Japan Rail Pass

One pass for every Fuji angle.

Board a Shinkansen in Tokyo, glide past Mount Fuji at 285 km/h and be eating Kyoto ramen by lunch. The Japan Rail Pass is the single ticket that makes this normal.

Order on GetJRPass See if it pays off Best Fuji seats

285km/h

Top speed of the Nozomi

40min

Tokyo to first Fuji sighting

¥50k

Cheapest 7 day pass

1976

Year the pass launched

Why bother

Six reasons travellers love the pass.

Not paid marketing points. Actual things that make the trip better.

Skip the ticket machine dance

Flash the pass at the manned gate. No fumbling with a touchscreen in Japanese while a line builds behind you.

One price, unlimited rides

Hop off in Odawara for a bowl of soba, hop back on the next Shinkansen. No math, no guilt, no extra charge.

Free seat reservations

Book the exact Fuji-side window seat weeks in advance. Cherry blossom weekends, autumn foliage, holiday rush - covered.

Airport transfers included

Narita Express to Shinjuku is usually ¥3,250 one way. Free with the pass on both your arrival and departure days.

Speed you feel in your teeth

The Hikari does Tokyo to Kyoto in 2 hours 40 minutes. That is faster door to door than flying once you count security and airport transfers.

The best moving cafe in the world

Onboard trolleys sell green tea Kit Kats, ekiben lunch boxes and canned coffee. Eating your ekiben as Fuji drifts by is the whole trip.

The basics

What the Japan Rail Pass actually is.

A single rail ticket that covers almost every Japan Railways train, including most Shinkansen, for 7, 14 or 21 consecutive days.

Who can buy it

Foreign tourists on a short-stay temporary visitor visa. Japanese residents are not eligible. Bring your passport at activation.

How long it lasts

7, 14 or 21 consecutive days. The clock starts the day you activate, not the day you buy, so order weeks ahead without worry.

When it pays off

A single Tokyo to Kyoto return on the Shinkansen is around ¥28,000. Add a Fuji day trip and the 7 day pass is already cheaper than pay-as-you-go.

Nationwide pass

Pick your validity.

Ordinary class covers every itinerary on this site. Green Car adds reclining 2 plus 2 seating with more legroom - worth it on longer Shinkansen legs.

7 days

Does it actually pay off?

Here is what the same trips cost with and without the 7 day pass. No spin - if it does not save you money, we will tell you.

Tokyo · Kyoto · Tokyo

Shinkansen return	¥28,240
Narita Express return	¥6,500
Tokyo · Kawaguchiko day	¥8,000
Kyoto local JR	¥2,000
Pay as you go	¥44,740
7 day pass	¥50,000

Pass saves ~¥0. Break-even. Get it for the convenience.

Tokyo · Fuji · Hiroshima

Tokyo to Hiroshima return	¥40,000
Narita Express return	¥6,500
Kawaguchiko day trip	¥8,000
Local JR in Hiroshima	¥1,500
Pay as you go	¥56,000
7 day pass	¥50,000

Pass saves ¥6,000 plus zero booking stress.

Tokyo · Fuji · Kyoto · Osaka

Shinkansen legs	¥42,000
Narita Express return	¥6,500
Fuji day trip	¥8,000
Osaka loop line week	¥3,000
Pay as you go	¥59,500
7 day pass	¥50,000

Pass saves ¥9,500. Easy yes.

Best Fuji moments

Where the pass unlocks the mountain.

Four rides, four completely different Fuji views. All covered by the nationwide pass.

Tokyo · Kyoto Shinkansen, mile 40

The classic. Hikari service, seat 11E, right side heading west. Fuji appears over the Shizuoka plain and stays visible for a full 4 minutes.

Seat map & timing

Otsuki to Kawaguchiko

Change at Otsuki for the Fujikyu line (small supplement). The last 20 minutes climb through pine forest with Fuji growing bigger in every window.

Lake Kawaguchiko

Odawara arrival

Shinkansen to Odawara in 35 minutes flat. Step off the train, look south west, and Fuji is right there before you have even bought your Hakone pass.

Hakone guide

Osaka to Tokyo, the return trip

Coming back east, book seat 11A or 11B - left hand side. Sunset over Fuji from a moving Shinkansen is the underrated great view of Japan.

Fuji from Osaka

Ordinary vs Green

Do you need Green Car?

Green is Japan's business class. Nicer, quieter, wider. But is it worth the ¥20,000 upgrade?

Ordinary

¥50,000 / 7 days

3 plus 2 seat layout, all recline
Free wifi on most Shinkansen
Power outlets at every window seat
Reservable weeks ahead for free
Perfect for the whole family

Our take: 90% of travellers should stick with Ordinary. The Fuji view is identical from both cars.

