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Types and Prices
Who is eligible?
Validity
How to turn in Exchange
How to make seat reservations
Exchange offices
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JAPAN RAIL PASS Types and Prices
There are two types of JAPAN RAIL PASS: Green (for superior-class Green cars), and Ordinary. Each of these types is available as a 7-day, 14-day, or 21-day PASS.
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| Type: |
Green |
Ordinary |
| Duration |
Adult |
Child |
Adult |
Child |
| 7 days |
37,800YEN |
18,900YEN |
28,300YEN |
14,150YEN |
| 14 days |
61,200YEN |
30,600YEN |
45,100YEN |
22,550YEN |
| 21 days |
79,600YEN |
39,800YEN |
57,700YEN |
28,850YEN |
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| Note: The above are yen prices for a JAPAN RAIL PASS Exchange Order; the actual cost in local currency is calculated at the time the Exchange Order is issued. Note that the purchase exchange rate may differ from the exchange rate in effect when you actually visit Japan. The local currency price, applicable exchange rate, and issue date for an Exchange Order are specified on the Exchange Order itself. PASS prices for children apply from age 6 to and including age 11. Prices are subject to change. The applicable price is the price valid on the date when an Exchange Order is issued.
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Who is eligible for a JAPAN RAIL PASS?
The JAPAN RAIL PASS is a special ticket that is available only to travelers visiting Japan from foreign countries for sight-seeing. To be eligible to purchase a JAPAN RAIL PASS you must meet one of the following two conditions.
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■You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing, under the entry status of "temporary visitor".
"Temporary visitor"entry status, according to Japanese Immigration Law, allows a stay in Japan of 15 days or 90 days for "sight-seeing, etc." If you apply for a "stay for sight-seeing" when you enter Japan, entry personnel will stamp your passport as "Temporary visitor", as shown. Only persons who have a passport bearing this stamp can use a JAPAN RAIL PASS.
Caution: Even if you visit Japan with an Exchange Order, to be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS, the exchange cannot be made unless you have "Temporary Visitor" status; if you enter Japan under any other official status, such as "Trainee," "Entertainer," or "Reentry Permit," you cannot change the Exchange Order for a JAPAN RAIL PASS. Please note that according to strict interpretation of the Japanese Immigration Law, "Temporary Visitor" status differs even from other types of stays that are also for only short time periods.
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■You are a Japanese national living in a foreign country,
a. who is qualified to live permanently in that country, or
b. who is married to a non-Japanese residing in a country other than Japan.
Persons meeting conditions a or b above must be required to show proof of same at the point of purchase of an Exchange Order and obtaining a JAPAN RAIL PASS.
Note:*The former condition about a Japanese national " who has been living in a foreign country for ten years"is discontinued from 1 April 2004 purchase.
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JAPAN RAIL PASS Validity
■Transportation services
The JAPAN RAIL PASS is valid for the railways, buses, and ferry boats shown in Table 1.
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| Railways |
All JR Group Railways--Shinkansen "bullet trains" except any reserved or nonreserved seat on "NOZOMI" trains, limited express trains, express trains, and rapid or local trains. (With some exceptions) |
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| Buses |
JR Bus Companies：Local lines of JR Hokkaido Bus, JR Bus Tohoku, JR Bus Kanto, JR Tokai Bus, West Japan JR Bus , Chugoku JR Bus, JR Shikoku Bus Company, and JR Kyushu Bus.
JR Highway Bus Lines：Sapporo-Otaru; Morioka-Hirosaki/Aomori; Tokyo-Nagoya/Kyoto/Osaka/Tsukuba Center; Nagoya-Kyoto/Osaka; Osaka-Tsuyama/Kasai Flower Center (Not accepted on some lines) |
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| Ferry |
JR Ferry (Miyajima - Miyajimaguchi), except "Beetle2" (Hakata - Pusan)） |
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| Important notes |
Important notes: The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or nonreserved, on "NOZOMI" trains on the Tokaido and San'yo Shinkansen lines. If you use a "NOZOMI," you must pay the basic fare and the limited express charge, and if in a Green Car, the Green Car charge.
