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About Japan Travel Pass Advisor

We are a small travel-tech team focused on helping visitors choose the right Japan transportation pass with confidence.

Our Mission

Japan’s rail network is world-class but complicated. Pass rules change frequently, regional passes appear and disappear, and price hikes can turn yesterday’s good deal into today’s overspend. We built Japan Travel Pass Advisor to turn scattered fare tables into actionable recommendations so you know when a pass truly saves money—and when single tickets are smarter.

What We Publish

• Interactive planners: Quick Plan and Smart Plan turn a few itinerary details into tailored pass shortlists and savings estimates.
• Independent guides: We write step-by-step articles like the transportation guide to help first-time visitors navigate JR vs private rail, IC cards, and seat reservations.
• Policy explainers: We surface activation rules, blackout dates, and baggage requirements in plain language to reduce surprises once you are in Japan.

Editorial Standards

• Fact-checked: We validate timetables, coverage notes, and pricing against official JR Group, regional railways, and prefectural tourism sources.
• Transparent recommendations: Sponsored placements never change the math behind our results. When we use affiliate links, they are labeled and optional.
• User-first language: We avoid jargon and clarify when a rule only applies to specific train categories or travel classes.
• Review cadence: Core products are re-reviewed at least once per quarter or when operators announce pricing/coverage changes.

Data Sources & Update Cycle

Fare benchmarks and coverage notes are compiled from JR fare tables, regional pass brochures, and official tourism bureau releases. We also monitor announcements from JR East/West/Central, JR Kyushu, JR Hokkaido, and private operators such as Tobu, Odakyu, and Kintetsu. When price adjustments or service suspensions are announced, we flag them in the planners within 72 hours.

Have a correction? Email [email protected] and we will review it within two business days.

Who We Are

Japan Travel Pass Advisor is maintained by Pickrabbit Labs, a remote team of travel researchers and developers based across Singapore, Tokyo, and Vancouver. We have spent over a decade designing travel planning tools and integrating live transport data across Asia-Pacific.

• Lead researcher: Tracks JR rail announcements and regional pass pilots.
• Data engineer: Maintains the dataset that powers fare comparisons and pass coverage tagging.
• UX writer: Turns policy documents into traveler-friendly checklists and reminders.

How to Support the Project

The site is free to use. If our tools save you time, consider sharing them with fellow travelers or supporting us via the optional affiliate links to official pass resellers. Every referral helps fund more accuracy checks and new route coverage.