Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it?
@unsplash/ Ramon Kagie
Many visitors enjoy traveling by rail in Japan: The network is broad, the trains are roomy and comfortable, and they are always on time!
Traveling by train for your trip to Japan generally can get expensive, but a Japan Rail Pass can save you a lot of money. A regular Japan Rail Pass, however, has much more worth than merely help with savings; it also makes travel much easier. How? With this special ticket, you can access to almost the entirety of the Japan Railway Network of Shinkansen bullet trains, local trains, buses, and even some ferries, with a one-price single ticket and without the need for any seat reservations. (Though seat reservations can be easily done at no extra cost with the pass if necessary.)
These options make the Japan Rail Pass a popular and lucrative option for those planning a trip to Japan, but in October of 2023, the pass will be seeing a fairly significant price update that has led many travelers, experienced and first-time visitors alike, to question whether or not the pass will remain a good choice. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the passes current and future value-for-the-moeny and provide insight on some sample itineraries and other things to keep in mind to know if the Japan Rail Pass will be right for your next trip itinerary!
Ways to get the most out of the JR Pass after the price increase
For starters, the Japan Rail Pass (often shorted to JR Pass) is solely available to non-Japanese residents. The train pass allows unlimited travel on all national trains operated by Japan Railways for a set period of time. Passes are offered for 7, 14, or 21 consecutive days, and there are ordinary and green (first class) train car options.
The pass is simple to use and eliminates the need to buy tickets every time you board a train or other mode of public transportation. Instead, you only need to insert your Japan Rail Pass into the ticket gates to get entry.
The Japan Rail Pass will undergo a significant price increase in October 2023, which has surprised many people. This has caused travelers to Japan to question whether or not it will still be a worthwhile option. However, with the right itinerary and other points to be mindful of, the JR Pass can still be a viable means of traversing the country and worth considering to buy!
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Japan’s “Golden Route” and organizing your itinerary
Experienced travelers can look at the many regional pass options offered by Japan Railways to see some of the deeper cuts of their favorite individual parts of Japan. However, the Japan Rail Pass is ideal for first-time travelers, who wish to visit the country's most iconic locations, and they should look into it even after the price update.
Japan’s “Golden Route” is often the standard when organizing a debut trip to Japan. Utilized by traders dating back to the Edo Period, this route incorporates the urban metropolis of Tokyo, the ancient capital of Kyoto, and the historic city of Hiroshima.
The list of these cities provides exposure to a diverse spectrum of Japanese culture and history, as well as their placement across several regions of the country. As a result, these are perfect places for combining with the Japan Rail Pass in a single itinerary.
With the price update, optimizing the pass's cost effectiveness requires more destinations than before.
Take a look at the sample itineraries below for ideas on how to get the most out of the 7-Day, 14-Day, and 21-Day Japan Rail Passes:
... Or many other trains and buses all over Japan!
©Prasit Rodphan / 123RF
As previously mentioned, this itinerary uses the Japan Rail Pass to traverse a staple route for first-time travelers to Japan, the so-called "Golden Route." Some of the most iconic cities and their sites are able to be visited via train with this itinerary. Typically, Golden Route travelers focus on starting at the modern, metropolitan capital of Tokyo, the ancient capital of Kyoto, and then finishing the journey at the historic port city of Hiroshima.
This journey is covered, and more, with the current Japan Rail Pass price. To generate more value with post-update price increase, we suggest adding other accessible cities like the lively Osaka in Kansai, very nearby Kyoto, and the elegant Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture, able to be traveled to directly from Kansai via the Thunderbird train. (Though the Thunderbird train will be replaced with a Shinkansen bullet train extension as of 2024).
“Golden Route” + Kyushu Itinerary (14-Day Japan Rail Pass):
Tokyo | Kyoto | Hiroshima | Fukuoka | Kumamoto |
Kagoshima | Osaka | Kanazawa | Nagano | Tokyo
Total Travel Time: ~16 Days
Price w/o JR Pass: ¥93,590+
14-Day JR Pass Price (post-update): ¥80,000
Adding an additional seven days to your Japan Rail Pass usage period allows visitors to Japan to travel using the Golden Route as a basis, but allows for a more leisurely time at each destination plus the time to travel past Hiroshima into Kyushu, the most southern island of mainland Japan.
