JapanNewbie

Have Japan Rail Pass, will Travel

Posted on 07. Mar, 2010 @ 10:47 am by harvey in Travel Views: 1,223

As many of you know I’m now living in China, but I am going to be visiting Japan again in April. This gives me a chance to give the Japan Rail Pass a try!

The Japan Rail Pass can only be purchased from outside of Japan, as it’s meant to give short-time visitors to Japan a convenient way to scoot around the country. With the Japan Rail Pass you can ride JR trains all you want as long as your ticket remains valid. 乗り放題！

There are a few restrictions, for example, you can’t use the fastest Nozomi Shinkansen (shinkansen = bullet train), but you can use Hikari and that should be plenty for most people. Also remember that JR trains do not include the vast majority of the subways in Japan (if any subways at all for that matter).

Our Japan Rail Pass Delivered in China

Given the price of the Japan Rail Pass you need to have about 3 rides on the bullet train planned to make it worth your while, but if you’re planning to see a lot of things in Japan you’ll probably make this every time.

This time I plan to do Osaka, Tokyo, and an Onsen spot in Gunma. Given that I’m also sure to hit Kyoto as well we’ve already gotten our money’s worth.

Note, my wife is Japanese but she was able to get one too. There are some restrictions in place so not just any Japanese person who happens to be outside of Japan can get a Japan Rail Pass. Basically it seems you have to be married to a foreigner and have proof that you are really living in some foreign land. Check the details on the official Japan Rail Pass website.

Anyway, if you’re going to Japan take a look at your schedule and see if this Japan Rail Pass is going to work for you!

Here is an article on the Japan Rail Pass over on gojapan.about.com.

Harvey