don't have the machine. Thank you for watching. :)
Wife and I just returned. We used ours extensively and the gates did not eat them up. We also kept ours nice and flat in a plastic ID card holder separate from our actual tickets.
I will arrive at the Narita Airport. From there I’ll go to Tokyo, then Kyoto and Osaka for a total of 11 days. Do I need to get just one JR Pass? If so, which one, JR East, or JR West, or JR Central…, or does it matter? One JR pass can be used on all rails to some extend?
Hello. If 11 days, 7 days pass cannot cover your itinerary and 14 days pass doesn't pay off with your itinerary, so you might not need any pass for your itinerary. You can consider Narita Express round trip tickets and online reservation (Smart EX) for Shinkansen that you might be able to save more than the pass.
I am coming to your wonderful country in January. I am unsure whether to do a short stay in Tokyo the travel south on the jr pass, or head south in day 1 then work my way back to Tokyo for a week there. Anyone gave input? Suggestions? Also, I have heavy but warm and waterproof boots. Should those be brought for January weather and walking?
My wife and I just returned from our long-overdue annual, 2+ weeks cherry blossom trip. We always activate our JR pass the day after we arrive so not to use up a day on the pass and save Tokyo for the end of our tip for easy airport access on the Narita Express, and to do shopping and eating.
Thanks for the video, can i purchase jr pass after coming to japan? Or we can only buy before landing in japan in our home country?
Need your help with my query
You can purchase with the same price as the official website until March 2024 according to the official website. But the refund policy and some rules are different from official website.. Unless you have a specific reason, I recommend you to purchase online at the official website.
Hello! If I buy the JR pass through an agency, Can I use only unreserved cars if I want to? (for my route that includes Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima). Another question, I need to exchange the voucher for the JR pass as soon as I arrive in Japan, this pass they give me, is it valid for the tickets? What do I have to show to enter and exit the shinkansen/train/metro?
Hello. The JR pass you get at agencies and official site are the same. You can use your JR pass to reserve seats for no additional cost. You can exchange your pass at the airport if you need to, and make reservation for your destination.
Hello - love your videos. Do I have to purchase a Jr Pass when traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto and back to Tokyo?
If you make just one round trip, probably no. Do you arrive at Narita Airport?
@@tokyokenchan thank for responding. I arrive in Haneda.
@@annetteperez9195 Oh then you might not be able to get enough of JR pass. It depends on what your other plans are (day trips etc), but if you are arriving Haneda and making a round trip to Kyoto, not necessary. My "JR Pass alternative" video also might help to save some more. th-cam.com/video/zjiIWXZNr5Q/w-d-xo.html
@@tokyokenchan thank you so much!
Do NOT activate your JR Pass the same day you arrive in HND unless your flight gets in very early in the morning and you plan to get to Kyoto (or somewhere far) right away.
Thank you so much for explaining all the options of getting JR pass. The video is very detailed. I do have a question regarding using JR pass on non-JR railway. For example, if I book train ticket from Tokyo to Kawaguchiko station using Jr pass, do I get one ticket and pay additional fee for the segment between Otsuki to Kawaguchiko ? Or do I use Jr pass to go from Tokyo to Otsuki, get off the train at Otsuki station and buy a separate ticket to Kawaguchiko using Fujikyu train? I would prefer the first option if that’s possible. Thank you.
Thank you for watching. Yes, you can pay the additional cost at the station you get off. But you can make payment when you reserve your seat at the counter too. As for Fuji Excursion, it's almost impossible to get non-reserved seats, so I recommend you to make reservation, and consider the bus if the train is full.
We purchased the and got the voucher for the JR Pass. We will pick up at Narita. Can we reserve seats now?
Hello. If you purchased from an agency, you can reserve seats when you pick up the pass at Narita Airport. Have a great trip.
@@tokyokenchan thanks a million for quick response! Purchased JR Pass online.
I plan to travel for 8 days and getting the 7-day JR Pass. Is there any option what to use on the 8th day to still go around Tokyo and also take the Narita Express?
