Buy a Japan Rail Pass

When you buy a Rail Pass from Japan Package Tours you will receive a voucher called an ‘exchange order’. Once in Japan, take the exchange order, and your passport, to a Japan Railways travel centre (at most major rail stations and airports) and nominate the date on which you want your pass to start. The travel centre will issue your actual Rail Pass.

A Japan Rail Pass can be valid for 7, 14 or 21 consecutive days, and it allows for unlimited travel during that period on most of Japan Railways' extensive network, including the world famous bullet trains.

Japan Rail Passes are also valid for affiliated buses and ferries. If you plan to travel extensively across Japan this pass offers excellent value for money.

You can choose from either First Class (Green) or Standard Class (Ordinary). First class travel in Japan is usually quieter and less busy, but ordinary train travel is always fast, clean and super-efficient in any case.

Child tickets are available for children aged from six to eleven at the time of travel. Children twelve years of age and older require an adult ticket. Children under six do not require a Rail Pass.

All long distance trains in Japan have comfortable seats, which can be reclined and can also be turned around to face in the opposite direction; useful if you are travelling in a group.

The Shinkansen, or bullet trains, are all incredibly fast – there are different types of bullet train services, some of which are speedier than others. The trains are extremely comfortable, with plenty of leg room, incredibly reliable and efficient.

Rail travel is the perfect way to see Japan. Get started on your Japanese travel adventure today!

Japan Rail Passes are exclusively for tourists - you cannot buy one in Japan.

On arrival in Japan make sure to get a Temporary Visitor sticker inserted into your passport.

When you buy a Rail Pass from Japan Package Tours you will receive a voucher called an ‘exchange order’. Once in Japan, take the exchange order and your passport to a Japan Railways travel centre (at most major rail stations and airports) and nominate the date on which you want your pass to start. The travel centre will then issue your Rail Pass.

Japanese nationals that have lived in Australia for ten or more consecutive years may be able to obtain a Rail Pass but will need written proof of residence from the Japanese Embassy.

The JR Rail Pass includes all of the following:

TRAINS

- JR Shinkansen/Bullet Trains (except “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains)
- JR Limited express
- JR Express
- JR Local (Rapid and Special Rapid services)
- The Narita – Tokyo Express (NEX)
- Tokyo: The JR Yamanote, JR Chūō and JR Keihin-Tōhoku lines
- Osaka: The JR Osaka Loop Line

The pass is also valid on the following non-JR lines–
- Tokyo Monorail between Hamamatsuchō and Haneda Airport
– Aoimori Railway for journeys starting and ending at Hachinohe and Aomori only, and for journeys from these stations to Noheji and the JR East Ōminato Line.

BUSES

- JR Hokkaido Bus Company
- JR Bus Tohoku Company
- JR Bus Kantō Company
- JR Tōkai Bus Company
- West JR Bus Company
- Chūgoku JR Bus Company
- JR Shikoku Bus Company
- JR Kyushu Bus Company
- Hiroshima Sightseeing Loop Bus

FERRY

- JR-WEST Miyajima ferry

Ordering a Rail Pass is a quick and simple four step process:

Step 1 - Choose your pass and enter your delivery details.

Step 2 - Enter the details for each passenger. Up to ten passes may be ordered at one time. If you require more than ten passes please call us on 1800 527 268.

Step 3 - Check and confirm that the details are correct.

Step 4 - Pay for your pass(es).

Express delivery, to anywhere in Australia, is only $12.00.

Alternatively you may collect your passes from either of our offices in Melbourne or Sydney.

If you are departing in less than one week please call our office.

Shinkansen (Bullet Trains) and most limited express and ordinary express trains have reserved Green car seats and both reserved and non reserved ordinary car seats.

A non reserved seat 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 boarding.

Do not use an automatic ticket-reading gate with a JAPAN RAIL PASS or a reserved-seat ticket, simply show the pass at a manned ticket gate.

Mobile vendors on Shinkansen and other long-distance trains sell "Ekibento" box lunches, containing local specialty Japanese-style foods, as well as snacks and drinks.

In major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka avoid traveling during the morning and evening rush hours (7:30-9:30am and 5:00-7:00pm).