[Solved] Can I Buy a JR Pass 'Over The Counter' in Japan?

da-ren on 26/02/2024 - 12:31
Last edited 26/02/2024 - 13:28 by 1 other user

Hi,

No doubt that I have never bought a JR PASS before, and I am right now so confused about the 2-step process (not even sure I've understood it correctly).
I am arriving in Tokyo in about 7 days time, and I just heard from a couple of work colleagues something along these lines….'You can't BUY the JR PASS
when you ARE in Japan, and you can only BUY it 'online' and 'in advance' only.
What! That really sucks!!

You see, I never want to buy it 'online before I arrive in Japan', and nor do I want to buy it 'online while over there in Japan'.

In other words, I just want to wander around in Japan FIRST (like a tourist), and then when a sign came along, I would just walk into a designated office,
enquire about ALL the JR PASS options, then buy the correct one 'Right There & Then' (finger-crossed no earth-moving experience has been included).
Is this possible? If so, please let me know where are these designated locations in Tokyo that I can physically walk in and buy the JR PASS on the spot.

Note: Hopefully, you (I thank-you very much in advance) can answer from your own personal experiences,
and not from an unknown person who you've had heard from, or have had read it somewhere, sometime ago (you know what I mean).

Travel Asia Japan Japan Railways Group Rail Pass Rail Travel

Comments

  • OpenHand on 26/02/2024 - 12:41
    +14

    Hey da-ren,

    No, you cannot buy the JR pass in person in Japan.

    It's only sold by overseas tourism agents that you can find with a google search.

    You purchase it overseas as a tourist, land at the airport, take your receipt to the special counter in the subway, and receive it there.

    I'm not sure 100% why they do this, but I assume it's because it's only meant for tourists and so it prevents locals or foreign residents living in Japan from buying it and gaming that system.

    The JR pass prices have recently gone up and so you should check if it's worthwhile first. Generally, it only works out to be value for money if you're travelling quite a lot within Japan.

    There are calculators like this which can help with it: https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/

    If you're staying in Tokyo, there's no point buying a JR pass.

    Source: my own experience, frequent Japan traveller for fun and work.

    • Caped Baldy on 26/02/2024 - 14:16
      +5

      My sister's family went last year and she said the ticket gate system had changed, like she got told off by station guards that they needed to put two tickets in for one person. I'm assuming this is the JR pass and the booked seat.

      Sad that the value is gone and it can be cheaper and faster to fly.

      • 6828 on 03/03/2024 - 11:05

        It took me about 5 tries at different stations until I worked out you always put your JR PASS and the Booked ticket into the machine. Both will come out unless you're at the destination then the booked ticket will remain in the ticket gate.

        I kept putting in my booked ticket then my JR PASS (Or the otherway around). It would alarm and I went to the ticket booth or asked for assistance and a couple of times the person on duty looked pretty anoyed that I couldn't do it correctly.

  • tabz on 26/02/2024 - 12:46
    +5

    Unless they've changed it since I last went pre covid, your colleagues are right and that you would need to purchase it beforehand.

    Having said that, are you looking to travel to multiple cities via the Shinkansen and back while you're over there? If so, then just work out whether JR Pass works out cheaper than getting the train tickets individually. If you're just travelling around Tokyo, grab yourself an IC card (like Suica or Pasmo) while you're over there instead.

    • cashless on 26/02/2024 - 17:50
      +1

      Get Suica before you go.
      I got mine through Wallet App on iPhone

  • CyberMurning on 26/02/2024 - 13:04

    No, you cannot buy the JR pass in person in Japan.

  • neonflamingolamp on 26/02/2024 - 13:15
    +1

    Seconding checking if it's worth getting first, and also take a look at the other regional JR passes to see if they're better suited for you. I got my receipt thing delivered to me from Klook; not sure if you can buy them in person in Australia, but since you're arriving in 7 days it might be a bit dicey.
    With the price increase, the full JR pass isn't that much value for money anymore, unless you're really zooming around. For example, Tokyo to Osaka bullet train is about $100, and a 7-day pass is $500.