Hi. I can't think of any pass that can be good just for one day for your last day here, so either purchase the tickets separately or you can also take another cheaper way like Skyliner or bus, depends on where you stay in Tokyo. :)
@@tokyokenchan I just saw the Suica & N’Ex package. So I just thought to use it on the 1st Day and 2nd to 8th Day the JR pass. Thanks for all your videos.😊
Thank you Kenchan for the very informative video. I am planning a trip for 5 people in June. We will land in Fukuoka and then go to Hiroshima, Osaka and fly out of Tokyo.
If we purchase our JR Rail Pass from the official website will we be able to reserve seats for all 3 legs of our trip online before we arrive in Japan?
Will we able to reserve all 5 seats at the same time or do we have to do each seat separately?
Thank you for all of your videos - I look forward to your videos 👍😊
Hello Yamamoto san. Thank you for watching. Yes, in case you purchase from the official site, you can reserve those routes online from a month before the each train trip. The official site says you can purchase up to 6 in addition to the main person, so you might be able to reserve together if purchased by one person. But in case you purchase separately, maybe each of you can reserve seat and choose the seats next to each other. :)
Thank you so much for your help!
My wife and I just returned from a long-awaited 2-weeks trip. I opted out of buying the passes through the JR official site to save $ and used one of the JR vending machines very early in the morning (in Hiroshima actually) and printed out a bunch of tickets.
aren't the the paper JR pass's done with though? I heard they're now actual cards and you still need to use the JR station to reserve the shinkansen tickets
Thanks for the video! Two quick questions:
1) if I want to go to Shimoda/Izu, and part of the route is not covered by JR pass, how does that work? Would I just use SUICA at the Atami station transfer gate? And would I need to buy a limited express reservation ticket first?
Thanks!
2) when did the JR pass become a ticket the machine can read?
In case you take local train from Atami (like the one I took around 3:33 of this video:th-cam.com/video/gjAOOMAZyeA/w-d-xo.html) you can just get on with IC card to Shimoda as it's all non-reserved seats. If you take Odoriko from Tokyo, you can make reservation and pay at the counter for Izukyu part. It seems JR pass became tickets in 2020. They also opened the official site during pandemic.
@@tokyokenchan great info. I will check out the video, seems like a great place to escape the Tokyo crowds. arigato gozaimasu!
So one person can carry two pieces of under 160 cms?
Yes. You can carry up to 250cm x 2 per person.
JR System is efficient in reservation, this is also yet to be incorporated in numerous malls, kiosk-reservations-Foreign services desk/counter(s) for the purpose of reconciliations in businesses, ease of work, configurability and being efficient as well in foreign exchange fees-handling time amongst countries. This JR cards are efficient, tried it at some of the railway at H.K and you can use it to purchase Items inside H.K railway or outside railway at malls, Kowloon, Victoria park, The Peak, its points system that the card has and it is good for the stay and transfers from H.K and province areas and establishments. H.K Congratulations, JP-JR and countries, these can be incorporated as well. Xiexie, Xiu-Haik!
Planing to go to Japan In Middle March 2024, noticed that JR pass for 21 days prices are going up in October. If i buy the pass around on 26th September 2023, Activate the pass in Japan on 22nd March. Will it be valid for 21days after activation?
Many thanks
Hello. Unfortunately, the pass is valid for 3 months after the purchase to be activated, and you can set the start the date within a month when you activate in Japan. So if JR sells the pass with current price until the end of September (they haven't published actual date of raise), the latest day to start the pass will be January 2024. :(
how about ferries covered by the JR Pass Kenchan.??
Hello. I think JR pass only covers a quick ride on the ferry to Miyajima.
Oh yeah, unfortunately you have to purchase separate tickets for like, say, Osaka to Fukuoka.. thanks very much Kenchan.!!
Yes, that would be fun though. Thank you for watching. :) @@danielstan6004
Hello! Thank you so much for your great video! I'm going to visit Japan next month and planning to book JR Pass from Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo-Osaka. I would like to ask you about what JR Pass can cover, can we also use the JR Pass ticket when we take the train in Osaka? Does it cover like Osaka Metro or other main trains/subways in the other city? Thank you so much..
