Seishun 18 Ticket
The Seishun 18 Ticket (青春18きっぷ Seishun Jūhachi Kippu) is a special discount ticket issued in Japan that allows holders one-day unlimited rides on the local trains of Japan Railways Group during limited periods of year.
One ticket is valid for five (not necessarily continuous) days (midnight to midnight), within the designated period of the season (see table below for seasonal periods). It can also be used by several people simultaneously; for example, five passengers can use entire one sheet of ticket for their one-day trip as a group instead of one passenger traveling individually on five days different days. Basically a single sheet of ticket can be stamped for up to 5 times, and a single stamp means unlimited travel for one person for that day. The price of the ticket is 11,500 Yen per sheet of 5 tickets, this means 2,300 yen per ticket. This ticket is ideal for long distance travellers, wherein people can get more value for their money.
In the context of Japan Railways Group, the term "local trains" (普通列車) means not only trains that stop at every station, but also all passenger trains except for Shinkansen, limited express and express trains that require express surcharges. This ticket is meant for travel by a local train (Futsu Ressha 普通列車) or a rapid train (Kaisoku Ressha 快速列車). However it is possible that by paying additional fee one can travel by an express train (Tokyu Ressha 特急列車) using this ticket.
There is no age limitation, despite the name being Seishun 18 Ticket. The ticket cannot be used in automatic ticket machines, even though the back of the ticket is magnetized. This ticket is not available at the ticket vending machine and it needs to be purchased over the counter at JR train stations or a travel agency only during the specified duration of the year.
[edit] Sale and usage of ticket
Each year the ticket goes for sale on three different occasions, details are shown in the table below. Although every season the JR authorities quote that these dates are subject to change, however over a long history (since year 1982 when this ticket was first introduced) these dates have remained unchanged and can be considered as a standard data. Note that once a ticket is purchased, it can be used only for that particular season. Those tickets which remain partially or fully unused in a particular season, can neither be reused or sold or refunded if its designated period is finished. JR can refund full money only for those tickets which are blank (not stamped ever) before the "Tickets on Sale" date.
| Period | Validity | Tickets on sale |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March 1 to April 10 | February 20 to March 31 |
| Summer | July 20 to September 10 | July 1 to August 31 |
| Winter | December 10 to January 10 | December 1 to December 31 |
