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The best way to experience Japan's rich culture.
What is Japan Rail Pass?
The JAPAN RAIL PASS is the most economical way to travel throughout Japan by rail. Please be aware, however, that some restrictions apply. The pass is not valid for “NOZOMI” trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines.
You can enjoy a ride on the Narita Express and many other JR express trains!

Narita Express
Narita Airport-Tokyo
成田-東京
Super Ozra
Sapporo-Kushiro
札幌-釧路
Haruka
Kansai Airport-Tennoji
Shin'osaka/Kyoto
関空-天王寺/新大阪/京都
Tsubame
Hakata-Nishikagoshima
博多-西鹿児島
A good site to check your train journey, times and nomal fares is www.hyperdia.com.
JAPAN RAIL PASS types and prices
There are two types of JAPAN RAIL PASS: Green (for superior-class Green cars), and Ordinary. Each of these types is available as a 7-day, 14-day, or 21-day PASS.
  Green Pass Ordinary Pass
Duration Adult Child Adult Child
7days £  305 £  152 £  228 £  114
14days £  494 £  247 £  364 £  182
21days £  642 £  321 £  465 £  233
* PASS prices for children apply from age 6 to and including age 11
* All prices are in Pounds Sterling * As of June/2010
* Prices are subject to change.
No need to come to our office! Just call us to buy Japan Rail Pass on +44(0)845-222-6200 or e-mail us on info@awlt.com
*Please use the links below to read all the detailed information, instructions and conditions, before you apply for a Japan Rail Pass.
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Who is eligible for a JAPAN RAIL PASS
1. You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing... More>>
1. You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing,under the entry status of "temporary visitor."
"Temporary Visitor" entry status, according to Japanese Immigration Law, allows a stay in Japan of 15 days or 90 days for "sight-seeing, etc." If you apply for a "stay for sight-seeing" when you enter Japan, entry personnel will stamp your passport as "Temporary Visitor," as shown below. Only persons who have a passport bearing this stamp can use a JAPAN RAIL PASS.
Caution：
Even if you visit Japan with an Exchange Order, to be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS, the exchange cannot be made unless you have "Temporary Visitor" status; if you enter Japan under any other official status, such as "Trainee," "Entertainer," or "Reentry Permit," you cannot change the Exchange Order for a JAPAN RAIL PASS. Please note that according to strict interpretation of the Japanese Immigration Law, "Temporary Visitor" status differs even from other types of stays that are also for only short time periods.
 
「短期滞在」入国資格スタンプ/シール見本
2. You are a Japanese national living in a foreign country
a. who is qualified to live permanently in that country, or
b. who is married to a non-Japanese residing in a country other than Japan.
Note: Persons meeting conditions a or b above must be required to show proof of same at the point of purchase of an Exchange Order and obtaining a JAPAN RAIL PASS.

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JAPAN RAIL PASS types and prices
There are two types of JAPAN RAIL PASS: Green (for superior-class Green cars)... More >>
There are two types of JAPAN RAIL PASS: Green (for superior-class Green cars), and Ordinary. Each of these types is available as a 7-day, 14-day, or 21-day PASS.
  Green Pass Ordinary Pass
Duration Adult Child Adult Child
7days £  305 £  152 £  228 £  114
14days £  494 £  247 £  364 £  182
21days £  642 £  321 £  465 £  233
* PASS prices for children apply from age 6 to and including age 11
* All prices are in Pounds Sterling * As of June/2010
* Prices are subject to change.

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JAPAN RAIL PASS validity
1．Transportation Services... More >>
1．Transportation Services
Railways： All JR Group Railways-Shinkansen"bullet trains" (except any reserved or non-reserved seat on "NOZOMI" trains), limited express trains, express trains, and rapid or local trains. (With some exceptions)
* Japan Rail Pass can not be used for Tokyo monorail.
Buses：

Local lines of JR bus companies (JR Hokkaido Bus, JR Bus Tohoku, JR Bus Kanto, JR Tokai Bus, West Japan JR Bus, Chugoku JR Bus, JR Shikoku Bus, JR Kyushu Bus) and some of JR highway bus services*.

