Scope of application
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 (for example, an Exchange Order issued on April 15 would have to be turned in by July 14). 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.
Transportation services
- This information applies to JAPAN RAIL PASSES issued in Japan on or after April 1, 2013. The JAPAN RAIL PASS is valid for the railways, buses, and ferry boats shown in Table 1.
| Railways | All JR Group Railways-Shinkansen”bullet trains” (except any reserved or non-reserved seat on “NOZOMI”and”MIZUHO”trains) limited express trains, express trains, and rapid or local trains. (With some exceptions) *JAPAN RAIL PASS holders can also use the Tokyo monorail. *Aoimori Railway (Metoki-Aomori. However, the use of local or rapid trains between Aomori-Hachinohe, Aomori-Noheji and Hachinohe-Noheji is permitted. Passengers disembarking on Aoimori Railway lines in these sections must pay separate fares. However, passengers disembarking at Aomori Station, Noheji Station, or Hachinohe Station do not need to pay separate fares. |
| Buses | Local lines of JR Bus (excluding some local lines. Pass validity for particular routes is subject to change.) (JR Bus : JR Hokkaido Bus, JR Bus Tohoku, JR Bus Kanto, JR Tokai Bus, West Japan JR Bus, Chugoku JR Bus, JR Shikoku Bus, JR Kyushu Bus)※The PASS is not valid for travel on express bus routes operated by JR Bus. |
| Ferry | Only the JR-WEST Miyajima ferry is covered. ※JR Kyushu Jet Ferry between Hakata and Busan (Korea) is not covered.※You will be required to additionally pay a Miyajima Visitor Tax (100 yen) upon your visit. |
[ Remarks ]
Important notes: The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines. (The pass holders must take “HIKARI,” “SAKURA,” “KODAMA,” or “TSUBAME” trains.) If you use a “NOZOMI” or “MIZUHO” train, you must pay the basic fare and the limited express charge, and for a Green Car the Green Car surcharge. In addition, if you use the GranClass car of the Tohoku Shinkansen, you must pay the limited express charge and the GranClass car surcharge. Note also that passengers using JR trains on non-JR lines must pay additional fares and charges for sections traveled on such lines.Some JR trains use the lines of private railways for direct services.
Train accommodations
- Most 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 table2 below for details.The cars with ● can be used with JAPAN RAIL PASS.Use of the cars with ★ requires paying additional charges.There are no Green Cars on most HIKARI and KODAMA trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (Shin-Osaka ·Hakata), or on TSUBAME trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen line(Shin-Yatsushiro – Kagoshima- chūō )
| Trains | Accomodations | Green | Ordinary |
| “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen *1 | Green Car | × | × |
| Ordinary Car | × | × | |
| “HIKARI,” “SAKURA,” “KODAMA” and “TSUBAME” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen and any trains on the Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Joetsu and Nagano Shinkansen. | GranClass *4 | ★ | ★ |
| Green Car | ●*2 | ★ | |
| Ordinary Car | ○ | ○ | |
| Ordinary private Compartment | ★ | ★ | |
| Limited express and ordinary express | Green Car | ●*3 | ★ |
| Ordinary Car | ● | ● | |
| Green private Compartment | ★ | ★ | |
| Ordinary private Compartment | ★ | ★ | |
| Sleeping Car | ★ | ★ | |
| Local and rapid trains | Green Car | ○ | ★ |
| Ordinary Car | ○ | ○ |
[ Remarks ]
*1 The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved (incl. Green Car) or non-reserved, on ”NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains.
*2 There are no Green Cars on most “HIKARI” and “KODAMA” trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (Shin-Osaka―Hakata), or on some “SAKURA” and “TSUBAME” Series 800 trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen line.
*3 If you use a “DX Green” (operated by JR Kyushu), you must pay the limited express charge in addition to the DX Green charge.
*4 If you use the GranClass car, only the basic fare is covered with your JAPAN RAIL PASS for both Green Car and Ordinary Cars and you must pay the limited express charge and the GranClass car surcharge additionally.
・Private Compartments are available on some “HIKARI” trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line. ・Green Private Compartments are on certain limited express trains, such as “Super-view Odoriko.”
・Use of “Home Liner” and other “liner” trains requires an additional charge.
