Posted: 1/9/23 | January ninth, 2023
Japan is one in every of my favourite international locations on this planet. The serene great thing about the mountains and temples, the hustle and bustle of the sprawling cities, the beautiful meals, and its lengthy historical past make for a captivating place to go to.
Nevertheless, Japan has a fame, particularly amongst price range vacationers, as being too costly. “Higher skip Japan and head to Southeast Asia, the place your cash goes additional,” they are saying.
But you may journey Japan on a price range. Meals, sights, and even lodging (it’s the land of capsule resorts!) might be discovered for a comparatively low value if the place you look.
But one side of touring in Japan that does dwell as much as its expensive fame is transportation — significantly practice journey.
Japan’s iconic bullet trains (referred to as shinkansen) are lovely, comfy, handy, and quick. They’re world-class wonders of transportation, racing round at speeds as much as 320 kilometers (200 miles) per hour. They run on particular tracks separate from the opposite trains and are a formidable feat of engineering.
They’re tremendous costly. There’s simply no method round that reality.
Fortunately, there’s one simple factor you are able to do to chop your practice ticket costs in half (or extra): purchase a Japan Rail Move. You actually shouldn’t be touring across the nation with out one (and I’m fairly positive they worth the go and common tickets out in a method that basically forces you to purchase one).
On this submit, I’ll introduce the JR Move and clarify the way it works, how a lot it prices, and reply widespread questions I get in regards to the go.
What’s the Japan Rail (JR) Move?
The Japan Rail Move (also referred to as the JR Move) was created to assist vacationers get across the nation (much like the Eurail go in Europe). JR is the most important practice operator in Japan, and the go gives limitless entry to all its trains for a set worth.
The go is available in 7-, 14-, and 21-day choices. Notice that these are consecutive days, not journey days. So, if you wish to journey round Japan for 2 weeks, you’ll must buy the 14-day choice, though you gained’t be taking the practice every single day.
A number of JR trains are included within the go. The most well-liked is the shinkansen (bullet) practice, which is the quickest practice and goes to just about each vacation spot and area. The subsequent quickest is the tokkyu (restricted specific). The kyuko (specific) practice comes subsequent, adopted by the kaisoku (fast) and kakueki-teisha or futsu-densha (native trains that make each cease).
Briefly, because of this there are JR trains that quickly journey between areas, some that go between cities with a number of stops, and native commuter-style trains which can be sluggish (however low-cost).
Moreover, JR trains additionally serve some metropolitan areas, to allow them to be used inside cities. For instance, on my final go to, I used my JR Move to get round Kyoto and Tokyo as an alternative of shopping for native metro tickets.
The JR Move must be bought earlier than you arrive in Japan and it needs to be mailed to you so that you’ll wish to order it effectively upfront (extra under).
How the JR Move works
The JR Move may be very simple to make use of — you simply want to recollect to buy it beforehand, whereas in your house nation, because the go is just out there to guests. (Whilst you can buy it at choose ticket places of work in Japan till March 2023, in-person passes value considerably extra, so it’s higher simply to order it upfront).
The go has a number of choices (every legitimate for consecutive days, not simply journey days):
- 7 days: 29,650 JPY (39,600 JPY for a Inexperienced Move)
- 14 days: 47,250 JPY (64,120 JPY for a Inexperienced Move)
- 21 days: 60,450 JPY (83,390 JPY for a Inexperienced Move)
The Inexperienced Move is the first-class choice. Because the trains in Japan are already superb, you possible don’t want to purchase the Inexperienced Move except you actually need some luxurious. Moreover, touring in inexperienced vehicles might be extra of a trouble if you happen to wish to be spontaneous, as you will need to all the time reserve a seat upfront in inexperienced vehicles, requiring you to go to the ticket workplace or automated reservation machines forward of time to take action. In bizarre vehicles, you may simply hop on and take any out there seat.
Along with the usual and inexperienced JR passes, there are regional passes in case you aren’t touring throughout all the nation. These choices can prevent much more cash since they’re cheaper than the common JR passes. Every area has a number of go choices, normally ranging between one and 7 days.
You should purchase JR passes for six areas:
- JR East (for the primary island)
- JR West (for the primary island)
- JR Central (for the primary island)
- JR Hokkaido (for the northern island)
- JR Kyushu (for the southwestern island)
- JR Shikoku (for the southeastern island)
In case you’re simply going to be specializing in one area of the nation, take into account shopping for a JR regional go. If you need entry to all the nation, get the common JR Move.
In case you’re a first-time customer to Japan, you’ll possible need the common JR Move, because it covers all the main locations.
In sum, to get a go, it’s essential:
- Choose the time length in your go (7, 14, or 21 days)
- Select your class (Inexperienced or normal — once more, normal is greater than ample for many vacationers)
- Determine what geographical space you wish to go to (the entire nation or a single area)
- Pay the charge and order the go earlier than you allow residence
Getting and utilizing Your JR Move
The simplest approach to get a Japan Move is by ordering it on-line (there are numerous official on-line suppliers however I like to recommend this one because it’s been promoting passes for the longest time).
As soon as you buy a go, you’ll obtain an “trade order” within the mail, stamped with a date, that you just’ll flip in to select up your precise go in Japan. Don’t neglect your trade order at residence, as you will need to carry this doc to select up your go in Japan!
When you get to Japan, you’ll trade your trade order (therefore the title) for a JR Move at a JR workplace. Be sure you have your passport on you (not a photocopy) once you go to gather it, as they may test to just remember to have a brief customer stamp in your passport. The JR Move is just out there to guests and they’re fairly strict about verifying you’re a vacationer.
You’ve gotten three months from the date printed on the trade order to select up your JR Move, however you do not want to begin utilizing the go on the identical day that you just decide it up.
