JTB - Japan Rail Pass

JTB International (Canada) Ltd. Toronto Office

JTB International(Canada) Ltd. is "JR authorized distributor" for Japan Rail Passes!!

Japan Rail Pass jr_pass_sample

	Ordinary "Regular-class"		Green "Superior-class"
	Adult	Child	Adult	Child
7 days	28,300 Yen	14,150 Yen	37,800 Yen	18,900 Yen
14 days	45,100 Yen	22,550 Yen	61,200 Yen	30,600 Yen
21 days	57,700 Yen	28,850 Yen	79,600 Yen	39,800 Yen

*The above are yen prices for a JAPAN RAIL PASS Exchange Order. The actual cost in local currency is calculated weekly as below. Note that the purchase exchange rate may differ from the exchange rate in effect when you actually visit Japan.

	＜Weekly Rate＞Application Period		(Jul 26, 2010 - Aug 01, 2010)
	Ordinary "Regular-class"		Green "Superior-class"
	Adult	Child	Adult	Child
7 days	$336.00	$168.00	$449.00	$225.00
14 days	$536.00	$268.00	$727.00	$364.00
21 days	$685.00	$343.00	$946.00	$473.00

*The local currency price, applicable exchange rate, and issue date for an Exchange Order are specified on the Exchange Order itself. PASS prices for children apply from age 6 to and including age 11. Prices are subject to change. The applicable price is the price valid on the date when an Exchange Order is issued.

Our office will be closed on August 2, 2010 by Civic Holiday.
If you have urgent order,
please contact us by July 30th otherwise we will reply back to you after August 3.
Thank you very much.

Please call us at 416-367-5824 for more details.

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Questions? - FAQ

Travel Tips from JTB staff

Who is eligible for a JAPAN RAIL PASS

1 - If you are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sightseeing and your entry status is"temporary visitor"*.
*"Temporary Visitor" entry status, according to Japanese Immigration Law, allows you to stay in Japan 15 days or 90 days for "sight-seeing, etc." If you apply for "stay for sight-seeing" status when you enter Japan, entry personnel will stamp your passport as "Temporary Visitor," as shown below. Only persons who have a passport bearing this stamp can use a JAPAN RAIL PASS.

2 - You are a Japanese national living in a foreign country
<a> who is qualified to live permanently in that country, or
<b> who is married to a non-Japanese residing in a country other than Japan.

Note: Persons meeting conditions a or b above must be required to show proof of same at the point of purchase of an Exchange Order or obtaining a JAPAN RAIL PASS.
Also note: The former condition about a Japanese national "who has been living in a foreign country for ten or more years" is discontinued from 1 April 2004 purchase.

JAPAN RAIL PASS types

There are two types of JAPAN RAIL PASS: Green (for superior-class Green cars), and Ordinary. Each of these is available as a 7-day, 14-day, or 21-day PASS.
See "JAPAN RAIL PASS validity" below.

JAPAN RAIL PASS validity

Transportation services

The JAPAN RAIL PASS is valid for railways, buses and ferry boats as shown below.

Railways:	All JR Group Railways-Shinkansen"Bullet Trains" (except any reserved or non-reserved seats on "NOZOMI" trains), limited express trains, express trains and rapid or local trains (with some exceptions).
Buses:	Local lines of JR bus companies (JR Hokkaido Bus, JR Bus Tohoku, JR Bus Kanto, JR Tokai Bus, West Japan JR Bus, Chugoku JR Bus, JR Shikoku Bus, JR Kyushu Bus) and some of JR highway bus services. Sapporo-Otaru; Morioka-Hirosaki; Tokyo-Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka,Tsukuba Center; Nagoya-Kyoto, Osaka; Osaka-Tsuyama, Kasai Flower Center
Ferry:	Only the JR Miyajima ferry is covered. The JR Hakata-Pusan (Korea) ferry is not covered.
Important notes: The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on "NOZOMI" trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines.(The pass holders must take “HIKARI” or “KODAMA” trains.) If you use a "NOZOMI," you must pay the basic fare and the limited express charge and, for a Green Car, the Green Car surcharge. Note also that passengers using JR trains on non-JR lines must pay additional fares and charges for sections traveled on such lines.