    • DazMon on 26/02/2024 - 21:11

      A$100 for that shinkansen journey sounds mighty ambitious!

      • neonflamingolamp on 27/02/2024 - 12:28

        Something like that. 3 digits with a one in it somewhere :')

  • mskeggs on 26/02/2024 - 13:27

    I bought my JR pass in person in Sydney before I left, so it isn't online delivery only (tho that was 6 years ago).

    • DazMon on 26/02/2024 - 21:10

      Use to be able to do this in Melbourne, but they really don't like it anymore.

  • DingoBilly on 26/02/2024 - 18:41
    +1

    I know you marked as solved, but just thought I'd add you can check whether a JR pass is worthwhile here if you know your itinerary:
    https://www.daisuki.com.br/jrpass_calculator.html

  • Nutrino on 26/02/2024 - 20:57

    "You see, I never want to buy it 'online before I arrive in Japan', and nor do I want to buy it 'online while over there in Japan'."

    Ok.

    • DazMon on 26/02/2024 - 21:07
      +2

      Yeah what strange things to say…

      • da-ren on 27/02/2024 - 07:44
        -4

        It will come to you..(one day). And then you will see.

        Here's 2 scenarios.
        Think back 1st Jan 2024
        Also, many many years ago, my partner had to stay in the hospital for a couple of days (while visiting a foreign country).

        • Nutrino on 27/02/2024 - 08:49

          Ok.

        • DazMon on 27/02/2024 - 23:39

          Okay now I'm getting some really weird vibes from you.
          I'm not sure how you're going to go in Japan.
          Do you even speak a little Japanese?

  • DazMon on 26/02/2024 - 21:09
    +1

    You have left it pretty late to get it within 7 (now 6) days, they will want you to use courier or express post to make sure you receive it.
    Its gone up so much I don't think we're buying it for our next trip.

  • zombrex on 26/02/2024 - 21:23
    +1

    Not worthwhile anymore at all. Only extreme fringe cases would see it have decent value. Need to be riding excessively and not practical in any normal itenarary where you are actually out sightseeing, visting attractions etc.

  • Wiadro on 26/02/2024 - 21:39
    +1

    not worth it anymore
    just spend $300 on bullet trains, 3 trips that i needed.

  • da-ren on 27/02/2024 - 07:59

    Thanks all. Keep them coming
    By the way, I didn't mark it as solved.

    Also, in another forum, it is said that one can buy the other 'Regional' JR pass locally.

    So now I realised I shouldn't use the word 'JR Pass" because (to many) it means one specific and particular JR Pass, the one that's the big mother of all pass!

    On another note, I also just came (after more research) to a conclusion that I do indeed want that one (the above)…because that allow me to jump on more bullet-trains and henceforth reach my destinations faster (see more cities).

    So like I said from the start, I've never bought a JR pass (and now 'neither any others)…so I am a total noob here.

    • DazMon on 27/02/2024 - 23:40

      You've left it pretty late mate…

  • Chickin on 27/02/2024 - 10:17

    If you want a JR tourist pass, you need to get it before you travel to Japan, however you can just buy JR tickets by walking up to the JR office (or by using a self serve machine). Unless you are planning on travelling massive distances around Japan multiple times over your 7 day trip a JR pass is not really worth it. It also only covers JR lines, and you may find that your destinations are more conveniently reached using the metro or local trains. If your plan is to chill around Tokyo and you like slow paced trips, don’t bother with the JR pass. If you want to spend hours on a train and see multiple cities - get the pass.

  • afah0447 on 27/02/2024 - 14:43

    Seven days is plenty of time to get the voucher sent to your house. It took two days to get mine. They are businesses based in Oz that send the vouchers.

  • Roney on 27/02/2024 - 19:04
    +2

    Given that the JR Pass has gone up so much in price, I would consider the slower trains (still quick) and channel the extraneous cost to extra stay in beautiful regional cities along the way.

