The Japan Rail Pass (JRP) is a special discount pass for travelers visiting Japan from foreign countries for sightseeing purposes only. With the JRP, you can freely board almost any train on Japan Railways Group lines throughout the country.

There are two types of JRP: Green (for superior-class Green Cars) and Ordinary. Each of these types is available as a 7-day, 14-day or 21-day Pass. You must buy an Exchange Order from an authorized sales office or agency before you come to Japan. After arriving in Japan, you turn in the Exchange Order to receive your JRP at an applicable JR station that has a JRP exchange office. You cannot buy the JRP inside Japan.

With the JRP, you may have unlimited travel on all Shinkansen Super Express trains except Shinkansen "Nozomi", all limited-express and all express trains.

To be eligible to purchase a JAPAN RAIL PASS you must meet one of the following two conditions.

Vistor's Stamp

1. You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing,under the entry status of "temporary visitor."

2. You are a Japanese national living in a foreign country who is qualified to live permanently in that country, or who is married to a non-Japanese residing in a country other than Japan.

There are two types of JRP: Green (for superior-class Green Cars) and Ordinary. Each of these types is available as a 7-day, 14-day or 21-day Pass.

Type	Green		Ordinary
Duration	Adult	Child	Adult	Child
7-day	37,800 ￥	18,900 ￥	28,300 ￥	14,150 ￥
14-day	61,200 ￥	30,600 ￥	45,100 ￥	22,550 ￥
21-day	79,600 ￥	39,800 ￥	57,700 ￥	28,850 ￥

 

The JRP is valid on these types of transportation.

• The validity period of a JRP 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.

• You cannot use an Exchange Order when you travel on JR lines. Turn in your Exchange Order and obtain your JRP at any major JR train station including Narita Airport and Kansai Internation Airport.
• 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.

• A Japan Rail Pass cannot be purchased inside Japan.
• You must purchase an Exchange Order from an authorized sales office or agent before you come to Japan.
• Exchange Orders can be purchased from the following JR authorized sales offices and agents:
  JTB Corp., Nippon Travel Agency, Kintetsu InternationalL, Tokyu Tourist Corporation, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, JALPAK, and their associated agencies.

  List of places worldwide where you can purchase an exchange order.

Useful Vocabulary and Reading a shinkansen ticket

	Got Japan - Useful train and transportation vocabulary.
	Got Japan - Reading a shinkansen ticket.

 

 

	Japan Rail - Official website for Japan Rail companies with routes, schedules, fares and other information.
	JR Rail Pass - Official website for JR Rail pass information.
	Eki-net - With this site you can purchase tickets, make reservations on bullet trains and check train times.
	Japan Railway Transportation Review - JRTR is an English-language transport magazine published quarterly by East Japan Railway Culture Foundation. There is also the history of JR, trains, and transportation in Japan.
	Hyperdia - A website that allows you to find out information from getting from point A to B. It tells you the route, time needed, and cost of the trip.
	Japanese Traffic Guide by Jorudan Co - A website that allows you to find out information from getting from point A to B.