Japan Rail Pass FAQ

 
Your questions answered

Below you will find the most commonly asked questions regarding the Japan Rail Pass. However, if you can't find the answer to your query here please do not hesitate to call us on 0117-314-4622 and we will be delighted to answer any questions you may have.

• Which rail pass do I need?
• So you send me a voucher and I exchange/activate this in Japan? 
• Can I travel on the bullet trains with the rail pass?
• But what’s this about the Nozomi Shinkansen that I can’t use?
• What’s the difference between the ordinary and the ‘Green car’ (first-class) option?
• I am only making a couple of train journeys – is it worth me getting a rail pass?
• I will be in Japan for about 10 days. Should I get a 7 day or 14-day pass?
• Can I use the Japan Rail Pass on the subway in Tokyo? What about Kyoto?
  

Order the Japan rail Pass
Japan Rail Pass FAQ
Welcome to Tokyo Pack
Japan Rail Pass T&C
Tokyo Destination Guide
Regional Passes

 
Which rail pass do I need?

If you intend to visit Tokyo and Kyoto (as most visitors to Japan do!) then it is Japan Rail Pass you will need. If however you are visiting Tokyo then heading north you may be better off with a JR East Pass. If you are spending most of your time west of Kyoto then there are different regional passes you might like to consider. Contact us for details and advice on which pass is best for your trip.

So you send me a voucher and I exchange/activate this in Japan?

We send you a voucher (‘exchange order’) for the Japan Rail Pass. In Japan you will need to exchange this for the actual rail pass itself. This is very easy to do and can be done either on arrival at major airports (Tokyo Narita, Osaka Kansai) or at major train stations. When you make the exchange you can state the date you want to start using the pass, so you do NOT have to start using it on the day you make the exchange. Once you have made the exchange you can start making seat reservations. We also send you a comprehensive pamphlet explaining about the rail pass, how and where to make the exchange and how to use the pass. Nearly all foreign visitors to Japan use a rail pass, so station staff are very used to dealing with the pass.

 
Can I travel on the bullet trains with the rail pass?

Yes! You can travel on any of the Shinkansen (bullet train) lines in the country (limited area for regional passes). The main and most useful Shinksanen line runs from Tokyo in the east of Japan, through Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima, ending in Fukuoka in the west. See below for the only restriction on this.


But what’s this about the Nozomi Shinkansen that I can’t use?

On the main Shinkansen line described above there are 3 types of Shinkansen train; Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama - The Japan Rail Pass is not valid on Nozomi services. The Nozomi makes the fewest stops along this line, making it something of a ‘commuter’s express’ thus often not the most useful for foreign visitors. The Hikari trains hit very nearly the same top speed as the Nozomi, but stop at all the major cities along the way, meaning they are often the most useful services for visitors. The Kodama services stop at every station so are best used just for short trips; not for long distance travel. Other Shinkansen lines such as that going north from Tokyo again have different types of Shinkansen train, but the Japan Rail Pass is valid for them all.


What’s the difference between the ordinary and the ‘Green car’ (first-class) option?

Ordinary class travel in Japan is of a very high standard – trains are clean and seats are generously sized, with plenty of leg room, especially on the Shinkansen bullet trains. First-class ‘Green’ carriages provide extra comfort with increased leg room and wider seats. Green carriages are not available on most local trains, such as those within Tokyo. Green carriages tend not to get as full as the standard carriages, where seats can be at a premium during rush hour and peak travel seasons. While the ordinary class allows perfectly comfortable travel, there are certain times of the year when the extra expense of a Green car pass can be well worth it to be sure of getting a seat, and to travel in a quieter atmosphere. These times are over Christmas and New Year, the ‘Golden Week’ holiday period of late April and early May, and the ‘O-Bon’ holiday period in mid-August. Contact us if you would like to discuss the most suitable pass for you.


I am only making a couple of train journeys – is it worth me getting a rail pass?

Very probably yes! You will very nearly make back the cost of a 7-Day Japan Rail Pass on just a return trip between Tokyo and Kyoto. Use the pass to cover your airport transfers and you are already making money! Individual tickets on the Shinkansen (bullet trains) are rather expensive, so you can make considerable savings with the Japan Rail Pass!
I will be in Japan for about 10 days.


Should I get a 7 day or 14-day pass?

Even if you are not in Japan for the full 14 days it may well be worth you getting the 14-day pass. Just one long trip on the Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Tokyo can cover the price difference between the 7 and the 14-day pass.


Can I use the Japan Rail Pass on the subway in Tokyo? What about Kyoto?

Tokyo has an excellent public transport system. There is an extensive subway (underground train) network, and an equally extensive overground train system. The Japan Rail Pass will NOT cover you on the subway or on any of the private (non-JR) overland train lines. However, InsideJapan Tours is proud to be the only UK company offering the PASMO Tokyo transport card, an essential purchase alongside your Japan Rail Pass. This is a pre-paid smart-card that comes charged with 2500 yen of credit, allowing you to simply touch in and touch out on all of the subway lines and all overland train lines in the greater Tokyo region, with fares deducted automatically. See the main website for more details on PASMO

Kyoto’s public transport network is less extensive than Tokyo’s. There are a few subway lines, but the Japan Rail Pass is not valid on these, but individual tickets are inexpensive. Sightseeing in Kyoto is often best done by a combination of bus and taxi. Buses have signs in English and taxis are clean and reliable – with impeccably polite drivers (on the whole!)


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