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Common Questions

F.A.Q

Frequently asked questions



The Japan Rail Pass is a discounted travel pass that allows unlimited travel on most trains operated by Japan Railways (JR) Group, including the shinkansen (bullet train) and local trains. It is available for foreign tourists visiting Japan and can be purchased before arriving in the country.

The cost of a Japan Rail Pass varies depending on the type of pass and the duration of use. There are three types of passes available: a 7-day pass, a 14-day pass, and a 21-day pass. Prices for these passes range from about 50.000 yen for a 7-day pass to about 100.000 yen for a 21-day pass.

The Japan Rail Pass can be used on most trains operated by Japan Railways (JR) Group, including the shinkansen (bullet train) and local trains. However, it cannot be used on some trains, such as the Nozomi and Mizuho shinkansen trains. You can however pay a small fee to upgrade to these trains since October 1st, 2023. Contact us for more details.

To exchange your Japan Rail Pass voucher for the actual pass, you will need to visit a JR Exchange Office in Japan within three months of the date of issue. You will need to present your MCO voucher and your passport with a temporary visitor stamp, unless you are a Japanese citizen who have lived abroad and brought a document from your local embassy. You will then receive your Japan Rail Pass, which you can use for unlimited travel on most JR trains.

The Japan Rail Pass can only be used on trains operated by Japan Railways (JR) Group as well as the rapid trains to and from Jpaan’s major airports, such as Narita, Haneda, Kansai and more. It cannot be used on the Tokyo Metro or other non-JR trains, such as the Toei Subway or the Yokohama Municipal Subway.

Yes, the Japan Rail Pass can be used on most shinkansen trains operated by Japan Railways (JR) Group. However, it cannot be used on the Nozomi and Mizuho shinkansen trains.

Yes, the Japan Rail Pass can be used on the Narita Express and other airport trains operated by Japan Railways (JR) Group.

Yes, you can use your Japan Rail Pass on the JR-West Miyajima ferry. It’s included and operated by JR group.

Yes, the Japan Rail Pass can be used on the Hokkaido Shinkansen. You are even allowed to use the extra fast Hayabusa Train.

The paper from the embassy certifying that you have resided outside Japan for more than 10 years must be issued after the 10 years have passed. It is not possible to visit the embassy and issue a document when you have lived abroad for 9 years and 11 months and then order a JR Pass once you are in Japan. The date when the paper is printed at the Japanese Embassy in your contry must unfortunately be after 10 years have passed and before the JR Pass is ordered from us.

Most high-speed trains (Shinkansen) run at up to 320 km per hour. Sections corresponding to Gothenburg – Stockholm take around 2 hours. A soft, simple and flexible way to move around the country.

The trains are not far from the world’s fastest trains.

A passenger may bring 2 luggage that weighs a maximum of 30 kilos and measures according to a standard suitcase. Should you need to travel with larger luggage, it is necessary to book a seat in a carriage with space for ‘oversized luggage’. Seat reservation with larger luggage area is free with a Japan Rail Pass, but limited to how many slots per wagon. If you bring abnormally large luggage, the staff on the trains may charge a fee of 1,000 JPY if they feel that your luggage is too large and in the way. Make sure to reserve the right trolley in advance, it is free of charge via the nearest JR office.

Japan Rail Pass also called JR Pass is almost like a monthly card with your local train company and gives you as a traveler the opportunity to freely use all transport options owned by JR Group with very few exceptions. Take part in high-speed trains, subways and buses in and between all major cities with this Japanese train pass.

You can choose between 7-day, 14-day and 21-day sessions with 2 different classes. Standard pass and Green pass, which corresponds to first class.

JR Group owns and manages JR-Hokkaido, JR-East, JR-Central, JR-West, JR-Shikoku and JR-Kyushu and covers the entire country with its express trains “Shinkansen”.

Yes, as long as it has not been activated. If your Japan Rail Pass has been activated, we have no opportunity to help with any repurchase, unfortunately.

In case of cancellation or repurchase of your JR Pass, a return fee of 15% of the total amount of your order will be added. Which means that you get back 85% of the amount from your purchase.

If you wish to cancel your JR Pass, please call us on +468-399132 or email us at info@getjrass.com together with a detailed explanation of why the pass should be returned.

A non-exchanged Japan Rail Pass can be returned within 12 months of being sent out from Getjrpass, provided it has not been activated in Japan.

The buyer is responsible for JR Pass returning to Getjrpass physically and in the same condition as it was sent out. The buyer is also responsible for any costs that a return may entail, including shipping costs.

You can easily and free of charge book a seat on the train via your nearest JR office or by scanning the QR code on your Japan Rail Pass at any Shinkansen tickets machine. These are available at all major train stations and airports in the country.

However, it is very easy to just get on the train and take a seat on the carriages without reserved seats. Which is found on all Shinkansen trains.

We recommend that you reserve a seat in advance for slightly more important trips, such as to the airport or longer distances such as between Tokyo and Osaka.

A one-way trip between Tokyo and Kyoto usually costs about 28,000 yen, equivalent to about 220 without a JR Pass. A day trip to to Hiroshima and back from Kyoto is about 20.000 yen. Right there you’ve already saved the cost of a Japan Rail Pass

A 7-day pass costs 50.000 JPY for an adult traveler and is valid for an infinite number of train journeys during the time period.