Hello. Sorry for my late response. You can use the JR pass only for JR lines in Osaka city. It's not usable for Osaka Metro and other private railways. You might be able to get different passes to get around Oaska.
@@tokyokenchan Thank you so much for your reply. I will get Suica later and maybe take the JR lines so that I can use my JR pass too. Thank you again! :)
Hi, thank you before for the great video!
I was thinking to buy Hokuriku Arch Pass because but I'm still confused if it does cover the private lines such as Osaka Metro, Keihan ER,
Hankyu Railway, Osaka Metro, Keifuku ER because I'm going to Kyoto, Nara etc. Hope you can answer it, thanks :D
Hello. Hokuriku Arch pass doesn’t cover any private lines you mentioned. But it covers JR lines going to Nara and Kyoto.
Thank you so much for this detailed video. If I order from the JR site does that mean the voucher can/will be sent by email? Will I be able to show the email to exchange for pass in Japan?
Yes, you can just show the email you received and passport to the staff. Thank you for watching. :)
I saved $ by ordering a JR Pass from an online agent. Being able to reserve seats online was not important for me since I was able to reserve and print all my tickets from one of the new vending machines. And even if you buy your pass through JR’s official site, you still have to stand in line like everyone else to claim your physical pass when you arrive.
@@nateshf9303 Considering the reason to get the pass is to save the money for train fares, I understand your point too. Thank you for sharing.
@@tokyokenchan Thank you!
@@nateshf9303 Thank you!
hello kenchan! thanks for the informative video :) i have purchased the jr pass from an agency and was wondering if we have to know the exact date and station to reserve our seats on the shinkansen to the counter staffs for them to proceed with my reservation?
Amanda san, thank you for watching. :) Yes, you can reserve the seats for the specific train, so date and time, origin and destination have to be provided. For the train time, they can check available train for you. If you don't want to decide yet, you can also make reservation after you make decision during your trip. Hope it helps. :)
@@tokyokenchan got it! thank you so much kenchan :) have a great weekend!
Thank you for this video. I have a question please. I'm travelling to Japan in October with my cousin and we would like to reserve a few train trips before we leave. Our problem is we are coming from 2 different countries and meeting up in Tokyo to start our trip. If we reserve tickets on the official site, before leaving for Japan, how do we ensure we are sitting together on the train? We are purchasing our JR Pass separately from each other. We would like to book our first destination which is Takayama and looks like we will be there for the Autumn festival (Oct 9), lovely. We have booked accomodation already thankfully, as it will be busy.
For a family traveling together I know each member must have his own pass. My question Is for the reservación of a seat. The reservation Is one member at a time or how can all make the reservation and get seated together? Would It be better to make reservation at the counter?
Hello. On the machine, the option comes up "how many people traveling with you" and ask you to scan all JR passes. So you can reserve seats altogether. The counter is also ok.
@@tokyokenchan thank you very much.
My wife and I just returned from a 2-weeks trip and found the vending machines fun and easy to use. The two minus are that you have to enter all the passport #s over and over again. (I'd already memorized ours so the process was easier.) Also, the passport # you enter must correspond to the right JR pass holder. If not then you have to start all over. (The last 4 digits of the passport # is at the left bottom corner of the physical pass.) The second and the biggest downside to the machine is that you cannot cancel/undo once the tickets are printed out so you have to go inside the JR ticket office which is a real pain because lines can be really long. Hope this helps.
@@nateshf9303 That is really helpful and useful information. Thank you for sharing and helping other travelers. :)
I only want to go from Yokosuka to Kyoto for two days and then I will be returning. Is it worth it to buy the JR pass or just a regular one way ticket to Kyoto and then back? I am from the US? :)
You might not save much with JR Pass if you just make one round trip to Kyoto. If you use online reservations in advance, it gets cheaper. Also if you live here, you may not be able to get Jr pass. Have a great trip. :)
Can i use jr all on Nozomi? what is the website can I check the Hikari train?
Hi Kengo-San, I have purchased a Railpass for my trip in 2 weeks and I was wondering if you would know how I could get to Arakurayama sengen park from Tokyo? And my trip ends before golden week, My trip is 12th - 28th so would my trip be considered during peak period?