Passengers using train on non-JR lines* must pay respective fares and charges applicable to sections traveled on such lines. |
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| Table 1
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■Train accommodations
All JR trains have Ordinary Cars (coach class) while many long-distance trains also offer Green Cars (superior class). With a Green-type JAPAN RAIL PASS you can use either class, while with an Ordinary-type JAPAN RAIL PASS you can use only Ordinary Cars without paying an additional charge. Refer to the table below for details.
The cars with can be used with JAPAN RAIL PASS.
Use of the cars with requires paying additional charges.
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| Trains |
Accomodations |
Green |
Ordinary |
Shinkansen
except any reserved or nonreserved seat on "NOZOMI" trains. |
Green car |
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| Ordinary Car |
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| Green private compartment |
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| Ordinary private compartment |
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| Limited express and ordinary express |
Green car |
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| Ordinary car |
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| Green private compartment |
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| Ordinary private compartment |
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| Sleeping car |
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| Local and rapid trains |
Green car |
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| Ordinary car |
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| Table 2
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- Green private compartments are on certain limited express trains, such as "NARITA EXPRESS" and "Super-view Odoriko."
- Use of "Home Liner" and other "liner" trains requires an additional charge.
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■Validity period
 The validity period of a JAPAN RAIL PASS is the consecutive 7, 14, or 21 days beginning on the date the PASS is first used.
Within three months from the date the Exchange Order was issued, you must turn in your Exchange Order to obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS. At that time, you have to specify the date that you want to start using the PASS. It can be any date within one month from the date the PASS is received.
Once the PASS has a starting date written on it, the date cannot be changed.
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How to Turn in an Exchange
You cannot use an Exchange Order when you travel on JR lines. Turn in your Exchange Order and obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS at one of theJAPAN RAIL PASS exchange offices.
Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS within three months of the date the Order was issued.
At the time of the exchange you will be asked to fill in a short application form and to show your passport with the Temporary Visitor stamp that you received on entry into Japan. You must show your passport and this stamp to process the Rail Pass Exchange Order. Without your passport, the pass exchange will not be made. (A photocopy of your passport is also not acceptable because you must show the "Temporary Visitor" stamp in it.)
The type of PASS described on the Exchange Order cannot be changed.
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How to Make Seat Reservations
Shinkansen and most limited express and ordinary express trains have reserved Green car seats and both reserved and nonreserved ordinary car seats.
A nonreserved seat can be used simply by showing your JAPAN RAIL PASS.
Seat reservations can be made without additional payment. To make a reservation, go to any Travel Service Center or a Reservation Office (Midori-no-madoguchi as illustrated) at a JR station, or to the sales office of a JR-associated travel agency. There, show your PASS, and obtain your reserved-seat ticket before boarding.
Caution:Please note that during crowded periods you cannot be guaranteed a seat on a specific train. The periods when seat reservations are particularly difficult to secure are as follows:
12/29 - 01/05 The New Year holiday period is the most popular travel time for Japanese people, for vacations and returns to hometown areas.
04/29 - 05/05 Due to consecutive holidays in a comfortable travel season, there is large-scale travel throughout Japan for leisure and recreation.
08/13 - 08/15 Another time for traditional travel to home-town areas, called the Obon season.
Note: Do not use an automatic ticket-reading gate with a JAPAN RAIL PASS or a reserved-seat ticket. Please show the PASS at a manned ticket gate.
