Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it?
Usually only on long, multi-city trips. The ordinary pass costs ¥50,000 for 7 days, ¥80,000 for 14 days and ¥100,000 for 21 days. Change the route below to price your own trip against it, using published JR fares rather than estimates.
Example trip: Tokyo to Kyoto and back. Pick your own stations above to replace it.
- Tokyo → Kyoto¥14,170
- Kyoto → Tokyo¥14,170
Buy individual tickets
¥28,340 of tickets vs a 7-day pass at ¥50,000 — the pass costs ¥21,660 more
Book the legs you actually need
Why the answer changed
In October 2023 the pass rose by roughly 70%, from ¥29,650 to ¥50,000 for the 7-day ordinary pass. That single change moved the most popular itineraries onto the wrong side of the line. A Tokyo–Kyoto return is ¥28,340 of tickets against a ¥50,000 pass, so the pass loses by ¥21,660. The pass starts winning on trips like Tokyo–Kyoto–Hiroshima–Fukuoka, where fares total ¥59,550.
Fares shown are for one adult in a reserved seat, taken from published JR fare tables. The pass also covers many non-shinkansen JR services, which can tip a borderline itinerary — add those separately when you compare.
Check today’s prices
Pass prices are fixed by JR, but what a single ticket costs you depends on the legs you actually book. Compare both before you commit — the calculator above tells you which side your trip falls on.
Common questions
Do I need to reserve a seat on the shinkansen?
It depends on the line and the date. Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen trains normally carry non-reserved cars, so you can usually board without booking. There is an important exception: during Golden Week, Obon and the year-end and New Year period, every seat on Nozomi services is reserved and there are no non-reserved cars at all. Tohoku and Hokuriku services such as Hayabusa, Komachi and Kagayaki are fully reserved all year round and cannot be boarded without a seat reservation.
Who can buy the Japan Rail Pass?
The Japan Rail Pass is sold to foreign visitors entering Japan on a Temporary Visitor entry status. You exchange the voucher for the physical pass after you arrive.
Is the JR Pass still worth buying?
Often not. The price rose sharply in October 2023, and for the most common first-time itineraries — Tokyo to Kyoto and back, or the Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka loop — buying individual tickets is cheaper. The pass starts paying off on long multi-city trips such as Tokyo–Kyoto–Hiroshima–Fukuoka. Use the calculator on this site with your actual route rather than assuming.
Can I ride the Nozomi with a Japan Rail Pass?
Not on the pass alone. The Nozomi and Mizuho are excluded, but you can board them by buying a supplementary NOZOMI MIZUHO ticket on top of your pass. It costs ¥4,960 for Tokyo–Kyoto or Tokyo–Shin-Osaka, ¥4,180 for Tokyo–Nagoya and ¥6,500 for Tokyo–Hiroshima, each way. The same price applies whether you take a non-reserved seat, a reserved seat or the Green Car. The alternative is to take a Hikari, Sakura or Kodama, which the pass covers in full but which take longer.
Can I use a Suica or ICOCA card on the shinkansen?
Not by simply tapping in. An IC card on its own is not a shinkansen ticket. You can link it to a booking service and then tap through: Smart EX covers the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen, while JR East lines have Touch de Go! Shinkansen for non-reserved seats and the Eki-net Shinkansen e-Ticket. Your Suica or ICOCA still works normally for local trains, subways and shops.
Do I need to book a space for a large suitcase?
Yes, if the three dimensions of your bag add up to more than 160 cm. On the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen you must reserve a seat with an oversized baggage area. The reservation itself costs nothing extra — it is an ordinary reserved seat in a specific row. If you board with oversized baggage without one, you are charged a ¥1,000 baggage fee including tax.