BEGINNER's GUIDE to JAPAN RAIL PASS, First-Time Travelers to Japan 2024

Very helpful! How did you book the Hokkaido to Tokyo Shinkansen tickets? I want to go in GranClass to give my mom the experience on this once in a lifetime trip. Once in Tokyo, we’ll do 2 days of exploring within the city then take the train to Kyoto and eventually end up in Fukoka and fly out from there. Mahalo!

Do JR pass cover metro tickets??

I think if you're just visiting the big 3: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, then you don't need the JR pass.

This video is very helpful. Thank you.

Hi there. Should I activate my 14 day JR pass the same day I arrive to NRT to take NEX to Tokyo Station? What do you recommend?

Hm with the price increase i start to Wonder if the JR pass will be worth it for us, we plan to travel to japan next near. Tokio kyoto osaka anf back to tokio

Can I use JR Pass for the bus in Japan?

We are getting the JR North Kyushu Pass only from Klook. Are the reserved seats included as well? TYSM

Hi! Hoping u are online- thanks for this. Ive watched loads of how to on JR pass. One question tho- the trains (included in pass) that show fare + seat prices, only the fare is included in the pass right?
We have to pay for the reserved seat or unreserved seat ex. Sonic Hakata to Kokura fare is 1910JPY then shows 600JPY for unreserved and 1130 for reserved?

Good morning, I bought my JR pass through TripMasters, can I make seat reservations online? Also, my first stop is Osaka, how do I get to my hotel from Itami airport using JR pass? Thank you

Hi. Im going to arrive in Narita Airport on 6th Jan 2024 and back to my country on 19th Jan 2024. Planning to go to Hokkaido, Osaka, Nara and Kyoto.

Am I still eligible to buy the JR pass (14 days) in advance with the current price and use it once I arrived in Narita next year?

Very helpful video, I’ve been told we need to tell the people at the jr office where they give you the pass what specific routes you’ll be taking, is this true? Thank you

Thank you so much for the informative video! This is the most helpful one I've watched :)

Thank you both for the extremely helpful video. God bless you guys 🙏

What is super limited and limited narita express?is japanese pass valid for both of them

Hi I see that the JR pass does not cover using the Nozomi line from Tokyo to Hiroshima. I've looked online and found that starting in October 2023, you can do it but it will cost a supplement fee. Any idea what that fee will be? Can't seem to find info on it. Thanks.

Well done! It's clear, informative, concise and complete. I learned more from your video than any other vlog. I also appreciate that you don't have that ridiculous video thumbnail that has a wide open eyes & mouth with a can't believe it look on their face😊

if i am travelling to japan 18'th December 2023 , can i buy the JR pass before October before the price increase of will be expired ?

So activation day is the date your forced to put in while purchasing the JR online? Or the first day you use it? Every video I see is different.

Hello, I have a question regarding the JR pass exchange order. If I purchase a 7 day pass now in September, but not arrive in Japan until February; will that make myJR pass invalid since it's well after 90 days for activation? Also is there a place I can purchase the pass now and not have an activation time on them?

DONT USE KLOOK FOR YOUR JR PASS!! They only give you an exchange order which you have to change into a jr pass once in Japan meaning you can’t prebook your trains before you get there, with all the tourists the trains are booking faster so go threw jr rails for your pass and you can book right away before you even get to Japan. Otherwise klook is pretty sweet

I am going to Japan 1 week from now, if I purchase the JR pass online how much time will it take for my exchange order to arrive? Can it be purchased at the airport? Feeling really anxious because this trip was not in my plans, just got an opportunity 1 week ago and took it

What a fabulous well thought out and thorough video. Thank you

I would like to know if some bus transportation is also included in the jr pass , I’m not sure of it but I read it somewhere that buses and a particular ferry is also accessible through the jr pass. And I’m planning on staying at Tokyo and visiting Hiroshima , Nara as a day trip and Kyoto and Osaka for 3 days . Do you thinks it worth to buy the jr pass ? I’m planning to travel in November but I’ll book my jr pass before October 😅

Two questions: Can I buy the JR Pass now before September ends,, if I plan on traveling in the spring of next year? Two, should I buy this pass if I plan on seeing about 3 cities that are close together from Tokyo, such as Kyoto, Kobe and Osaka, and back to Tokyo?

at the gate only insert the JR pass or both with reserved seat ticket ?

Thank you so much for such a detailed explanation. >< Just wanted to check if its worth it to buy a 14 day JR pass traveling from Tokyo >Kyoto >Osaka > Kyoto >Nara >Tokyo? We be traveling from 16th November and going for 17 days. If we do buy the JR pass, we need to make sure to order it before 30th Sept which is soon! However, we are conflicted because our online search says normal shinkansen is a little bit cheaper than JR pass but unsure if that is accurate.

Hello - I am coming to Japan Nov 10-24. Should I get the JR Pass that allows advanced seat reservations? Thank you.

Help! I have a trip to Japan in two weeks. I didn't get a chance to pre-order ticket ahead of time with an agent. I'm curious to know if I would be able to purchase a JR Pass at the airport with out purchasing online first? I'll be traveling to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Yokohama. Would I be able to use Sica or a different monorail pass for the city's?

