Does anyone have experience buying a JR pass, I know we can buy in Japan train station also online, anything I need to know?
Thank you
Japan Rail Pass - Cheaper to Buy Online?
Winston D on 05/12/2022 - 17:59
Last edited 05/12/2022 - 19:45 by 1 other user
Last edited 05/12/2022 - 19:45 by 1 other user
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I think you have to buy it outside of Japan first. I bought one pre-covid online from https://www.nta-sachitours.com.au/jr-japan-rail-pass/ and picked it up from their office next day. It was about the cheapest and local. Check prices now thou. You need to activate the pass in Japan at an jr office (major train stations) before using it. Also check the booking fees for the different Shinkazen trains, so no surprises. Japan has the suica card (aka opal/myki) for most local (city) travel. Plan carefully so you dont waste your jr pass on local trains.
What booking fees did you have to pay for the Shinkansen with a Japan Rail Pass? is this a new thing?
from memory there are different shinkasens models, some faster, so depends on when and which one. this was a few years ago, so could have changed.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2018.html
Japan Rail Pass holders can make seat reservations for free.https://www.jrailpass.com/blog/shinkansen-tickets
Foreign visitors are entitled to buy a JR Pass which offers unlimited access to all Shinkansen trains (except Nozomi and Mizuho trains) for a great-value price.The final price of a Shinkansen ticket is a sum of the base fare + shinkansen supplement + seat reservation fee (if applicable)+ green car fee (if applicable).
so maybe no booking fees :)
Confirmed. Except for the Nozomi & Mizuho trains you won't pay any extra. Those are the trains with the least stops, but really you won't notice the difference between them and the next level down.
We used a pass a bunch on our last trip, for day trips to Kyoto from Osaka especially we just turned up and jumped on a non reserved carriage, didn't bother pre booking a seat. You just show your pass to the person by the entry gate to the platform and they let you through.The trains are so frequent it's fine. For longer trips where you are carrying baggage, it's worth pre booking (and I think you might actually have to now, so they can make sure there's space for your luggage).
Does anyone have experience buying a JR pass, I know we can buy in Japan train station also online, anything I need to know?
No you can't, you have to buy your JR pass voucher BEFORE you travel. Can't buy one on arrival
This changed just before COVID and they are still allowing purchase while in Japan if you have a foreign passport.
https://japanrailpass.net/pdf/JR_PASS_release_EN.pdfOh nice….. I travelled in 2019 and it hadn't changed then. But handy to know!
Buy them before you leave from their website. Well worth full price, sometimes they use a Japanese calendar so inside knowledge is needed.
Also make sure the maths adds up. Depending on how you’re travelling sometimes it’s cheaper to go without it.
Klook sometimes offers discounted pass (was 20% off last month) or higher cashback.