Which JR Rail Pass To Choose

Above, the Saikai Bridge (that was blown down by Rodan) near Sasebo City in Kyushu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Regular readers of this blog are aware of the convenience and value of the JR Rail Passes available to foreign visitors to Japan. There are several different ones and it is often difficult to choose the right one.

Tokyo Cheapo has an article on which Japan Rail Pass to choose.

They begin with:

Japan Rail Passes are available to anyone visiting Japan on a short-term tourist visa. They provide a fantastic discount on regular rail travel, but if you don’t have experience with Japan’s rail transport system, it’s difficult to know a) if you need one, and b) which pass you should get. To add to the confusion, the various regional companies that constitute JR (JR East, JR West, JR Central, JR Hokkaido, JR Shikoku and JR Kyushu) all have their own passes! Each is priced differently and has different conditions. 

Japan Rail (JR) Pass Online Reservation: The main JR Pass is excellent value, and if you’re traveling to more than one major city within seven days (or three/four cities within 14 days), it’s very likely you’ll be saving money if you buy this pass (it opens up the whole of Japan). You can order it online here. 

If you’re not sure that’s the ticket for you, read on as we explain the exact conditions of the main JR Pass and those of the two biggest regional companies: JR East and JR West.

To read more, go here.