Which lines are excluded from JR Pass?

The JR Pass is valid on all Shinkansen services in all the Shinkansen lines, except for the Nozomi and Mizuho services on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines. You will not have access to the trains with the fewest stops on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines.



As of March 2026, the Japan Rail (JR) Pass continues to exclude the fastest "Shinkansen" services: the Nozomi on the Tokaido/Sanyo lines and the Mizuho on the Sanyo/Kyushu lines. While you can technically ride these trains if you pay a specific "supplemental" surcharge, they are not covered by the base price of the pass. Additionally, the JR Pass does not cover private (non-JR) railway lines like the Odakyu line to Hakone, the Kintetsu line between Osaka and Nagoya, or the various "Subway" systems (Metro) in Tokyo and Kyoto, which are operated by municipal governments rather than Japan Rail. You are also excluded from "Sleeper Trains" unless you pay an extra berth fee. For 2026 travelers, the most common "hidden" exclusion is the "highway buses" operated by JR; while some local JR buses are included, most long-distance express buses are now separate. Always look for the "JR" logo at the station entrance; if it's missing, your pass will likely be rejected at the ticket gate.

People Also Ask

The JR Pass does not cover trains that are not operated by Japan Railways, such as the Odakyu Line, Tokyo Subway, and Keio Line.

MORE DETAILS

Essentially the JR Pass is a travel pass that let's you (foreign visitors) travel unlimited with JR Trains through out Japan. The only major exceptions are three super high speed commuter trains (Nozomi, Mizuho, Hayabusa), which the pass is not valid for.

MORE DETAILS

You can click or search your stations on our JRPASS Map. If you are not able to find the station using our map, it is probably not JR stations and the Japan rail pass does not cover it.

MORE DETAILS

With the Japan Rail Pass, you can ride on all JR trains, including the Shinjuku Line, without paying additional fares.

MORE DETAILS

We recommend that you book your JR Pass from Klook at least 2 weeks before your trip to Japan. This allows enough wiggle room in the validity period of your Exchange Order. You can't purchase your JR Pass more than 3 months before your trip, as it's past the validity period of your Exchange Order.

MORE DETAILS

Apart from that, the train, on board service and amenities are all the same. So you may ask:“Why is the Nozomi excluded from the JR Pass?” The answer is twofold. One reason is to keep the Nozomi for commuter travel only, and second is to offer the JR Pass at the price it currently is.

MORE DETAILS

While the metro lines do no accept the JR Pass, other IC Cards, such as the Pasmo and Suica, may be used. These cards give you access to almost any train or bus in Tokyo, and are a perfect complement to the JR Pass.

MORE DETAILS

Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are connected by the Tokaido Shinkansen line, included with the Japan Rail Pass.

MORE DETAILS

If you calculate that your travel costs will be lower if you buy individual tickets for each journey, then it's not worth buying a JR Pass. However, if you take into account journeys on Shinkansen high-speed trains or other means of transport, the savings you make become substantial.

MORE DETAILS

Exclusively for foreign tourists to Japan, the JR West Kansai Pass provides unlimited travel on local JR trains and West JR buses in the Kansai region around Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, and more for one to four days.

MORE DETAILS

The Japan Rail Pass is valid for West JR Bus company, which operates the Takao Keihoku Line. This line runs between Kyoto station and Shuzan. You will be able to go to Ninnaji Temple and Ryoanji Temple.

MORE DETAILS

The JR pass is only worth it if you travel through different cities, if you are just travelling to Tokyo to Kyoto for example, I would just pay on the Suica. You can do the online calculator or just use google to calculate which trip is easier - paying individually on Suica or getting a JR Pass.

MORE DETAILS

The pass is valid on almost all trains operated on the nationwide network of JR (Japan Railways), including shinkansen, limited express, rapid and local trains. The map below shows the major train lines that are covered by the pass.

MORE DETAILS

We appreciate your cooperation. You may bring up to 2 baggage items with a total length, width, and height of up to 250 cm (up to 2 meters in length) and a weight of up to 30 kg. However, please reserve a seat with an oversized baggage area or oversized baggage compartment when carrying on oversized baggage.

MORE DETAILS

For a limited time only, you can buy a Japan Rail Pass from certain train stations and airports in Japan. Travelers should be aware it is more expensive to buy a JR Pass in Japan than to purchase the pass online.

MORE DETAILS

Tokyo to Fuji Five Lakes Take the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku Station (Tokyo) to Otsuki Station (Azusa trains, covered by the JR Pass). Once at Otsuki, take Fujikyu Railway to Kawaguchiko Station (not covered by the JR Pass).

MORE DETAILS

With your Japan Rail Pass The Hikari and Kodama trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen lines are covered by the Japan Rail Pass, and they can take you from Tokyo to Osaka in about 3 to 4 hours. In Tokyo, you can catch the Shinkansen either at Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station, and then arrive to Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka.

MORE DETAILS