JR Pass in 2024: BEST Ways to Plan & make the most of the Japan Rail Pass

[@amnistar4957]

Great video. I think you hit the nail on the head for how to approach the JR pass. It's a math problem, work out your itinerary first and see how close your primary routes get you to making it worthwhile. If it's close to the same price, get it and you don't have to fret about things and can take day trips easily on the fly in addition. If it's not close then don't get it and work around it.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

This was a difficult video to research, approach and film! Hopefully it all made sense and helps people!

[@420hotbox36]

🚅🚆🚆🚅🚆🚅🚆🚆🚅🚆🚆🚅 I'm flying out to Tokyo next month. I basically want to ride the shinkansen from Kagoshima all the way up to Hakodate or vise versa doesn't really matter. My starting point is Tokyo so I'm thinking the first day I'll go from Tokyo to Kagoshima, then back to Tokyo. Spend the night, and then the next day I'll go from Tokyo up to Hakodate and then back to Tokyo. I was thinking about buying the Green JR pass for 70,000Yen because I wanted to be able to reserve a seat by the window. But im confused because i thought you couldn't reserve seats in the standard cars. I thought you can only reserve if you sat in the green car. If you are able to reserve seats for standard and green, is the benefit of having a green JR pass only for the bigger seats and legroom?

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Tokyo to Kagoshima is quite the trip!.. May I suggeset you look into maybe flying to Kagoshima and then travelling up from there?!

[@jimross7648]

Ninja Monkey has my JR pass covered, that is so generous of you. I expected you just to explain the various offers, but since you've got me covered, that's an expense I now don't have worry about. One thing that about Japan that has changed as of today, is being armed with knowledge of the available travel options is now more important than ever. No point in wasting money that could be better spent on other experiences and attractions in Japan.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Agree Jim, better choose 3 or 4 locations to explore and make the most of your time there

[@premiumbr]

@NinjaMonkeyguy Which site or sites do you offer the best prices, and are reliable, to buy individual tickets for several sections using Shinkansen? I already know that it's not worth buying the JR pass for me, but I still want to travel on the Shinkansen. routes I will take: Tokyo - Kyoto Osaka - Hiroshima Hiroshima - Tokyo And do you have any discount coupons for a reliable website?

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

no discount coupons as far as I'm aware.. unless there is a specific pass available for a timeframe and usually this is only from Japan.. purchase from within Japan at the station or alt check out my affiliate link with Klook (but i believe they add some kind of a fee) affiliate.klook.com/redirect?aid=53954&aff_adid=812132&k_site=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.klook.com%2F

[@premiumbr]

@@NinjaMonkeyguy what is your affiliate link ? Which site ? Klook ?

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

@@premiumbr affiliate.klook.com/redirect?aid=53954&aff_adid=812132&k_site=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.klook.com%2F klook yep

[@premiumbr]

@@NinjaMonkeyguy I will definitely use it . Many thanks ❤️

[@nieznanyx]

does the JR pass cover the JR limited express or rapid trains between kyoto and osaka ? and if so - are reservations needed? -- also: if you have luggage between kyoto and osaka - is it allowed on JR limited express or new rapid lines?

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

hi The JR Pass gives you unlimited access to all Japan Rail National trains, JR bus services, ferry services, and airport transfers including Limited express. Luggage is allowed on all JR trains, currently Shinkansen trains need a specific seat reservation for Oversize luggage

[@Flupke1070]

🚄Thanks for this very comprehensive up to date JR Pass guide Nathan! Let's not forget alternative Rail companies, like e.g. Kintetsu, with which you can travel comfortably from Nagoya to Osaka-Namba for half the price.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

You bet! there are so many options.. hopefully this guide will at least help the small percentage of people that might need it

[@darthdiddums845]

🚄 Just 2 weeks to go...using Kyoto, Kanazawa and Tokyo as hubs to travel further afield as day trips, taking an Express bus from Kanazawa to Takayama then on to Matsumoto being the most 'hectic' part of the trip. Travelling solo too at 65. Wish me luck!

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

It sounds like a wonderful trip! no age is the wrong age to travel Japan! enjoy!!

[@MengLeeLim]

if going to tokyo, you have no choice but to get jr pass unless you are willing to travel by bus from narita/haneda to tokyo/shinjuku or wherever your hotel is located.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

you DO NOT need a JR pass just for tokyo or getting to Tokyo from the airport!

