A Japan Rail (JR) Pass is strictly for use by one person only. In 2026, the pass is a "personal" travel document that is registered to a specific individual’s name and passport number. It is non-transferable, meaning you cannot share it with a friend or family member, even if you are not traveling at the same time. When you exchange your voucher for the physical pass (or digital ticket) in Japan, the JR staff will verify your identity against your passport and check for the "Temporary Visitor" stamp. Each time you pass through the automatic ticket gates or show your pass to a station attendant, you are technically required to have your passport on your person for verification. If a rail official discovers that a pass is being used by someone other than the registered owner, the pass will be confiscated, and the user may be forced to pay a heavy fine (often triple the cost of the fares traveled). For families or groups, every individual—including children (who get a discounted rate)—must have their own separate JR Pass to utilize the unlimited rail travel benefits.