Coverage of Japan Rail Pass

Railway

The Japan Rail Pass covers all JR Group Railways – including Shinkansen (“bullet trains”), limited express, express, rapid, and local trains, as well as the BRT, with some exceptions:

• Shinkansen: The pass does not cover any reserved or non-reserved seats on the “Nozomi” and “Mizuho” trains.
• Tokyo Monorail: Covered for Japan Rail Pass holders.
• Aoimori Railway: Travel between Aomori and Hachinohe is covered only on local or rapid service trains that run the full segments: Hachinohe ↔ Aomori, Aomori ↔ Noheji, and Hachinohe ↔ Noheji. Disembarking at any other station on the Aoimori Railway line is not covered.
• IR Ishikawa Railway: Travel between Kanazawa and Tsubata is covered only on local or limited express trains that run the full segment. Disembarking at any other station along the line (within or outside the segment) is not covered.
• Ainokaze Toyama Railway: Travel between Toyama and Takaoka is covered only on local trains running the full segment. Disembarking at any other station along the line is not covered.
• Hapi-liner Fukui: Travel between Echizen-Hanandō and Fukui is covered only on local trains and only between these two stations. Travel beyond these stations is not covered.

Caution

• The Japan Rail Pass is not valid for any reserved or non-reserved seats on “Nozomi” or “Mizuho” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo, or Kyushu Shinkansen lines. Please use “Hikari”, “Sakura”, “Kodama”, or “Tsubame” trains instead.
• Exception: If a special [ONLY WITH JAPAN RAIL PASS] Nozomi/Mizuho ticket is purchased before boarding and used together with a valid Japan Rail Pass, the respective train may be used for the section indicated on the ticket.
• When using a Gran Class car on the Tokaido, Hokkaido, Joetsu, or Hokuriku Shinkansen lines, the limited express fee and Gran Class fee must be paid in addition to the Japan Rail Pass.
• When travelling on a private railway, the fare and any applicable fees for the section used must be paid. (Some JR trains operate through services onto private railways.)
• Depending on the train and section, tickets may not be available even if seats appear free, due to limits on reserved seats or other restrictions.

Major JR Trains Running Through Non-JR Lines

Extra fares or fees may be required when using sections of non-JR railways.

Buses

• The Japan Rail Pass is valid on local JR Bus lines (with some exceptions). Pass validity for specific routes may change.
• JR Bus companies include: JR Hokkaido Bus, JR Bus Tohoku, JR Bus Kanto, JR Tokai Bus, West Japan JR Bus, Chugoku JR Bus, JR Shikoku Bus, and JR Kyushu Bus.
• The pass is not valid on express bus routes operated by JR Bus.

Ferry

• The pass covers only the JR-West Miyajima Ferry.
• The JR Kyushu Jet Ferry between Hakata and Busan (Korea) is not covered.
• A Miyajima Visitor Tax of 100 yen must be paid separately upon your visit.