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Japan Rail Pass

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The Japan Rail Pass (ジャパンレールパス, japan rēru pasu), also called the JR Pass, is a rail pass for overseas visitors sold by the Japan Railways Group, and is valid for travel on all major forms of transportation provided by the JR Group in Japan, with a few exceptions. The Rail Pass is designed to stimulate travel and tourism throughout the country.

Rail Pass

The Rail Pass comes in two varieties, one for each class of service, Standard Car (普通車, Futsūsha) and Green Car (グリーン車, Gurīnsha) (first class car). Furthermore, the pass is time limited based on the length of pass purchased. Three time periods are available: seven-day, fourteen-day and twenty-one-day passes, which provide the user unlimited use of JR transportation services. The table below summarizes the prices for each pass. The amounts are listed in Japanese Yen. When purchasing the Exchange Order (see below), the purchaser will pay the appropriate amount in the purchaser's home country currency based on the current exchange rate.

Purchase before going to Japan:

Class 7 Day 14 Day 21 Day
Green Car Adult ¥38,880 ¥62,950 ¥81,870
Child ¥19,440 ¥31,470 ¥40,930
Standard Car Adult ¥29,110 ¥46,390 ¥59,350
Child ¥14,550 ¥23,190 ¥29,670

Purchase in Japan (Trial):

Class 7 Day 14 Day 21 Day
Green Car Adult ¥44,000 ¥71,000 ¥90,000
Child ¥22,000 ¥35,500 ¥45,000
Standard Car Adult ¥33,000 ¥52,000 ¥65,000
Child ¥16,500 ¥26,000 ¥32,500

Exchange Order

Example of an Exchange Order

While the Rail Pass is sold by the JR Group, it is obtained by purchasing an Exchange Order from a travel agency located outside Japan. The exchange order can also be purchased from Japan-based airlines such as Japan Airlines - Japan Airlines stopped selling Rail Pass in March 2017 - or All Nippon Airways. The Exchange Order cannot be obtained in Japan. However, from Mar 8, 2017 to Mar 31, 2018, as part of a trial basis, the Japan Rail Pass will be available for direct purchase in Japan at a select number of major airports and train stations, though at a higher price.[1]

The Exchange Order itself cannot be used for travel, and must be exchanged at a JR Midori no Madoguchi ticket office. It can be exchanged at the following designated major JR train stations.

*This station is on the Tokyo Monorail line. JR East maintains a travel service center at this station where the pass can be obtained.

Valid transportation

The pass is valid for travel on Japan Railways Group (JR) transportation throughout the country in the class of service indicated on the pass on the following lines:

Train

  • Shinkansen, except Nozomi and Mizuho services[2]
  • Limited express (特急, Tokkyū)
  • Express (急行, Kyūkō)
  • Local (普通, Futsū), including Rapid (快速, Kaisoku) and Special Rapid (特別快速・新快速, Tokubetsu-Kaisoku/Shin-Kaisoku) services

The pass is also valid on the following non-JR lines:

Bus

The pass is valid on the local routes of the following bus companies:

Highway bus

The pass is valid on the following highway bus routes:

Effective with passes issued April 1, 2013, the Japan Rail Pass will no longer be valid on express bus routes.[3]

Ferry

The pass is also valid for travel on JR Ferry service on the following route:

Conditions of exchange

The Rail Pass is designed for tourist use, and therefore has conditions for its purchase and exchange.

Eligibility

The user must meet one of the following two conditions:

  • A foreign tourist visiting Japan, who has a passport bearing the "Temporary Visitor" entry status stamped at immigration, and who can present the actual passport at the time of exchange. A photocopy of the passport is not acceptable.
  • People who have both their Japanese passport and written proof—obtained from the embassy or legation of Japan in the foreign country where they live—that they have been living legally in the country for 10 consecutive years or more.

Validity period of the exchange order

The exchange order must be exchanged for a Japan Rail Pass within three months from the date the order was issued.

Exchange procedure

  1. The person designated on the Exchange Order must apply for the Rail Pass at an exchange office, and there,
  2. Present the order, along with passport.
  3. Fill in the application form provided at the office.
  4. Specify the desired first day of use, which must be within one month from the date of exchange. For example, if the exchange is made on January 1, then the date of first travel must be selected before February 1.

Conditions of use

The Rail Pass is valid on almost all forms of transportation (train, bus and ferry) operated by the companies of the JR Group. However, there are exceptions and conditions of use of the Rail Pass.

  • The Rail Pass is non-transferable and can only be used by the person designated on the pass.
  • The user must present his/her passport upon request.
  • Seat reservations can be made without additional payment. Seat reservations can be made at all JR Midori no Madoguchi ticket offices.
  • Use of a private compartment is not covered by the Rail Pass and requires an additional charge.
  • Use of a sleeping compartment on overnight trains is not covered by the Rail Pass and requires payment of the limited express fare and the accommodation charge. Overnight trains that run over non-JR tracks (i.e. Cassiopeia ) require additional charges.
  • Use of the Nozomi or Mizuho service is not covered by the Rail Pass and requires the full fare.[2]
  • Use of the Gran Class car on the Hayabusa service requires payment of the limited express fare and Gran Class seating charge.[2]
  • Use of the Fukuoka to Busan hydrofoil ferry service is normally not covered by the Rail Pass and requires an additional charge. There however are exceptions as travel agencies in Korea sell special types of Kyushu Rail Pass (valid within JR Kyushu network) which includes a round-trip ticket on the hydrofoil from Busan.[citation needed]

Other information

The Japan Rail Pass can normally be purchased only outside Japan, but one exception was made during 2002 FIFA World Cup when the JR Group sold the Rail Pass locally in Japan.[citation needed] JR Group has announced that it will be selling Japan Rail Passes inside Japan to tourists on an experimental basis from March 8, 2017 ‒ March 31, 2018.[4]

The Japan Rail Pass also allows the holders to obtain discounts when staying at JR Group Hotels.

References

  1. ^ "JAPAN RAIL PASS sold in Japan on a trial basis" (PDF). Japan Rail Pass Web Site. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Japan Railways. "JAPAN RAIL PASS validity". Retrieved 26 February 2011.
  3. ^ "Japan Rail Pass Validity". Japan Rail Pass Web Site. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  4. ^ ""JAPAN RAIL PASS" sold in Japan on a trial basis".
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Japan Rail Pass.

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