The Ultimate Guide to Using the Japan Rail Pass Effectively
A Shinkansen bullet train glided swiftly through Tokyo Station. This space-age beauty was adorned by Tinkerbell, Peter Pan, Cinderella, and other Disney characters.
Everyone around us had their cameras out, filming its glorious arrival. My heart fluttered with sudden excitement—we were about to board our first Shinkansen in years. I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to explore Japan at such speed, in comfort and style.
A week prior to that memorable moment, we wondered how to explore far-flung areas of Japan while living in Tokyo. The internet was full of complaints about how the 2023 price increase had stripped the Japan Rail Pass of its former value. They said to ditch the JR Pass and travel on regular tickets. But we were curious – Could we craft a plan to make the JR Pass worth it?
Is the JR Pass Still Worth It?
Before we gave up, we thought of our goals and priorities on this month-long stay in Tokyo. We decided couldn’t just take the internet’s word on it. We had to do some math and figure out for ourselves.
Japan Travel Priorities
We approached the problem with a few simple constraints:
- Stay comfortable and energetic while exploring
- Include rest days between travel days to relax, recharge, and enjoy our Tokyo home, the gym and spa
- Spend weekends – especially Sundays – in Tokyo for family time and to avoid local tourist crowds at popular destinations.
- Maximize long-distance Shinkansen rides to get the most value from the pass
- Minimize overnight trips (but not rule them out)
Since we were living in Tokyo for a month, we considered the 7, 14, or 21-day passes, either consecutively or in separate chunks. At the time, the Japan Rail pass prices were:
| Ordinary Reserved Car | Green Car Pass | Travel Fatigue Risk | |
| 7-day pass | ¥50,000 | ¥70,000 | Low |
| Two 7-day passes | ¥100,000 | ¥140,000 | Low |
| 14-day pass | ¥80,000 | ¥110,000 | Medium |
| 21-day pass | ¥100,000 | ¥140,000 | High |
The 14-day pass struck a great balance. We could travel comfortably without burning out, and it was more cost-effective than the shorter option.
Draft a Math to Calculate if JR Pass is Worth it
We drafted a rough itinerary and calculated the cost of individual tickets versus the JR Pass.
| Route | Cost per person – Ordinary Reserved Car | Cost per person – Green Car | Approximate Duration |
| Tokyo → Kyoto | ¥16,700 | ¥21,570 | 2 hrs |
| Kyoto → Hiroshima | ¥15,280 | ¥18,910 | 1 1/2 hrs |
| Hiroshima → Tokyo | ¥23,480 | ¥28,800 | 4 hrs |
| Tokyo ↔ Shin-Aomori | ¥40,400 | ¥52,540 | 3 to 3 1/2 hrs |
| Sub-total | ¥95,860 | ¥121,220 | |
| Bonus trips | |||
| Tokyo ↔ Shirakawa Go | ¥34,220 | ¥47,140 | 5 hrs |
| Tokyo ↔ Ito (Saphir Odorika) | n/a | ¥12,540 | 2 hrs |
| Tokyo ↔ Nakasendo hike | ¥39,200 | ¥49,120 | 3 hrs |
| Tokyo ↔ Kawazu | ¥13,240 | ¥17,780 | 2 hrs |
| Tokyo ↔ Sendai (Yamagata) | ¥26,480 | ¥38,200 | 3 hrs |
The cost of the Japan Rail 14-day pass would be recovered within the first two trips. Every trip after that was essentially free transportation. The math was clear—we bought the 14-day Green Car pass and started planning! (Green car because the comfort may allow us to be energetic for the many trips to come).
JR Pass Benefits Beyond Cost
- Unlimited Flexibility: Reserve, change, or cancel bookings – anytime.
- Vast Network: Including Shinkansen bullet trains, scenic trains, local trains, buses, and ferries.
- Comfort: Green cars offer spacious, reclining seats and often-empty coaches.
- Punctuality: Trains are almost always on time, even during snow season.
- Efficiency: Stations are centrally located. No need to arrive early like with air travel.
- Clear Instructions: Everything from platforms to coach numbers are clearly marked in English and Japanese.
- Convenient Stations: Many stations offer shopping, dining, and hotel facilities which save time on errands.
National vs. Regional JR Pass
The Japan Rail system is split into regional operators, so you can choose either a National or Regional JR pass(s). We opted for the National Pass since we wanted to travel in all directions from Tokyo and maximize flexibility.
Regional passes are a great value if you’re focusing on one part of the country – something we might explore on a future trip.
How to Maximize Travel with a Japan Rail Pass
Buying and Using the JR Pass
The JR Pass is only available to foreign travelers. Japanese citizens (even those living abroad) and foreign nationals living in Japan are not eligible.
You can purchase it online or through travel agents. Most people buy it before arriving in Japan and exchange it at a JR counter upon arrival at the airport. We bought ours in Japan from the official site: japanrailpass.net.
We picked up the physical ticket at Tokyo Station. We had to show our passport and proof of return flight. They said to keep the JR Pass physical ticket safe, because it’s not replaceable if lost.
Once activated, we used the official JR Pass booking site to reserve, change, or cancel seats. The no-frills website is minimalist but efficient and functional. All JR trains can be booked through this site – except for “Nozomi” and “Mizuho” higher speed trains, which require a special upgrade ticket for an added fee (available at JR offices).
Packing for Day trips in Winter
Efficient packing was essential for us to stay light and mobile during our frequent trips.
Our packing priorities were simple
- Quick packing/unpacking
- Lightweight gear
- Warmth for snowy regions
- Nutritious, satisfying vegan meals
Clothing Packing
Coming from sunny California, we layered up: thermals, tights, pants, long-sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, waterproof jackets, 2 pairs of gloves, muffler, woolen hat, and extra woolen socks.
