The Japan Rail Go (or JR Go, for brief) is usually a good strategy to get round Japan, however many vacationers don’t notice that it’s not all the time your best choice for exploring the nation.
Relying on the specifics of your route, the Japan Rail Go might prevent some cash. Still, this isn’t all the time the case (especially in gentle of the October 2023 JR Go value will increase). Moreover, the Rail Go comes with certain limitations that usually make it much less convenient than common rail tickets.
So, how do you determine whether or not or not the Rail Go is price it for you? We’ll assist reply this query under, however first, let’s start with a bit background regarding the Japan Rail Go itself. And for extra about getting round Japan, see our complete information to coach journey in Japan.
Initially written in 2014, this publication was up to date and republished on January 11, 2024.
Japan Rail Go Fundamentals
The Japan Rail Go is a reduced practice move provided by the Japan Railways (JR) Group for abroad vacationers, initially designed to assist vacationers discover Japan extra affordably.
JR has an intensive community of trains and shinkansen (bullet trains) all through the nation, and the JR Go provides entry to most, although not all, of them (learn extra below). In idea, it provides ease and comfort: merely present your move on the ticket gate, and hop on.
The place You Can (and Can’t) Use the JR Go
The Japan Rail Go supplies entry to an unlimited community of hundreds of trains throughout the nation. It may be used on JR native, speedy, specific, and restricted specific trains, together with most bullet trains (all however the Nozomi and Mizuho shinkansen ).
Remember the fact that Japan Railways is only one of many native and regional railway corporations round Japan, and the JR Go doesn’t offer you entry to trains run by these different corporations, which in some circumstances provide higher routing choices than JR.
Historically, many vacationers have discovered explicitly worth and comfort in utilizing the JR Go for long-distance shinkansen journeys. Nevertheless, as alluded to above, the Rail Go doesn’t offer you free entry to all bullet trains.
As one instance, when you’ve got the JR Go and wish to journey from Tokyo to Kyoto, there could also be a few JR Go-eligible trains per hour. Additionally, vacationers utilizing common rail tickets could have entry to the much more frequent Nozomi and Mizuho bullet trains, which function a number of instances per hour, and make fewer stops en route (be aware that JR Go holders may also experience these trains sooner by paying a supplemental fare).
Japan Rail Go Costs & The place to Purchase
Varied on-line distributors provide the JR Go. For general comfort, it might be finest to buy straight from the Japan Railways Group’s official web site. One profit of buying your move from JR straight is the flexibility to order your seats on-line by their web site (in the event you purchase your move from a third-party vendor, you gained’t have this choice).
The Rail Go is accessible in denominations of seven, 14, and 21 days, and when buying it you may choose between commonplace class (“Atypical”) or firstclass (“Inexperienced Automotive”). The value is predicated on length, class of service, and the age of the traveler.
For probably the most up-to-date pricing, please discuss with the JR Group’s pricing web page.
- In terms of the timeframes, understand that the 7, 14, or 21 days discuss with consecutive durations of use. In different phrases, in the event you get a 7-day Rail Go, all journey has to be accomplished inside a consecutive 7-day interval.
- Atypical class is kind of snug in Japan, however for luxurious vacationers we usually suggest the Inexperienced Automotive, which has extra spacious seating. Be aware that Inexperienced Vehicles are usually solely obtainable on long-distance trains equivalent to regional specific trains and the shinkansen .
- The Japan Rail Go is discounted for youngsters aged 6 to 11 years outdated. Youngsters 5 and beneath can journey without cost, both in an obtainable seat or on a dad or mum’s lap.
Particular Be aware About Non-Vacationers
The JR Go is simply obtainable to short-term guests to Japan with a non-Japanese passport, and who enter Japan with a “short-term customer” standing. If you happen to’re visiting a buddy or member of the family who lives in Japan, it’s essential to keep in mind that they will not be eligible for the Japan Rail Go.
