* This service is not available to Japanese nationals living abroad.
STEP1Purchase a JAPAN RAIL
PASS on the dedicated website (JAPAN RAIL PASS Reservation)
■Business hours of the dedicated website are from 4:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
(Japan local time UTC+9:00)
■Payment can only be made with a credit card. The credit card must be in
the purchaser's name. For children who do not have their own credit
cards, the JAPAN RAIL PASS can be purchased if the itinerary is the same
as that of the person who is making the payment.
■In addition to the purchaser, a JAPAN RAIL PASS may be purchased for up
to 6 people who are traveling with the purchaser and meet the
eligibility conditions.
■When making a purchase, the user's name, email address and passport
number need to be entered.
■After purchasing a JAPAN RAIL PASS on the dedicated website, it is
possible to reserve seats on the same website for Shinkansen and limited
express trains.
■JAPAN RAIL PASS cannot be issued to Japanese citizens living outside of
Japan.
●When picking up the PASS, your eligibility will be confirmed. Please present your passport and those of the persons traveling with you.
●The purchased JAPAN RAIL PASS must be picked up before the start date or during the valid period.
When purchasing a JAPAN RAIL PASS online, you can also book a reserved seat online.
For details on eligibility for use, please confirm here.
Purchase at an overseas JR-designated sales office or agency
Before you come to Japan
STEP1Buy at JR designated
sales office or agents
Buy your Exchange Order for the
JAPAN RAIL PASS at one of the following sales offices or agents
before coming to Japan.JTB Corp, Nippon Travel Agency,
KINTETSU INTERNATIONAL, Tobu Top Tours, Japan Airlines, ANA Sales
Americas(Los Angeles)※1, JALPAK, and their associated agencies. ※1 In
this case, you must book an ANA Group flight.
The clerk at the location where
you purchase your Exchange Order will explain the eligibility
requirements for the JAPAN RAIL PASS. Be sure that you understand
these requirements before purchasing an Exchange Order. In
the event that you are unable to receive a PASS because you fail to meet
the eligibility requirements, the JR Group is not liable for any charges
or fees associated with your use of JR lines while in Japan. ●If you
are unable to receive a PASS, you can return your Exchange Order to the
overseas travel agency from which you purchased it for a refund.（※Fees
apply.） ●If you have any questions about the Exchange Order, please
inquire directly at the travel office where you made the purchase.
■Information about JR-designated sales offices and agents
overseas
※ Some sales offices and agents may be closed
over the year end/New Year holiday period. Addresses and contact details
of sales offices and agents are subject to change or discontinuation
without notice.
After you arrive in Japan
STEP2Turn in your Exchange
Order to receive a JAPAN RAIL PASS
Present your Exchange Order and obtain your
JAPAN RAIL PASS after you arrive in Japan. You have to turn in your
Exchange Order (with your passport) to receive your JAPAN RAIL PASS at a
JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange office in a major JR station.
●You cannot use an Exchange Order when you travel on JR lines. Turn
in your Exchange Order and obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS at one of the
JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange offices.
*Please pay attention to the business hours and non-working days of
the exchange locations.
*The type of PASS stated on the Exchange Order cannot be changed.
*If you are unable to present the Exchange Order due to loss or
theft, a PASS cannot be issued.
*The Exchange Order cannot be exchanged for a PASS if the
eligibility requirements are not met.
●Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS within three months of the date the Order was issued. However, the exchange can be made from one month before the date of use. （for example, an Exchange Order issued on April 15 would have to be turned in by July 14. If the use date is May 30, the exchange can be made from April 30.） ※It may take time to turn in your Exchange Order and receive a JAPAN RAIL PASS if the service counter is busy. Please ensure you leave enough time when you visit the exchange office.
The JAPAN RAIL PASS is also on sale at certain sales offices
in Japan until September 30, 2023. In Japan, however, the JAPAN RAIL PASS is sold
only to those who have non-Japanese passports. (The PASS is unavailable to
Japanese nationals living outside Japan.) (The price of the JAPAN RAIL PASS in
Japan is different from the prices at JR-designated sales offices or agents
overseas)
To people purchasing a JAPAN RAIL PASS (Important notices)
・When picking up/exchanging a PASS, you will be required to show your "Temporary Visitor"
stamp/sticker stamped or put in your passport upon entering Japan. During the screening for
pick-up/exchange, be sure to show your passport* and "Temporary Visitor" stamp/sticker. The PASS will not be issued if the name in your passport is different
from the name on the Exchange Order or the name who purchased the PASS online.The PASS will not be issued if you don't have your passport with you or
if you only have a photocopy of your passport, since the "Temporary Visitor" stamp cannot be
confirmed.Customers who have "registered user cards" under the Trusted Traveler
Program will be asked to show the cards to confirm the "Temporary Visitor" status.
