Should You Buy the JR Pass? Japan Transport Guide

In October 2023, the JR Pass had a massive 70% price increase, with the 7-day Japan Rail Pass now setting tourists back 50,000 yen. So the question is: how much travel do you need to do to make the JR Pass worth it? To answer this, we cover four different sample itineraries from short trips between Tokyo and Kyoto to detailed multi-city plans.

Check out our regional rail passes article:

//CHAPTERS//
0:00 JR Pass Price Increase
0:32 What is the JR Pass?
1:16 Sample itinerary 1: Tokyo to Kyoto
1:32 Sample itinerary 2: Tokyo to Hiroshima
1:51 Sample itinerary 3: Worth it!
2:32 Sample itinerary 4: Worth it!
3:10 JR Pass convenience
3:26 Japan Regional Rail Passes

★★★ TokyoCheapo ★★★

★★★ Credits ★★★
Intro sequence by the most talented Peter Laugesen
Creative commons images used in the intro:

[NachtroseSVK]

One thing you didn't mention is, that the JR Pass is NOT valid as is on the Nozomi and Mizuho trains ( the most frequent and fastest ones ) and you need to buy extra tickets for these trains even with the JR Pass. For example Tokyo to Kyoto/Shin-Osaka is 4960¥ on top of the JR Pass on Nozomi train.

[japanwithtal]

I sincerely hope no one adopts a "worth it" itinerary just to make use of the JR Pass. There are far better passes out there that will allow you to explore places in your own pace & save money at the same time, like the JR-West All Area Pass that lets you travel between Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Kanazawa, Toyama and more for 7 days and it only costs 26, 000 yen (more or less half the price of the JR Pass!).

[maurylovesfigure]

i need to hear this since the JR pass increase, but ill buy individual now

[SlashZooka]

I am almost a month staying in japan this year and was shocked about the price increase of JPR-Pass.
Even the 21-days ticket received a *65%* increase. What I always perceived as strange is, that there is a 21 days limit to the pass.
Ofcourse not many tourists will stay that long in japan usually, but in my case it's 28 days. Therefore I have to buy extra tickets if I want to travel somewhere in the last week.

Anyway, I don't think it is worth anymore buying the pass. If you're a tourist you can find in one city alone enough for even a month of staying.

[Smilez]

So the hokuriku pass is better then? I’m only gonna be in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Is there an app for the ticket or just buy it in the station?

[luciedemaret]

Hi, here's my itinerary for next April: April 8 Tokyo to Kyoto/April 11 Kyoto to Osaka/April 13 Osaka to Odawara Station (Hakone)/April 16 Odawara Station to Tokyo Haneda Airport. What pass/ticket(s) would you suggest I buy? Thank you so much!

[kuruma]

Tried before for abt 5000KM travel with 7 day pass, I guess still can save >50% per new price compared to individual ticket.

[ejbaken]

My wife and I are traveling to Japan for our very first time in March 2024. Directly after arrival at Haneda airport we plan on taking the train to Hakone to spend one night there. We then want to spend 4 days in the Kyoto area and using those days to visit Osaka, Nara and perhaps even Himeji before flying further to Okinawa where we will be staying for one week. Our last 4 days in Japan will be spend in Tokyo. What passes would you recommend?

[theknightswhosay]

The arch pass sounds best for me, even if I don’t want to take the arch both ways.

[donnahelm]

What about if you go from Tokyo to various places in the Tohoku region? Would like to go to yhe fox village and some onsen

[RobotWhite]

Hi! My partner and I will be traveling to Japan this November 2024. The hokuriku arch pass seems to be our best bet but I’m still managing my confusion with which trains I can use with the pass. Any help would be great and your videos have been very helpful.

[FullyknownFullyloved]

Can I use the Jr East Tohoku pass in going to Nagano?

[henrymena]

For the JR pass Is it possible to get it the same day you purchase it if you are already in Japan or it is not possible to get it that quick ?

[drmamdooh]

Hi there, ur video is just what I was looking for.
I fly to Japan on the 30.9.24 with my wife and 2 girls aged 12 and 4. I land at Tokyo and then take another flight to Osaka within 2 hours. I spend 2 days in Osaka visiting the universal studios and maybe some sight seeing. I probably would like to visit Kyoto, keeping Osaka as my base still and stay an extra day in Osaka. I then travel to Tokyo where I'll most likely spend a good week at least given my girls are not that much into temples and sight seeing given their young ages. I'll most likely be travelling around Tokyo doing the Disney land and sea, mario kart rides and some tourist shopping. Finally will head to the airport around the 11.10.24 to head back home to Sydney.
Which pass do u think I'll do best buying??or do I even need a pass??
Thanks a lot😊

[PattyTheBaddy]

Just to clarify this will be my trip to Japan, is this a must or will I be able to buy individual tickets if I am going only to Osaka, Kyoto and back to Tokyo?

[eugeneb]

I'm confused, some websites say that from Oct 2023 it's not possible to buy JR pass offline in Japan, I only can buy it online and wait for the delivery to my country. My trips is just in 5 days, so no chances for it to arrive. On Tokyo Cheapo website it's written that I CAN buy offline when arrived in Japan without online pre-booking. So as of April 2024, can I buy the JR pass offline after arrival in Japan without pre-booking?

[apoorvsinha]

Hey I will be travelling to Japan in November 2024 and my itinerary is like Shinjuku>Kawaguchiko and back then and the next day it will be Can you please recommend if i should get the JR pass or not. Thank you for your help and your videos are really helpful for a first time traveller like me

[PenguinPro]

Could someone please tell me if this is an okay plan? SO I was thinking about coming to Tokyo Narita on June 9th and purchasing the 7 day JR pass on the 13th. I would travel from Tokyo-Kyoto and then either Kyoto-Kanazawa or go further down south to Shikoku or Hiroshima. Should I buy individual tickets, 7 day pass, or 14 day pass?

[russcrowe]

Are you basing individual tickets on the fastest Shinkansen, such as Nozomi on the Tokaido/Sanyo lines? If so the travel times would work. I am under the understanding the new Pass allows access to Nozomi, but you pay extra for it. Based on that fact, unless my plans are to travel frequently I don’t think the Pass is worth it any more as a cost saver. If all I want is convenience and the ability to book seats online early I might pay.

[Chiisanabatta]

not worth it anymore, there are plenty of other options to save money; from buses, local trains, flights to ferries (plus specific discount for short trips like Nikko, Hakone, etc etc). Tokyo to Fukuoka to make your JR pass worth.... so you spend basically everyday travelling non stop, going at a really fast pace and moving your suitcase around.
What about a video showcasing all different alternatives to JR pass? because let's face it, it's dead.