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Q1. How do I reserve a seat?
You cannot make seat reservations from abroad. To make a reservation, present your Japan Rail Pass at a JR station (JR Ticket Counter (Midori-no-madoguchi) ) or any JR Travel Service Center (Twinkle Plaza) in Japan , and obtain your reserved-seat ticket.
Q2. What are the differences between the Japan Rail Pass and the Hokkaido Rail Pass?
Major differences
Area of Use
- The Japan Rail Pass features free rides on JR lines and JR buses (excluding some routes) throughout Japan.
- The Hokkaido Rail Pass features free rides on JR lines and JR Hokkaido buses (excluding some routes) throughout Hokkaido.
Where to Buy
- For the Japan Rail Pass, you first purchase an Exchange Order
at the following overseas branch offices, and then exchange it for a
pass at a designated place in Japan (the Exchange Order cannot be purchased
in Japan).
-
Japan Airlines, JTB, Nippon Travel Agency, Kinki Nippon Tourist, Tokyu Tourist Corporation, JALPAK and ANA.
- The Hokkaido Rail Pass can be purchased in Japan, as well as abroad.
Validity Period
- The Japan Rail Pass has three periods of validity: 7, 14 and
21 days.
- There are 4 types of the Hokkaido Rail Pass: 3, 4, 5 and 7-day passes.
| Ticket Type |
Validity |
Validity
Period |
Where to Buy |
Availability
Period |
| Japan Rail Pass |
Unlimited rides in Japan |
7 days
14 days
21 days |
Cannot be purchased in Japan
(To be exchanged at designated places in Japan)
* Can be purchased abroad (overseas sales offices/agents authorized by JR Hokkaido) |
Available throughout the year |
| Hokkaido Rail Pass |
Unlimited rides in Hokkaido |
3 days
5 days
Flexible 4-day pass
7 days
|
JR Travel Service Center (Twinkle Plaza) in Sapporo , Asahikawa , Hakodate , Kushiro and Obihiro, and New Chitose Airport Station
* Can be purchased abroad (overseas sales offices/agents authorized by JR Hokkaido) |
Available throughout the year |
Q3. Where can I purchase a Japan Rail Pass?
See Q2 above.
Q4. Where can I exchange an Exchange Order for a Japan Rail Pass?
- At designated JR stations and any JR Travel Service Center (Twinkle Plaza) in Japan.
- At the following locations in Hokkaido:
New Chitose Airport Station, as well as JR Travel Service Center (Twinkle Plaza) in Kushiro , Obihiro, Asahikawa , Sapporo and Hakodate .
Q5. What types of Japan Rail Pass are available?
There are two types - for Ordinary Cars and First-class Cars (Green Cars) - and each type has three possible periods of validity: 7, 14 and 21 days.
Q6. What facilities are available for the Japan Rail Pass?
| Ordinary Car |
Limited
Express and Express Ordinary reserved seats and JR buses (excluding
some routes) on all JR lines throughout Japan |
First-class Car
(Green Car) |
Limited Express
and Express Green seats and JR buses (excluding some routes) on all
JR lines throughout Japan |
Neither the Ordinary nor First-class Car (Green Car) Japan Rail Pass can be used for Shinkansen "Nozomi." |
Q7. Is it possible to use the Japan Rail
Pass with a Sleeper train?
- For both Ordinary Cars and First-class Cars (Green Cars), only the basic fare is covered.
- In addition to the required Sleeper
fare, Limited Express and Ordinary Express charges are added
separately when boarding said trains.
Q8 Who is eligible for the Japan Rail Pass?
- Those possessing a passport issued by the government of a country other than Japan and granted the entry status of "temporary visitor" as stipulated in the Emigration and Immigration Management and Refugee Recognition Law.
- Those possessing a passport issued by the Japanese Government, currently residing in a country other than Japan and who are applicable to either of the following:
- Possess permanent residency status in the other country.
- Are the spouse of a person living outside Japan whose nationality is not Japanese.
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