National Japan Rail Pass vs Regional Passes: Which should you choose?

Published on : 18/08/2023
by : Joshua

For most travelers to Japan, the country’s lucrative and well-established public transportation system will be the primary means of moving around, and as an overseas visitor, the options of the rail passes issued by the Japan Rail Group are a staple for Japan tourism.

Many people are familiar with the National Japan Rail Pass that encompasses almost the entirety of the country’s transportation network, however, there also exist special regional passes travelers can buy that are issued by individual branches of the Japan Rail Group that can be great for travel as well. These regional passes operate much like the National Pass in the sense that they offer unlimited access to public travel transportation, however, where they differentiate is that they cover specific regions of Japan.

Depending on the itinerary of specific travelers, these area-specific regional passes may be a sufficient option, but the unparalleled coverage and flexibility provided by the National Pass remains the best “bang-for-the-buck” available for foreign visitors to buy at the moment.

Simultaneously, for those who may not have the most busy itineraries for their next trip or are very particular about where they'll be going, individual tickets for traveling with the Shinkansen bullet train are also available!

The National Japan Rail Pass

The National Japan Rail Pass grants unlimited access to much of the public travel transportation network throughout the Japanese archipelago for a designated period of time (7 days for 50,000 yen, 14 days for 80,000 yen, or 21 days for 100,000 yen) at one price, providing users with notable flexibility and convenience while traveling.

This national coverage provided by the pass means that, theoretically, traversing Japan from its most northern parts in Hokkaido to the most southern ends of the mainland in Kyushu is possible with the National Japan Rail Pass at a single price. The pass additionally provides the option to make reservations for certain trains, including the Shinkansen bullet train, at no extra charge as opposed to riding with individual train tickets. Even travel within major cities, like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Fukuoka, is easily done with the National Pass since it covers the JR Train lines that service these cities. The cost of such travels within and between cities piles up quite quickly when traveling via Shinkansen bullet train.

When ordering a National Japan Rail Pass, Japan Experience will send you a voucher for you to exchange for the actual usable pass after arriving in Japan. The National Pass voucher that is received after ordering the pass online can be exchanged at a number of different JR Offices throughout the country.

Map of the Japan Rail Pass network
@Japan Experience

Regional Rail Passes

While the National Rail Pass is the most popular travel pass option, especially amongst first-time visitors to the country, the Regional Rail Passes issued by individual branches of the Japan Railway Group can be a great way to travel Japan as well! The individual branches of Japan Rail Group are as follows:

The primary difference between these regional passes and the National Pass is the coverage. As the name implies, these passes grant access to transportation that are within a specific part or area of the country, unlike the National Pass which can be used to cover transportation across Japan. Additionally, the voucher exchange for such passes is often limited to the major JR Offices within the specific region of coverage.

There are regional passes that cover the island of Kyushu, the northern area of Honshu island that is Tohoku, the Kansai Region that is home to Osaka and Kyoto, the west area of Japan that includes Hiroshima, and many more! There are even multiple variations of regional passes that exist for the same area or region but cover different travel coverage. Many of these passes even allow exploration or departures from Tokyo and/or the Tokyo area, making the capital city a great central hub for some regional pass holders, however, a majority of these passes do not have this option.

For veteran travelers to the country, or individuals who wish to focus their travel plans on one area of Japan, these regional passes come at a more affordable cost than the National Pass with the trade off of more limited coverage and less options for duration, as many regional passes are only available for one designated period of usage. These passes are available to buy on our website.

Ultimately, the regional passes can be a great option for many travelers, especially those with a strong familiarity with Japan-travel already, however it sacrifices some of the overall benefits of the National Pass that makes it such a great utiliary tool for exploration.

All of our offerings for regional passes in Japan can be found online here.

National Pass and Regional Pass Key Similarities

While both of these pass variations have notable differences, it's important to note that they operate in very similar ways that make either an essential part of traveling through Japan.

First off, both types of passes are issued by the Japan Rail Group, meaning that they are only usable on Japan Rail Group operated facilities. Within many parts of Japan, both major cities and rural locations included, there are separate private organizations that provide transportation services, but since they are separate from JR, the National Pass and Regional Pass do not apply.

One of the notable exceptions, however, is that of the Hakone Regional Pass that allows access to the Odakyu-operated Romance Car out to Hakone in Kanagawa. Hakone is also accessible via the National Pass. Fortunately, a vast majority, including all Shinkansen bullet trains, are operated by the Japan Rail Group, meaning they are pass-usable.

Added to these benefits of access is the added option to reserve seats with both the National Pass and Regional Pass. With both variations, transportation options with such seating are available to reserve ahead of time to assure a comfortable place to sit during your travel time. It's highly advised to reserve seats during peak travel/tourism times in Japan, such as the spring, summer Obon, and towards the end of the year.

More information on reserving seats for trains can be found here.

Reservation Machine — Ticket and reservation machine at Yotsuya Station
@Japan Visitor

Also note that, for both options, trains aren't the exclusive means of travel. The National Pass grants access to an array of different JR bus systems found throughout Japan as well as the Ferry to Miyajima in Hiroshima. The variety of access with the regional passes depends on the specific pass, but many offer access to buses and ferries within their specific coverage areas as well.

Should I get the National Pass or Regional Pass?

This decision comes down to a number of factors for each respective travelers’ itineraries. For first time visitors to the country, we do highly suggest the National Japan Rail Pass as its unparalleled coverage is best for exploring as much of the country as possible with to travel little hassle.

However, for those with a set goal on understanding a specific area of Japan, the regional pass options available will be a necessary part of your next trip, but while the National Japan Rail Pass is at a currently more affordable price, the multiple benefits and wide-ranging coverage it provides remains the best deal available.