In addition to the Shinkansen, your JR Pass applies to lots of JR metro lines, ferries, buses and regular trains, which saves the average traveler around 20 euros a day in transport costs.

For travelers who only stay in Tokyo and will not take part in the Shinkansen trains, however, we do not recommend the purchase of these passes. An adult standard pass costs 50.000 JPY for 7 days, which translates to about 7.000 JPY per day. An ordinary traveler and visitor to Japan does not spend so much on the metro every day in Tokyo alone. For that reason, we do not recommend a JR Pass purchase.

The JR Pass is personal and can not be transferred to anyone else. 

The name in your booking must be written EXACTLY as it appears in your passport.

You fill in the information as it says in your passport. Written exactly as the passport without any special letters. For example Ö becomes OE, Ä becomes AE and Å becomes AA and so on. No special letters are allowed. We do however correct the names manually if you manage to add non-accepted letters, you have nothing to worry about if you are unsure.

Free WIFI is available on all Shinkansen, express trains and express trains. It is also available on many other types of means of transport within JR, but can not be guaranteed on trains other than Shinkansen and the internet speed is pretty slow. Check out our discounted pocket WiFi’s instead!

Shinkansen is the Japanese word that describes ‘Bullet train’ and high-speed trains.

Yes, we sell all types of Japan Regional Pass. Visit our Regional Pass page for information on all available passes as well as how to book them.

Your JR Pass is personal and can not be shared with other travelers. You need to order one each.

Visit your nearest JR office, these are located at all major airports and train stations. They will help you book a seat on the desired train free of charge. Or use any of the Shinkansen tickets machines by scanning the QR code on your Japan Rail Pass. Both options are free and included with your JR Pass.

Note, however, that you do not need to book a seat on the train but can easily just get on and take a seat on wagons for non-reserved seats.

The Japan Rail Pass is about the size of a normal credit card and will fit in all wallets.

If your JR Pass has not been sent out, we can change your delivery address. Note, however, that you must email us in good time at info@getjrpass.com with order number, name of traveler and new desired delivery address.

We send out your JR Pass no later than the next workday and can not guarantee that we will have time to handle your request before the order form has been printed out and the product has left our office.

JR Group, responsible for Japan Rail Pass counts in days and not in hours. Therefore, your JR Pass expires at midnight on November 14th if you were to activate your 14-day pass on November 1st.

Yes, your JR pass is valid on all the mentioned bus lines: JR Hokkaido Bus, JR Tohoku Bus, JR Kanto Bus, JR Tokai Bus, West Japan JR Bus, JR Chugoku bus, JR Shikoku Bus and JR Kyushu Bus.

The pass is also valid with the JR-West Miyajima ferry.

Yes, your JR Pass is approved on JR lines between the airport and all major cities. 

If you land at eg Narita Airport, you can take the Narita Express with your JR pass to Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro.

If you land at Haneda Airport, you can easily take the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho station. 

If you land at Kansai International Airport, the easiest way is to take the Limited Express Hauka with your JR pass to Osaka or Kyoto.

Contact us immediately! Note, however, that we can not offer you a new pass or offer a refund. But it’s important that we block your existing lost pass.

The Japanese are generally a very honest and well-educated people. Together with well-behaved staff and a good ‘Japan Railways lost property service’, the chances are high that you will get back your lost valuables.

The staff continuously collects forgotten valuables during the journey and collects everything in a ‘lost and found’ box. These are saved for 7 days before they are handed in to the police.

Therefore, first contact Japan Rail and ask for your lost items.

Since the end of 2020, you can now use your JR Pass on the automatic gates in all trains and metro stations. The former sections are still there and can be used by travelers traveling with a pram or wheelchair or are in larger companies.

To issue your JR Pass, we do not require an exact date or passport number, you’re free to book any time. The Japan Rail Pass can be activated within 90 days of being issued by Getjrpass.

However, we ask about the date when you order your JR Pass, but that is only to enable us to ensure that it is not bought too early and to be able to help you.

The trains are equipped with larger windows, a quieter environment, newspapers, nicer seats, more legroom and more space for your luggage. All this along with better service, free drinks and shorter queues.

Some trains also offer their passengers a free ‘oshibori’. A kind of towel that can be either hot or cold depending on the season.

Yes, we ship worldwide and your JR Pass will reach your hotel within a couple of workdays. We can not however guarantee any delivery time when shipped to Japan.

The Japanese authorities have strict requirements and require a physical JR voucher when exchanging for JR Pass.

Your confirmation email is not an approved exchange.

Pictures of your JR voucher, scanned copies and other types of copies will not be accepted.

Our policy is to send out all Japan Rail Passes from your order the next workday.

If you’re a Swedish resident, you’re more than welcome to pick itt up from our office in Gothenburg. But we recommend using our express shipping regardless, as we sometimes work from home.

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Need more help? No worries!

Do you have a question to ask and can’t really find a good answer for it in the FAQ? No worries, we got you covered! Feel free to use our question form and have a Japan Rail Pass professional take care of and answer your questions. We make sure to answer within hours at most and will help out with any Japan or JR Pass related questions.