Transport
Getting around Japan
Japan runs on rail. Most inbound trips come down to one question: do I buy a rail pass, or single tickets? Start with the main guide below — it works through the post-2023-hike math with an interactive calculator.
Start here
Is the JR Pass Worth It in 2026? An Honest, Math-First Take
Since October 2023 the 7-day JR Pass costs ¥50,000 — for most trips it no longer pays off. The math, the use cases, and what to buy instead.
Read the full math →
Regional rail passes
Each regional pass covers a slice of the country at a fraction of the all-Japan JR Pass price. Match the pass to the geography of your trip.
-
JR East and JR West (joint)
Hokuriku Arch Pass 2026: Tokyo to Osaka via the Northern Route
JR East and JR West's joint 7-day pass for Tokyo↔Osaka via Kanazawa — covers the Hokuriku Shinkansen, Sea of Japan coast, and Kansai limited expresses. ¥30,000.
-
JR East
JR East Tohoku Area Pass 2026: 5 Flexible Days, Tohoku and Beyond
JR East's flexible 5-day pass for Tokyo + Tohoku + southern Hokkaido — covers Hayabusa Shinkansen all the way to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. ¥30,000.
-
JR Hokkaido
JR Hokkaido Rail Pass 2026: 3, 5, or 7 Days for the Northern Island
JR Hokkaido's island-only pass covering Sapporo, Hakodate, Asahikawa, and Furano on JR Hokkaido limited expresses. ¥20,000–¥27,000 across three durations.
-
JR Kyushu
JR Kyushu Rail Pass 2026: Northern, Southern, or All Kyushu
JR Kyushu's three regional passes — Northern (¥10,000+), Southern (¥9,000+), and All Kyushu (¥18,000+) — across 3, 5, and 7-day durations.
-
JR West
JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass 2026: 5 Days, Kansai Plus Hiroshima and Kanazawa
JR West's 5-day pass extending Kansai across to Hiroshima, Okayama, and Kanazawa via Sanyo and Hokuriku Shinkansen. ¥12,000 — strong value for a Kansai+ trip.
-
JR East
Tokyo Wide Pass 2026: 3 Days, Day Trips, and Whether It's Worth It
JR East's 3-day pass covering Tokyo and the surrounding day-trip belt — Nikko, Kawaguchiko, Karuizawa, Echigo-Yuzawa. ¥15,000, foreign-passport only.