* Sapporo-Otaru; Morioka-Hirosaki; Tokyo-Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka,Tsukuba Center; Nagoya-Kyoto, Osaka; Osaka-Tsuyama, Kasai Flower Center
Ferry： Only the JR Miyajima ferry is covered. The JR Hakata-Pusan (Korea) ferry is not covered.
　
Important notes:
The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on "NOZOMI" trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines.(The pass holders must take “HIKARI” or “KODAMA” trains.)If you use a "NOZOMI," you must pay the basic fare and the limited express charge, and for a Green Car the Green Car surcharge. Note also that passengers using JR trains on non-JR lines must pay additional fares and charges for sections traveled on such lines.
Table 1


When the JAPAN RAIL PASS is used on JR trains that run through non-JR lines, fares and charges for the sections travelled on such lines must be paid to the private railway company concerned. Please pay these on the train or at a station on the said company’s line.

【Major JR Trains Running Through Non-JR Lines and the Sections Concerned】
Train Main route Section requiring
separate fares and
charges		 Private railway company involved
Odoriko, Super View Odoriko Shinjuku・Tokyo
~ Izukyu-Shimoda		 Between Ito and
Izukyu-Shimoda		 Izu Kyuko
Tokyo
~ Shuzenji		 Between Mishima
and Shuzenji		 Izuhakone Railway
Nikko, Spacia Nikko Shinjuku
~ Tobu Nikko		 Between Kurihashi
and Tobu Nikko		 Tobu Railway
Kinugawa, Spacia Kinugawa Shinjuku
~ Kinugawa Onsen		 Between Kurihashi
and Kinugawa Onsen
Hakutaka Echigo Yuzawa
~ Kanazawa		 Between Muikamachi
and Saigata		 Hokuetsu Express
Wide View Nanki Nagoya
~ Shingu		 Between Kawarada
and Tsu		 Ise Tetsudo
Hashidate, Tango Discovery Kyoto
~ Amanohashidate・
Toyooka		 Between Fukuchiyama
and Toyooka		 Kitakinki Tango Railway
Monju, Tango Explorer Shin- Osaka
~ Amanohashidate・
Toyooka
Super Hakuto Kyoto ~
Tottori・Kurayoshi		 Between Kamigori
and Chizu		 Chizu Express
Nanpu, Shimanto, Ashizuri Okayama・Takamatsu・Kochi
~ Nakamura・Sukumo		 Between Kubokawa
and Sukumo		 Tosa Kuroshio Railway
2．Train accommodations
Most JR trains have Ordinary Cars (coach class) while many long-distance trains also offer Green Cars (superior class). With a Green-type JAPAN RAIL PASS you can use either class, while with an Ordinary-type JAPAN RAIL PASS you can use only Ordinary Cars without paying an additional charge. Refer to the table below for details.
The cars with can be used with JAPAN RAIL PASS.
Use of the cars with requires paying additional charges.
There are no Green Cars on most HIKARI and KODAMA trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (Shin-Osaka ·Hakata), or on TSUBAME trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen line(Shin-Yatsushiro – Kagoshima- chūō )

Trains Accomodations Green Ordinary
“NOZOMI” trains* on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen
Green Car
Ordinary Car
“HIKARI” and “KODAMA” trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinknasen and any trains on the Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Joetsu, Nagano and Kyushu Shinkansen Green Car
Ordinary Car
Ordinary private Compartment
Limited express and ordinary express
Green Car #2
Ordinary Car
Green private Compartment
Ordinary private Compartment
Sleeping Car
Local and rapid trains
 Green Car
Ordinary Car
Table 2
#1 The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved (incl. Green Car) or non-reserved, on “NOZOMI” trains.
#2

