Are you planning to travel to other cities in Japan beside Tokyo? You need a Japan Rail Pass, a train ticket particularly intended for foreign nationals who wish to visit and travel Japan. Using this ticket can give you access to all train lines operated by Japan Railways (JR) including the amazingly fastest ‘Nozomi’ Shinkansen that has an operating speed of 300 km/h (185 mph). Moreover, you can reach the four main islands of Japan and their beautiful tourists’ spots with your JR pass.
Purchase JR Pass
1. Buy Online
Purchase the JR pass online here. The convenient way to obtain the ticket. Why? First, you can avoid queuing at the counter stations. Second, having ordered it in advance online can be 10% to 20% cheaper than in the stations in Japan where the pass is very limited and expensive.
When you order your Japan Rail Pass online, it is best to order it MAXIMUM 90 days before the date you will exchange it. And make sure that you spelled your name accurately, identical to your passport to avoid any problems upon verification at JR office. After you purchased it online, they will send you an exchange order that will be delivered by FedEx. Then, you will need to exchange it with an actual ticket if you already arrived in Japan.
Here are the easy steps on how to do it:
- Present the voucher at a JR office located at the major train stations in Japan. Check the list of JR offices below.
- Fill out the form with your details and present your passport.
Decide a starting date when exchanging the pass and should not exceed 30 days from the exchange date. - Get your validated pass once it’s done.
The pass can be used starting on the date you have chosen.
2. Purchase on sales offices outside Japan
Purchasing the ticket in your home country is also possible. Rather than doing it online, other people may want to visit a physical store to do a transaction. Take note you should buy at designated offices or agents only.
Check the list of sales offices in your country by clicking the following continents/subcontinents below.
Be sure that you understand the eligibility required to buy an exchange order for the Japan Rail Pass. Yes, it is the same procedure on how you purchase it online where they will only give you an exchange order, not the actual ticket. The ticket can be obtained in any train stations in Japan after you have switched your exchange order.
Check if your eligible to use JR Pass Those holding a Temporary visitor, the visa stamp or sticker must be seen on the passport. However, if you are under any official status such as “Trainee,” “Entertainer,” or “Reentry Permit,” are not allowed. Only Temporary Visitor entry status that grants a stay in Japan of 15 days or 90 days for “sight-seeing, etc.” by the immigration. |
Remember, even you have purchased exchange order in your home country you can not switch it to actual ticket unless you comply the requirements.
Exchange your exchange order at any JR stations listed below.
| STATION OFFICE | OFFICE HOURS |
| Kushiro Travel Service Center | 10:00-18:00 |
| Obihiro Travel Service Center | 9:00-17:00 |
| Asahikawa Travel Service Center | 9:30-17:30 |
Sapporo
|
|
| New-Chitose Airport JR Information Desk | 8:30-19:00 |
| Hakodate Travel Service Center | 10:00-18:00 |
| Shin-Hakodate Hokuto Ticket Office | 9:00-19:00 |
| Aomori Travel Service Center | 10:00-17:30 |
| Hachinohe Travel Service Center | 10:00-17:30 |
| Morioka Travel Service Center | 10:00-19:00 10:00-17:00 (Sat, Sun and Holiday) |
| Akita Travel Service Center | 10:30-18:00 10:30-17:00 (Sat, Sun and Holiday) |
| Sendai Travel Service Center | 08:30-19:00 (Mon-Sat) 08:30-18:00 (Sun & Hols) |
| Yamagata Travel Service Center | 10:00-18:00 (Mon-Fri) 10:00-17:00 (Sat) |
| Fukushima Travel Service Center | 10:00-18:00 (Mon-Sat) |
| Niigata Travel Service Center | 10:00-19:00 10:00-17:00 (Sat, Sun and Holiday) |
| Nagano Travel Service Center | 10:00-19:00 10:00-17:30 (Sat, Sun and Holiday) |
| Mito Travel Service Center | 10:00-19:00 10:00-17:00 (Sat, Sun and Holiday) |
Narita Airport
|
|
Narita Airport
|
|
Tokyo
|
|
| Ueno Information Center (Central Ticket Gate) | 9:00-19:00 |
Shinjuku
|
|
Shibuya
|
|
| Ikebukuro JR EAST Travel Service Center (East) | 9:00-18:00 |
Shinagawa
|
|
| Haneda Airport International Terminal JR EAST Travel Service Center (Tokyo Monorail 2F Ticket Gate/Arrival lobby) | 6:45-20:00 |
| Yokohama Travel Service Center | 10:00-20:00 10:00-19:00 (Sat, Sun and Holiday) |
Shin-Yokohama
|
|
| Odawara JR-CENTRAL Ticket Office | 5:45-22:30 |
| Mishima Ticket Office (South) | 5:45-22:30 |
| Shizuoka Ticket Office | 5:00-23:00 |
| Hamamatsu Ticket Office | 5:50-23:00 |
Nagoya
|
|
| Central JapanInternational Airport Central Japan Travel Center | 09:00-20:30 |
| Toyama Ticket Office (Central) | 5:40-23:30 |
| Kanazawa Ticket Office (Central) | 4:40-23:30 |
Kyoto
|
|
| Higashi-Maizuru Ticket Office | 5:30-21:00 |
| Nishi-Maizuru Ticket Office | 5:40-21:00 |
Shin-Osaka
|
|
Osaka
|
|
| Kansai Airport Ticket Office | 5:30-23:00 |
| Nara Ticket Office | 9:00-20:00 |
| Sannomiya Ticket Office (Central) | 5:30-23:00 |
| Okayama Ticket Office | 5:00-23:30 |
| Tottori Ticket Office | 5:45-23:00 |
| Yonago Ticket Office | 5:00-22:00 |
| Sakaiminato Ticket Office | 7:10-18:30 |
| Matsue Ticket Office | 4:50-21:30 |
| Hiroshima Ticket Office | 5:20-23:00 |
| Shin-Yamaguchi Ticket Office | 5:30-23:00 |
| Shimonoseki Ticket Office | 5:30-22:30 |
| Takamatsu Travel Service Center | 10:00-18:00 10:00-17:00 (Sat, Sun and Holiday) |
| Matsuyama Travel Service Center | 10:00-18:00 10:00-17:00 (Sat, Sun and Holiday) |
| Tokushima Travel Service Center | 10:00-18:00 |
| Kokura Travel Service Center | 11:00-19:00 10:30-18:00 (Sat, Sun and Holiday) |
Hakata
|
|
Saga
|
|
| Nagasaki Travel Service Center | 10:30-19:00 10:30-18:00(Sat, Sun and Holiday) |
| Kumamoto Travel Service Center | 10:30-19:00 10:30-17:30 (Sat, Sun and Holiday) |
| Oita Travel Service Center | 10:30-19:00 10:30-18:00 (Sat, Sun and Holiday) |
Miyazaki
|
|
| Kagoshima-Chūō Travel Service Center | 11:00-19:00 |
3. Purchase ticket at Japan Rail Station in Japan
You could also purchase a Japan Rail pass directly at any JR stations from the above list. But expect for expensive rates than purchasing in advance online.
Make your Japan experience worthwhile with Japan Rail Pass. It will let you explore the most interesting traditional places in Japan, their unique culture, and enjoy various Japanese cuisines. The fastest way to do it is through their high-speed railway lines, the bullet trains (shinkansen). And for sure, you will be fascinated to travel to the best and ultra-modern rail system in the world.
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