Train accommodations

	Most JR trains have Ordinary Cars (regular <coach> class) while many long-distance trains also offer Green Cars (superior class). With a Green-type JAPAN RAIL PASS you can use either class, while with an Ordinary-type JAPAN RAIL PASS you can use only Ordinary Cars without paying an additional charge. Refer to the table below for details.
	The cars with @ can be used with JAPAN RAIL PASS.
	Use of the cars with # requires paying additional charges.
	There are no Green Cars on most HIKARI and KODAMA trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (Shin-Osaka ·Hakata), or on TSUBAME trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen line (Shin-Yatsushiro – Kagoshima- chūō )

Train	Accommodations	Green	Ordinary
“NOZOMI” trains* on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen	Green car	X	X
“NOZOMI” trains* on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen	Ordinary car	X	X
“HIKARI” and “KODAMA” trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinknasen and any trains on the Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Joetsu, Nagano and Kyushu Shinkansen	Green car	@	#
	Ordinary car	@	@
	Ordinary private Compartment	#	#
Limited express and ordinary express	Green car	@**	#
	Ordinary car	@	@
	Green private Compartment	#	#
	Ordinary private Compartment	#	#
	Sleeping Car	#	#
Local and rapid trains	Green car	@	#
Local and rapid trains	Ordinary car	@	@

Remarks:
*	The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved (incl. Green Car) or non-reserved, on “NOZOMI” trains.
**	If you use a “DX Green” on “Relay TSUBAME” train (operated by JR Kyushu), you must pay the limited express charge in addition to the DX Green charge.
	Private Compartments are available on some of “HIKARI” and “KODAMA” trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen.
	Green Private Compartments are on certain limited express trains, such as “NARITA EXPRESS” and “Super-view Odoriko.”
	Use of “Home Liner” and other “liner” trains requires an additional charge.

Validity period

	The validity period of a JAPAN RAIL PASS is the consecutive 7, 14, or 21 days beginning on the date the PASS is first used.
	Within three months from the date the Exchange Order is issued, you must turn in your Exchange Order to obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS. At that time, you have to specify the date that you want to start using the PASS. It can be any date within one month from the date the PASS is received.
	Once the PASS has a starting date written on it, the date cannot be changed.

FAQ

Q1: Where I can pruchase "Exchange Orders"?

You are able to purchase from JTB International(Canada) Ltd. Toronto Office.

Carlton Tower, Suite 1510, 2 Carlton Street, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1J3
Phone: (416)367-5824
Fax: (416)367-4859
E-mail: SALES@JTBcnd.com

- ANSWER -
JAPAN RAIL PASS cannot be purchased inside Japan.
You must purchase an Exchange Order from an authorized sales office or agent before you come to Japan.

After you arrive in Japan, you turn in the Exchange Order to receive your JAPAN RAIL PASS at an applicable JR station that has a JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange office. (See "Stations with JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange office" also available pdf file)*
*Note:
Some sales offices and agents may be closed over the New Year holiday period.
Addresses and contact details of sales offices and agents are subject to change or discontinue without notice.

Q2: How to turn in an exchange order to receive a JAPAN RAIL PASS?

You cannot use an Exchange Order when you travel on JR lines. Turn in your Exchange Order and obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS at one of the JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange offices (also available pdf file). Please note the Service hours and closing days.

Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS within three months of the date the Order was issued.

When you make the exchange you will be asked to fill in a simple application form (You can fill in the form when you are in Japan, but it can be downloaded from this home page, as indicated below) and also to show the Temporary Visitor visa that was stamped in your passport when you entered Japan. You must show your passport with the Temporary Visitor stamp in it in order for your Rail Pass exchange order to be screened.

* Without your passport, the pass exchange will not be made. (A photocopy of your passport is not acceptable because you must show the "Temporary Visitor" stamp in it.)
* If you are a Japanese national resident in a country other than Japan and with permanent resident status in that country, please show, in addition to your passport, documents testifying to your status.
*The type of PASS described on the Exchange Order cannot be changed.

In order to speed up the exchange process in Japan, you should fill in this exchange application form in advance.
Japan Rail Pass exchange application form(submit it when you arrive in Japan!)

Q3: How to make seat reservations?

