Travel guide
Japan Rail Pass: prices, rules and when it pays off
The Japan Rail Pass gives you unlimited JR trains, including most shinkansen, for 7, 14 or 21 days. It is great value for a big loop around Japan and poor value for a city break. Here are the 2026 prices, exactly what the pass covers, the rules that catch people out, and a simple way to decide whether it is worth it for your route.
In short
- A 7-day ordinary pass costs ¥50,000 on the official site, or ¥53,000 through an overseas agent.
- You need a Temporary Visitor stamp in your passport. If you use the automated gates at immigration, ask an officer for the stamp.
- Nozomi and Mizuho trains need a special ticket on top of the pass, for example ¥4,960 from Tokyo to Kyoto or Shin-Osaka.
- Seat reservations are free with the pass. Book early for Golden Week, mid-August and New Year.
In this guide
What the JR Pass is
The pass lets you ride JR Group trains as often as you like for 7, 14 or 21 days in a row, including most shinkansen. Think of it as a Eurail pass for Japan's national rail network. It does not cover private railways and city subways, so in Tokyo or Osaka you will still want an IC card for short hops.
Prices in 2026
Buying on the official website is cheaper than buying through an overseas sales agent (Japan Rail Pass official site (opens in a new tab)). Online you pay in yen and your card converts at its own rate; at around ¥150 to ¥165 to the US dollar in 2026, a 7-day ordinary pass works out at roughly $300 to $330.
| Pass | Official site ¥ | Overseas agent ¥ | Child (6–11), online ¥ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days, ordinary | 50,000 | 53,000 | 25,000 |
| 14 days, ordinary | 80,000 | 84,000 | 40,000 |
| 21 days, ordinary | 100,000 | 105,000 | 50,000 |
| 7 days, Green | 70,000 | 74,000 | 35,000 |
| 14 days, Green | 110,000 | 116,000 | 55,000 |
| 21 days, Green | 140,000 | 147,000 | 70,000 |
Green Car is first class: wider seats and quieter carriages, nice on long days but not essential. Children aged 6 to 11 pay the child price.
What the pass covers
- All JR shinkansen except Nozomi and Mizuho trains, plus limited express, express and local JR trains.
- JR buses on local routes (not JR highway buses).
- The Tokyo Monorail between Haneda Airport and Hamamatsucho.
- The JR West ferry to Miyajima; you pay the island's ¥100 visitor tax separately.
- Seat reservations, at no extra cost.
It does not cover Nozomi and Mizuho trains without a special ticket, JR highway buses, private railways and subways, or the non-JR sections of trains that run through onto other companies' lines. TRAIN DESK and S Work cars on the shinkansen are not included either (conditions for use (opens in a new tab)).
Who can use it
The pass is for visitors entering Japan for sightseeing as a Temporary Visitor, which is what you get when you enter visa-free as a tourist. Many airports now have automated immigration gates that do not put a stamp in your passport, so ask the immigration officer for a Temporary Visitor stamp, or you will not be able to pick up the pass (who can use the pass (opens in a new tab)).
While using the PASS, you must always carry your passport and be prepared to present it to a station attendant or a car conductor when requested.
Nozomi and Mizuho trains
The fastest trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu shinkansen, Nozomi and Mizuho, are not covered on their own. You can ride them by buying a special ticket on top of the pass each time (special ticket (opens in a new tab)). Or take a Hikari or Sakura, which the pass covers and which are only a little slower.
| Section | Special ticket ¥ |
|---|---|
| Tokyo – Nagoya | 4,180 |
| Tokyo – Kyoto | 4,960 |
| Tokyo – Shin-Osaka | 4,960 |
| Tokyo – Hiroshima | 6,500 |
| Shin-Osaka – Hakata | 4,960 |
| Hakata – Kagoshima-Chuo | 5,150 |
The tickets go on sale one month before the day of travel, at reserved-seat ticket machines and JR ticket offices.
Buying and picking up the pass
- Online, on the official site: the cheapest option, and the only one that lets you reserve seats before you pick up the pass (about the pass (opens in a new tab)).
- Through an overseas agent: you get an Exchange Order to swap for the pass in Japan.
- Pick-up: take your passport, with the Temporary Visitor stamp, to a JR ticket office in Japan. The pass is registered to your passport and cannot be used by anyone else.
- At the gates: feed the pass into the automatic ticket gate, or show it at a staffed gate.
Reserving seats
Reserved seats cost nothing extra with the pass. Book them at a reserved-seat ticket machine or a JR ticket office (Midori-no-madoguchi), or online if you bought the pass on the official website (conditions for use (opens in a new tab)). Some trains have no unreserved cars at all, so a reservation is the safe choice. Book early for Japanese holidays such as Golden Week in early May, Obon in mid August and the New Year, when shinkansen fill up.
Does it pay off for your trip?
The pass is worth it when you make several long shinkansen trips within its validity. It rarely pays off if you stay in one city, or only go Tokyo to Osaka and back. Add up the fares of the long journeys you have planned with a route search, compare the total with the pass price, and choose whichever is lower. If you are only exploring one region, look at JR's limited-area passes, which cost less.
- Long multi-city loop in 7, 14 or 21 days: the pass is likely worth it.
- Tokyo and Osaka only, one round trip: usually buy normal tickets.
- One city or one region: an IC card, or a regional pass, is enough.
Questions travellers ask
How much is the JR Pass for 7 days?
¥50,000 for an ordinary 7-day pass on the official website, or ¥53,000 through an overseas sales agent.
Can I ride the Nozomi with a JR Pass?
Yes, if you buy a special ticket on top of the pass, for example ¥4,960 from Tokyo to Kyoto. Hikari trains are covered without it.
Does the JR Pass cover the Narita Express and the Tokyo Monorail?
It covers JR trains, which include the Narita Express, and the Tokyo Monorail to Haneda Airport. Reserve a seat on the Narita Express.
What do I need to pick up the pass?
Your passport with a Temporary Visitor stamp or sticker. If you use automated gates at immigration, ask an officer for the stamp.
Does the JR Pass work on Tokyo subways?
No. It covers JR trains only, so use an IC card for subways and private railways.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.
- Japan Rail Pass official sitePass prices, online and through agents (opens in a new tab)
- Japan Rail Pass official siteWho can use the pass (opens in a new tab)
- Japan Rail Pass official siteConditions for use: what the pass covers (opens in a new tab)
- Japan Rail Pass official siteNozomi and Mizuho special ticket (opens in a new tab)
- Japan Rail Pass official siteAbout the pass and regional passes (opens in a new tab)
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