If you use a “DX Green” on “Relay TSUBAME” train (operated by JR Kyushu), you must pay the limited express charge in addition to the DX Green charge.
　 　
Private Compartments are available on some of “HIKARI” and “KODAMA” trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen.
Green Private Compartments are on certain limited express trains, such as “NARITA EXPRESS” and “Super-view Odoriko.”
Use of “Home Liner” and other “liner” trains requires an additional charge.
3．Validity period
The validity period of a JAPAN RAIL PASS is the consecutive 7, 14, or 21 days beginning on the date the PASS is first used.
Within three months from the date the Exchange Order was issued, you must turn in your Exchange Order to obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS. At that time, you have to specify the date that you want to start using the PASS. It can be any date within one month from the date the PASS is received.
Once the PASS has a starting date written on it, the date cannot be changed.

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Notes regarding use
To use a train or car not within the validity range of a JAPAN RAIL PASS... More >>
To use a train or car not within the validity range of a JAPAN RAIL PASS
  1. If you have an Ordinary-type JAPAN RAIL PASS and want to use a Green Car seat, you must pay the Green Car charge and the associated limited express or ordinary express charge.

  2. If you have a Green- or Ordinary-type JAPAN RAIL PASS and want to use an ordinary private compartment on a Shinkansen or a limited express train, you must pay the Shinkansen or limited express charge.

  3. If you have a Green- or Ordinary-type JAPAN RAIL PASS and want to use a Green private compartment on a Shinkansen or a limited express train, you must pay the Shinkansen or limited express charge in addition to the Green private compartment charge.
    Note that if you use a Green or ordinary private compartment and there are fewer persons than the specified number for that compartment, you must pay children's fares and charges for the number of persons less than this specified number in addition to the charges described above.However 1- or 2-person occupancy of a private compartment is not available on the Sanyo Shinkansen trains.

  4. If you have a Green- or Ordinary-type JAPAN RAIL PASS and want to use a berth on a limited express or ordinary express sleeping car, you must pay the limited express or ordinary express charge in addition to the berth charge. Moreover, if you travel on a sleeping car that passes through Morioka to Hachinohe, you must pay on board the basic fares for the two local sections traveled over: IGR Iwate Ginga Railway (Morioka ·Metoki) and Aoimori Railway (Metoki ·Hachinohe).

  5. If you travel overnight on the last day your pass is valid, the basic fare will be covered as far as you travel, including train changes, until you first exit a station. However, surcharges are only covered for the train on which you were riding past midnight on the final day your pass was valid.

  6. If you have a Green-type JAPAN RAIL PASS and choose to use an ordinary seat, you cannot receive a refund of the price difference between a Green Car seat and an ordinary car seat.

  7. When reserved seats are full, you should use a non-reserved seat. Also in this case, no refund can be made of the price difference between a reserved and a non-reserved seat.

  8. The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on "NOZOMI" trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines. If you use a "NOZOMI," you must pay the basic fare and the limited express charge, and for a Green Car the Green Car surcharge.

Other usage conditions

  1. Use of a JAPAN RAIL PASS is strictly limited to the signer (hereafter "you") only.

  2. You should carry your passport during travel, and be prepared to show it if requested.

  3. Refund of Exchange Order or JAPAN RAIL PASS
  • An Exchange Order that has not been turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS can be returned to the office where it was purchased for a refund, within one year of the date of issue. In such case a handling fee and communication fee will be subtracted from the refund.
  • After an Exchange Order is turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS, the PASS can be turned in at any JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange office for a refund if this is done berore the starting date for the use of the PASS. (Ten percent of the yen price of the PASS will be charged as a handling fee.)
  • No refund can be made for any reason on or after the stamped First Date.
  • Also no refund or extension of the validity period can be made in the event of train non-operation, delay, or the like.