Hi, the Golden Week starts on 29th, so you are safe. :) I have detailed guide for the park (Chureito) here th-cam.com/video/XBAvctn-88g/w-d-xo.html .
JR pass doesn't cover routes there, so you need some additional cost for the Fujikyu railway. Have a great trip in Japan. :)
Hey you, thank you so much for your video! It is super informational and well described. I have one additional question: When I have the JR Pass, do I still have to reserve tickets in advance to my trip. Let's say if I want to go from Tokyo to Kyoto - can I just hop on the train or do I have to get the tickets in advance.
I would really appreciate your help :) best wishes
Hello Markos san, you can do both. If you like to guarantee your seats, you can reserve your seats which works especially when you get on from the middle station. You can also hop on Hikari's non-reserved seats (Car 1-5). You can be in the line and get seats if getting on from first station such as Tokyo and Shin-Osaka/Okayama.
@@tokyokenchan Really big thanks to you for your instant and helpful answer. I wish you the best for your future :)
Where do I put my luggage that is smaller than 160cm total?
You can put them on over head luggage space.
Do you need to make reservations ahead of time for days you're planning to use the JRPass? Or are you able to just hop on?
You can choose either way. Some train has only reserved seats so in that case, you need to make reservations.
Hi Kenchan, thank you for the informative explanation! I have purchased the JR Hokuriku Arch Pass, however I'm still a bit confused about it. Does JR Hokuriku Arch Pass also covers conventional lines in Tokyo? If it does, what lines does it cover? Thank you so much! Have a nice day :D
I have an urgent question!!!
So, my husband and I are traveling Japan this may. However I will be staying in Japan a little over a month before my husband arrives. We planned on using the jr pass once my husband comes. That means I will be in japan more than a month before I activate the jr pass, is that possible????
Yes as long as you have temporary visitor stamp ( that most countries are allowed 3 month per stay) , you can receive after your husband arrives.
The advantage of buying a pass from an online agent is that you can determine the activation date when you pick up the actual physical pass.
The official website seems to be "currently unavailable for maintenance purposes" for months now. Does it only work on specific times? That's what I read on reddit.
Yes, the website is available between 4:00 - 23:30 in Japan time (so not available between 12:30pm - 5pm. NY summer time)
No need to buy it via the official JR site partly because it forces you to preset the activate date, which is risky to do.
@@nateshf9303 thank u for ur input. On the other hand it gives u the luxury of booking online and not the machines, right?
@@PenguinWithAGuitar Yes it does especially if you are traveling during the peak seasons. But two weeks ago during the peak cherry blossom season I used a vending machine at a JR Station at 6am while everyone was still asleep and reserved and printed all my tickets on the shinkansens for about 8-9 legs, and got seats together with my wife! Maybe I was just lucky. Have fun!
@@nateshf9303 thank u 😊
Hello Kengo! Thanks for your informative videos - I'll be taking a 21 day solo trip to Japan in November and I want to focus on solely exploring Tokyo (mainly because I'm also lazy to travel outside of a region at a time 😆). Is it recommended to buy a JR rail pass, or would the regular suica/pasmo card suffice?
Hello, thank you for watching. That's exciting you'll stay here for 21 days! I think in that case you mainly stay in Tokyo, you can travel without this JR pass. You can get around with IC card.:) I wish you the best Autumn stay in Tokyo!
@@tokyokenchan Thanks for the reply! But would it be more convenient/time-saving if I were to use the JR pass to travel around Tokyo? Or does it make no difference with the regular IC card?
Do we need to reserve seats if my suitcase size is 80cm x 55cm x 36cm
Many thanks
There is no specific rules except Tokaido Shinkansen. You can get on either non-reserved seats or reserved seats. On Tokaido Shinkansen, rule wise, you need to make a reservation for seats with oversized baggage space.
Can we buy the jr pass offline on the JR Counter?
Hi. You can purcahse it only online or from agencies outside Japan. You might be able to talk to your local travel agency.
Hi Kenchan. I know there's always a long line at the ticket office to exchange for the JR Pass. Can I skip the line if I purchased through the official website and show them the email?
