Can You Travel Around Downtown Tokyo With The Jr Pass?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The JR Pass is valid on

all Shinkansen services in all the Shinkansen lines, except for the Nozomi and Mizuho services on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines

. You will not have access to the trains with the fewest stops on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines.

What is the cheapest way to travel around Tokyo?

  1. Subways and trains are the best way to get around Tokyo.
  2. A prepaid Suica or Pasmo card is the BEST way to pay for transport.
  3. You can buy a Suica card online at Voyagin.com for pickup at the airport.
  4. Taxis are excellent but rather expensive.
  5. Buses aren’t recommended for short-term visitors.

How do I get around Japan with JR Pass?

The pass offers

unlimited travel on JR train lines and some buses and ferries

within a set number of days. It can also be used on some shinkansen (bullet trains) that’ll jet you from one side of Japan to the other.

Is Tokyo subway included in JR Pass?

The Japan Rail Pass and JR Tokyo Wide Pass are

valid only on JR trains and the Tokyo Monorail

. They cannot be used on subways or any other non-JR train.

Are JR passes worth it?

So, is the JR pass worth the cost?

Yes, the JR pass could be worth it if

… You are on a short trip (~7-10 days) and want to move as fast as possible. You are travelling long distances and/or many destinations.

Can JR Pass be bought in Japan?

For a limited time only,

you can buy a Japan Rail Pass from certain train stations and airports in Japan

. Travelers should be aware it is more expensive to buy a JR Pass in Japan than to purchase the pass online. The JR Pass will be available to buy in Japan until March 31, 2022.

Does JR Pass cover JR East?

The JR East Welcome Rail Pass is a

temporarily available rail pass for non-Japanese passport holders

which provides three days of unlimited travel in the the service area of JR East.

When Japan will open borders?

On

March 1, 2022

, Japan reopened its borders to all new foreign arrivals except tourists. It remains undecided when tourists will again be able to enter the country.

Does JR Pass cover Hokkaido?


Japan Rail Pass covers the new Hokkaido Shinkansen route

, including the super fast Hayabusa train. The JR Pass is really worth it if you are taking this route: as a normal ticket would cost 23,120 yen for the round-trip.

How many days do I need in Tokyo?

If you had the time and money, you could spend a month in Tokyo and not feel that you were wasting your time. But, for most mortals with jobs and limited budgets, I’d suggest spending

three or four days

in Tokyo. For example, if you have a week to spend in Japan, I’d recommend three days in Tokyo and four in Kyoto.

How do you get around in Japan?

Japan has an extensive transport system, the most convenient segment of which is the nation’s excellent

rail service

. You can also travel by plane (good for long-distance hauls but expensive unless you plan ahead), bus (the cheapest mode of travel), ferry, and car.

Can you get to Japan without flying?

Afraid of flying—or unable to fly—but still want to visit Japan? No problem! While you won’t find rail or road links to this island nation,

there are a number of ferries, freighters and cruises that can get you to Japan

—if you’re willing to take the time!

How do you get around Tokyo without speaking Japanese?


Travelling by shinkansen (bullet trains)

Travelling by train and, specifically, on Japan’s incredibly well-developed high-speed rail network of shinkansen is recommended. Particularly if you don’t speak Japanese. There are announcements and scrolling screens in English in every car telling you which station is up next.

How much money do you need per day in Japan?

Single Traveler Two Travelers
Low Budget


3,500 – 7,800 yen

7,000 – 15,600 yen
Medium Budget 8,800 – 18,500 yen 13,600 – 28,000 yen High Budget over 18,500 yen over 28,000 yen

Can I transit through Japan Covid?

During Your Stay in Japan


Passengers will be able to use public transportation only for moving to wait at home

. And those who have been vaccinated for the third time from non-designated countries/regions will be able to use public transportation depending on the negative result of the airport quarantine test.

Does JR Pass cover bus?


The Japan Rail Pass covers JR local buses

. You will see the JR logo on the bus and bus stops. Sadly JR highway buses can no longer be used with the Japan Rail Pass.

Does the JR Pass cover Osaka?

The JR Kansai Area Pass is a rail pass for exclusive use by foreign visitors to Japan,

providing unlimited travel on local JR trains and buses in the Kansai region around Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe

, as well as on the Haruka limited express train to/from Kansai Airport, for one to four days.

How much is JR pass for 3 days?

1 day 2,400 yen 2 days 4,600 yen 3 days

5,600 yen
4 days 6,800 yen

How much does it cost to ride the bullet train in Japan?

All Areas of Japan and JR Pass


The price for a seven-day pass is 29,110 yen

. For comparison, the regular Shinkansen fare for a one-way, reserved seat from Tokyo to Osaka is 14,450 yen, so purchasing this Japan Rail Pass makes up for the cost of a round trip.

Is the bullet train expensive?

Note that

the cost of a normal one-way shinkansen (bullet train) ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto is Y13,080 and the roundtrip fare is Y26,160

. An ordinary one-week pass is Y29,110. A one-way trip on the JR N’EX (Narita Express from Narita International Airport into Tokyo) costs Y3020.

How much is a JR Pass in Japan?

The JR Pass is the most cost-effective way to travel around Japan for most visitors. The pass offers unlimited access to all JR public transport including Shinkansen bullet trains, buses, ferries, and airport transfers, for a very cheap, discounted price.

A 7-day JR Pass only costs around 29,000 yen

.

Do I need a visa to go to Japan?

Entry & Exit:


You must have a valid passport and an onward/return ticket for tourist/business “visa free” stays of up to 90 days

. Your passport must be valid for the entire time you are staying in Japan. You cannot work on a 90-day “visa free” entry.

Which Shinkansen is covered by JR Pass?


All Shinkansen trains are covered by the JR Pass except the Nozomi and Mizuho fast trains

which run on the Takaido and Sanyo lines. JR Pass holders can catch the semi-fast and local trains on these lines instead. The semi-fast trains take just a little longer than the Nozomi and Mizuho trains.

What trains can I take with JR Pass?

The pass is valid on almost all trains operated on the nationwide network of JR (Japan Railways), including

shinkansen, limited express, express, rapid and local trains

.

Does JR Pass cover Tokyo to Osaka?


The Hikari and Kodama trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen lines are covered by the Japan Rail Pass

, and they can take you from Tokyo to Osaka in about 3 to 4 hours. In Tokyo, you can catch the Shinkansen either at Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station, and then arrive to Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka.

Where does JR East Pass cover?

Unlimited use of trains operated by JR East in the

Kanto (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Gunma, Tochigi and Ibaraki Prefectures) and Tohoku (Fukushima, Miyagi, Yamagata, Akita, Iwate and Aomori Prefectures) regions

. The pass is also valid on the Tokyo Monorail which connects central Tokyo with Haneda Airport.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.