Seeking advice on transport? – Kindly reminder from a member of a moderating team

25 comments

1. Since you also noted that JR East allow JR Hokkaido train, it should also be noted that JR West Online Train Reservation pretty much can reserve everything from JR West/Central/Shikoku/Kyushu as well as JR East Kanto, Nagano, and Niigata area.

   For JR East, the Japanese eki-net system also allow booking JR Central and JR West Hokuriku area train but I don’t think they make that available in English version.

2. I’d just come down from Mt Misen, and realised my JR pass was gone. Had to retrace my steps about halfway up, until I saw it on the edge of the path. That was not a fun feeling.

3. Here’s something I don’t understand about the Suica cards. From what I’ve read, they can mainly be recharged through cash. How do I obtain the cash to be able to refill them, are there ATMs right beside the Suica refill machines that I can pull the cash out and then turn to top off the cards? What’s the simplest way to keep the cards topped off apart from taking ¥50,000 in a suitcase or something ridiculous like that so my entire family can keep the cards topped off?

4. Note: the discount for SmartEx is only if you want reserved seats. No discount if you need non reserved tickets.

5. Do you have any links to JR pass and IC holders or is that something we would need to get like at the airport when we arrive?

6. My family will be traveling in October and we’ll be getting the 7-day JR pass in August (to avoid the new Oct prices def but also bc I worry I’m gonna mess something up and want to be prepared). We’ll be sticking around Tokyo from Oct 15-21 (15-20 around Tokyo, then 21 at DisneySEA), then using the JR Pass starting on the 22nd when we head to Kyoto/Nara/Osaka/Hiroshima.

   Why is it bad to use Klook? It seems like it’s not prime travel season so just picking a seat the day of travel should be fine for us, right? Or is there something I’m not understanding by using Klook. I’d like to get our passes before Oct and it seems like the only way is to get it mailed to us by purchasing 90 days beforehand.

   As for Suica and IC, I’m a little confused. So a friend gave me her IC card from her recent travels. Do I need to get a separate Suica card or does the IC cover everything metro related in Tokyo and Kyoto?

7. I am having trouble booking with SmartEX app with credit cards. Have tried visa and master cards but keep getting declined or unable to make account with it. Anyone else have any luck or recommendations?

8. As for JR Pass, the convenience of going on a daily trip from Nagoya to Kyoto on a whim using a Shinkansen is just insane. Pass the gates, get to the non-reserved cars (just avoid Nozomis) and you’re traveling at 280 km/h (or 300?) to your destination.

9. Thank you for the thorough reminder and additional tidbits on transportation in Japan. It’s always helpful to have updated and accurate information when traveling, especially when it comes to transportation. I appreciate the emphasis on using official websites for ticketing and reservation, as well as the reminder to not use third-party providers. Looking forward to the scheduled discussion threads on regional passes.

10. Everyone who has a Mastercard can load it into their iphone wallet and also create an IC card in the iphone wallet and use it perfectly fine anywhere IC cards are accepted and reload it any time using their mastercard in their apple wallet. You can do this upon arriving to japan promptly or abroad by changing your region to Japan temporarily. I don’t know about android but I believe this is works the same way.

    Edit: apparently foreign android phones likely will not work this way. Iphone ftw!

11. Are there any recommendations for JR Pass holders? I have a couple of IC pass holders on retractable lanyards that work well since you don’t have to remove the IC card to use them, but it’s harder for me with the JR Pass since you have to insert it every time.

12. What a controversial move from Visa to block Apple Wallet refills of IC cards since they don’t block transit card refills in the US. They still get their cut of the processing fee if we pay to refill it anyways and the machines unfortunately only take cash.

13. re: the tidbit mentioned in the post about using Suica app and Apple Wallets not working well with foreign-owned VISA cards, can you articulate in more detail what you mean?

    Let’s say I’m from Canada and have a Canadian VISA card. Do you mean that if I download the Apple Pay Suica, I may not be able to reload my card using the VISA card connected to my Apple Pay?

    Is the the same for PASMO?

    Is it a uniquely “VISA” thing, or does the same issue arise with Mastercard?

    We are travelling in a few weeks and would love to use a mobile IC card in an effort to bypass waiting in line to acquire one at the airport.

