JR Pass

A Japan Rail Pass provides unlimited travel on the JR Neworks.
There are some restictions on the Shinkansen , see below.
You can make a seat reservation using you JR Pass , it is better to make a reservation on a Shinkansen than chance not finding a seat .
There are both Resevered snd Non-Reserverd Cars

You can specify the dates you want the pass to be active Depending on where you want to travel and how long you want to stay in an area , check that the pass you buy covers that area.

Tip
If you are only traveling beteen say Tokyo ,Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima consider a short duration National pass for the start and end of your trip to cover the long distances , then us local trains and purchase tickets (IC Cards) for the area you are staying in. I found a good was to use a National Pass for a week to travel to the area I wanted to see , we stayed moved around that area for a couple of weeks and use the pass and pay for local trains. , the activate my next pass to the next fartherest point.
Or even consider taking a local flight or hiring a car to next destination .

Below are the available JR Passes for various locations, click on the name to see the map areas and selected stations in the area and Details to get further specifics to the pass

JR National
JR Hokkaido

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JR Central

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JR East

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JR West

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JR Shikoku

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JR Kyushu

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Reserved and non-reserved seats in ordinary car of limited express trains on JR Hokkaido Line All seats on the Ltd. Exp. Hokuto, Ltd. Exp. Suzuran, Ltd. Exp. Ozora, and Ltd. Exp. Tokachi are reserved. There are no non-reserved seats on the trains above. Please make sure to receive a reserved seat ticket before boarding. (You cannot assign seats on the train.) Reserved and non-reserved seats of special rapid and rapid trains on JR Hokkaido Line Local trains on JR Hokkaido Line Reserved and non-reserved seats of temporary trains (limited express/rapid/local) on JR Hokkaido Line (If you wish to take the SL Fuyu-no-Shitsugen Train, please purchase a reserved seat ticket.) The rail pass can be used for some JR Hokkaido buses. Please see here for details. The rail pass cannot be used for the Hokkaido Shinkansen, the South Hokkaido Railway, the streetcar and the subway.

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Toya is not included. You can take an ordinary car reserved seat and a non-reserved seat on the limited express, rapid and local trains in the valid area. All seats on the Ltd. Exp. Hokuto and Ltd. Exp. Suzuran are reserved. There are no non-reserved seats on the trains above. Please make sure to receive a reserved seat ticket before boarding. (You cannot assign seats on the train.) If you get off outside of the valid area, you must pay the normal basic fare and charge for the additional section. The rail pass cannot be used for JR Hokkaido Bus, the streetcar and the subway in Sapporo.

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Tomamu is not included. You can take an ordinary car reserved seat and a non-reserved seat on the limited express, rapid and local trains in the valid area. If you get off outside of the valid area, you must pay the normal basic fare and charge for the additional section. The rail pass cannot be used for JR Hokkaido Bus, the streetcar and the subway in Sapporo.

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JR Line, Ise Railway: Non-reserved seating on JR, Ise Tetsudo limited express, express, rapid, and local trains between Nagoya station – within Osaka City (Kansai line: Kisei line: Hanwa line), Hineno station – Kansai-airport station (Kansai Airport line), Taki station - Toba station (Sangu line), Kameyama station - within Osaka City (Kansai line), Kizu station - within Osaka City (Katamachi line), Kyuhoji station - within Osaka City (Osaka Higashi line), Otori station - Higashi-Hagoromo station (Hanwa line), Wakayama station - Wakayamashi station (Kisei line), Kawarada station - Tsu station (Ise Railway) Wakayama Electric Railway:Wakayama Electric Railway WebSite : Wakayama station - Kishi station Mie Kotsu Buses WebSite and Kumano Gobo Nankai Bus WebSite : Mie Kotsu Buses: Geku-Naiku line, Ise/Futami/Toba Excursion Bus CAN Bus, Owase station – Washige, Owase station – Segiyama – Kumano Kodo Center, Kumanoshi station – Senmaida and Tori-toge pass entrance Kumano Gobo Nankai Bus: Kii Katsuura – Nachisan, Shingu station – Kii Katsuura, Shingu station – Hongu Taisha front, Shiko/Kanmaru – Koguchi, Aisuji Line, Hirotsuno Jyutaku Line, Matsuyama Takata Line