Shinkansen,* most limited express and ordinary express trains have reserved Green Car seats and both reserved and non-reserved ordinary car seats.
( The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on "NOZOMI" trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen.)
*There are no Green Cars on most HIKARI and KODAMA trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (Shin-Osaka - Hakata), or on TSUBAME trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen line (Shin-Yatsushiro - Kagoshima-Ch)

A non-reserved seat (except for "NOZOMI" trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen) can be used simply by showing your JAPAN RAIL PASS.

Seat reservations can be made without additional payment.To make a reservation, go to any Travel Service Center or a Reservation Office (Midori-no-madoguchi) at a JR station, or to the sales office of a JR-associated travel agency. There, show your PASS, and obtain your reserved-seat ticket before boarding.

*The "MIZUUMI" JR bus operating between Aomori and Lake Towada and the "OIRASE" JR bus operating between Hachinohe and Lake Towada both operate with fixed seating capacities so please obtain a reserved-seat ticket before boarding.

Note: Do not use an automatic ticket-reading gate with a JAPAN RAIL PASS or a reserved-seat ticket. Please show the PASS at a manned ticket gate

The sign for a Resevation Office
(It called "Midori no madoguchi" in Japanese)

Please note that during crowded periods you cannot be guaranteed a seat on a specific train. The periods when seat reservations are particularly difficult to secure are as follows:
	December 28 to January 6 The New Year holiday period is the most popular travel time for Japanese people, for vacations and returns to hometown areas.
	April 27 to May 6 Due to consecutive holidays in a comfortable travel season, there is large-scale travel throughout Japan for leisure and recreation.
	August 11 to 20 Another time for traditional travel to hometown areas, called the Obon season.

Please read "Notes regarding use" (also available pdf file )

Q4: How can I research for train timetable and route in Japan?

You can check the web site it's called, "Hyperdia" which is offers the route and the timetable of the railway and the aviation of Japan. With simple operation, "Hyperdia" guides the optimal route, time, and the regular fare from starting point to end. See more details: http://www.hyperdia.com/en/

Q5: What is the diffrence between Ordinery pass and Green Pass?

1. Green Seat has more space!
Basically, Green seat has more space than Ordinery seat. For example, Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen(Tokyo-Hakata) Ordinery seat are 2 + 3 row seat arrangement, but Green seat are 2+2 row seat arrangement. Therefore, the seat has a wide width and more solid than Ordinery seat. Also, interval space is widely made it.

2. Relatively near the elevator or stairs at the passenger station when you get on/off the train.
Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen(Tokyo-Hakata) Green seat's boarding door is set up to close at the station exit, so you can easily access to the station exit.

Helpful Infomation for JR Travel

Indications of station names
	All JR stations display station names in both Japanese and Roman letters in their platforms. A given station's name in the top center of the signboard, in large letters; the names of the previous station and next staion are at the bottom of the signboard,in smalller letters.

Public telephone inside trains
	Shinkansen and some limited express trains are equipped with public telephones,which allow use of a “Telephone Card. A ”Telephone Card" can be purchased aboard trains or at a station kiosk.

Coin-locker
	Traditional checkrooms have almost disappeared throughout the country. Instead, coin-operated lockers (called "Coin-Locker" in Japanese) are popular in major stations. The "Coin-Lockers" take hundred-yen coins.

Avoid rush hours in the morning and evening
	In major cities,avoid traveling during the morning and evening rush hours (7:30-9:30and 17:00-19:00)

JR East Infoline

JR provides a convenient telephone infromation service in English, Korean and Chinese for quick and complete JR information about train time schedules, the faster JR route from place to place, locations of reservation offices, and so forth.
Phone# 050-2016-1603*
*10am - 6pm (except during the year-end/new year holiday period)
*It costs to call the phone number and it depends on where you are calling from.
*Seat reservations cannot be accepted by this telephone service.

Sales at stations and in trains

Mobile vendors on Shinkansen and other long-distance trains sell "Ekiben" (Box Lunches sold only in a station kiosk or trains) - these contain local specialty Japanese-style foods, as well as snacks and drinks. These items are also readily available at station kiosks and many stations also have a variety of restaurants as well as many vending machines.

