Start here · Transportation guide
Learn which ticket gets you through the gate, which train needs a reservation, and where a rail pass leaves a gap.
Reviewed · Independent planning guide
JR, private railways and city subways often serve the same city with separate tickets and gates. A nationwide JR Pass covers eligible JR services plus specific exceptions; it is not an all-transport ticket. Regional passes use their own maps.
Choose the exact station: Osaka, Shin-Osaka and Namba serve different journeys. Shinjuku and Seibu-Shinjuku are also distinct.
Suica, PASMO and ICOCA deduct a fare for each eligible ride. They are convenient for local travel and do not make rides unlimited. IC acceptance has geographic limits; do not assume a card pays for an entire intercity or Shinkansen journey.
Regular unregistered Suica and PASMO sales resumed March 1, 2025. Older shortage advice is out of date. Physical Welcome Suica is valid for 28 days including purchase day; unused balance is not normally refundable. Check current sales locations before arrival.
Welcome Suica Mobile is an iOS app. Check device compatibility, location settings and the product’s own validity rules. Physical and mobile products are different; do not apply one product’s conditions to the other.
Local trains normally need a basic fare. Limited express and Shinkansen journeys also require the appropriate express / seat ticket. An eligible pass can include those charges, but you may still need to obtain a seat reservation.
All JR Hokkaido limited express trains have reserved seating. Hayabusa and other all-reserved services need seat arrangements. Nozomi is all-reserved in designated peak periods.
The nationwide pass alone covers Hikari, Kodama, Sakura and other eligible services. To use Nozomi or Mizuho, buy the special pass-holder ticket before boarding, for each journey. Tokyo–Kyoto or Tokyo–Shin-Osaka costs an additional ¥4,960 per adult per journey. Regional passes have their own train rules.
On the Tokaido / Sanyo / Kyushu corridor, bags with a three-side total over 160 cm and up to 250 cm require an oversized baggage seat reservation. The reservation adds no surcharge to the normal reserved-seat price; boarding with oversized luggage without it can incur a ¥1,000 fee. Items over 250 cm cannot be brought aboard. Check special rules for equipment and strollers.
This requirement is not a blanket rule for every Shinkansen in Japan. Use the relevant operator’s luggage guidance.
JR East replaced its Tohoku and Nagano/Niigata passes with the new JR EAST PASS in March 2026. Kansai Area Pass sales ended September 30, 2026. Nationwide pass prices now differ between official online and overseas-agency purchases.
Our planners use stored route and fare estimates. They do not check live timetables, seat availability, disruption notices, date-specific fares or every private-rail supplement. Treat the result as a shortlist, then check your chosen trains with the operator.
Use operator booking and service-status pages to check the departure date, seats and disruptions. Our Quick Plan and Smart Plan help compare approximate costs. Find regional guides for coverage details.
Checked October 13, 2026. Prices and rules can change; confirm your purchase and travel conditions with the operator.
Start with the journeys you want to take. The planners return approximate costs and a pass shortlist.