Hello.. u said the JR pass purchased from the JR website can be exchanged within 30 days, but the websites says 3 months.. plz confirm

As someone with an disability, when entering into the country by the border does the border let the disabled go immediately to the border office and receive an temporary stamp for the travels? Usually when i show my disability card at the Heathrow Border lines/office they'd let you pass quicker as an disability person, but not sure how it's like in Japan, specially at the Narita Airport.

Also for passports, would I need an visa to enter Japan if lets say my passport is an Israeli Passport?

This video so far is super helpful, im traveling for 21 days, it's been a big dream of mine since as a kid

This is one of, if not the most, informative JR Pass travel videos I've seen! Thank you for making it! And thank you for the heads up that, if I purchase a pass now, I only have 90 days to use it. Planning on going to Japan on January so the Sept 29 old price deadline is a moot point. :(

Thanks for the great video. Is it confusing if you are switching from a JR run line in Tokyo to a line run by another company as to whether you should be using the jr pass or a suica card? Can you mistakenly use your jr pass when entering and then when you go to exit find out you have used the wrong pass? Thanks.

we only plan on going from Tokyo to osaka, then 10 days later from osaka back to tokyo. this seems expensive for just 2 rides

Question: Not buying any passes. Do I need to pre-purchase tickets for these routes?

Plan:

- Osaka -> Kyoto -> Tokyo: From KIX, take JR Haruka to Kyoto. From Kyoto, take Shinkansen (Hikari or Nozomi) to Tokyo.
- Nikko: Use NIKKO PASS world heritage.
- Tokyo -> Hakone: Take Odakyu train from Shinjuku to Odawara, then transfer to Hakone Tozan Line.
- Hakone -> Fuji Five Lakes: Bus from Togendai to Gotemba. Then, Fujikyu Bus from Gotemba to Kawaguchiko.
- Fuji Five Lakes -> Matsumoto: Fujikyu Bus to Mishima, Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya, then Shinano Limited Express.
- Matsumoto -> Kanazawa: JR Oito Line to Shinano-Omachi. Then, Hokuriku Shinkansen from Toyama to Kanazawa.
- Kanazawa -> Hida-Takayama: Hokuriku Shinkansen to Toyama, then JR Takayama Line.
- Kyoto: JR Takayama Line to Nagoya, Tokaido Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka, then JR Kyoto Line to Kyoto.

Note: This is from September 14th to September 27th. Stopping at Kyoto for luggage (studying there for 4.5 months).

The higher price is a hard sell unless you're going futher afield to Kyushu or Hokkaido, as well as the regular golden trio.

I think they may make more money from raising the prices, but they will also be reducing tourism dollars spent in rural areas due to less people travelling further afield.

Thank you for the super helpful video!
Wanna ask about the JapanTravel app, are all the routes they shows included in the JR rail pass?

so is this like a card you swipe on on and off at train stations are do you have to individually buy each ticket?

How does the e-ticket work? How do i exchange it? Do i print it? Do i show the email to someone when exchanging it in Japan? lol

Looking to purchase the regional 5 Day JR East Pass Nagano/Niigata. On Klook it says e-ticket.
Everywhere else i can't purchase the pass as the date is not Available. Example: Today September 7 shows only until October 7...LOL
I need my Pass for October 15 - 19. So debating to wait or get the e-ticket as we leave o Japan on October 9.

Your videos are super helpful, thank you! If i have a 21 day trip planned to japan (14 days tokyo and 7 days Golden Route) do you recommend getting a JR pass for the 21 days so i can use it for my whole trip? Or just a 7 day JR pass and for the Golden Route and use an IC card for Tokyo?

If I stay in Tokyo for 7 days, and I only go around like Mt. Fuji - Hakone - Kamakura, do I still need JR pass or only Suica? Thank for the info.

thank you very much. this is my very first time viewing/and considering to go to Japan

Hey, great video, thanks for the info. How long did it take for you to get your voucher in the mail? Does it take long?

Is there a fee for reserving a seat? and can you reserve on the same day of travel?

Hello first tome going to japan arriving on april 29 to haneda going to osaka until may 4 and then to kyoto until the 10 what should i take

Thank you so much for this. I am overwhelmed with planning our trip which is approaching fast but this is the BEST video that I've seen detailing the JR Pass.

Hi, I want to make sure if this is correct. I will arrive Jap on December 8, 2023. If I buy a JR pass on October 8 before price increase, it is still valid when I arrive Jap. I will travel from Tokyo to Osaka and back to Tokyo.

First of all, thank you for your vlog. I want to buy a JR pass because I will travel from Tokyo to Osaka and would like to go to Busan, South Korea, from Fukuoka. Is there any way I can use the JR pass from Osaka to Fukuoka? thank you

A word of caution if you’re planning on using non-reserved seating, some Shinkansen are reserved seating only. In particular, most of the Shinkansen on the Tohoku route, towards Hokkaido, are reserved seating only, and are often fully booked during busier times. I learned this the hard way. 😂