Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass)

Why buy your Japan Rail Pass from Visit Japan

• Official reseller — order with confidence from an authorized seller, not a grey-market site.
• In your own language — order from an official reseller, not a foreign site, and we send your pass to you by post.
• Local support on Japan time — before, during and after your trip.
• Part of H.I.S., a Japan-based operator that knows the rail network first-hand.
• Honest route advice — we tell you whether the pass actually saves you money for your itinerary.

Japan Rail Pass types

The nationwide Japan Rail Pass comes in three durations, valid for consecutive days from first use:

Each duration is available in Ordinary class or Green Car (first class). Green Car offers larger, quieter reserved seating for a higher price. We help you choose the right one for your route.

What the Japan Rail Pass covers

• Most shinkansen (bullet trains) nationwide — the fastest Nozomi and Mizuho services with an extra supplement (available since 2023); all other shinkansen are fully included.
• JR limited express, rapid and local trains the length of Japan.
• The Narita Express and other JR airport access lines.
• The JR ferry to Miyajima and selected JR buses.

Who can use it

The Japan Rail Pass is for foreign tourists visiting Japan on a short-stay 'temporary visitor' basis. It is not available to residents of Japan. One pass covers one traveller for its whole validity.

How it works

1. Tell us your travel dates and route — we recommend the right pass (or a better-value regional pass) for you.
2. We issue your Japan Rail Pass in your language, with an Exchange Order to carry to Japan.
3. In Japan you activate the pass and travel — and we stay reachable on Japan time if anything comes up.

Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it?

The pass usually pays off on long-distance, multi-city trips — for example Tokyo–Kyoto–Hiroshima — where a couple of shinkansen journeys can already cost more than the pass itself. For a single city or a short stay, individual tickets or a regional pass can be cheaper. We tell you honestly which is best for your plan.