Tips on using the Japan Rail Pass
Article by LORIA BRIGGS
Japan Rail Pass
What exactly is the Japan Rail Pass?If you are planning a trip to Japan I expect you might have already come across the Japan Rail pass or JR Pass as the Japanese will call it. Unless your holiday is limited to several days in Tokyo then get one, get one, get one!
The Pass permits you to travel with out any additional charge on all JR line trains in Japan. You’ll find several exceptions that I will mention later in this article, but I can assure you that anyplace you decide to pay a visit to in Japan, you are able to get there on the JR pass.
When you first see the cost you might really feel it is a little pricey but believe me when I tell you, it’s such good value for money. I lately took a Shinkansen, (bullet train), from Tokyo to Nagasaki on Kyushu Island. A one way ticket cost me the same amount as the seven day Japan Rail pass… train travel is pricey here, but it is worth each and every yen. JR deliver a great service that is 99.9% on time and you travel in comfort. When I say on time, I mean down to the minute!
How to buy a Japan Rail Pass?Firstly, you need to be outside Japan and you have to be a foreign national who will enter Japan on a visitors visa, (tourist visa). Then locate a organization in your nearby country that organises the Japan Rail pass. So, you determine how many days you’d like on the pass and pay your cash. What you’ll receive is an exchange coupon. NOTE – this is not your actual train pass. Please, please make certain that your name is spelt actually as it appears inside the passport you will be travelling to Japan on. I cannot stress this point sufficiently. I’ve heard several instances where the name on the coupon is spelt incorrectly and the coupon just isn’t excepted…the Japanese follow strict rules on this!
Where do I exchange my Japan Rail Pass coupon?The coupon you have bought will come with some info about which stations you are able to exchange your coupon for you Japan Rail pass. Many people will enter Japan in Tokyo. Narita Airport, Tokyo Station and Shinagawa stations are the main locations. In case you are not positive then just go into any JR station ticket office and show them your coupon. They are going to be able to point you to the nearest exchange office…it will not be far away.
How do I use the Japan Rail pass?Now, as soon as you arrive in Japan you can exchange your pass at any time. Once you exchange the coupon for the actual Japan Rail pass they are going to ask you what day you would like to start the pass on. When you give them your date and they action the pass, you cannot alter this date! The pass will commence on your specified date and you’ll have, for instance, 7 days from that date to do all of your travel. NOTE – it’s not 7 days to use whenever you would like. The clock starts ticking on the date you choose to start the pass. I recommend having a think about this just before you arrive in the country. Think about where you would like to go to and once you want to go to these places and make a rough strategy. Then, when you go to the JR ticket office you are able to sit down with a consultant, (they usually speak good English!) and book your seats in one go. It is no problem if you want to alter the dates/times later. For the longer journey’s I would undoubtedly book reserved seats, they don’t charge you any additional. Tip – if you’re travelling from Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka then ask to be seated on the right hand side, this way you get the very best view of Mount Fuji, which, if on an excellent clear day, is stunning!1 essential thing that can confuse very first time users of the Japan Rail Pass is that you cannot use your pass inside the ticket barriers at the exits and entrances of the stations. each and every JR station in Japan has a small| counter on one side of the ticket barriers. All you should do is go over to the counter and show your JR pass and any tickets you’ve pre-purchased. They will happily let you enter and you will be on your way!
Exceptions to the Japan Rail PassFirstly, the pass is only valid on tracks and services owned by JR, Japan Railways. There are a couple of other private railway businesses that can not accept your pass. But as I said before, you really can go just about anywhere you’d want to go with JR.Secondly, the Japan Rail pass does not allow you to travel on the Nozomi and Mizuho services. There’s a common misconception that these are the fastest trains. Well, they get to their destinations quicker because they make less stops. But the trains themselves don’t move faster!
If you are planning a visit to Tokyo then check out our friendly Tokyo Tour Guides
take a look here for more info on the Japan Rail Pass
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