For instance, say that you just wish to decide up the go when you arrive however you wish to spend a while in Tokyo earlier than heading on to see the remainder of the nation. You’ll be able to choose any date inside one month of exchanging the order as your beginning date. (However as soon as the go is issued, you may’t change the beginning date.)
When you’ve acquired your go in hand, you don’t want to fret about getting tickets, as you merely use your go to go proper by way of the automated turnstiles.
Along with utilizing the shinkansen and different trains, the JR go provides entry to:
- Native buses operated by JR (such because the vacationer loop bus in Hiroshima or JR buses round Sapporo)
- Ferries operated by JR (such because the one from Hiroshima to the island of Miyajima)
- JR strains operating by way of metropolitan areas (akin to Tokyo and Osaka)
- Free seat reservations (in any other case, seat reservations value round 330-930 JPY)
The JR Move just isn’t legitimate for:
- The Nozomi and the Mizuho shinkansen strains
- Japanese residents or residents, akin to foreigners working in Japan (solely these with a vacationer visa can use the go)
Is the Japan Rail Move price it?
Completely! Despite the fact that you may get sticker shock initially when buying a go, you’ll save a whole bunch of {dollars} throughout your journey with one — even if you happen to simply go to 2-3 cities. For instance, and not using a rail go, a ticket from Tokyo to Osaka prices round 27,000 JPY (round-trip), but you will get a seven-day rail go that features limitless journey on JR trains for simply 29,650 JPY. So for the value of 1 round-trip ticket, you get limitless journey. It’s a no brainer!
Listed below are some extra examples of one-way practice tickets on the shinkansen trains with non-reserved seats within the “bizarre” (non-green automotive) class:
- Tokyo-Hiroshima: 18,380 JPY
- Tokyo-Kyoto: 13,320 JPY
- Tokyo Fukuoka: 23,390 JPY
- Kyoto-Hiroshima: 10,570 JPY
- Kyoto-Osaka: 4,230 JPY
- Hiroshima-Fukuoka: 9,000 JPY
- Nagano-Kanazawa: 8,440 JPY
- Tokyo-Yokohama: 3,210 JPY
- Hakodate-Tokyo: 23,500 JPY
As you may see, it solely takes one longer-distance journey from Tokyo (akin to to Hiroshima or Fukuoka) to justify the price of the go. And also you’ll possible use it way more than that!
And even if you happen to aren’t taking the bullet trains, the go nonetheless is sensible. For instance, a visit on an area practice from Kyoto to Tokyo prices round 8,360 JPY — as an alternative of 13,320 JPY for the bullet practice. Nevertheless, the native practice journey takes 9 hours and requires a number of transfers, as an alternative of a direct three hours, making it a lower than best selection for many vacationers (particularly if you happen to’re tight on time). It’s typically merely not price the price financial savings.
You’re higher off utilizing the bullet trains and reveling within the high-speed expertise because it whisks you from one unimaginable vacation spot to a different!
Japan Rail Move Regularly Requested Questions
Is JR Move just for vacationers?
Sure. Solely individuals visiting on a vacationer visa can use the JR Move.
Can Japan Rail Move be used on the Tokyo subway?
Yep, a few of the subway strains (although not all) in Tokyo are run by JR, which implies you may entry them totally free along with your JR Move. That is true for all the nation. Metro strains and native subway strains are excluded from the go.
Can I modify the times on which I want to use the Japan Rail Move?
No. As soon as the go has been activated, the dates are set in stone.
How do I activate the Japan Rail Move?
To activate the JR Move, carry your trade order and your passport to a JR workplace in Japan. As soon as they confirm your identification and visa standing, they may activate your go.
Can I exploit JR Move from Tokyo to Kyoto?
Yep! The space is 445 kilometers (283 miles), and the journey takes below three hours on the bullet practice.
Are buses included in JR Move?
Sure, JR does run some bus strains, that are included within the JR Move. Some locations the place JR has buses embrace Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu.
Can I cancel my Japan Rail Move?
You’ll be able to cancel your go so long as it has not been activated, however as soon as it’s activated, you may’t.
Prepare journey is the easiest way to see Japan. The trains are clear, quick, and the surroundings beautiful. I like touring the nation by practice. Whereas shopping for a rail go may look like a expensive selection, it’s going to prevent a ton of cash — and it’s a uniquely Japanese expertise that you just gained’t neglect!
E book Your Journey to Japan: Logistical Ideas and Tips
E book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner to discover a low-cost flight. They’re my favourite search engine as a result of they search web sites and airways across the globe so that you all the time know no stone is left unturned!
E book Your Lodging
You’ll be able to guide your hostel with Hostelworld as they’ve the largest stock and greatest offers. If you wish to keep someplace aside from a hostel, use Reserving.com as they constantly return the most affordable charges for guesthouses and low-cost resorts. A few of my favourite locations to remain in Japan are:
Don’t Neglect Journey Insurance coverage
Journey insurance coverage will defend you towards sickness, harm, theft, and cancellations. It’s complete safety in case something goes flawed. I by no means go on a visit with out it as I’ve had to make use of it many instances prior to now. My favourite corporations that provide one of the best service and worth are:
On the lookout for the Finest Corporations to Save Cash With?
Try my useful resource web page for one of the best corporations to make use of once you journey. I record all those I exploit to save cash after I’m on the highway. They may prevent cash once you journey too.
Make sure you try the Japan Rail Move if you happen to’ll be touring across the nation. It is available in 7-, 14-, and 21-day passes and may prevent a ton of cash!
Need Extra Info on Japan
Make sure you go to our sturdy vacation spot information on Japan for much more planning ideas!