14. As someone only going to be in the Tokyo area on my trip to Japan (nothing outside of), what’s the best thing to get for taking the trainlines/metro specifically in Tokyo? I know Suica is said to be really good often times, but how does it work exactly? I get one at the airport, load it with money, then what? Do I use it to buy tickets, or does it allow me to go through certain areas by just swiping it? Thank you in advance.

15. I plan on visiting in July and purchasing a one-way ticket from Tokyo to Osaka using the Smart-Ex app. I was clicking through the app and was wondering if there’s any advice on which side to sit on to get views when going in that direction? Is it better to sit Window (A /A) or Window (E/D) side?

16. Are there places where an IC card in iPhone wallet would not work, and you have to use a physical one? We will be going in the summer and I would prefer to use my phone whenever possible (I do have a MasterCard, but unfortunately with foreign exchange fee). Trying to figure out whether I should get at least one physical card just to be on the safe side. TIA!

17. Where can you get an IC holder and a JR holder?

    Is it available on the internet?

18. For those asking where to get an IC Card holder, look up pass case/ pass case wallet or card case holder. I use a pass case for my IC Card and even my transportation card back at home. Mine also has a zipped slot to put bills or coins.

    I have an Android so I still use my physical Suica card when I first went to Japan in 2018. Even if I had a Japanese android, I don’t mind using a physical card incase my phone battery is low or if there needs to be an fare adjustment for the card/or didn’t tap out properly, it’s easier with a physical card to give to any station attendant.

19. Hi, thanks for the tips. Do you have any idea if I will be able to use the JRRP if I enter JP with a JP passport?

    I’m not green card, but my American passport is currently expired. I think I may fall under eligibility 2 but not sure. I have lived in the US my whole life.

20. Am I the only person who thinks it’s funny how the post say IC card/JR Pass holders as in people who hold an IC/Pass and in the comments, many people ask for holders as in something to store their IC/Pass.

    For this comment to be more constructive, put your IC card where you would put your transit card (edit : or credit card) at home, mine is always in my wallet.

    For JR pass, you can get a simple card holder neck strap, just putting those words in Google, I see a lot of Amazon results, should be easy to find before you leave for Japan. Then it is up to you to use it around your neck or just make it bigger when you put it in your bag.

21. You should throw in the well kept secret that Japan has multiple airports.

22. Since my trip to Japan is being planned for 2024 I knew I was going to be hit by the price hike no matter what, since you cant buy the passes more than, I think it was 90 days out? Anyway, I had to sit down and calculate what the fare costs would be using google maps (just as an estimate) for each leg of the trip that would need the JR Pass and, thankfully even with the increase, it would be worth while for whether we did Tokyo=>Kanazawa=>Aichi/Ghibli Park=>Kyoto=>Osaka=>Nara (with returns to Kyoto 3 times)=>Fukuoka=>Tokyo OR Tokyo=>Kanazawa=>Aichi/Ghibli Park=>Kyoto=>Osaka=>Nara (with returns to Kyoto 3 times)=>Sendai=>Sapporo=>Tokyo. I’d get more savings out of one that goes to Sapporo but either way it will still work for a 14 day pass (but not 21). I guess my uncertainty comes from regional passes…

    We plan on getting an IC card (Suica) for Tokyo use, a Kyoto 2 day pass and maybe a further one day pass, an Amazing Osaka Pass for the 2 days we will be there. I have read there are some Fukuoka tourist passes and something for Kanazawa too but I have not found an equivalent for Sapporo haha…travel is going to be such a big expense. I cry.

23. My trip starts November 28th. So with the new changes to the pass pricing I’d have to buy it near the end of September to avoid paying a higher price, since I have 90 days to use the exchange order.

    If I was to buy it from the JR pass website (so that I can reserve my seats) and pick it up at one of the designated terminals in Japan is there a time period on how far in advance I can buy through the official website?

24. How do I know which site to use to book Tokyo to kawaguchiko and then kawaguchiko to osaka train tickets??

25. Personally, I just booked my Shinkansen trips at the stations using the kiosks. It was very easy to use and the kiosks are available in English as well. You can do this at most (if not all) JR stations and I only saw a few Shinkansen trains that were sold out ahead of time.