Green Car

¥70,000 / 7 days

2 plus 2 layout, deep reclining leather
Always quieter - no children's cars near Green
Priority boarding at busy stations
Complimentary blanket and slippers on Sunrise services
Bigger luggage racks

Worth it if: you are tall, travelling as a couple, or spending 4+ hours a day on trains.

Regional alternatives

Cheaper passes if Fuji is your only goal.

A nationwide pass is overkill for a short Fuji loop. These two regional passes sold by GetJRPass cover the main Fuji approaches from Tokyo and the Shizuoka side.

JR East Pass, Tohoku area

¥30,000 · 5 flexible days in 14

Tokyo, Fuji and northern Japan if you are chasing a snow capped Fuji plus Nikko or Sendai.

Fuji Excursion to Kawaguchiko
All JR East Shinkansen north of Tokyo
Izu Peninsula and Nikko

Order on GetJRPass

Mt Fuji-Shizuoka Area Tourist Pass Mini

¥6,500 · 3 consecutive days

The southern and western Fuji side. Perfect for Mishima, Fuji city, the Izu coast and lake hopping around Shizuoka.

JR local trains around Shizuoka and the Fuji foothills
Selected buses and ferries in the area
Non-reserved seats on JR limited express trains
Great add-on after the nationwide JR Pass

Order on GetJRPass

Covers

What the nationwide pass gets you for Fuji.

Every Tokaido Shinkansen seat from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka, the line that passes Fuji on the right hand side heading west.
JR Chuo line into Otsuki, the gateway to Kawaguchiko and Chureito Pagoda via the Fujikyu line transfer.
JR Tokaido main line to Mishima for the Sky Walk and the Hakone connection.
JR Minobu line through the western Fuji foothills to Fujinomiya and the south face trailhead.
JR buses around the Fuji Five Lakes and selected ryokan shuttles.
JR Gotemba line, the slow scenic route around the eastern foothills.
Free seat reservations on all Shinkansen and limited express services, online or at any JR ticket office.
Narita Express and Haneda airport transfers on the day you arrive or depart.

Fine print

What the nationwide pass does not cover.

Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen services. Use the slightly slower Hikari and Sakura instead, or pay a supplement at the counter.
The Fujikyu line from Otsuki to Kawaguchiko and Mount Fuji station. Buy a single ticket on board.
Odakyu services from Shinjuku to Hakone, including the Romancecar. Buy a Hakone Free Pass directly from Odakyu for unlimited Hakone transport.
Subway lines in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. JR loop lines like the Yamanote in Tokyo are covered.
Private ropeways, ferries and most sightseeing buses unless explicitly listed as a JR Bus service.

Fun stuff

Things nobody tells you about the JR Pass.

File under 'wish I knew before landing'.

The Shinkansen bows to you

Cleaning staff bow to every departing train in a 7 minute turnaround called nanafun kiseki - the 7 minute miracle. It is oddly moving to witness.

Ekiben are half the trip

Each station sells its own regional lunch box. The Toka-jo eel bento at Tokyo station is the Fuji-run classic. Warm it with the pull string built into the lid.

Fuji is on the right, always

Westbound from Tokyo, sit in seats D or E. Coming back east from Kyoto or Osaka, seats A or B. If you get it wrong you will spend 4 minutes staring at an office park in Numazu.

Trains leave to the second

Average annual Shinkansen delay is 12 seconds. Yes, seconds. If your ekiben run is close, the doors will not wait.

Green tea and hot towels

Sunrise sleeper services and Green Car attendants still hand out steaming oshibori towels before departure. Peak Shōwa era luxury.

You can day-trip Osaka from Tokyo

It sounds crazy but with the pass a Tokyo to Osaka takoyaki lunch and back is completely doable, and covered. Not sensible. Very fun.

How it works

Order, exchange, ride.

Four steps from your sofa to a Fuji window seat. Order the pass from GetJRPass, wait for the courier, then exchange it at a JR office in Japan.

1 · Order from GetJRPass
Order 2 to 3 weeks before departure. GetJRPass posts the physical exchange order to your home address by tracked courier. There is no online voucher, this is a real document you carry with you.
2 · Land in Japan
Take the exchange order, your passport and the temporary visitor stamp to any JR Pass exchange office at Narita, Haneda, Kansai or a major city station.
3 · Pick activation date
Choose any start date within 30 days. The pass runs for consecutive calendar days from that date.
4 · Reserve seats
Reserve Shinkansen seats for free at any midori no madoguchi counter, on the JR East online site or at green ticket machines.

