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. 

App Allows Visitors To Make Shinkansen Reservations From Home

Above, a shinkansen view of Mount Fuji. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Visitors to Japan can now make online shinkansen train reservations online through a new English language app from home.

Back on October 26, Japan Today reported:

TOKYO - Up to now, it has been a real hassle making advance reservations for Japan’s bullet trains from overseas. JR East finally set up an online reservation system a while back, but that was only for trains heading north from Tokyo. If you wanted to head south along the so-called “Golden Route” to Mt. Fuji, Kyoto and Osaka, you had to wait till you arrived and cross your fingers. 

Well, JR Central and JR West have finally got their act together. This week, they announced that they are launching an English-language reservation app for the popular Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen line, which connects Tokyo and all points south.

To read more, go here.

Which Japan Rail Pass To Choose?

Above, a shinkansen arrives at Atami Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you are heading to Japan and are planning on extensive excursions outside of Tokyo, and want to purchase a Rail Pass but don't know which one to get, Tokyo Cheapo has an article that will assist in helping you to made a decision.

They start 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 any experience with Japan’s rail transport system, it’s difficult to know if you need one and 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: If you know you want to buy the main JR pass for the whole of Japan, then you can order it online here. 

However if you’re not sure, we put some of the confusion to rest, and try to 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. 

Choosing A Japan Rail Pass

Above, two JR Rail Passes I used during prior trips. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday, I ordered my 7-day JR Rail Pass for next month's trip to Japan. I plan to visit several places west of Tokyo for work on the updated The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.

The cities include Atami (where the end of King Kong vs. Godzilla took place at Atami Castle),

Nagoya (Mothra vs. Godzilla and Gamera The Brave), Osaka (Godzilla vs. Biollante and Godzilla Raids Again) and Kyoto (Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II and Gamera 3).

I purchased the JR Rail Pass as I plan to do a lot of shinkansen (bullet train) travel.

There are other options (and money-saving) with regional Rail Passes.

Tokyo Cheapo has a new article on the different types of Rail Passes to choose from.

They begin it with:

Japan Rail (JR) 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 any experience with Japan’s rail transport system, it’s difficult to know if you need one and 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. To put some of the confusion to rest, we’ll try to explain the exact conditions of the main JR Pass and those of the two biggest regional companies: JR East and JR West.

I saved a lot of money when I bought the JR Rail Pass in 2007 for my trek down to Kyushu to see Kumamoto, Mount Aso, Nagasaki, Sasebo and Fukuoka and back to Tokyo. Along with the shinkansen rides to and from Tokyo, I made use of the JR Rail Pass for rides on regional JR trains while in Kyushu.

To see what types of Rail Passes, what they cover and their prices, go here. 

JR West Introducing New Travel Passes To Visit The "Land of Rodan"

Above, the Saikai Bridge near Sasebo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fans wanting to visit the "Land of Rodan" can do so more cheaply thanks to three new travel passes for foreigners from JR West.

According to Kyodo News:

West Japan Railway Co. said Wednesday it will expand its lineup of unlimited ride passes for foreign travelers from next March. 

By newly offering three area passes that can be used in western Japan, the company, better known as JR West, aims to explore new demand from foreign travelers in connection with next year's 40th anniversary of the Sanyo Shinkansen bullet train line between Osaka and Hakata in Fukuoka Prefecture.

Hakata Station is in Kyushu's largest city, Fukuoka. From there, visitors can travel to Mount Aso Volcano National Park and Sasebo City (and the nearby Saikai Bridge), where much of the action in Rodan (1956) took place.

To read more, go here.