  • sydneybargainer on 28/02/2024 - 11:40

    Do they sell JR regional pass over the counter?
    There are lot of choices depending on the route, Regional Pass can work out better then JR Pass.

  • sydneybargainer on 28/02/2024 - 23:13

    What If I buy JR pass voucher on klook?
    I imagine they send me an e voucher and I can exchange that for actual ticket/pass. Is that sounds right ?

    • DazMon on 29/02/2024 - 11:20

      Yes. The hassle is you have to line up with all the other gaijin at a JR office and that could take ages.

  • DazMon on 01/03/2024 - 09:41

    So are you leaving soon?

    • da-ren on 03/03/2024 - 11:39

      in 2 nights (miscalculated a bit)

  • wackedupwacko on 01/03/2024 - 13:09
    +1

    It was possible to purchase OTC for a brief period of time (stopped in Oct last year) for the all purpose JR pass.
    Some regional are still available.

    You can still easily purchase them online now and just bring your passport and voucher to be exchanged.
    Do note that it's actually quite hard to make it worthwhile these days if you factor in alternate methods to get to your destinations. Flying around domestically in Japan can also be very cheap.

  • sydneybargainer on 01/03/2024 - 15:04
    +1

    It is hard to break even cost of JR pass.
    However some regional passes can save some $$.

  • 6828 on 03/03/2024 - 11:16
    +2

    My 2cents after travelling 4300 kilometers in September/October 2023 (Pre price rise) on the JR Rail Pass and not 100% related to the OP's question.

    • The Shinkansen is fun and will get you somewhere fast, but not great for sight seeing. You are either in a tunnel or looking at a concrete sound barrier blocking the view. It's nice to use the in train free WiFi, but it's just as easy to use your own mobile phone connection from what I remember. Travelling at 320kph was fun heading up to Hokkaido.

    • Local trains are slower but you will see more and will still have a power point near the seat to charge batteries on Local Express trains. The seats are comfortable and you will be able to see the things you are travelling past pretty easily. Still a few tunnels. The Express trains can honk along (Technical term) at over 100kph so still pretty decent to get you somewhere in a reasonable period of time. They do bounce a fair amount. After a 6 hour train ride to Wakkanai I had a weird motion perception that I was still on the train when I was looking for food in a Seico Mart (Combini).

    • da-ren on 03/03/2024 - 11:22

      Those are very good 2cents/points which I will take under consideration!

  • da-ren on 03/03/2024 - 11:34

    I am now thinking between the 'Hokuriku Arch PASS' VS 'JR Rail PASS'. And I got a query.
    Let's say… I want to travel from 'TOKYO to OSAKA'.

    If I should buy & use 'Hokuriku Arch PASS', and then travel from 'TOKYO to OSAKA' in the single day (ie. shortest time), how many hours would it take (in total)?
    If I should buy & use 'JR Rail PASS, and then travel from 'TOKYO to OSAKA' in the single day (ie. shortest time), how many hours would it take (in total)?

    Also, would I need to reserve the seats?… seeing that it's Cherry Blossom Time (well, sorta) and I am thinking that there will be many tourist as well as locals
    who would reserve them well in advance (I think/I don't know really)!

    Note: Oh.. fyi, I know now that I can buy the JR Rail PASS online (before I leave Australia) and then collect it at the airport etc etc.
    And also, I can buy the JR Rail PASS online (while already in Japan) and then have it sent to my hotel etc etc

    • sydneybargainer on 18/03/2024 - 20:20

      Just got back from japan today!

      On Hokuriku arch pass - it is not bullet train all the way. it is only from tokyo to Tsuruga then change train to express/rapid train to osaka. total travel time oneway approx 4-5 hrs.
      On JR pass - tokyo to osaka - 2 hrs approx.

      Reserve sit coach are close to entry exit to station steps & unserved coaches are 1 to 3 of 16 coach train and usually lot of walking. I would say reserve sit & it is free to reserve.

      I bought a suitable JR west regional pass over the counter. But can only buy with cash not card.

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