Book your National Japan Rail Pass

The National JR Pass, for affordable train travel in Japan!

The JR Pass is the ideal travel solution and the best way to explore Japan by train.  With a Japan Rail Pass, you can travel without restriction on the Japan Railways network for 7, 14 or 21 days. Japan Rail has a network of more than 20,000 km, covering the entire country, the JR Pass allows you to go almost anywhere.

Cost-efficient and simple to use, the JR Pass offers excellent value over buying individual train tickets.

Make the most of your money with the JR Pass: for the price of a return trip ticket between Tokyo and Kyoto, you already offset your travels for the next 7 days. 

Japan Experience, a leading JR Pass distributor, offers you the best prices and will send your tickets anywhere in the world. Purchase your JR Pass now! 

Who is eligible for the Japan Rail Pass?

• The Japan Rail Pass is accessible to any traveler, with a foreign passport, traveling to Japan with a "temporary visitor" visa of 90 days or less: tourist, business trip, family visit, etc...
• People who travel to Japan for more than 90 days (working holiday, military, diplomatic, cultural, research, working visa, etc.) are not eligible.
• Japanese citizens can buy and use the JR Pass if they reside abroad and have proof of a ten-year consecutive residency. This proof must be issued before purchasing the Japan Rail Pass. (For more information, please see our FAQ)

What is the Green Pass, and why should I choose it? 

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

The Green Japan Rail Pass is not as well-known by foreign travelers but, considering the comfort it offers, the extra luggage space, additional leg room, along with other ammenities (such as a hot towel and complimentary drinks on certain lines), it is good value for the money.

Buying the Green Japan Rail Pass is a good idea if you are planning on visiting during busy travelng seasons (such as May, August and September). The Green Car is generally less busy, giving you a higher chance of a seat reservation. 

What to know about the Japan Rail Pass in 2023

From October 1st, 2023 the Japan Rail Pass will be undergoing a price increase. You will still have unlimited travel on JR trains for 7, 14 or 21 days along with the practical aspects of the JR Pass (QR code for quicker access to trains, seat reservations at no extra cost, flexibility of travel, etc...)

• We advise travelers to buy their JR Passes online prior to the price increase in October to benefit from the current pricing. 
• JR Passes are available to buy up to 3 months prior to activation, so travelers who have plans to visit Japan up to December of 2023 are able to order passes at pre-update prices. Available at Japan Experience!
• Vouchers/Discount Coupons for certain attractions will also be included with the new JR Pass. 

Conditions of the JR Pass 

Validity

• The Japan Rail Pass is valid on all JR lines throughout Japan (excluding Nozomi and the Mizuho Shinkansen). 
• The pass is valid on the Tokyo Monorail, some lines of Aomori Railways and some local JR buses.
• The Pass is valid on the JR Miyajima ferry in Hiroshima. 
• The Japan Rail Pass is not valid on private (non-JR) railway lines such as: Hakone-Tozan, Nankai-Koya, Fujikyu, Kitakinki-Tango. Some JR trains do travel over non-JR tracks and JR Pass holders are required to pay a supplement for this part of the journey (either on board or at the station).

Exchange

• The voucher can be exchanged for a 3-month period following the date of issue.
• To exchange the voucher for the Japan Rail Pass, you will need your passport.
• The activation date of the pass, once the pass has been exchanged, cannot be changed.
• JR exchange points: see this link

Booking

• With the Pass, no additional fee is required when reserving seats on the train in Japan. 
• To access the platforms, scan the QR code at the ticket gate at the station. 
• To reserve a seat, go to see the agents at the the ticket office. 
• The JR Pass is a personal pass. Always carry your passport along with the pass as station staff may check for it.

Modification

• If you realize you made a mistake on your name, delivery address or if your delivery has been lost or returned to us for any reason; Japan Experience can re-issue the Japan Rail Pass voucher adding a re-ticketing fee of 10€ / 10£ / 10$ (unless you selected the JRP Assistance when booking JRP).
• If you buy the Japan Rail Pass before September 30th and ask for re-ticketing after October 1st (date of JRP price rise), difference between the new and old prices will be charged in addition to the above 10€ / 10£ / 10$ re-ticketing fee. JRP Assistance subscription at the time of booking will cancel re-ticketing fee, but not the difference between "old" and "new" price which will still be charged.

Cancellation

• The voucher is refundable for up to one year. 
• The pass can be refunded if it has never been used at a ticket office in Japan.
•  A cancellation fee of 15% of the value of the pass, will be retained (unless you selected the JRP Assistance when booking JRP). 
• The JR East Pass is only refundable once the pass has become invalid; Three months after the issue date. 
•  No refund is possible for a pass for which the date of validation has expired. 
•  No refund is possible for a lost or stolen pass.

JRP Assistance

The JRP Assistance service is offered to customers who have purchased a Japan Rail Pass with us on either the Japan-Rail-Pass or the Japan Experience website. This service provides unlimited access to telephone assistance in Japan 7 days a week and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for any questions, advice or troubleshooting relating to your journey in Japan. This service also allows you to get a full refund of your Japan Rail Pass, should you need to cancel or modify your order.

To find out more about JRP Assistance click here

JRP Carbon-free 

In accordance with the Japan's Sustainable Development Goals, the JRP Carbon-free project is centered around people, environment, and culture. Through this project, Japan Experience is a pioneer in providing a sustainable train travel solution for visitors. 

Your contribution to the JRP Carbon-free Project will go towards the plantation of trees in Nagano prefecture, in the heart of the Japanese Alps. With this initial campaign for sustainable tree-planting in Nagano, Japan Experience looks forward to instituting further projects to maximize the off-setting of carbon emissions that serve as an unfortunate side-effect to the beauties of travel and culture. 

Click here to find out more about JRP Carbon-free project

JRP & Suica Wallet 

JR Passes are now standard-sized magnetic tickets in cardboard. This new format allows JR Pass users to pass through automated station turnstiles, although it is easily breakable and misplaceable.. Suica cards and regional transportation passes fall under this category as well.

Why is the Japan Rail Pass & Suica cardholder necessary?

• Fits easily anywhere, in a trouser pocket, handbag or clutch bag.
• Waterproof and magnetic: the Suica card can be beeped at turnstiles without taking it out of the holder.
• With its red design and Japanese theme, it's a beautiful souvenir of Japan.

Click here to find out more about JRP & Suica Wallet