Start order on GetJRPass Read the activation guide

Sample itineraries

Build a Fuji trip around the pass.

7 day Fuji and Kyoto

Nationwide 7 day · ¥50,000

Tokyo arrival, Narita Express included
Kawaguchiko 2 nights with Chureito and Oishi Park
Shinkansen Tokyo to Kyoto with right side Fuji window
Kyoto and Nara
Return to Tokyo

14 day photo expedition

Nationwide 14 day · ¥80,000

Tokyo, Hakone via Odawara
Mishima Sky Walk and Shimizu Miho
Fujinomiya south face
Kawaguchiko and Chureito
Matsumoto and the Alps
Kyoto, Hiroshima and back

Where to buy

We only recommend GetJRPass.

Same JR-issued pass, the fare JR sets, and a real courier that puts the exchange order in your hands before you fly. They are the seller we use ourselves and the only one we link to.

Posted to your door

The exchange order is a physical document sent by tracked courier worldwide. Nothing to print, no voucher to lose in your inbox.

Refundable if plans move

Unused exchange orders can be refunded minus a small handling fee, so ordering early is risk free.

English support that replies

Real humans answering inside a working day. Genuinely useful when a flight shifts or a date needs changing.

JR-set pricing

The pass price is fixed by the JR Group, so you are never paying a markup for the convenience.

Order your pass on GetJRPass Browse regional passes

Delivery

How the physical pass reaches you.

The Japan Rail Pass starts life as a paper exchange order. It has to be shipped, so timing matters more than with a normal online booking.

Order 2 to 3 weeks out

GetJRPass dispatches by tracked courier. Two to three weeks before departure is comfortable for most countries, and you can watch it move the whole way.

Keep it with your passport

The exchange order is treated like cash. It cannot be reissued if lost, so it lives in the passport wallet from the moment it arrives.

Swap it in Japan

At a JR exchange office you hand over the exchange order plus your passport with the temporary visitor stamp and walk out with the real pass.

See how ordering works on GetJRPass

FAQ

Common questions.

Can I use the JR Pass on the Nozomi?

No. The pass covers Hikari and Kodama on the Tokaido line, which both stop at Shin-Fuji and pass the mountain at the same angle. Travel time between Tokyo and Kyoto is about 20 minutes longer.

Is the JR Pass worth it for a Fuji only trip?

Not always. A 3 day Tokyo Wide Pass at ¥15,000 covers a Fuji long weekend beautifully. The nationwide pass wins as soon as you add Kyoto or a second Shinkansen leg.

Which side of the Shinkansen sees Fuji?

Sit on the right hand side, seats D or E, when travelling from Tokyo to Kyoto. From Kyoto to Tokyo it is the left hand side, seats A or B. See our Shinkansen guide for exact timing.

Do I reserve every seat?

Reservations are free with the pass and recommended on Friday evenings, weekends, holidays and during cherry blossom and autumn leaf seasons. Most Tokaido trains also have non-reserved cars 1 to 3.

Can I buy the JR Pass inside Japan?

Yes, but it costs more at the counter. Ordering from GetJRPass before you fly locks in the cheaper international price and saves you queueing on arrival day.

How is the pass delivered?

GetJRPass posts a physical exchange order to your home address with tracked courier delivery. It is a real paper document, not an online voucher or an emailed QR code, so order 2 to 3 weeks before you travel.

What if my exchange order has not arrived yet?

Track it through the courier link GetJRPass sends you and contact their English support if anything looks slow. Unused exchange orders are refundable minus a handling fee, so you are never stuck.

Where do I exchange it in Japan?

Any JR Pass exchange office. Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports all have one in the arrivals area, as do Tokyo, Shinjuku, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka stations. Bring the exchange order and your passport with the temporary visitor stamp.

Does the pass cover the climb to the summit?

It covers JR transport to Fujinomiya and Gotemba. From there, climbing season buses to the 5th station are paid separately or bundled with the Mt Fuji Pass.

What happens if I lose my pass?

Lost passes cannot be replaced or refunded. Keep it in a passport wallet, treat it like cash, and take a photo of the front and back in case you need proof at a gate.

Can kids use the pass?

Yes. Child passes (age 6-11) are half the adult price. Children under 6 travel free on Ordinary non-reserved seats when sitting on a parent's lap.

Ready to lock in your pass?

GetJRPass is the only seller we recommend. Order today, they post the physical exchange order to your home address with tracked delivery, and you swap it for the real pass at a JR office once you land. Unused exchange orders are refundable, so ordering early costs you nothing.

Order Ordinary pass Order Green Car All passes on GetJRPass

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