It’s typically protected to imagine that the individual you’re visiting is not eligible for the Japan Rail Go in the event that they match into one of many following classes, that means you’ll in all probability want to determine one other strategy to make seat reservations together:
- They’re a Japanese citizen
- They’re in Japan on a piece or working vacation visa
- They’re a scholar on a semester overseas in Japan
- They’re US Army or DOD staff in Japan
When Is the JR Go Not the Finest Choice?
In some circumstances, in case you are making a number of journeys on the bullet practice, the Japan Rail Go could show to be an excellent worth. Still, the Japan Rail Go will not be the most suitable choice for you if:
- You’re a luxurious traveler
- Your Japan route doesn’t contain many long-distance rail journeys
- Your long-distance practice journeys don’t match neatly into durations of seven, 14, or 21 days
Beneath are extra particulars about every state of affairs that can assist you decide whether or not or not the JR Go is price it for you (in the event you’re considering one of our shoppers, you don’t want to worry about this as we are going to do the legwork for you).
You’re a Luxurious Traveler
In case your precedence is consolation and comfort, you might want to not spend hours finding out practice schedules, evaluating routes and timetables, and making your entire personal seat reservations.
On this case, the best choice generally is to rearrange your journey by a journey firm (whether or not Boutique Japan or one other respected Japan journey firm). Whenever you work with a Japan journey specialist, you may go away it to the specialist to deal with the logistical legwork, and have your entire reserved rail tickets despatched on to your first resort in Japan.
Your Itinerary Doesn’t Contain Many Prepared Journeys
In case your Japan route doesn’t contain many long-distance rail journeys, the Japan Rail Go might not be a terrific choice for you. For instance, in the event you’re merely going from Tokyo to Kyoto and again, it could price much less to purchase common rail tickets (versus the JR Go).
It’s relatively easy to do your personal price comparability, pricing out common (non-JR Go) fares on Google Maps, or Japanese transit websites like Navitime and Jorudan (when utilizing Google Maps, be sure to append the phrase “station” to your search. In different phrases, somewhat than typing “Tokyo to Kyoto,” sort “Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station”).
Even when the price of your long-distance trains is decrease than the price of the JR Go, some would possibly argue that the Rail Go would nonetheless be advantageous, because it offers you entry to native trains inside cities equivalent to Tokyo and Kyoto.
Whereas it’s true that you need to use the JR Go on some trains in Tokyo (such because the JR Yamanote Line, Tokyo’s loop line), it’s not legitimate on the Tokyo Metro subway strains, or any of the opposite non-public railway strains in Tokyo. It’s extra not legitimate on lots of Kyoto’s trains. This being mentioned, in the event you plan to take a number of relatively lengthy day journeys from Tokyo or Kyoto, the price of these could make the Rail Go worthwhile, so be sure to take this under consideration.
Study extra about costs in Japan for regular subway journeys (and widely different gadgets).
As one other essential facet be aware: in the event you’re merely searching for the comfort of with the ability to hop on and off trains and subways, with out having to buy a ticket every time, we suggest IC playing cards (see below).
Your Prepare Journeys Don’t Match Neatly Into Intervals of seven, 14, or 21 Days
The JR Go is legal just for consecutive days, that means you may’t “skip” days, so in case your long-distance practice journeys don’t match neatly into 7-, 14- or 21-day durations, the Japan Rail Go will not be the most suitable choice for you.
For instance, in the event you start utilizing your 7-day Japan Rail Go on April 1st, it is going to be legal by April seventh. Virtually talking, because of this when you’ve got two bullet practice journeys, however they’re separated and never attainable to do inside a 7-day window, you then wouldn’t have the ability to use the 7-day Rail Go to cowl each of them.
Additionally, in the event you’re crisscrossing Japan and taking a number of bullet practice journeys, then a 14- or 21-day Go could come in useful.
For our personal vacationers, a minimum of, we usually don’t suggest the Japan Rail Go, for most of the causes stated above.