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JR Lines Non-reserved seats of ordinary cars of JR limited express, express, rapid, and ordinary trains: Tokaido Main Line: Atami station - Toyohashi station Gotemba Line: Numazu station - Matsuda station Minobu Line: Fuji station - Shimobe-onsen station Izuhakone Railway Izuhakone Railway: Mishima station - Shuzenji station Website Buses Fujikyuko Bus: Gotemba station - Gotemba Premium Outlets, Gotemba station - Kawaguchiko station, Gotemba station - GrinPa,Shin-Fuji station - Mt. Fuji station, Shin-Fuji station - South Exit of Fuji station Website Tokai Bus: Mishima station - Yamanaka Castle ruins, Numazu Station - Numazu Minato Shinsenkan, Shuzenji station - Shuzenji Onsen, Shuzenji station - Toi Port Website Izuhakone Bus: Numazu station - Numazu Port, Izunagaoka station - IZU-MITO Sea Paradise Website Shizutetsu Bus: Shimizu Ekimae - Miho Marine Science Museum of TOKAI University Website Entetsu Bus: Hamamatsu station - Nakatajima Shako, Hamamatsu station - Kanzanji Onsen (Hamanako Garden Park) Website Ferries Mt.Fuji Shimizu Port Cruise: Hinode - Hinode（ Getting on and off the ship at Miho is not permissible.） Website Suruga Bay Ferry: Shimizu Port - Toi Port Website Note: Always visit the reception counter before boarding the ferry. (Regarding the ferry, aside from suspensions due to severe weather conditions, operations will be suspended once a year for docking and inspection. Please confirm the ferry schedule on the website, etc. in advance.） This pass does not allow you to ride inTokaido Shinkansen [Tokyo to Osaka] and Sleeper Trains. Please be aware that to ride in them, you will need to pay the required additional fares or fees separately.

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JR EAST Lines Tokyo Monorail Izu Kyuko Line Hokuetsu Express Echigo TOKImeki Railway (between Naoetsu and Arai) Reserved seats in ordinary cars of the following express trains with through operations between JR EAST and Tobu Railway lines: Nikko, Kinugawa, and SPACIA Kinugawa trains. You can also use regular trains (including rapid trains) from Shimo-imaichi to Tobu-nikko and Kinugawa-onsen on the Tobu Railway line. Between Kurihashi and Shimo-imaichi, you can only use limited express trains that run through to Tobu Railway. * JR buses in the area (exc. highway and some regular bus routes)See bus map hereOpens in a new window The only express trains that can be used with JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area) are those that run from JR lines to TOBU RAILWAY. * Limited express trains that depart from or terminate at TOBU RAILWAY stations cannot be used. (If you are using a limited express train at Tochigi Station, Shimo-imaichi Station, Shin-kanuma Station, Tōbu-nikkō Station, Tobu World Square Station, or Kinugawa-onsen Station, either the starting station or the ending station must be a JR station.) Please note You cannot use the JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area) to travel on the Tokaido Shinkansen. (This is because the Tokaido Shinkansen is run by another company) The areas between Minami-Otari and Itoigawa on the Oito Line and between Itoigawa and Joetsumyoko on the Hokuriku Shinkansen are not included in the pass area. If taking the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Itoigawa, you must purchase a separate basic fare ticket and Super (Limited) Express Train ticket for travel between Itoigawa and Joetsumyoko. Gala Yuzawa Station only operates during the winter and spring.

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JR EAST (including BRT) JR Hokkaido Lines (Hakodate, Sapporo, Otaru area) Aoimori Railway Line Iwate Galaxy Railway (IGR) Line Sendai Airport Transit Line BRT refers to a Bus Rapid Transit system. You cannot use the South Hokkaido Railway Line.