Useful words
Reservation	Yoyaku
Reservation office	Midori no madoguchi
Super express(Bullet) train	Shinkansen
Limited express	Tokkyu
Express	Kyuko
Rapid train	Kaisoku
Local train	Kakuekiteisha
Ordinary car	Futsu sha
Green car (superior accommodations)	Green sha
Reserved seat	Shitei seki
Non-reserved seat	Jiyu seki

updated on May 1, 2009

Changes in Sales Prices for the Hokkaido Rail Passes
Since 1 April of this year, the sales prices of the Hokkaido Rail Passes have been changed. The new rates are as follows:

Japanese Yen	Ordinary		Green Car
Japanese Yen	Adult	Child	Adult	Child
3 Consecutive Days	15,000	7,500	21,500	10,750
5 Consecutive Days or Flexible 4 Days	19,500	9,750	27,000	13,500

Schedule Changes on 1 June: Improved Rail Service and More Non-Smoking Restrictions
[Improved and More Comfortable Service from Tokyo and Kansai Regions to Kanazawa]
·One additional round-trip Limited Express Hakutaka is being added between Echigo-Yuzawa and Kanazawa so that service will be once an hour. With this additional train, rail access from Tokyo to Kanazawa will become even more convenient since there will be 13 round-trip connections daily, all via Echigo-Yuzawa on the Joetsu Shinkansen Line.

	Tokyo	Echigo-Yuzawa	Toyama	Kanazawa
Joetsu Shinkansen ‘Toki 327’	dep. 14:12 ››	arv. 15:29
Additional ‘Hakutaka 16’		dep. 15:37 ››	arv. 17:38 ››	arv. 18:16
Additional ‘Hakutaka 13’		arv. 14:51	‹‹ dep. 12:43	‹‹ dep. 12:07
Joetsu Shinkansen ‘Toki 328’	arv. 16:20	‹‹ dep. 14:59

·New rail cars will be introduced for the Limited Express Thunder Bird on the route: Osaka - Kyoto - Fukui - Kanazawa - Toyama - Uozu.

[Non-Smoking Limitations Expanded]
At the time of the schedule revision on 1 June 2009, JR Central and JR West will make all of their long-distance Limited Express trains completely non-smoking with the important exception of Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen ‘bullet trains’ as well as overnight sleeper trains.
In addition, on 1 July of this year JR West will make the interior areas of all its stations in the Kyoto / Osaka / Kobe area completely non-smoking.

***** Check for past news *****

More Travel Tips from JTB staff

JR TOILET FACILITIES - For the nervous travellers
Simple images such as extremely crowded commuter trains, streets with no signs in English, or the traditional squat toilet, can scare even the more cautious tourist. None of these things are any real problem for the foreigner in Japan, but the less adventuresome traveler may need some reassurance.
Let’s look at a few ‘toilet training’ facts for rail travel:
Most trains that have toilets (i.e. all Shinkansen and most Limited Express and sleeper trains), and probably almost major stations, no matter how small, will have Western-style toilets.
Directions for finding toilets (in English or by symbol) are found on all Shinkansen trains, as well as on many Limited Express trains. Stations also will generally have signs giving directions.
Western toilets, even on trains, may be of the ‘high-tech’ type with many comfortable and practical functions. 　Although there are usually English directions, users are advised that a simple ‘flush’ function is always available if it all seems intimidating. Unwittingly pressing ‘bidet’ can indeed give the user quite a shock!
Trains may also have other features that are unusual for foreigners: the men’s urinals in little ‘telephone booth’ size compartments, or wash basins in the corridor rather than in the rest room. Unisex toilets may still be encountered in smaller locales; foreign users may be slightly surprised but ‘stalls’ in Japan are completely private with partitions down to the floor.
Train and station staff are helpful about directing tourists to facilities. Confused travelers should never hesitate to ask for help. The English ‘toilet’ and the Japanese ‘toire’ are fairly similar. But it may be better to stick to English if in doubt, since we know of someone who got led far astray by asking for ‘o-tera’ (temple) instead of ‘o-tearai’ (lavatory)! Being a relatively crime-free society, Japan is quite free about letting people use toilets in hotels, restaurants, department stores etc.

JTB International Canada Ltd. Toronto Office
2 Carlton Street, Suite 1510, Toronto Ontario M5B 1J3
Phone: (416) 367-5824 E-mail: sales@jtbcnd.com

(C)2003-2008 JTB International (Canada) Toronto Office
Carlton Tower, Suite 1510, 2 Carlton Street, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1J3 / Phone:(416)367-5824 / Fax:(416)367-4859