  1. Neither an Exchange Order nor a JAPAN RAIL PASS can be reissued if lost or stolen.

  2. These and other usage conditions follow the Japan Railways Group passenger transportation regulations and Japanese laws. The validity of an Exchange Order, however, shall follow the stipulations and regulations of the company that issued the Exchange Order.

     

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How to obtain
A JAPAN RAIL PASS cannot be purchased inside Japan..... More >>
A JAPAN RAIL PASS cannot be purchased inside Japan.
You must purchase an Exchange Order from AWL Travel before you come to Japan.
After you arrive in Japan, you turn in the Exchange Order to receive your JAPAN RAIL PASS at an applicable JR station that has a JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange office.

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How to turn in an exchange order to receive a JAPAN RAIL PASS.
You cannot use an Exchange Order when you travel on JR lines..... More >>
You cannot use an Exchange Order when you travel on JR lines. Turn in your Exchange Order and obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS at one of the JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange offices. (Please note the Service hours and closing days.)
Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS within three months of the date the Order was issued.
When you make the exchange you will be asked to fill in a simple application form (You can fill in the form when you are in Japan, but it can be downloaded from this home page, as indicated below) and also to show the Temporary Visitor visa that was stamped in your passport when you entered Japan. You must show your passport with the Temporary Visitor stamp in it in order for your Rail Pass exchange order to be screened.
　 * Without your passport, the pass exchange will not be made. (A photocopy of your passport is also not acceptable because you must show the "Temporary Visitor" stamp in it.) * If you are a Japanese national resident in a country other than Japan and with permanent resident status in that country, please show, in addition to your passport, documents testifying to your status. *The type of PASS described on the Exchange Order cannot be changed.
In order to speed up the exchange process in Japan, you should fill in this exchange application form in advance.
Application form

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Stations with JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange offices
Station names and opening/closing times ..... More >>
Station Office
Service Hours
Days Closed
Kushiro
Travel Service Center
10:00-18:00
 None
Obihiro Travel Service Center 9:00-17:00 None
Asahikawa Travel Service Center 9:30-17:30 None
Sapporo JR Information Desk 8:30-19:00 None
Travel Service Center (East) 10:00-19:30
Travel Service Center (South) 10:00-20:00
New-Chitose Airport
Ticket Office
 8:30-21:00 None
Hakodate Travel Service Center 10:00-19:00 None
Aomori Travel Service Center 10:00-18:00 None
Hachinohe Travel Service Center 10:00-17:30 None
Akita Travel Service Center 10:30-18:00 None
Sendai Travel Service Center 10:00-19:00 None
Yamagata Travel Service Center 10:00-18:00 None
Fukushima Travel Service Center 10:30-19:00 None
Niigata Travel Service Center 10:00-19:00 None
Nagano Travel Service Center 10:00-19:00 None
Narita Airport
*Terminal 1
Travel Service Center
 9：30-19：00 None
Ticket Office 6：30-9：30・19：00-21：45
Narita Airport
*Terminal 2
Travel Service Center
 10：30-20：00 None
Ticket Office 6：30-10：30・20：00-21：45
Tokyo JAPAN RAIL PASS Exchange Corner
(Yaesu North)		 7:30-20:30 None
Ticket Office(JR Central Yaesu Central) 5:30-22:45
Ueno
Travel Service Center
 10:30-20:00 None
Shinjuku Information Center(South gate) 9:00-19:00 None
Travel Service Center(East) 9:30-20:00
Shibuya
Information Center(South)
 10:00-18:30 None
Ikebukuro Information Center(Central passage) 9:30-18:00 None
Shinagawa Information Center(Central gate) 9:00-19:00 None
Ticket Office(JR Central) 5:45-22:55
Yokohama
Travel Service Center
 11:00-20:00 None
Shin-Yokohama
Ticket Office(JR Central)
 5:30-23:00 None
Odawara
Ticket Office(JR Central)
 5:45-23:00 None
Mishima
Ticket Office(South)
 6:15-23:00 None
Shizuoka
Ticket Office
 5:00-23:05 None
Hamamatsu
Ticket Office
 5:25-23:20 None
Nagoya
JAPAN RAIL PASS Exchange Corner
 10:00-19:00 None
Ticket Office 4:50-10:00, 19:00-24:20
Kanazawa Ticket Office 5:00-23:00 None
Kyoto
Ticket Office(Central)
 5:30-23:00 None
JR-CENTRAL Ticket Office
(Hachijo Shinkansen)		 8:30-23:00
Shin-osaka
Ticket Office(Central gate)
 5:30-23:10 None
Osaka
Ticket Office
 5:30-23:00 None
Kansai Airport
Ticket Office
 5:30-23:00 None
Sannomiya
Ticket Office(Central gate)
 5:30-23:00 None
Okayama
Ticket Office
6:30-23:00 None
Matsue Ticket Office 4:50-21:30 None
Hiroshima
Ticket Office
5:00-24:00 None
Shimonoseki
Ticket Office
5:30-22:30 None
Takamatsu
Travel Service Center
 10:00-18:00 None
Matsuyama
Travel Service Center
 10:00-18:00 None
Tokushima
Travel Service Center
 10:00-18:00 None
Kokura
Travel Service Center
 10:00-19:00 None
Hakata
Travel Service Center
 10:00-20:00 None
Ticket Office(JR Kyushu) 5:30-10:00, 20:00-23:00
Saga Travel Service Center 10:00-19:00 None
Nagasaki
Travel Service Center
 10:00-19:00 None
Kumamoto
Travel Service Center
 10:00-19:00 None
Oita
Travel Service Center
 10:00-19:00 None
Miyazaki
Travel Service Center
 10:00-18:00 None
Kagoshima-Chūō
Travel Service Center
 10:00-19:00 None
Note:
Indicated Service hours are for weekdays. Hours vary among offices on weekends and holidays. Some Travel Service Centers are closed during the New Year holiday period.Offices and Service hours are subject to change or discontinuation without notice.

