With price increases the JR pass may not be worth the price. Review the trips you are going to be making and think about if it’s worth it. There are some pros v cons. Also remember to book for oversized luggage!!!

15 comments

1. It’s also gonna suck for “non-resident” citizens coming back for travel or visiting relatives; As in again no longer being eligible to purchase.

2. This is my first trip and after some math I declined the pass and just bought my two tickets on SmartEX. If I’m near breaking even, I’d rather just use IC card. Im also the guy that loses the post it note with the grocery list on it every week so I’d rather not babysit a piece of paper.

3. Depends on how often you would like to travel between the cities I guess.

   I got a 21 day pass. I just get on the train and go to the nearest city and back if I feel like it Hiroshima to Fukuoka or Kyoto to Osaka or Kyoto to Tokyo.

   I am travelling for the first time so don’t mind spending a couple of hours on the train every day. Gives me flexibility on what I would like to do and where I can stay. A lot of JR lines to get around the cities as well especially in Osaka/Tokyo.

4. I can’t remember what site it was but you can input all your intended trips to see if you’ll come out ahead or behind to make the decision easy.

5. How or when does one book oversized luggage? Going there in June and have bought JR passes. We will carry two large suitcases (not over 160cm though).

6. The price increase is too steep I would say, but I appreciate they finally added Nozomi and Hikari, it makes it an even more convenient mode of travel than it already was.

   At the same time, at this price it is unacceptable that you can lose a little piece of paper and lose all the benefits (you can’t even scan it, you have to take it out of your wallet!), it’s not like the ticket is anonymous either because you need a passport to buy it. Also, you lost it? You can’t even buy another.

7. The price increases make it very difficult to break even, unless you really want to rush with your travels. For now, you can get close to breaking even with the 7-day pass ( ~¥30,000) if you travel from Tokyo to Osaka and back to Tokyo (~ ¥28,000). With the 7-day pass increasing to ~ ¥50,000 doing the standard ‘golden route’ alone within 7 days is not enough. You’d have to add another trip equivalent to going from Tokyo to Hiroshima. All of that in 7 days.

   You do get some convenience with the JR pass (not having to deal with buying tickets at JR stations), but not sure it’s worth the extra cost. JR also did mention that discounts (to attractions) will be coming with the price increases.

8. I know this affects travel after October but will this affect passes bought only after September? Or does it affect anyone traveling after then? For instance, I have a trip booked in November but was looking to buy JRPasses this coming summer at the current price. Any info would be great, thanks!

9. How far in advance do you need to book your tickets for say Tokyo to Kyoto. We’re not getting a JR pass if that makes a difference

10. Are regional passes getting the price uptick too? Sister and I are going in October and we’re just needing to go to Tokyo to Kyoto to Osaka and then back to Tokyo.

11. Newb here, can I use the JR pass on smaller rides around cities and on busses? Or only big trains? i.e. I am going
    Tokyo to Nikko.
    Nikko to Tokyo.
    Tokyo to Hakone.
    Hakone to Kyoto.
    Kyoto to Osaka.
    Osaka to Tokyo.

    Can I use the JR pass to get around within Tokyo and within Kyoto and within Osaka or do I need special local fares for that? I was thinking the JR pass kind of covered everything, am I wrong?

12. When does the price increase begin? Or has it already increased? We are traveling in July/August and will plan to get the 21 day pass. We are traveling between Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka/Nara/Kobe/Hiroshima. And a few day trips here and there.

13. I was planning on using luggage transfer like Takkyubin as much as possible, instead of bringing a big suitcase with me on the train. Does anyone here have any experience with that?

14. Just about to book it in the U.K… how much did it use to cost or has it not gone up yet?

    Trips we’re going to be using it for is from
    The airport, to Osaka, to Nagoya (plus 1 other place I can’t remember the name of) then to Tokyo, and to Narita. (And any that it allows us locally that we haven’t t planned to a t yet.

15. Sad about the price increase, I finally was going to be able to visit other cities outside the normal line but looks like I’ll have to worry about individual ticket prices. The JR pass did make it very simple to board the ferry to Miyajima Island.