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JAPAN RAIL PASS Exchange Offices
| Station |
Office |
Office Hours |
Days Closed |
| Kushiro |
Travel Service Center |
10:00-18:00 |
None |
| Obihiro |
Travel Service Center |
9:00-17:00 |
None |
| Asahikawa |
Travel Service Center |
9:30-17:30 |
None |
| Sapporo |
Travel Service Center |
10:00-18:00 |
None |
| New-Chitose Airport |
Ticket Office |
6:30-22:00 |
None |
| Hakodate |
Travel Service Center |
10:00-18:00 |
None |
| Hachinohe |
Travel Service Center |
10:00-17:30 |
None |
| Sendai |
Travel Service Center |
10:00-19:00 |
None |
| Yamagata |
Travel Service Center |
10:00-18:00 |
None |
| Fukushima |
Travel Service Center |
10:00-18:00 |
None |
| Nigata |
Travel Service Center |
10:00-18:00 |
None |
| Kanazawa |
Ticket Office |
5:30-23:00 |
None |
Narita Airport
*Terminal 1 |
Travel Service Center
Ticket Office |
11:30-19:00
6:15-11:30
19:00-21:45 |
None |
Narita Airport
*Terminal 2 |
Travel Service Center
Ticket Office |
11:30-19:00
6:15-11:30
19:00-21:50 |
None |
| Tokyo |
Travel Service Center
(Yaesu North)
Travel Service Center
(Yaesu Centeral)
Ticket Office |
10:00-19:00
10:30-19:30
5:30-23:00 |
None |
| Ueno |
Travel Service Center |
10:30-20:00 |
None |
| Shinjuku |
Travel Service Center(East) |
11:00-19:00 |
None |
| Shibuya |
Travel Service Center |
11:00-20:00 |
None |
| Ikebukuro |
Travel Service Center(West)
Travel Service Center(East) |
11:00-20:00
11:00-19:00 |
None |
| Shinagawa |
Travel Service Center
Ticket Office（JR Central) |
11:00-20:00
5:50-22:50 |
None |
| Yokohama |
Travel Service Center |
11:00-19:00 |
None |
| Shin-Yokohama |
Ticket Office（JR Central） |
5:30-23:00 |
None |
| Odawara |
Ticket Office（JR Central） |
6:00-23:00 |
None |
| Mishima |
Ticket Office |
5:30-22:20 |
None |
| Shizuoka |
Ticket Office |
5:00-23:00 |
None |
| Hamamatsu |
Ticket Office |
5:00-23:00 |
None |
| Nagoya |
JAPAN RAIL PASS Exchange Corner |
10:00-18:00 |
None |
| Kyoto |
Ticket Office |
8:30-21:00 |
None |
| Shin-Osaka |
Ticket Office |
5:30-23:00 |
None |
| Osaka |
Ticket Office |
5:30-23:00 |
None |
| Kansai Airport |
Ticket Office |
5:30-23:00 |
None |
| Sannomiya |
Ticket Office |
5:30-23:00 |
None |
| Okayama |
Ticket Office |
5:30-23:00 |
None |
| Hiroshima |
Ticket Office |
5:30-23:00 |
None |
| Shimonoseki |
Ticket Office |
5:30-23:00 |
None |
| Takamatsu |
Travel Service Center |
10:00-18:00 |
None |
| Matsuyama |
Travel Service Center |
10:00-18:00 |
None |
| Kokura |
Travel Service Center |
10:00-19:00 |
None |
| Hakata |
Travel Service Center
Ticket Office（JR Kyushu） |
10:00-20:00
5:30-10:00
20:00-23:00 |
None |
| Nagasaki |
Travel Service Center |
10:00-19:00 |
None |
| Kumamoto |
Travel Service Center |
10:00-19:00 |
None |
| Oita |
Travel Service Center |
10:00-19:00 |
None |
| Miyazaki |
Travel Service Center |
10:00-18:30 |
None |
| Kagoshima-Chuo |
Travel Service Center |
10:00-19:00 |
None |
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Note:Indicated office hours are for weekdays. Hours vary among offices on weekends and holidays. Some Travel Service Centers are closed during the New Year holiday period. Offices and office hours are subject to change or discontinuation without notice.
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