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SANYO SHINKANSEN (Shin-Osaka⇔Hakata) The pass can be used for the Hello Kitty Shinkansen. HOKURIKU SHINKANSEN (Tsuruga⇔Joetsu-Myoko) Reserved seats on Limited Express Trains HARUKA,THUNDERBIRD,KUROSHIO,KONOTORI,YAKUMO etc. For reserved seating, ensure you book your seats before boarding the train. Non-reserved seating is not available on trains with exclusively reserved seats. Special Rapid Services, Rapid Services, and Local trains on JR-WEST Conventional lines JR West Miyajima Ferry (Miyajimaguchi⇔Miyajima) The pass is only valid on WEST JAPAN JR BUS route buses within the valid area. The pass cannot be used on expressway buses. The IR Ishikawa Railway Line between Kanazawa and Tsubata. However, travel must be conducted on local or limited express trains and must encompass the full segment between these two stations. Travel is not covered if you disembark at any station on the IR Ishikawa Railway line, within or outside the segment (excluding Kanazawa or Tsubata). The Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line between Toyama and Takaoka. However, travel must be conducted on local trains and must encompass the full segment between these two stations. Travel is not covered if you disembark at any station on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway line, within or outside the segment (excluding Toyama or Takaoka). The Hapi-Line Fukui between Echizen-Hanandō and Fukui. However, travel must be conducted only on local trains and only between these two stations (Echizen-Hanandō or Fukui). Travel is not covered if you extend beyond these two stations on the Hapi-Line Fukui. Trains below cannot be used! Bullet Train "TOKAIDO SHINKANSEN" (Shin-Osaka⇔Tokyo) Bullet Train "KYUSHU SHINKANSEN" (Hakata⇔Kagoshima-Chuo) Separate charges apply when reserving and using the Special Rapid “A Seat” paid seating service.

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JR EAST Lines JR West Line Tokyo Monorail Noto Railway (between Nanao and Wakuraonsen stations) IR Ishikawa Railway IR Ishikawa Railway is only available when passing through the section between Kanazawa Station and Tsubata Station (you can also use limited express trains) Ainokaze Toyama Railway Ainokaze Toyama Railway is only available when passing through the section between Takaoka Station and Toyama Station (a liner fee is required if you wish to use the Ainokaze Liner rapid train) HAPI-LINE FUKUI (between Fukui and Echizen-Hanando) HAPI-LINE FUKUI can only be used when passing through between Fukui and Echizen-Hanando.

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Non-reserved seats on Bullet Train "HOKURIKU SHINKANSEN" (Tsuruga ⇔ Kurobe-Unazukionsen) Rapid Services, and Local trains on JR-WEST Conventional lines Non-reserved seating is not available on trains with exclusively reserved seats. The pass is only valid on WEST JAPAN JR BUS route buses within the valid area. The pass cannot be used on expressway buses. The IR Ishikawa Railway Line between Kanazawa and Tsubata. However, travel must be conducted on local or limited express trains and must encompass the full segment between these two stations. Travel is not covered if you disembark at any station on the IR Ishikawa Railway line, within or outside the segment (excluding Kanazawa or Tsubata). The Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line between Toyama and Takaoka. However, travel must be conducted on local trains and must encompass the full segment between these two stations. Travel is not covered if you disembark at any station on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway line, within or outside the segment (excluding Toyama or Takaoka). The Hapi-Line Fukui between Echizen-Hanandō and Fukui. However, travel must be conducted only on local trains and only between these two stations (Echizen-Hanandō or Fukui). Travel is not covered if you extend beyond these two stations on the Hapi-Line Fukui. Cannot be used on "HOKURIKU SHINKANSEN" (Kurobe-Unazukionsen ⇔ Tokyo)

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Reserved seats on Bullet Train "SANYO SHINKANSEN" (Okayama ⇔ Hakata) The pass can be used for the "Hello Kitty Shinkansen". Special Rapid Services, Rapid Services, and Local trains on JR-WEST Conventional lines JR West Miyajima Ferry (Miyajimaguchi ⇔ Miyajima) Usable at "EKIRIN" rent-a-cycle shops within the pass's usage area. Reserved seats on Limited Express Trains For reserved seating, ensure you book your seats before boarding the train. Non-reserved seating is not available on trains with exclusively reserved seats. Unlimited rides on Chugoku JR route buses. HAPI-LINE FUKUI can only be used when passing through between Fukui and Echizen-Hanando. Cannot be used on "SANYO SHINKANSEN" (Shin-Osaka ⇔ Okayama) Not usable on conventional lines on Kyushu Island.

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Reserved seats on Bullet Train SANYO SHINKANSEN (Okayama ⇔ Hakata) The pass can be used for the Hello Kitty Shinkansen. Special Rapid Services, Rapid Services, and Local trains on JR-WEST Conventional lines Chizu Express Kyoto Tango Railway JR Bus Chugoku West JR Bus JR West Miyajima Ferry (Miyajimaguchi ⇔ Miyajima) Reserved seats on Limited Express Train HARUKA,YAKUMO,KONOTORI, etc. For reserved seating, ensure you book your seats before boarding the train. Non-reserved seating is not available on trains with exclusively reserved seats. Cannot be used on TOKAIDO SHINKANSEN (Shin-Osaka ⇔ Tokyo) Cannot be used on KYUSHU SHINKANSEN (Hakata ⇔ Kagoshima-Chuo) Separate charges apply when reserving and using the Special Rapid “A Seat” paid seating service.