In terms of our shoppers’ Japan itineraries, we painfully map out every rail journey, making an allowance for a large number of things (equivalent to finest instances of day to journey, check-out and check-in instances, actions and experiences, and many others.). We then pre-purchase the rail tickets and ship them on to our vacationers’ first resort to be acquired upon check-in.
Any good Japan journey firm ought to have the ability to deal with this for you. However in the event you’re an unbiased traveler planning your personal journey, you’ll have to do extra of the legwork your self.
Buy Your Personal Particular person Rail Tickets
If you happen to’d prefer to map out every of your rail journeys and pre-reserve particular person tickets for every journey, there are a handful of the way to take action.
For shinkansen tickets alongside many (although not all) main routes, the smartEX app will be extraordinarily helpful. After registering, it means that you can select trains and make reservations all through a helpful app. Please be aware, however, that it’s restricted solely to sure routes , so it gained’t essentially allow you to reserve tickets for all journeys.
There are extra loads of providers like Shinkansen Tickets On-line that may e-book trains for you for a charge. Providers like this are more likely to price a bit extra, as there’s an actual individual on the opposite facet who could possibly answer your questions (they usually e-book not solely shinkansen , but in addition another kinds of rail tickets).
Regional Prepare Passes
Other than the Japan Rail Go, JR provides numerous regional practice passes, as nicely. The Regional Rail Passes usually final for 3, 5, or 7 consecutive days, and canopy smaller areas of Japan, equivalent to Kanto (the place Tokyo is positioned), Kansai (the place Kyoto is positioned), or different areas equivalent to Kyushu, Tohoku, Shikoku, or Hokkaido. There are dozens of various regional passes, and these are usually a good selection for vacationers who might be spending extended durations of time in particular areas of Japan.
Are you planning to spend most of your time in Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka, and canopy fairly a little bit of floor by native transport every day? As an alternative choice to (or maybe to enhance) the JR Go or a Regional Go, there are passes that supply limitless rail journey specifically areas, or on one operator’s railway strains. Some can be found solely to overseas vacationers (just like the Tokyo Subway Go or Kansai Via Go) however others can be found to anybody. For instance, Tokyo Metro provides one-day passes, and the Keihan and Hankyu railway corporations (serving Kyoto and Osaka) additionally provide their very own one-day passes.
IC Playing cards
Whereas not exactly an alternate, most vacationers additionally discover IC transport playing cards to be very helpful. As a result of Japanese trains run on an IC (built-in circuit) community, it’s attainable to make use of the identical IC card in varied areas. They don’t provide reductions per se , however their tap-and-go performance makes them handy for journey round cities and their environs.
Working very like metropolis metro playing cards you’ll discover elsewhere on the planet, these rechargeable pay as you go playing cards retailer their worth. They don’t provide limitless journey for a flat price – if you buy an IC card, it is going to be loaded with a certain quantity of yen. As you faucet and go in your travels, the price of your journey is deducted from the steadiness. You’ll be able to prime up the worth on the cardboard at station kiosks with money.
Take to the Skies (or Seas)
To be honest, trains are usually the easiest way to journey round Japan, given how environment friendly, nice, and in depth Japan’s railway networks are. Still, there are definite instances when you might discover it extra handy to fly.
For instance, in the event you don’t think a full day of practice journey, you may make the journey from Tokyo to Sapporo by rail, however we often suggest going by home flight, because it’s a lot faster (and flying inside Japan is kind of nice, as nicely). Whereas not fairly as widely as an alternative choice to practice journey, ferries extra abound in Japan and in some situations will be a good way to journey from place to put.
While the JR Go may be a good choice for some vacationers, it definitely isn’t the only option for everyone.
To resolve whether it is best for you, you’ll want to contemplate whether or not the JR Go will give you the worth, comfort, and adaptability that you just search in your travels, as that is very a lot dependent in your route, your plans, and what standards are most essential to you.
We hope our introduction to this specifically nuanced subject has helped you resolve whether or not or to not buy the Japan Rail Go on your personal Japan journey!
