A rail pass is a pass that covers the cost of train travel in a certain designated area or areas within a certain period of time. It is contrasted to a point-to-point ticket in that it allows the holder unlimited travel, within the pre-designated area and period, while a point-to-point ticket only permits the holder to travel from a point to another once. It is different from a season ticket in the sense that, while both of them grant unlimited travel to the holder, season tickets normally target commuting travellers, whereas rail passes usually target tourists. Based on this difference, terms of use are thus normally set differently.
27-665: The Japan Rail Pass ( ジャパンレールパス , japan rēru pasu ) , also called the JR Pass , is a rail pass sold by the Japan Railways Group exclusively for overseas visitors. It is valid for travel on all major forms of transportation provided by the JR Group in Japan , with a few exceptions. The pass is designed to stimulate travel and tourism throughout the country. It is cost effective only for long-distance travel, particularly by bullet train. It
54-640: A lower price (though some may require that all named persons must be travelling together). Concession pass might get more restrictions. For example, one can travel on the Tze-Chiang Limited Express , the fastest train operated by the Taiwan Railways Administration , with the normal TR Pass but not with the Student Pass. Some passes allow the traveller to travel with both first and second class, but some are restricted to travel in
81-447: Is of limited use within larger cities, as private operators generally do not accept it. The national Rail Pass comes in two varieties, one for each class of service, Standard Car ( 普通車 , Futsūsha ) and Green Car ( グリーン車 , Gurīnsha ) (first class car). Furthermore, the pass is time limited based on the length of pass purchased. Three time periods are available: seven, fourteen and twenty-one consecutive day passes, which provide
108-657: Is scheduled to cease at the end of 2025, after which the pass will only be available through the official website. The pass is valid for travel on Japan Railways Group (JR) transportation throughout the country in the class of service indicated on the pass. The pass is valid on all JR-operated lines, including the Shinkansen , limited express ( 特急 , Tokkyū ) trains and regular commuter services, including Local ( 普通 , Futsū ) and Rapid ( 快速 , Kaisoku ) trains. The following limited stop Shinkansen services require an additional special ticket to be purchased: The pass
135-423: Is the term of the pass: while it is difficult to find rail pass valid for more than three months, it is common to find season ticket valid for a whole year. Designed for commuting, some season tickets are valid for only one route, while a rail pass is usually valid for an entire area. Rail passes on offer include: Japan Rail Pass The Japan Rail Pass ( ジャパンレールパス , japan rēru pasu ) , also called
162-417: Is valid on all JR-operated lines, including the Shinkansen , limited express ( 特急 , Tokkyū ) trains and regular commuter services, including Local ( 普通 , Futsū ) and Rapid ( 快速 , Kaisoku ) trains. The following limited stop Shinkansen services require an additional special ticket to be purchased: The pass is valid on the following non-JR lines: The pass is valid on the local routes of
189-462: Is valid on almost all forms of transportation (train, bus and ferry) operated by the companies of the JR Group. However, there are exceptions and conditions of use of the Rail Pass. The Japan Rail Pass also allows the holders to obtain discounts when staying at JR Group Hotels. Regional Rail Passes are also available for JR-Hokkaido, JR-Central, JR-East, JR-West, JR-Shikoku, and JR-Kyushu lines. Unlike
216-413: Is valid on the following non-JR lines: The pass is valid on the local routes of the following bus companies: It is not valid on JR highway buses and Community buses which JR Bus is entrusted. The pass is also valid for travel on JR Ferry service on the following route: The pass is meant for touristic use only, and is therefore only available to people meeting one of two criteria: JR staff will check
243-664: The JR Pass , is a rail pass sold by the Japan Railways Group exclusively for overseas visitors. It is valid for travel on all major forms of transportation provided by the JR Group in Japan , with a few exceptions. The pass is designed to stimulate travel and tourism throughout the country. It is cost effective only for long-distance travel, particularly by bullet train. It is of limited use within larger cities, as private operators generally do not accept it. The national Rail Pass comes in two varieties, one for each class of service, Standard Car ( 普通車 , Futsūsha ) and Green Car ( グリーン車 , Gurīnsha ) (first class car). Furthermore,
270-467: The Shinkansen , the high-speed railway in Japan . However, they cannot take Nozomi and Mizuho trains, the fastest train services on the Tōkaidō , San'yō and Kyūshū Shinkansen lines. In some countries, rail pass holders can travel on sleeper or couchette compartment freely, while some may need to pay some extra fee or are totally restricted from taking sleeper or couchette trains. Some pass allow
297-466: The Exchange Order, the traveller can select the beginning of the validity period at the time of exchange. The sale of Exchange Orders is scheduled to cease at the end of 2025, after which the pass will only be available through the official website. The pass is valid for travel on Japan Railways Group (JR) transportation throughout the country in the class of service indicated on the pass. The pass
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#1732854570148324-658: The Japan Rail Pass can make seat reservations for trains over the internet in four languages (English, Korean, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese) and use automatic ticket gates at stations. Rail pass The first rail pass was issued as the Eurail pass in March 1959. Owing to its success, many other passes have been issued by various railway companies all around the world since then. Rail passes are issued according to different terms of use. There are two ways of counting
351-402: The actual pass at a dedicated ticket office. When buying the pass through an agency, the traveller receives a paper "Exchange Order" which must be exchanged for the actual pass within 90 days of purchase, again at one of the designated ticket offices. When using the Exchange Order, the traveller can select the beginning of the validity period at the time of exchange. The sale of Exchange Orders