We wore a couple of layers at home and added layers on the train, using the large restrooms in Green Cars for changing. I packed my change of clothes in a compressible packing cube to take minimum space in my backpack.
Food Packing
Being vegan (on mostly plant based whole food diet), we brought most of our own meals. Carrying our food saved us time in hunting for food and maximized time for exploring or resting.
Typical meals during our trips from Tokyo included:
- Breakfast: Cut fruit, poha, coffee, sandwiches (of almond butter, apple slices and avocado)
- Lunch: Thermos-packed meals like pasta or pulao loaded with veggies
- Snacks: Onigiri, edamame, dried sweet potatoes, stuffed dates, nuts, raisins
For dinner, we found Indian restaurants near stations – many were vegan-friendly and willing to customize meals. In Tokyo Station, we loved T’s Tan Tan and Erick South.
Vegan Dining Options while Traveling in Japan
- Some Shinkansen bullet train have café cars or snack carts.
- Most stations sell bento boxes – great for non-vegan travelers.
- Convenience stores have affordable options, but vegan choices are limited (edamame, rice balls with ume, veggie sticks).
- Vegan miso ramen and restaurants we had researched before the trip
1-2 Day Trips from Tokyo Using JR Pass
Now that you’re armed with all the info, here are some trips we took using the Japan Rail Pass and mostly Shinkansen trains:
| Trip | Top Destinations | # of Days |
|---|---|---|
| Kyoto & Hiroshima | Kyoto: – Arashiyama bamboo grove – Fushimi Inari Shrine – Daigo-ji Temple – Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka (Kiyomizu-dera temple) Hiroshima: – Miyajima – Peace Memorial Park | 2 |
| Aomori | Day 1: – Mount Hakkoda ropeway – Onsen, massage and special dinner Day 2: – Gosogawara museum – Takayama Inari Shrine – Tsuru no Mai bridge – Hirosaki Castle Snow Lantern Festival | 2 |
| Shirakawa Go & Kanazawa | Kanazawa: – Nomura-ke Samurai Heritage Residence – Shigure Tei – tea shop in Kenrokuen Garden – Nishi Chaya District (Geisha areas) Shirakawa Go: – Walk around town – Platform – Bridge and Museum – Stay in traditional onsen ryokan | 2 |
| Nakasendo Trek | Magome to Tsumago-juku hike Possible detours Otaki waterfalls, Medaki Waterfalls | 1 |
| Kawazu – Izu Peninsula | Kawazu-zakura cherry blossoms Kawazu Hama Beach Hike Kawazu Nanadaru (or Nanataki) trail | 1 |
| Yamagata & Sendai | Taisho Romankan (Ginzan Onsen) Gutto Yamagata (Yamagata Kankobussan Kaikan) Zao Onsen and ropeway to ski & now monsters Sendai station | 1 |
| Mishima | Genbei river walk Mishima Skywalk City of water Izu Wasabi Visitor Center Old Hakone Highway (Hakone Kyu-kaido) Experiences – Soy sauce making, Wasabi fields etc | 1 |
| Mount Takao | Hike to the top of Mount Takao Views, temples, shrines, and history | 1 |
| Hakone | Onsen hot springs Tram/ropeway View of Mt Fuji and and lakes sceneries | 1 |
| Winter in Akita | Nyuto Onsen Traditional Namahage culture and ryokan Yoknta cactlo | 1 |
Takeaways from using a 14-day Japan Rail Pass
Japan public transport system is undoubtedly the most phenomenal transport system in the world, particularly its crown jewels of Shinkansen super fast bulletin trains that can take one to far off places for day trips from home base in any major city.
- Japan Rail Pass is absolutely worth it with some planning
- If one can afford, get green car or above are a huge blessing. Its lovely to get back to huge reclining seats of mostly empty green cars to relax or doze off.
- 14-day JR Pass was a good sweet spot. We were exhausted by the the last day, but we also enjoyed each trip.
- Winter weather was harsh, but other seasons would be lot less tiring.
In a nutshell, we did a total of 9 trips on Shinkansen trains with some local JR trains, buses and ferry in two weeks for the cost of one JR pass. If we had done the same with individual tickets, we would have spend 3x the amount on travels. We loved each day. We hope to do this again with possibly another city as home base to explore the areas further south or north of mainland Japan.
Would you do something like this? Please share your thoughts.
Photos from Japan Rail
Shinkansen cars are spotless – inside and outside. Always shining clean. The staff clearly takes pride in keeping it as such. Once a staff member is done with their task, they take a deep bow and leave quietly. We saw this at every station where a Shinkansen bullet train started its journey.
Occasionally Shinkansen bullet trains have ads on them. But they are painted elegantly and thoughtfully.
One can tell the operating train company and train model by they design and logo
Japan Rain has a number of scenic or fun trains. They have special characteristics like dining car, special extra luxury cars, large windows, scenic routes etc. Saphir Odoriko is one such train that runs between Tokyo and Ito peninsula.
Train stations are very well marked so there is no need to ask for help in finding the train platform, schedule, or even where their reserved car would arrive. But if needed, the train station staff is super knowledgable and helpful in answering any train related questions.
Hotels at train stations are very convenient when traveling by Japan Rail Pass. One can arrive late and crash for the night, or leave bags at the hotel and pick before boarding the train. They also benefit from dining, shopping, and downtown amenities right at the station.
Hiroshima train station hotel lobby –
Vegan options at Tokyo station are few but reliable and delicious
Two of our favorite ramen flavors at T’s Tan Tan in Tokyo station
Upma and biryan were truly authentic at Erick South, but the thali is the most popular
