Public transportation is extremely well organized, easy to use and not very expensive. Between cities you can travel either by high-speed trains - which are a bit more expensive, or by fast regional trains or buses. Big cities have an equally good public transport network.
Depending on the time you have, but also on your list of places to visit, you can opt for either trains or domestic flights. For domestic flights I don't have information because I think it's only worth taking a domestic flight if you want to get from Tokyo to Sapporo or even Okinawa.
We had a standard itinerary - Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Osaka - and between the big cities, more precisely between Tokyo and Kyoto we went by high-speed train. So, in order not to have any headaches and even to save some money we bought a pass, JR Pass, which offered us unlimited travel on all public transport operated by JR - Japan Railway, for a period of 7 days.
And in this article I tell you what JR Pass (Japan Railway Pass) is, how much it costs and what advantages it offers?
What is JR Pass (Japan Railway Pass)
The JR Pass is a pass that only tourists can buy and that offers unlimited travel on all public transport operated by Japan Railways, for a period of 7, 14 or 21 days. It includes high-speed trains, all JR local trains and buses, some train lines in Tokyo and the Narita Express. The JR Pass is an excellent option if you have a more complex itinerary that involves crossing Japan from one end to the other by train.
How To Get a JR Pass
There are at least 2 websites that sell JR Passes, but the most important thing you need to know is that the JR Pass is ordered before arriving in Japan, when you're still at home. Basically, you order the JR Pass online, and within a few days you receive a voucher by courier, at the address you specified.
You have to put that voucher in your luggage, and when you arrive in Japan, at the airport, you go to a JR office and get the actual pass. The pass is a ticket that you must not lose. If you lose it, there is no way to replace it.
We received the voucher in 3 working days. It came by FedEx. But I recommend that you order it at least two weeks before your travel date, to make sure it arrives in time.
How much does a JR Pass cost
- 7 days: 29,650 yen = 190 euros*
- 14 days: 47,250 yen = 302 euros*
- 21 days: 60,450 yen = 387 euros*
Starting from October, the price of the passes will increase by up to 70%, which, in my opinion, makes the JR Pass not so advantageous and indispensable for a standard itinerary - Tokyo - Kyoto - Osaka. You can use this simulator to see if it is worth buying a JR Pass or not.
What JR Pass includes
The JR Pass covers almost all high-speed trains, all JR local trains and buses, some train lines in Tokyo and the Narita Express.
High-speed trains:
- Tokaido Shinkansen – Tokyo - Osaka
- Sanyo Shinkansen – Osaka - Hiroshima - Fukuoka
- Hokuriku / Nagano Shinkansen
- Hokkaido Shinkansen
- Tohoku Shinkansen
- Yamagata Shinkansen
- Akita Shinkansen
- Kyushu Shinkansen
Local trains:
- Yamanote line (Tokyo)
- Chuo-Sobu line (Tokyo)
- Keihin-Tohoku line (Tokyo)
- JR Nara line (Kyoto)
- JR Sagano line (Kyoto)
- Osaka Loop line (Osaka)
- Tozai line (Osaka)
A Few Things You Need to Know About the Jr Pass
Without the voucher you receive at home, you can't get the passes. So, don't forget the voucher at home! To use the "shinkansen" high-speed trains you need to make a reservation.
You can reserve your seat on the day of travel (it can be quite crowded in season), at the JR office in the station or online. The pass consists of a ticket that you use every time you want to enter or leave the station. If you lose the ticket, you've also lost the pass.
Is It Worth Buying a Jr Pass?
The truth is that JR passes are not cheap, but if you have a more complex itinerary in mind, including several cities, it might be useful. But only you can decide whether or not it's worth investing a few hundred euros in this pass. After you've set an itinerary, you can do a simulation and see if buying a JR Pass makes sense.
In our case it came with many benefits and I really think we managed to save some money, but after the price increases, for a Tokyo - Kyoto - Osaka - Tokyo route, I don't think the JR Pass can be a good deal anymore.