Hi. That was what happened at Narita T1 counter, but it's not like there is a separate line, so not guaranteed. I guess most of the travelers purchase from the agency. We were told to leave the line and come to the desk with staff. Sorry I couldn't be of your help.
I arrived in NRT a week ago. There was one line, everyone was in the same line, no ‘express lane.’ That was one of the reasons I did not buy it from the official site.
my family is planning a short trip in january (4 days 3 nights). landing in Osaka, day trip to Tokyo, then Kyoto and back to Osaka. is it advisable to get the jr pass or not?
For the route, I personally recommend online reservation which is cheaper and no need to be in the line, especially if you travel in a short time period.
Hello! If I order from the official JR pass website, do they ship it to me? Other websites mention a 2 day shipping time to receive it but I can’t find any information on the official website. I know I’m supposed to activate it over there.
Hello. If you purchase from official site, you only receive email so show that to the counter staff and you receive the pass. You don't get anything in actual mail. You can make reservation for trains after you purchase even before your arrival to Japan.
Arigato brother
Thank you 👍
do I have to return the rj pass before im living my country?
No you can keep your pass when you leave Japan.
My wife and I just returned from a 2-weeks trip and kept our passes, still in perfect condition even after extensive use.
can i use jr pass for shinkansen travel from kyoto to tokyo? can i still see fuji mountain?
Hello. Yes, you can use the JR pass for Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto (the route is called Tokaido Shinkansen, and service name is Hikari). You can take seat E (regular car) or D (Green Car -1st class) to see Mt.Fuji. Hope you have a great time.
Plan a day trip to Chureito Pagoda (忠霊塔, Chūreitō) for an iconic view of Mt Fuji, easy to get go.
Hello Kenchan
I'll be around 30 days in Japan soon, I wonder why there's no 30-days pass... do you know if it's possible for 1 person to buy 2 different tickets (1x 21 day-pass and 1x 7 day-pass) and combine them? I'd use the 7 day pass first, make a short break and then use the 21 day pass afterwards separately. I can't find any info if that's possible or not and why there's no 30-days pass
You can do that. Just activate the JR pass at the date you need it.
I'll arrive at Osaka at 12 nov, if i change the exchange order to JR pass ticket at 12 nov can i choose the activate card at 18 nov ?
For my taste its to complicated. I saw a lot of other Videos here about travel in Japan and I have the feeling, that driving with busses is much easier. Exspecial if you are use overnight busses. Or another option use a ferry over night. And the prizes are okay, cause you make two things in one, ride and sleep like in a hotel. 😌
When deciding whether or not to get the JR pass I ran into a bit of a wrinkle. I need to take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Takayama right before the autumn festival, and to make sure I can get a seat I want to reserve it as far in advance as possible. Which means even if I get the JR pass I'll still be stuck paying full price for that ticket 😵
Hi. Right, if you try to use JR Pass and and try to get a seat in busy season, it's better to get at the official site and book a month before the date. The sales for Golden Week starts in a few days ( a month before Apr.29), and the major trains in good time is probably difficult to reserve after arriving in Japan. I wish you good luck. Festival sounds good!
@@tokyokenchan Thank you so much!
@@tokyokenchanplease advise what pass shall I buy if I will stay in tokyo for few days then go to osaka 3 days and day trip to Kyoto and return to Tokyo . Thank you in advance
@@melissalim2851 Hello. If you use Narita Airport, you maybe be able to consider JR pass for 7 days, but not necessary in that itinerary.
@@tokyokenchan ok thank you, will consider it, thanks again
Tokyo Kenchan is ichiban! 👍🍺
Thank you!😄
Hi Kenchan! In the JR official website says that you can also purchase the JR pass in Japan.. is it correct? did you see any tourists buying it in Narita Airport? I'm from Argentina and it's a little complicated purchasing the JR passes online (because we have a lot of taxes!). Thank you for your videos! :)
Yes, the site says you can purchase until March 2024. I was actually talking with a person purchasing the pass at the counter without any reservation, but she disappeared from the line while I was filming.
I purchased 2 tickets through Japan Experience, very reliable site, with fast free shipping and no tax. (Not sure why there is so much tax in Argentina.)