Which trains are excluded from JR Pass?

The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines. (The pass holders must take “HIKARI,” “SAKURA,” “KODAMA,” or “TSUBAME” trains.)



The Japan Rail (JR) Pass offers incredible value, but it does not cover every train on the network. The most notable exclusions are the Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen services, which are the fastest categories on the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu lines. While you can technically ride these by paying a special supplemental surcharge (introduced in late 2023), they are not included in the "free" base pass. Additionally, the pass is generally only valid on JR-branded lines; it does not cover private railways (such as Odakyu to Hakone, Tobu to Nikko, or Kintetsu between Osaka and Nagoya), nor does it cover the Tokyo Metro or Osaka Metro systems. Some JR trains that run over private tracks, like the "Fuji Excursion," require a supplemental fare for the non-JR portion of the journey. Most "Liner" trains and some "Limited Express" trains with specialized "Green" (First Class) or "Gran Class" seating require extra payments if you only hold an Ordinary JR Pass. Finally, the pass does not cover highway buses or the majority of local city buses not operated directly by the JR Group.

People Also Ask

JR Lines can be identified by the JR symbol. Keihin-Tohoku Line - goes from north to south in Tokyo. Chuo Line (Rapid) - goes from east to west in Tokyo.

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Can I ride all trains, buses and ferries? The JR Pass does not allow you to ride on subways or trams within cities. However, most big cities have a few JR lines that you can use to go around, like the Osaka Loop or Kanjo line and the Tokyo Yamanote line, for example.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The Suica can be used not only for JR East trains, but subways and buses as well. See the Suica Map for transportation systems you can use with the Suica. The Suica can also be used to pay for things with e-money. Buy soft drinks and coffee from vending machines and on the train.

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

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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.

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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.

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

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No visitor to Tokyo should be without a Suica card and no visitor to Japan should be without a JR Pass. The Suica card is convenient for intercity trains and buses while the JR Pass saves you time and money when traveling through the country.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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If you wish to travel on the Nozomi or Mizuho Shinkansen, you must purchase a special ticket to complement your JR Pass. The price of the supplement is the same for ordinary class, first class (Green Car) and reserved and non-reserved seats.

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With your Japan Rail Pass The cities of Tokyo and Kyoto are linked to each other by the JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line. A one-way trip from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station on a Hikari or Kodama train costs 13,080 yen (unreserved seat) or 13,800 yen (reserved seat), but is completely free with a JR Pass.

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