With this itinerary, it may be best to first go through the three essential destinations of the Golden Route (Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima), and then keep heading south into Kyushu. Here, the journey from the largest city on the island, Kyushu, out to the naturally and culturally rich Kumamoto, then down to the coasts of Kagoshima.
From here, Japan Rail Pass users will be able to loop back up via the trains in the area and head back up to Kansai to visit Osaka, then to Kanazawa. Before heading back to Tokyo for departure from either Haneda or Narita, a stop in the inland prefecture of Nagano will be a great way to see the Japanese Alps and the host city for the 1998 Winter Olympics. With this many cities and destinations, the 80,000 yen listing of the 14-day pass after the price update is easily met.
Japan Cross-Country Itinerary (21-Day Japan Rail Pass):
Hokkaido(Shin-Hakodate) | Morioka | Sendai |
Tokyo | Nagano | Kurobe (Kurobe-Unazuki Onsen) |
Kanazawa | Kyoto | Osaka (Shin-Osaka) |
Okayama | Hiroshima | Fukuoka |
Total Travel Time: ~24 Days
Price w/o JR Pass: ¥180,000
21-Day JR Pass Price (post-update): ¥100,000
21 whole days of unlimited rides on trains throughout Japan with the pass gives a lot of time to explore Japan, and, in fact, to get the most out of your trip and the most value out of the 21-day Japan Rail Pass, we suggest trying to traverse the country by train from top to bottom! Instead of flying into the capital city of Tokyo like the previous two itineraries, if possible, we suggest flying into Sapporo via Shin-Hakodate Airport.
Immediately activating the Japan Rail Pass allows pass users to get right into the city, explore Hokkaido, and then travel downwards into Tohoku. The vastness and variety of attractions and cities in Tohoku, along with the well-connected network of trains means destinations can be mixed and matched, but Morioka in Iwate Prefecture and Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture are safe bets for sure. Upon arriving in Tokyo, take the chance to travel around the central part of Japan and the Japanese Alps through destinations like Nagano, Gifu, Toyama, and/or Ishikawa. From here, Kansai is easily accessed for the staple destinations of this area, plus some other spots that may get overlooked at times, like Okayama or Wakayama. Continue down south to Hiroshima and then take the rest of your time to explore all that Kyushu has to offer before departing from Fukuoka International Airport. This is really an itinerary that will take you all throughout Japan from top to bottom and A to Z.
What are some other things to keep in mind to make the Japan Rail Pass worth it?
Choose the right activation date
For the initial destinations in the sample itineraries provided above, individual day passes for the train are available to buy for affordable prices that can also be used in conjunction with IC Cards like the PASMO or Suica.
It’s suggested to forego activating the pass immediately after the voucher exchange and prior to the first Shinkansen train ride in order to optimize the time traveling longer distances during the duration of the trip and Japan Rail Pass’s usage. To exchange for the pass with a voucher doesn't constitute having to activate it immediately at the beginning of the trip.
Also keep in mind, for travelers who will be riding Shinkansen trains a fair amount from the get-go, making an exchange for the pass and activating it immediately may be good to consider as it can be used on a variety of different trains and other means of transportation from the airport, allowing travelers to start saving money immediately.
7d99.jpg "Take trains by touching your Pasmo!")
Take trains by touching your Pasmo!
@Yuichiro Yokono
34ee.jpg "Miyajima Ferry")
Ferry to Miyajima Island, rideable with the JR Pass
@Wikimedia
Understand the coverage
Local travel like trains and buses within towns and cities can pile up in costs. Therefore, the coverage of the JR Pass will contribute a large amount to its value. In Hiroshima, the ferry to Miyajima Island to see the iconic Itsukushima Shrine is rideable with a Japan Rail Pass.
Also worth noting is the included access to the currently unrideable Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen Trains. In order to board these trains after the update, there will be an additional upgrade charge, however, the access to these much faster Shinkansen options will provide more flexibility and convenience to pass holders.
Research all the JR Pass covered local transit options to travel around smoothly and affordably.
Take day-trips
Also, there are many attractions that are accessible from major stations or city centers without being in immediate proximity. Use the JR Pass to visit these unique locations and optimize the value of the pass.
Examples of such day-trips include Nara from Kyoto, Beppu from Fukuoa, and Shirakawago from Kanazawa.
Popular destination for the Japanese, Beppu, the resort with thousands of thermal springs welcomes visitors who come to bask in volcanic waters all year round.
