The Best Train Passes in Japan (For Residents)

Feb 28, 2022

The Best Train Passes in Japan (For Residents)

Many people know of the exceptional value of a Japan Rail Pass, which allows tourists to ride the train systems in Japan for a set period without paying individual ticket prices. Unfortunately, the Rail Pass is only available to non-residents of Japan, so if you’re not a tourist, then you’re out of luck!

However, there are many other forms of special tickets or passes available to those of us who call Japan home. These tickets are all outlined here for today. I just wanted to outline a few of my favorite options. 

Seishun Juhachi Kippu

Most notable is the Seishun Juhachi Kippu, which is seasonally available and offers five days of “norihodai travel” (as much as you want), limited only to non-reserved seating travel on local and rapid trains belonging to Japan Railways.

JR Tokyo Wide Pass – Kanto

If you are traveling in the Kanto area for a few days, the Tokyo Wide Pass is among the better rail passes available in Japan. One of its advantages is covering the Shinkansen and many non-JR train lines. It is an excellent option if you plan a long weekend with friends from out of town and plan to visit multiple major sights in Kanto, such as Kamakura and Nikko, during that time.

JR Aozora Free Pass – Chubu

JR Tokai offers the Aozora Free Pass, and it allows the holder one day of unlimited use of local trains in the Chubu area. The pass is only available on weekends and national holidays, but at (roughly) 2500 yen per ticket it can be a great deal if you are going “day trip distance” from the city, for example, to visit Ise Jingu or go hiking in Gifu’s mountains.

For a flawless description of riding the train in Japan and many more discount ticket options, please see japan-guide.com’s page or the JR Group Website.

For detailed timetable information, including JR and other trains and flight information, please see the Hyperdia or Jorudan Route Finder websites. This not only tells you the fastest and most convenient ways to travel, but it also gives detailed fare information and different travel options.

ion66, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons