I’ve looked all over but I haven’t found the answer to this. My wife and I are going to Japan next April and we want to hit up all the unique animal places around Tokyo and beyond. So we’re planning on using the JR East Nagano/Niigata pass to go up to see the snow monkey park but we also want to visit the fox village in Shiroishizao. The Nagano pass covers up to Nasushiobara on the Tohoku line, which is about half way to Shiroishizao. Is there a way to use the pass to cover the cost up to that point? If so, can you stay on and pay the difference when you get there? Do you have to get off the train and get on the next one with another ticket? Thanks!
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Just stay on the train and use the fare adjustment machine at the destination, usually located just before the exit gate. See the end of this article:
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2016.html
There is different options.
If you start inside the zone, go to the ticket office and ask to buy a ticket from the last station covered up to the destination, this would be the only valid option you want to ride a limited express with reserved seat. You can also ride the train and on arrival, get to a manned gate, show the pass and say from the last station covered, they will charge you the difference.
If you start outside of the zone, just buy a ticket from the start to the first station covered by the pass.
No need to get on/off the train, you can pay the difference between the destination and the boundary station within the pass.
Nasushiobara to Shiroishizao is 5810 yen one way, if those are the only two places you are visiting, you might be better off getting the Tohoku version of the pass and paying the Sakudaira -> Nagano increment (3390 one way)?
I know everyone and their mother says this on any given “animal tourism in Japan” post, but make sure to do your research on anywhere you plan to visit. Japan’s standards for wildlife enclosures and interactions are low compared to places like the USA, so many of these encounters can be depressing and unsettling for informed tourists.
Get an ic card. You can use it all over the place, JR (except shinkansen), subway, busses, convenient stores,. Load it up and use that to pay the difference. There are fare adjustments stations at each exit terminal so you can add to your tickets/IC if you need to. The train staff are all Incredibly helpful and are trained in guiding clueless foreigners.
In Japan you scan the ticket/card when you enter the station and when you leave the station. The only difference I believe is for limited express. I had a JR employee come by and check tickets for everyone. You could add to the fare right with them .