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The pass can be used for reserved and non-reserved seats on Bullet Train SANYO SHINKANSEN (Shin-Osak ⇔ Hakata) The pass can be used for the Hello Kitty Shinkansen. Okayama Electric Tramway Okenden Buz JR Bus Chugoku(Hiroshima (Hiroshima Meipuru route only ) Hiroshima bus(Hiroshima Minato New Route only) Ryobi Ferry/ Shodoshima Ferry ( exlcuding high speed ferry) JR West Miyajima Ferry (Miyajimaguchi ⇔ Miyajima) Ishizaki Kisen (Hiroshima Port ⇔ Miyajima ) Sentonaikai Kisen (Matsuyama ⇔ Hiroshoima and Kure) The pass can be used for reserved and non-reserved seats on Limited Express trains (HARUKA, SHIOKAZE, NAMPU, etc.). For reserved seating, ensure you book your seats before boarding the train. Non-reserved seating is not available on trains with exclusively reserved seats. Cannot be used on TOKAIDO SHINKANSEN (Shin-Osaka ⇔ Tokyo) Cannot be used on KYUSHU SHINKANSEN (Hakata ⇔ Kagoshima-Chuo) Special Rapid Services,rapid Services,and Local trains on JR-WEST and JR-SHIKOKU Conventional lines

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JR West Lines in the area It can be uses on the Kansai Airport Aport Rapid Service , running directly between Jansai Airpot and Osaka/Kyobashi Rapid Services, and Local trains on JR-WEST JR Lines such as the Kansai-Airport Rapid Service.. A separate Limited Express ticket is requied for the Kansai-Airport Express HARUKA and other Limited Express trains. Cannot be used on TOKAIDO SHINKANSEN (Shin-Osaka ⇔ Tokyo) Cannot be used on KYUSHU SHINKANSEN (Shin-Osaka ⇔ Hakata)

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JR Shikoku-Line Iyotetsu-Line Tosaden Kotsu-Line Tosa-Kuroshio Tetsudo-Line Asa Kaigan Tetsudo-Line Kotoden-Line Shodoshima Ferry Shodoshima Olive Bus Valid for Non-reserved seats in regular cars on limited express, rapid, and local trains on all JR Shikoku lines and all Tosa Kuroshio Railway lines Valid for All Asa Kaigan Railway lines, all lyo Railway lines, all Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad lines, and all Tosaden Kotsu lines Valid for Shodoshima Ferry passage between Takamatsu and Tonosho Shodoshima Olive Bus line Not valid on the Sunrise Seto or Botchan Train service Not valid on the Shodoshima Ferry high-speed service or passage other than between Takamatsu and Tonosho Not valid on any bus line other than Shodoshima Olive Bus The Pass can be used on the JR Seto-Ōhashi Line from Kojima Station southward. Areas north of Kojima Station (towards Okayama Station) are not included in the Pass. When traveling to or from an area in which the Pass is not valid, you will need to purchase tickets for the segments not covered by the Pass.

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JR Shikoku-Line Kotoden-Line Shodoshima Ferry Shodoshima Olive Bus Valid for Non-reserved seats in regular cars on limited express, rapid, and local trains on the following lines of Shikoku Railway Company: Yosan Line between Takamatsu and Kan-onji, Kōtoku Line between Takamatsu and Hiketa, and Dosan Line between Tadotsu and Kotohira Valid for All Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad Lines Valid for Shodoshima Ferry passage between Takamatsu and Tonosho Valid for Shodoshima Olive Bus line Not valid on the Sunrise Seto Not valid on the Shodoshima Ferry high-speed service or passage other than between Takamatsu and Tonosho Not valid on the any bus line other than Shodoshima Olive Bus The Pass can be used on the JR Seto-Ōhashi Line from Kojima Station southward. Areas north of Kojima Station (towards Okayama Station) are not included in the Pass. When traveling to or from an area in which the Pass is not valid, you will need to purchase tickets for the segments not covered by the Pass.