・Business hours of the ticket offices in Japan for pick-up/exchange/purchase 4:30 a.m. to
11:30 p.m. (Japan local time UTC+9:00) Please click here to check the business hours and non-working days of each ticket office.
・When exchanging or purchasing more than one JAPAN RAIL PASS to be used by the same person, it is
not permitted to exchange or purchase a PASS with overlapping periods of use.
How to book a reserved seat
●There is no additional charge for making seat reservations.
If you purchased a JAPAN RAIL Pass online, you can book a reserved seat on the dedicated website (JAPANRAIL PASS Reservation).
Book a reserved seat on the dedicated website (JAPAN RAIL
PASS Reservation).
If you purchased a JAPAN RAIL PASS on the dedicated website (JAPAN RAIL PASS Reservation), you can
also book a reserved seat on the same website.Do not forget to pick up the
reserved seat ticket at the reserved seat ticket machine or “Midori-no-madoguchi” (ticket
office) located at JR stations.
How to book and issue a reserved seat ticket at a reserved seat ticket
machine
1.What is a reserved seat ticket machine?
Example of reserved seat ticket vending machine
By using a reserved seat ticket machine located at JR stations, you can book and issue a
reserved seat ticket for the JAPAN RAIL PASS without waiting in line at the
"Midori-no-madoguchi" (ticket office).Some JR stations do not
have a reserved seat ticket machine.
2.Reserve and issue a reserved seat ticket
Top screenQR Code reading screenPassport number input screenTrain search screen
(1) Scan the QR code on your JAPAN RAIL PASS with the reader on the reserved seat ticket machine
(or
input the reservation number written on the PASS), and input your passport number. (2) Input
the travel section, date and time, etc., and select the train and facilities.(If you have already booked reserved seats online, select the itinerary for which the ticket should be issued.) (3) Check the
inputs, and if everything is correct, issue the ticket.
Reserved seat tickets can be booked and issued for most of the trains that can
be used with a JAPAN RAIL PASS. However, reserved seats may not be booked when they cannot
actually be used, such as booking reserved seats for the same time on different trains.
Book and pick up a reserved seat ticket at a “Midori-no-madoguchi” (ticket
office), etc.
Book and pick up a reserved seat ticket at a “Midori-no-madoguchi” (ticket office),etc.
■Other than a reserved seat ticket machine, you can also obtain your reserved seat ticket by showing your JAPAN RAIL PASS at any Travel Service Center or “Midori-no-madoguchi” (ticket office) at a JR station, or at the sales office of a JR-associated travel agency.
● Business hours of the ticket office 4:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (Japan local
time UTC+9:00)
● Operating hours of the reserved seat ticket machine 4:00 a.m. to 11:30
p.m. (Japan local time UTC+9:00)
*The above hours are the longest possible available hours. The actual business hours vary at
each location.
It may take time to make a seat reservation if the service counter is busy. Seat reservations cannot be made at unmanned stations or stations without reservation capability.
■ Shinkansen, limited express trains, and express trains have reserved Green car seats, reserved standard car seats, and non-reserved seats. Some trains do not have non-reserved seats (all seats are reserved).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.
■ A non-reserved seat (except for “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen) can be used with just your JAPAN RAIL PASS.
■ With a JAPAN RAIL PASS, it is not possible to use any seats, either reserved (including Green Car) or non-reserved, on "NOZOMI" and "MIZUHO" trains of the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen Lines. Check the scope of available trains for details, such as available trains, cars, facilities and additional charges.
■Pease confirm here if you intend to bring oversized baggage (the total dimensions must be 160 cm to 250 cm ) onto the Tokaido, Sanyo, or Kyushu Shinkansen.
【How to read reserved seat tickets】
①Originating Station
②Departure Date
③Train Name
④Departure Time
⑤Destination
⑥Arrival Time
⑦Non-Smoking Seat
⑧Seat Number
⑨Car Number
Caution
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:
April 29 to May 7 On consecutive holidays during common travel seasons, some trains are
crowded.
August 11 to 16 During the Obon season, some trains are crowded with people returning to
their
hometowns.
December 29 to January 3 The year end/New Year holiday period is the most popular travel
time for
Japanese people, for vacations and returns to hometown areas.
