Is the Japan Rail Pass Worth it in 2024?
It’s a well-known fact that Japan has one of the best train systems in the world. Japan Railways Group offer a number of incentives for foreign tourists looking to take advantage of that fact - namely, the JR Pass. But, does the convenience and ease of use of the Japan Rail Pass justify the high cost?
What is the Japan Rail Pass?
The Japan Rail Pass (also known as JR Pass) is a ticket that allows foreign tourists visiting Japan to travel freely on JR trains. It grants unlimited access to Japan Railways (JR) Group's extensive network, spanning across the country's four main islands.
So whether your two-week Japan itinerary has you exploring fukuoka’s yatai-lined streets or the rugged mountains of Hokkaido, the Japan Rail Pass can help you get there. Offering flexibility and convenience for those determined to see all this country has to offer, it allows explorers to immerse themselves in the organised chaos of Japan's 792 cities and the welcome peace of the countryside with ease.
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Japan Rail Pass Price Increase
In October 2023, the Japan Rail Pass experienced a large price hike for each of its passes. The table below shows the extent of the increase, with the ordinary 21-day pass suffering the least and the 7-day green pass taking the biggest hit (%). This was partly due to the yen’s decline in value, but also because of the rising energy, maintenance, and operational costs of the railway.
Before the increase, many travellers saw it as a great deal, but now it means you'll need to significantly increase your travel to get your money's worth.
Ordinary 7-day: ¥29,650 > ¥50,000
Ordinary 14-day: ¥47,250 > ¥80,000
Ordinary 21-day: ¥60,450 > ¥100,000
Green 7-day: ¥39,600 > ¥70,000
Green 14-day: ¥64,120 > ¥110,000
Green 21-day: ¥83,390 > ¥140,000
Related post: What Type of Accommodation Should You Book in Japan?
Which Trains are the Japan Rail Pass Valid On?
The Japan Rail Pass provides access to a wide-reaching train system operated by the JR Group, including shinkansen (bullet trains), limited express, and local trains. Before the recent price increase, the JR Pass was unable to be used on the Nozomi (the fastest of the 5 bullet trains) and Mizuho Shinkansen - they can now be ridden.
Some lesser-known perks of the JR Pass give travellers the ability to ride on the JR-West Miyajima ferry for free, as well as the daily Sunrise express train (early booking needed), and many other travel & attraction discounts across the country.
Note: the JR Pass does not allow you to ride on subways or trams within cities
Example itinerary - Tokyo > Nagano > Kanazawa > Kyoto > Osaka > Tokyo
The best way to illustrate whether the cost of the Japan Rail Pass is worth it in 2024 is by running through an example itinerary:
Tokyo > Nagano
Cost: ¥8,140
Time: 1h 35min
Nagano > Kanazawa
Cost: ¥8,920
Time: 1h 23min
Kanazawa > Kyoto
Cost: ¥7,020
Time: 2h 18min
Kyoto > Osaka
Cost: ¥3,070
Time: 0h 29min
Osaka > Tokyo
Cost: ¥8,140
Time: 1h 35min
Total cost: ¥39,370
For even the most adventurous travellers, that’s a jam-packed trip with limited time to fully explore each area on a 7-day pass. There's not enough time to absorb the local culture fully and depending on the Shinkansen and seat reservation, you can expect to spend between 35,000 to 40,000 yen. With the cheapest JR Pass priced at ¥50,000, you won't have travelled enough to recoup your initial payment.
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Where to Buy a Japan Rail Pass
In 2024, visitors can buy the JR Rail Pass in one of two ways:
The official website
You’ll have to set a start date within 1 month when purchasing
You can book your seat reservations online
You only need your passport to exchange for the pass in Japan
Online & offline travel agents
Authorized JR Pass sellers will send a voucher which needs to be redeemed inside Japan (allowing you to set your start date while in the country)
Discounts will sometimes be available
While the Japan Rail Pass used to be available for purchase at train stations within Japan, that was discontinued in September 2023.
How to Exchange a Japan Rail Pass
Upon arrival in Japan, if you’ve pre-purchased a Japan Rail Pass (from a travel agent), you must exchange the voucher for the actual pass at a designated JR exchange office, typically located in major airports and train stations.
You will need to present your passport along with the voucher to receive the JR Pass. If you’ve bought your pass through the official website, you’ll only need to show your passport to receive the ticket. Once the staff have confirmed your personal information, you’ll be asked to select an activation date which can be up to 30 days after.
Making Seat Reservations
To secure seat reservations with the Japan Rail Pass, you’ll need to visit a JR ticket office (“Midori-no-madoguchi” - found in most major JR stations), or use the online reservation tool if you’ve booked through the official website. Alternatively, many stations offer simple-to-use automated reservation machines.
Either way, if you’re planning to reserve a seat, make sure you do it well in advance if you’re travelling during cherry blossom season, golden week, momiji-gari in Autumn, or any other peak travel season to ensure availability.
Pro tip: seat reservations are not mandatory, but may offer peace of mind during busy times.
Is a Japan Rail Pass Worth It?
Whether the Japan Rail Pass is worth it hinges on individual travel preferences and itineraries. If you’re planning an extensive journey across Japan, the pass may provide enough value. However, in my opinion, and for most people with limited travel plans or primarily visiting a single region, the pass is not likely to be cost-effective, and individual tickets will inevitably prove cheaper.
If you’re unsure whether the Japan Rail Pass is worth it for you, make sure you check out the official JR Fare Calculator.
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