[@alexeydudkin9310]

when you have the pass, can you get on and off as you please? and if yes do you need to book seats each time? Im going to be travelling from tokyo to Osaka and Hiroshima and would like to get off at some spots and sightsee along the way

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

you can get on and off as you please, most shinkansen have non-reserved seats but some dont and require a reservation

[@ntg1986]

Thanks for the information, i'm going for the second time to Japan.. My itinerary is Tokyo, Kanazawa and Kobe, do you recommend buying the jr rail pass for 7 days? Or buying individual?

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

if you are doing Kanazawa then check out the Hokuriku arch pass! sounds like a perfect fit for you: affiliate.klook.com/redirect?aid=53954&aff_adid=830177&k_site=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.klook.com%2Fen-GB%2Factivity%2F2781-7-day-jr-hokuriku-arch-pass-jr-pass%2F

[@ntg1986]

@@NinjaMonkeyguy thanks for the information 👏

[@thebuckeyegamer7443]

Great video!!! I’m going to Japan in April with my husband, and we will be visiting several locations. One question I can’t seem to get answered is do we need a visa in order to user the JR pass? I’m from the US which is visa wavered for Japan for stays under 90 days. We are going for 2 weeks

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Firstly, it might be surprising but the JR pass might not work out for you. If you do want to use it you need a "Visitor Stamp" in your passport so make sure you are not travelling for business and travelling for tourism and youre fine

[@thebuckeyegamer7443]

@@NinjaMonkeyguy yes we are traveling for tourism. I’m just confused on the visa requirements because most of what I’ve read says that the US is visa exempt for short term stays for tourism

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Yep it is.. you will not need a visa and simply get a visitor stamp on arrival @@thebuckeyegamer7443

[@towada1066]

hmmm,... a relative works for JR East but I don't want to ask him for favors (except for my really beautiful Tokyo Station commemorative SUICA card !) ... I really think for foreigners, just get SUICA and don't bother with JR Pass ... the company is trying to recover from the Covid pandemic loss but they really don't know what to do ...

[@rickyism1576]

I imagine anything less than a 14 days isn't worth it anymore.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

even the 14 day one is hit or miss.. and more miss in my opinion!

[@cidiracing7481]

14 days is also hard to get your money worth now. On my last trip before the pandemic within 3 weeks I went to Sapporo from Tokyo, from Tokyo to Osaka, to Kyoto, to Hiroshima, to Kumamoto, back to Osaka and then back to Tokyo (plus one day trips to smaller cities along the way) l. The only long stay was in Sapporo with 5 days for the snow festival. Everything else was 1 or 2 day stays. With the new price I would have paid 100 bucks more for the pass than just buying the tickets. Under the new price I would need to do that trip in 14 days instead of 21 days to actually save any money. That wouldn't be a particularly relaxing holiday. I also don't get the Nozomi extra charge. Just buying a normal ticket reserved seats for Nozomi are like 500 yen more then Hikari, but JR Pass holders have to pay several thousand yen and JR presents it's an added to benefit for the price increase. It's extremely difficult now to make the JR Pass worth it for any period of length.

[@rickyism1576]

@@cidiracing7481 With the JR price rising, i'm sure the single ride price increase is just around the corner.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Yep, its kinda hard to justify using it unless you are a very specific traveller @@cidiracing7481

[@noureenshahid2770]

Thank you for this informative video could you please guide me if it's worth getting a 14 day JR pass? Here's my itenaray Tokyo - 5 days stay Tokyo to Nikko - day trip ( thinking of activating the JR pass on this day) Tokyo to Osaka (8 days stay in Osaka making it the base) 1 Day trip to Himeji and Kobe 1 Day trip to Nara 3 days trip to Kyoto 1 Day trip Hiroshima and Miyajima Travel from Osaka to Okayama 2 days stay in Okayama Okayama back to Tokyo Tokyo to Narita airport Thank you so much!

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

use this calculator to figure it out: www.japan-guide.com/railpass/

[@noureenshahid2770]

@@NinjaMonkeyguy thank you. I did use it and it seems like there's only a little difference

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

if its only a little difference then great do it.. but caution and make sure you look at the price for the 2 week one!

[@noureenshahid2770]

Thank you so much for your help. I just booked a 2 week one though the official JRpass website. I have also booked some day tours separately e.g in Tokyo booked a tour to Mount Fuji and Hakone. Day tour in Osaka to Fushimi inari Golden Pavilion, Kiyomizo dera, Arashiyama. Tea ceremony etc. Is it worth to book a Hiroshima and Miyajima tour from Hiroshima if I travel by Shinkansen from Osaka or can I do it on my own?