©Sean Pavone/123RF
Shirakawago Unesco world heritage village in Japanese Alps
©vichie81/123RF
Consider the exchange rate
Recent economic conditions have had the Japanese yen (JPY) struggling to retain its exchange rate value compared to other currencies like the U.S. Dollar (USD), Euros and British Pound (GBP). In accordance with this, the tourism industry in Japan has made large pushes for foreign travel that becomes advantageous for local businesses but also travelers who are able to enjoy much of Japan at more affordable exchange rates than previous years.
Considering the current exchange rate for these currencies, the price increase is around 33% compared to peak travel times before COVID-19 travel restrictions were put in place. Choosing to travel to Japan from a country with a currency that stacks up well against the current yen rates will have travelers save money by default, but it also helps to soften the blow of the announced price increase that will come in October.
It may be good to track the exchange rate of your home country's currency and what it equates to in Japanese yen and purchase a rail pass when the rate is most favorable to get the pass at the most affordable price possible.
Keep in mind all the benefits
In regards to the pass’s benefits aside from cost-effectiveness, the convenience and flexibility offered are a major draw.
Reservations aren’t required for a majority of Shinkansen trains, allowing travelers to board whichever departures are convenient to them. However, reservations can be made at no extra cost, so to assure further accessibility, pass holders can take the time to reserve a seat on all the trains they plan to ride at one time.
Additionally, Japan Rail Group has also announced that with the price update, they will begin including discount vouchers for certain attractions, extending the pass past a simple transit option. Centering an itinerary around these destinations will provide further value to the Japan Rail Pass.
Midori no Madoguchi where travelers can reserve seats for Shinkansen and other trains
@Wikimedia
Consider a regional pass
For those whose intended trip itineraries are more focued on specific regions of Japan, rather than following the golden route or traversing the entire country, it's strongly suggested to look into the various regional passes offered by Japan Rail Group.
Examples of such passes cover regions such as Kansai, Kyushu, Shikoku, and Tohoku along with many more. Each of these passes list at a more affordable price than the National Japan Rail Passes as their scope of coverage is more specific, but many of these options include Shinkansen access, making them an especially good deal.
While first-time travelers may be better off springing for the National Japan Rail Pass, seasoned travelers may see it more fit to buy a regional pass to indulge in the deeper cuts Japan has to offer.
Regions divided by JR Group with different regional rail passes available
@Wikimedia
Consider the following regional pass options that we cosnider especially great for their coverage, number of attractions, and value-to-price ratio:
Tohoku East Area Pass
- This pass provides full coverage from Tokyo up to the northern part of Honshu Island. With access to a number of Shinkansen and local trains and access to all six prefectures of Tohoku plus the surrounding prefectures of Tokyo and even Niigata, this pass in particular is well worth the price at 20,000 yen for five days.
Setouchi Area Pass
- This regional pass covers the southern part of Honshu Island into parts of Shikoku and even Kyushu. Setouchi is an area rich in coasts and prominent cities like Osaka, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka. This pass gives access to much of the Shinkansen in this area along with the ferry that goes out to Shodoshima and the Okaden Bus network. The pass is 19,000 yen for seven days worth of travel.
Osaka-Tokyo Hokuriku Arch Pass
- This pass allows for travel to three of Japan's most popular city destinations: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. In addition to this, the central section of Honshu on the Japan Sea Side, known as Hokuriku, is open to discovery. This region is notable for its gorgeous views of the Japanese Alps and delicious food, especially fresh seafood taken from the Sea of Japan. In between traveling to the major cities listed before, travelers can relax in elegant, relaxed destinations like Karuizawa in Nagano and Kanazawa in Ishikawa and de-stress in the onsens of Toyama and Wakura in Noto Peninsula. This pass is 25,500 yen for seven days of travel.
Is the Japan Rail Pass still a good value after the update?
Ultimately, the value the pass holds after the price-hike in October 2023 depends on the itineraries and goals of individual travelers.
A nation as rich in culture and experiences as Japan should be explored to its fullest, and the JR Pass is, and will continue to be, a cost-effective, flexible, and easy-to-use option that will be worth it for visitors who will embark on multiple-day trips with extensive amounts of travel.
However, we encourage those preparing for their trips to carefully look into their itineraries and consider the costs that can arise to really see if the value remains after the update.
cadd.jpg "Travel to Kanazawa")
