Where to Buy a Japan Rail Pass (A Tourist Guide)

Last Updated on July 29, 2022 by Rose Morah

You can buy a Japan rail pass online, at a JR designated sales office or overseas agent, or at a ticket office in Japan. 

Before we dive deeper into the places where you can purchase a Japan rail pass, it is essential to note that:

• The Japan Rail Pass cannot be used when traveling between the Central Japan Airport and the nearest JR Stations.
• The Central Japan Airport does not have a JR Station.

1. Where to purchase a Japan rail pass online

Visit their official website. You will need to log in or create a new account.

Here are the main requirements when buying Japan rail pass online

• You will need to enter your email address, user’s name, and passport number.
• The website’s business hours are from 4. am to 11.30 pm (Japan Local Time UTC+9:00).
• You are only allowed to purchase the Japan rail pass online but through a Credit card. Find more detail here.

2. Where to buy a Japan rail pass at a JR designated sales office or overseas agent

JR designated sales offices can be found all around the world, no matter where you are from.

Here is a list of places where you can find JR designated sales office agents. Note that if you don’t find your state in this list, you can visit their official page here to get the complete list, including the address.

Click on the continents below to get JR designated sales office or overseas agent:

• Europe
• Central & South America
• North America
• Africa
• Southeast Asia
• South Asia
• East Asia
• Middle East
• Oceania

Related: The best Japan rail pass to get.

3. Where to buy JR Rail Pass at a ticket office in Japan 

There are many different locations where travelers can easily purchase JR Rail Pass in Japan. The following is a list of JR Rail pass ticket sales offices, pick-up locations, and exchange locations in Japan.

You may also like:

Best European Train Booking Sites (Traveling By Train In Europe).

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Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it?

Yes. Not only is it the best when you want to see the country, but it is also a bucket list experience.

And well, apart from that, if you plan on touring more than one city in Japan, then the JR rail pass will help you save a lot on transport.

However, JR Rail Pass is not worthwhile if:

• Your trip to Japan covers mostly the remote parts of the country.
• Your Japan itinerary includes spending several days in only one area. For instance, let’s say you’re planning on going on a hike. This is because the pass will only be used for consecutive days.
• You are visiting cities that are close to each other on your Japan itinerary (for example Osaka and Kyoto). It would be cheaper to use other means of transportation.