378-655: The country (e.g. JR West Rail Pass, JR Kyushu Rail Pass, etc.). Sometimes, if the train passes through areas where the pass is not valid, travellers would need to pay for that section of the route. For example, if one gets a pass that is valid in Spain and Italy , and would like to take a train from Spain to Italy passing through France, he may need to pay for the French section. Some countries offer concession pass to youth (e.g. age below 26) or elderly. And some other offer group passes, allowing two or more persons to travel together with
405-494: The eligibility of the user during the pick-up or exchange process. The Rail Pass is valid on almost all forms of transportation (train, bus and ferry) operated by the companies of the JR Group. However, there are exceptions and conditions of use of the Rail Pass. The Japan Rail Pass also allows the holders to obtain discounts when staying at JR Group Hotels. Regional Rail Passes are also available for JR-Hokkaido, JR-Central, JR-East, JR-West, JR-Shikoku, and JR-Kyushu lines. Unlike
432-400: The flexipass, which allows the holder to only pay for the days they travel. For instance, when a traveller buy a ten-day-in-one-month flexipass, the pass is valid for one month, and he can pick whichever ten days within the valid period to travel with the pass. This gives extra flexibility to the holders. Usually the holder would need to fill in the date he travels on the pass before boarding on
459-414: The following bus companies: It is not valid on JR highway buses and Community buses which JR Bus is entrusted. The pass is also valid for travel on JR Ferry service on the following route: The pass is meant for touristic use only, and is therefore only available to people meeting one of two criteria: JR staff will check the eligibility of the user during the pick-up or exchange process. The Rail Pass
486-527: The full JR Pass, some regional passes (in particular those sold by JR West ) allow holders to travel on Nozomi and Mizuho trains. Some may have limitations on seat reservations, however. Since 1 October 2023, Japan Rail Pass holders have access to hundreds of discounts and free amenities across Japan, by showing up their JR Pass at the desks or entrance. This is also valid for users who purchased their Japan Rail Pass before 1 October, as long as it has been activated after 1 October 2023. Since 2020, users of
513-526: The full JR Pass, some regional passes (in particular those sold by JR West ) allow holders to travel on Nozomi and Mizuho trains. Some may have limitations on seat reservations, however. Since 1 October 2023, Japan Rail Pass holders have access to hundreds of discounts and free amenities across Japan, by showing up their JR Pass at the desks or entrance. This is also valid for users who purchased their Japan Rail Pass before 1 October, as long as it has been activated after 1 October 2023. Since 2020, users of
540-425: The holders to make seat reservation on trains freely, while some require the holders to pay a supplement. As tourists are the typical target group of rail passes, there may be bonus discounts in certain sightseeing spots, by showing a rail pass within the valid period. In order to enjoy the discount, some flexipasses require the holder to spend a travel day - fill-in that date on the pass - while others do not; some of
567-399: The pass is bought online, the start date for the validity period is selected during the purchase process. The traveller must pick up the actual pass at a dedicated ticket office. When buying the pass through an agency, the traveller receives a paper "Exchange Order" which must be exchanged for the actual pass within 90 days of purchase, again at one of the designated ticket offices. When using
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#1732854570148594-498: The pass is time limited based on the length of pass purchased. Three time periods are available: seven, fourteen and twenty-one consecutive day passes, which provide the user nearly unlimited use of JR transportation services. The table below summarizes the prices for each pass. The amounts are listed in Japanese yen . The pass can either be purchased on the official reservation website, or from an authorized agency outside of Japan. When
621-436: The passes also cover the cost of travelling by certain buses, ferries or cable cars. A rail pass is different from a season ticket : the former is generally marketed to tourists while the latter is usually marketed to commuters. The terms of use and purchase are set accordingly. Very often, rail passes cannot be used by the local citizens and might not even be available for purchase within their area of use. Another difference
648-425: The second-class only, although some might be offered with the option to travel in first-class by paying a supplement. There could be limitation on the types of trains that one can ride with the rail pass. For example, high-speed trains are excluded in some countries (e.g. TR Pass ), and in some other, one can travel on them by paying supplement (e.g. France Rail Pass). Passengers with a Japan Rail Pass can ride on
675-470: The train. Some countries offer a country pass to travellers such that they could take most of the trains in the country (e.g. BritRail Pass , Japan Rail Pass , Indrail Pass , Korea Rail Pass , etc.). But some countries offer cross-countries rail pass such that pass holders can travel on trains within the designated countries, even crossing the border (e.g. Eurail pass and Interrail ). Some countries offer passes which are valid only within certain areas of
702-415: The user nearly unlimited use of JR transportation services. The table below summarizes the prices for each pass. The amounts are listed in Japanese yen . The pass can either be purchased on the official reservation website, or from an authorized agency outside of Japan. When the pass is bought online, the start date for the validity period is selected during the purchase process. The traveller must pick up
729-545: The valid period of a rail pass. A continuous pass counts the days or months continuously. For example, a 15-day pass is valid for 15 continuous calendar days starting from the day of validation and a one-month pass is valid for a calendar month (so if it is used in February, it is valid only for 28/29 days, contrasted to the 30-day valid period when using a 30-day pass). As continuous pass might not be useful to all travellers, as many of them do not travel every day, there exists also
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