Japan Rail Pass - Terms & Conditions

1. Transportation Services

The JAPAN RAIL PASS is valid for the railways, buses, and ferry boats shown here:

• 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)

* From October 21, 2010, the JRP can be used for the Tokyo Monorail.

* From December 4, 2010, for the section of the Aomori Railway Line between Aomori and Hachinohe, the JAPAN RAIL PASS can be used int he following limited cases: the case where the passenger transits through the section between Aomori Station to Hachinohe Station without getting off the train anyqhere in that section and the case where the passenger changes to the Ominato Line at Noheji Station. However, passengers using a train with sleeper cars must pay the Aomori Railway Line fares and charges.

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. 

• 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.

2. 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.

3. Train Accommodation

• Most JR Trains have Ordinary Cars (coach class) while many long distance trains also offer Green Cars (superior class). With Green-type JRP you can use either class, while with an Ordinary-type JRP you can use only Ordinary Cars without paying an additional charge. 

4. Cancellation Policy

• If, for some reason, you need to cancel your pass, there is a 10% charge plus a handling charge of €20 per transaction. You must return your exchange coupon to us before we can issue any refunds.