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JAPAN RAIL PASS is offered by all six companies which make up
the Japan Railways Group (JR Group)

With the PASS, you can freely board almost any train on these JR Group
lines throughout the country, For modern, convenient sight-seeing,
Japan Rail Pass is a traveler's best friend.

The Japan Rail Pass is a special ticket that is available only to travelers visiting Japan from foreign countries for sight-seeing. To be eligible to purchase a Japan Rail Pass you must meet one of the following two conditions.

• You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing, under the entry status of "temporary visitor'.
  "Temporary' visitor entry status, according to Japanese Immigration Law, allows a stay in Japan of 15 days or 90 days for sight-seeing, etc". If you apply for a "stay for sight-seeing" when you enter Japan, entry personnel will stamp your passport as "temporary visitor". Only persons who have a passport bearing this stamp can use a Japan Rail Pass.

  Caution: Even if you visit Japan with an Exchange Order, to be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS, the exchange cannot be made unless you have "Temporary Visitor" status; if you enter Japan under any other official status, such as "Trainee," "Entertainer," or "Reentry Permit," you cannot change the Exchange Order for a JAPAN RAIL PASS. Please note that according to strict interpretation of the Japanese Immigration Law, "Temporary Visitor" status differs even from other types of stays that are also for only short time periods.

• You are a Japanese national living in a foreign country,
  a. who is qualified to live permanently in that country, or
  b. who is married to a non-Japanese residing in a country other than Japan.
  Note: Persons meeting conditions a or b above must be required to show proof of same at the point of purchase of an Exchange Order and obtaining a Japan Rail Pass.

The Japan Rail Pass is valid for the railways, buses, and ferry boats shown in Table 1.

• All JR trains have Ordinary Cars (coach class) while many long-distance trains also offer Green Cars (superior class). With a Green-type Japan Rail Pass you can use either class, while with an Ordinary-type Japan Rail Pass you can use only Ordinary Cars without paying an additional charge. Refer to the table below for details.
• The cars with can be used with Japan Rail Pass.
• Use of the cars with requires paying additional charges.

Remarks:
> Green private compartments are on certain limited express trains, such as "NARITA EXPRESS" and "Super-view Odoriko."
> Use of "Home Liner" and other "liner" trains requires an additional charge.

• The valid period of a Japan Rail Pass is the consecutive 7, 14, or 21 days beginning on the date the Pass is first used.
• Within three months from the date the Exchange Order was issued, you must turn in your Exchange Order to obtain your Japan Rail Pas. At that time, you have to specify the date that you want to start using the Pass. It can be any date within one month from the date the Pass is received.
• Once the Pass has a starting date written on it, the date cannot be changed.

• A Japan Rail Pass cannot be purchased inside Japan.

• You must purchase an Exchange Order from an authorized sales office or agent before you come to Japan. 

• After you arrive in Japan, you turn in the Exchange Order to receive your Japan Rail Pass at an applicable JR station that has a Japan Rail Pass exchange office.

• Shinkansen and most limited express and ordinary express trains have reserved Green car seats and both reserved and nonreserved ordinary car seats.
• A nonreserved seat can be used simply by showing your Japan Rail Pass.
• Seat reservations can be made without additional payment. To make a reservation, apply at any Travel Service Center or a Reservation Office (Midori-no-madoguchi) at a  JR station, or at a sales office of a JR-associated travel agency. There, show your PASS, and obtained your reserved-seat ticket before boarding.

Note: Do not use an automatic ticket-reading gate with a JAPAN RAIL PASS or a reserved-seat ticket. Please show the PASS at a manned ticket gate.

1. A  Japan Rail Pass is strictly limited to the assigned individual; it is not transferable from one person to another.
2. You should carry your passport during travel, and be prepared to show if requested.
3. Refund of Exchange Order or Japan Rail Pass

• An Exchange Order that has not been turned in for a Japan Rail Pass can be returned to the office where it was purchased for a refund, within one year of the date of issue. In such case a handling fee and communication fee will be subtracted from the refund.
• After an Exchange Order is turned in for a Japan Rail Pass, the Pass can be turned in at any Japan Rail Pass exchange office for a refund if this is done before the starting date for the use of the Pass. (Ten percent of the yen price of the Pass will be charged as a handling fee.)
• No refund can be made for any reason on or after the stamped First Date.
• No refund on a Japan Rail Pass can be made in the event of train non-operation, delay or the like.

4. Neither an Exchange Order nor a Japan Rail Pass can be reissued if lost or stolen.
5. These and other usage conditions follow the Japan Railways Group passenger transportation regulations and Japanese laws. The validity of an Exchange Order during the period before it is turned in for a Japan Rail Pass, however, shall follow the stipulations and regulations of the company that issued the Exchange Order.