Japan rail pass guides: choose a region, then compare the route

Start with cost and eligibility

• JR Pass calculator: compare your eligible ticket costs
• 2026 JR Pass prices: official online versus overseas agency
• When is a JR Pass worth it?
• Nationwide and regional pass comparison

Compare only the journeys you intend to take, within the pass validity. Eligibility and train coverage differ by product; price alone is not enough.

Eastern Japan and Tokyo side trips

• New JR EAST PASS: 5 or 10 days for eastern Japan
• JR TOKYO Wide Pass: 3-day coverage and exclusions
• Former Tohoku pass: what replaced it in 2026?

Do not confuse JR East regional coverage with the Tokyo–Kyoto Tokaido Shinkansen. Verify the exact private lines in the operator map.

Kansai, Hiroshima and western Japan

• Kansai WIDE: Osaka, Kyoto and longer JR day trips
• Sanyo-San’in: western Japan and Hakata
• Kansai Area Pass: paper-pass withdrawal and alternatives
• Osaka–Hiroshima: compare train tickets and regional passes

Kyoto–Shin-Osaka and Shin-Osaka–Hiroshima are different Shinkansen sections. A JR West product can cover one without covering the other.

Hokkaido and Kyushu

• Hokkaido Rail Pass: prices, reservations and exclusions
• Kyushu rail passes: All, North and South
• Tokyo–Sapporo by train: transfers and travel-day planning

Plan the popular first-trip routes

• Tokyo–Kyoto train travel
• Tokyo–Osaka train travel
• Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka itinerary and pass windows
• IC cards, reserved seats, luggage and train basics

How these guides are checked

Product pages link to operator sources and show a review date. Retired and unverified products do not appear as planner suggestions. The guides do not promise live seat availability or date-specific fares. Read our comparison method or send a correction.