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About JAPAN RAIL PASS
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 Who is eligible for a JAPAN RAIL PASS.
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 JAPAN RAIL PASS types
and prices.
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 JAPAN RAIL PASS validity.
How to obtain
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 Where exchange orders are sold.
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 How to turn in an exchange order to receive a JAPAN RAIL PASS.
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 How to make seat reservations
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 Notes regarding use
Information
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 Stations with JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange offices.
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 A Quality Way to Tour Japan
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 Helpful infomation for JR travel.
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 Japan's national Holidays
 
How to make seat reservations

Shinkansen,* most limited express and ordinary express trains have reserved Green Car seats and both reserved and non-reserved ordinary car seats.
(The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen. Please use “HIKARI,” “SAKURA,” “KODAMA,” and “TSUBAME” trains.)
A non-reserved seat (except for “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen) can be used simply by showing your JAPAN RAIL PASS.
Seat reservations can be made without additional payment.To make a reservation, go to any Travel Service Center or a Reservation Office (Midori-no-madoguchi) at a JR station, or to the sales office of a JR-associated travel agency. There, show your PASS, and obtain your reserved-seat ticket before the boarding. (“NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains and the trains marked with * in table 2 require the payment of an additional charge.)
  * There are no Green Cars on most “HIKARI” and “KODAMA” trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (Shin-Osaka—Hakata), or on Series 800 trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen line.
*The JR buses“Mizuumi-go”between Aomori and Towadako and“Oirase-go”between Hachinohe and Towadako require reservations. Please obtain your reserved-seat ticket before boarding these buses.
*Use of Homeliner or other Liner trains is subject to additional fees.
*Some trains have no non-reserved seating (all seats are reserved).
*The process of obtaining your reserved-seat ticket may take longer than you expect, for example due to a line at the ticket counter. Please leave enough time when you visit the ticket counter.
  Note: Do not use an automatic ticket-reading gate with a JAPAN RAIL PASS or a reserved-seat ticket. Please show the PASS at a manned ticket gate.
 
Caution:

The sign for a Resevation Office(Midori-no madoguchi)

Please note that during crowded periods you cannot be guaranteed a seat on a specific train.
The periods when seat reservations are particularly difficult to secure are as follows:

December 28 to January 6
The New Year holiday period is the most popular travel time for Japanese people, for vacations and returns to hometown areas.
April 27 to May 6
Due to consecutive holidays in a comfortable travel season, there is large-scale travel throughout Japan for leisure and recreation.
August 11 to 20
Another time for traditional travel to hometown areas, called the Obon season.