[@009amutofan]

Im going to japan next year, doing tokyo, hakone, osaka, quioto and hiroshima. Is the JR pass worth in this case?

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

It all depends on how long you are going to be travelling, you should calculate each individual fare and comapre it to the JR pass, the likelyhood is that unless you are going to do all that in one week it might not be worth it, but check it out

[@009amutofan]

@@NinjaMonkeyguy we are going for 13 days! We see the JR pass as an "easy" solution because of luggage as well 😅

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

@009amutofan did you calculate it?

[@PinoysaTCIpoolclub]

domou domou

[@beccamay93]

🚅🚅🚅

[@unknighted2003]

🚄

[@rodrigoherediac]

Thanks for the video NM. I am traveling for my honeymoon in june. We are doing the most typical of all trips.... Tokyo - Osaka - Kyoto. After listening to your video then maybe the best option is the Hokuriku Pass? This is so confusing. THANK YOU AGAIN!

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Or.. maybe not even getting a pass?! Getting individual tickets maybe?

[@gumerzambrano]

I'll be going to Japan for the first time for a month in January and am not sure wether it will be worth it for me. Want to explore as much as possible. I saw a comment for another video that I could just fly from Tokyo to Osaka and just take the buses there for a similar price. And just take the shinkasen to tokyo 🚄

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

I think its worth exploring different modes of transport depending on your needs. flights for places that are very far away makes sense, bus travel could take a long time so you might want to look at night bus if this is something you are interested in, generally if you are going to only osaka and tokyo then maybe the shinkansen is fine

[@thecleeze6359]

Good video. I think most people coming to Japan as a tourist are just not going to get the value out of the JR Pass at this price. In my opinion, most of those people would be flying in to Tokyo, and visiting Kyoto and Osaka. Now... it's cheaper to just buy a train ticket. I'd consider getting the JR Pass, because I might return after my current residency, because I'd take the train from all the way north to all the way south (and then I'd be sad there is not a train to Okinawa). I guess it's about $100 US for about 2 hours on the shinkansen. Then I'd roughly estimate that Japan is approximately 6 of those. But I'm not a typical traveler, and I'd have a different agenda. I lament that the 'arch pass' is limited to the tourist visa, because I want to go to Kanazawa. I take the driving test in 3 days though, so maybe I will get to get out of the train system for awhile.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Yes it really is tricky to find a way to make the JR work for anyone!

[@SA-1976]

I'm spending 12 days staying in tokyo for 4 days osaka for 4 then back to tokyo. Do I need a JR pass or are there any regional passes between tokyo and osaka I could obtain ?

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

I think in your case you’re prob best getting the tickets individually. But I’m not here to advise rather to inform, so I recommend checking your itinerary against prices

[@timothyjohns3561]

Thanks for the great video. Been a few years since I last visited Japan. Previous trips the JR Pass was an automatic no-brainer and represented superb value for zipping all over Japan in style while avoiding domestic airports. Now it's genuinely "poor" value IMO.. as your video highlights, one CAN get some value from the new passes... but only if you really WANT it and WORK for it. Not my idea of a useful travel tool, or an enjoyable trip. Travelling just for the sake of "getting your money's worth". I am curious as to your thoughts on why Japan has decided to go down this route and effectively "ruin" the attraction & value proposition of the JR Pass for foreign visitors.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

I think it’s supposed to be to curtail over tourism and to recoup losses over the pandemic .. only thing is this might make people keep to the same busy routes and not make a difference rather they will just purchase individual tickets .. what are your thoughts?

[@henrychew235]

Its value really diminishes unless you plan to utilize a lot of train rides and squeeze your sightseeing in between. Even regional passes now need planning as it may not be worth while if you don't travel far enough! E.g if you choose to use wide pass and only go karuizawa for 2 days 1 night, and the last day in local tokyo jr will not pay off.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Its really changed the way we will all travel to Japan

[@markg155]

Thanks for all the information Nathan, great stuff. Regarding your 14-day pass travelling to 10 cities, I would say no. There is simply too much to do and to see in just a handful of these cities. If not careful, you will be missing a lot and your 14 days vacation will leave you exhausted. At the moment I am not even considering a JR Pass anymore, as there are different methods some which you mentioned. JR Pass from my perspective at this point is pure for convenience to escape the hassle.🚄

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Good point! Yep, its certainly not to tempting for me either!

