I’m traveling to Japan the last 2.5 weeks in September and am looking into getting the 7 day JR Pass but apparently it is physically mailed to us and then we bring it with us to be activated once in Japan? Is this correct? The only issue is I am already on a longterm backpacking trip in Asia and don’t have a good address where the pass could be mailed to me. Has anyone here ever bought the pass while already abroad/have any experience with this?
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Yep I’ve done this before. I’ve just got back from 2 months of travelling through the country and so had to buy two passes whilst I was out there. If you buy it directly from JR you can buy them online and collect them at a JR ticket office or alternatively just buy them at the ticket office themselves on the day (it just takes a bit longer).
You can also buy if from official JR website, follow the buy online link. You will not need the physical voucher, but it is a bit more expensive. [https://japanrailpass.net/en/](https://japanrailpass.net/en/)
It’s the same price if you buy at the station (where it is available) but buying online you can book tickets online.
Just make sure you will save money with the pass. Many people make the mistake to assume the JR Pass is a must, but the only reason to get it is to save money.
You have to redeem the actual pass in person whether buying direct or via 3rd party. Via Klook in the US they mailed me my voucher. You’ll want to check all the vendor options if any of them can be redeemed via a voucher on mobile.
If you buy it online at the official JR site you just need to show the email confirmation numbers when you pick it up, it’s not a voucher exchange like it is with the resellers. It does cost a little more though, but you get access to the online booking site and can book trains once you place the order which is a month prior to its activation date.
another benefit with the JR pass starting in October; according to JTB- passholders will be able to use Nozomi and Mizuho travel for an additional fee.
You can buy the JR pass in person at certain JR stations. I went to the Shinjuku JR station and found the “JR East Travel Service Center” (look at station map). Waited in line for maybe 10 minutes and got my JR pass super easy. They even helped me book a reserved seat on Hokkaido Shinkansen. Lots of other tourists were buying the JR pass in person too. The cost was 33,600 yen I believe for the 7 day pass.they take credit card.
I did this in March – I bought a 2 week pass in Tokyo. It was an easy process. Just need a card and a passport. Don’t lose it!
Just a heads up, the passes are due to increase dramatically in September or October. I can’t remember which, but it would be worth looking into if you can buy ahead of the increase!
Don’t worry, you can have the voucher shipped to whatever accommodation you’re staying at in Japan. I’ve done this numerous times with no issues. If you buy the JR pass in-person at a station, the price is like $50 more (from what I remember) compared to if you purchase online.
Yes just did it the other day, really easy, they speak good english
Have you booked any accommodation in Japan yet? A lot of hostels/hotels will allow you to get it delivered there. I’ve done this before.
Hi, I went to japan in December 2022. Bought JR pass online on klook. Here’s how it went:
1) Purchased the pass online on klook.
2) The order gets mailed to me within a week. (It isn’t the actual pass. It’s more of a memo which you need to present to the station staff when collecting.)
3) Flight to Japan
4) Go to the JR station counter at the airport station at the platform and show the counter staff the document that was mailed to you. They will generate the pass for you and you can indicate when you want to start the pass. For example,
I arrived in NRT 26/12/2022. I told them “hey although I’m collecting my physical pass today, is it possible to make it only start on 29/12/2022?”. And they understood. Your physical pass will show the start date and they will hand it to you on the spot. Note that you cannot change the effective dates once the ticket is printed.
It’s as simple as that! You don’t need to collect it on the day you activate it. It’s a physical ticket as well. I suggest for you to collect it once you set foot in Japan at the airport because you can only collect them at large stations in Japan like Tokyo stn, some other major interchanges and mostly the main airports.
Just a note: I’m not entirely sure if much has changed since then with all the price hikes and new rules coming into effect over the next few months. But this was my experience with it, and I hope that it helps.
Edit: didn’t read your caption fully and didn’t catch that you are travelling in Asia. I would say that you can buy the JR pass physically there if it can’t be mailed to you. As for the reservation of seats on the bullet train, I would say that it isn’t entirely always necessary to do immediately.
Two reasons:
1) There are unreserved cabins where you don’t need any reservation at all prior to your journey. All you need is the jr pass to get access to the platform
2) If you would like to reserve a seat, you can do so at the station over JR counter directly before you’re journey. I have done this quite a few times and rarely run into problems. The worst case is that the reserved cabin is full, but you can still sit in the unreserved cabins. Some people even decide to stand up because the unreserved cabin is full. It’s fine. However you cannot sit in the reserved cabin if you didn’t reserve the seat. (There will be a conductor walking around to check)
I would just buy in person when you get there. Not at the airport but in the city. Line will be much quicker and no need for voucher exchange.