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How to make seat reservations
Shinkansen,* most limited express and ordinary express trains have ..... More >>
Shinkansen,* most limited express and ordinary express trains have reserved Green Car seats and both reserved and non-reserved ordinary car seats.
( The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on “NOZOMI” trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen.)
　 *There are no Green Cars on most HIKARI and KODAMA trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (Shin-Osaka ・Hakata), or on TSUBAME trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen line (Shin-Yatsushiro ・Kagoshima-Chūō)
A non-reserved seat (except for “NOZOMI” trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen) can be used simply by showing your JAPAN RAIL PASS.
Seat reservations can be made without additional payment.To make a reservation, go to any Travel Service Center or a Reservation Office (Midori-no-madoguchi) at a JR station, or to the sales office of a JR-associated travel agency. There, show your PASS, and obtain your reserved-seat ticket before the boarding.
　 *The JR buses“Mizuumi-go”between Aomori and Towadako and“Oirase-go”between Hachinohe and Towadako require reservations. Please obtain your reserved-seat ticket before boarding these buses.
Note:
Do not use an automatic ticket-reading gate with a JAPAN RAIL PASS or a reserved-seat ticket. Please show the PASS at a manned ticket gate.

Caution：

The sign for a Resevation Office(Midori-no madoguchi)

 Please note that during crowded periods you cannot be guaranteed a seat on a specific train.
The periods when seat reservations are particularly difficult to secure are as follows:
December 28 to January 6
The New Year holiday period is the most popular travel time for Japanese people, for vacations and returns to hometown areas.
April 27 to May 6
Due to consecutive holidays in a comfortable travel season, there is large-scale travel throughout Japan for leisure and recreation.
August 11 to 20
Another time for traditional travel to hometown areas, called the Obon season.

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If you would like to purchase Japan Rail Passes please call us on +44(0)845-222-6200 or e-mail us on info@awlt.com