[@sisterblissuk9253]

We all need a knowable Ninja Monkey in our lives 🚄.Thank you for all the research into tickets and passes

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Thanks for being an amazing supporter and so encouraging

[@askedwardtmi9118]

love your videos can you do a video about traveling in japan on the night busses and the different company's to use keep up the great work 🚄

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

It’s something I’d like to explore further in the future for sure :)

[@benjaminsande8711]

oh thank god I saw this and thought damn chris broad looks a lot older than usual

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

hahaha.... thanks I guess :)

[@TheSleepyRocker]

Great video with useful tips. Thank you :)

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Glad it was helpful! Hope some of my other tip videos are useful too.. this Starter kit playlist might be of use: kzbin.info/aero/PLbd9mBH8nn5E12slbrK9R1S6bItfuSqAf

[@bravosierra2447]

The price increase is so shocking, I bought mine in time, but if I had left it until now it would of cost me another $1750AUD

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

and possibly not have been worth it!

[@bravosierra2447]

@@NinjaMonkeyguy yea, that’s what I fear.

[@HacksignKT]

I don't know where the train emot is so I'll just type /train

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

haha thanks! great effort finding it :)

[@aryogono6338]

💺🚅💨💨💨

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

🚅

[@JamielD.]

🚄

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Happy travels!

[@miduk8154]

🚄

[@miduk8154]

Any must see spots for a 7-day trip on the last week of March? My brain is turning into mush already just planning out the transportation and lodging part. So your videos really help a lot! Thank you!

[@taniner]

🚝🚄🚅🚈🚂🚆

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

🚅🐒

[@bradleyroe2306]

🚄

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

🚅🐒✈️

[@samuelrobinson1150]

What regional pass can I use to go to Sagamihara Station?

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Upon researching the trip isn’t too far or that expensive, so maybe not worth a pass?

[@cidiracing7481]

My main problem with the regional passes are they are only for ordinary cars and don't have a green car version. Since not a lot of tourists get the green car JR Pass it's always so much more relaxing and quiet compared to the ordinary car. Booking last minute also has never been an issue because there are also not a lot of Japanese that take the green car. Plus no direct fast link to Osaka as I always visit friends in Tokyo, Osaka and Hiroshima.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Ye, for Osaka now a direct train is prob the best option,

[@jumpforstars5733]

Unless one is quite fat (and needs a roomier seat), no need to spend money for green class. As for the noise, etc., come one, if one already lives in a (Canadian) city surrounded by noisy folks and one already is accustomed to local transit trains, I found JR ordinary class..just fine. I lived in Toronto and Vancouver for many years. Please folks only if you are really fat... Not worth all that extra money.

[@ThisOrThat13]

🚄 I appreciate your detailed guide regarding the paths and additional options.

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Glad they give you some ideas of options there are many more that are worth looking into

[@denniswhite1399]

I am going to fly and take local trains and buses

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Hybrid travel is the way forward for sure :)

[@froglady4360]

Another great & informative video. Good job Nathan

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

🐸

[@lannifincoris6482]

Thank you for the usefull informations! 🙂

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

🚝🚄🚅🚈🚂

[@slickwitdakicks5758]

🛹

[@denniswhite1399]

pass not good for most sadly

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

yup, Its sad.. I hope the video was clear an informative though

[@japanjapanichiban]

🚅 great video

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Glad you enjoyed it! Had to be done on the 1st of October right?!

[@OnlyOneNights]

🚅 Awesome vid, dude!

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@donntakebayashi9424]

🚅 Thank you!

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Hope it helps!

[@jaxj17]

This is an action as a result of the over tourism and hopefully there’s less tourism as a result. The reality is Japan like any country needs a healthy balance between tourism and the wellbeing of its own people.Thank you for the content!

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

Overtourism but this wont fix anything, people will simply still travel with single tickets to the major spots Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka and not travel to the places where they should!

[@denniswhite1399]

Kyoto a few years was so nice now I cant stand to go its to full of tourists you cant move its spoilt .I went in Feb walked as buses to crowded and station was packed . 6 -8 years ago was so much nicer than today I see why locals arent happy they cant even ride local buses

[@mohdsafariyusofnurlizaalia7678]

👍👍

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

🐒

[@coreykang5599]

🚄

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

🚝🚄🚅

[@miyagimeyer1048]

🚃

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

🚅

[@kegarmoe]

🚄

[@NinjaMonkeyguy]

🚅

[@darklightuk2]

🚅 🚋 🚆