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Japan Rail Pass

One pass, every Fuji angle.

Board a Shinkansen in Tokyo at breakfast, glide past Mount Fuji at 285 km/h with a coffee in hand, and be eating ramen in Kyoto before lunch. The Japan Rail Pass is the single ticket that makes this normal. Here is everything you actually need to know, without the corporate fluff.

Buy on GetJRPass See if it pays off Best Fuji seats
Mount Fuji framed through a Shinkansen window
In partnership with GetJRPass

The 285 km/h front-row seat to Mount Fuji.

Seats D and E on the right side, westbound from Tokyo. Set a phone timer for the 40 minute mark and look up.

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.

Prices reflect the JR Group fare table effective October 2023 and are set by JR, not by us. Always confirm the current rate on GetJRPass before ordering.

The honest math

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

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

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

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

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 3 or 4 day Fuji loop from Tokyo. These regional passes cover the same Fuji approaches for a fraction of the price.

JR East Tohoku South Pass

¥30,000 · 6 flexible days in 14

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

  • Fuji Excursion to Kawaguchiko
  • All JR East Shinkansen north of Tokyo
  • Izu Peninsula and Nikko
Buy on GetJRPass

Mt Fuji Pass

¥7,500 · 2 days

Add on once you are at Kawaguchiko. Unlimited rides on Fujikyu buses around the Five Lakes and selected ropeways.

  • Fujikyu Retrocan buses around Kawaguchiko, Saiko and Motosuko
  • Mt Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
  • Fujikyu Highland entry
Buy on GetJRPass

Hakone Free Pass

¥6,100 from Shinjuku · 2 days

Issued by Odakyu, not JR. The cleanest way to ride the pirate ship, ropeway and Tozan trains around Hakone.

  • Odakyu round trip from Shinjuku
  • Hakone Tozan train, cablecar and ropeway
  • Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise
  • Hakone Tozan buses
Buy on GetJRPass

JR Tokyo Wide Pass

¥15,000 · 3 consecutive days

The sweet spot for a Fuji long weekend from Tokyo. Covers the Fuji Excursion limited express directly to Kawaguchiko.

  • Fuji Excursion Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko
  • Shinkansen to Karuizawa, Nikko, GALA Yuzawa
  • Narita Express to and from the airport
Buy 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 or add the Mt Fuji Pass.
  • Odakyu services from Shinjuku to Hakone, including the Romancecar. Use a Hakone Free Pass.
  • 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

Buy, activate, ride.

  1. 1 · Order online

    Order through GetJRPass at least a week before departure. They ship a paper exchange order worldwide or issue a digital QR code.

  2. 2 · Land in Japan

    Take your exchange order, passport and arrival stamp to any JR Pass exchange office at Narita, Haneda, Kansai or major city stations.

  3. 3 · Pick activation date

    Choose any start date within 30 days. The pass runs for consecutive calendar days from that date.

  4. 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

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

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
Why GetJRPass

The reseller we send our own family to.

Same JR-issued pass, no markup. We picked them because the support actually replies in English within a business day.

Ships worldwide

Tracked courier to 130+ countries or instant QR delivery to your inbox.

Full refund

Unused exchange orders refundable minus a small handling fee - no questions asked.

English support

Real humans, replies inside a working day. Handy when a flight shifts.

Price match

Locked to the JR-set fare. What you pay is what any authorised reseller charges.

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 is more expensive. Order through GetJRPass before you fly to lock in the cheaper international price.

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 ships worldwide with tracked delivery, supports digital QR activation at major stations and offers a full refund on unused exchange orders. Book once, ride for weeks.

Order now

Mt Fuji Today earns a commission on JR Pass purchases through GetJRPass. Prices are set by JR Group and may change with seasonal updates. See our affiliate disclosure.