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Important Information
Current Rail Status
Due to the heavy rainfall on July 29, 2011, some trains in the JR East area have been suspended or delayed.
It is expected to take time to restore those sections of the Ban-etsu-West Line, Iiyama Line, Joetsu Line, and Tadami Line which have suffered particularly severe damage, so please watch out for additional information as it becomes available.
For information about the operating schedules on each line, please check the “Current Rail Status” section on the JR East web site or turn to the JR East Infoline.
(For customers who bought their passes before March 2011) Temporary full refund of our regional pass
If you want to refund your exchange order to stop your travel in Japan, we can do a full refund for you.
(overseas)
･In case of the purchase through an agent, you can ask the staff in your agent.
･In case of the online purchase, you can ask the staff in AccesRail Helpdesk.
Info@AccesRail.com
(In Japan)
･You can ask our staff in its sales counter.
*Only for unused pass
Special Promotion
Use your JR East Pass and play in the snow!
As a special offer available only for holders of a JR East Pass, guests who come to Gala Yuzawa can purchase a Snow Play Set that includes a gondola ticket.
Take a trip from Matsumoto to Hida Takayama!
JR East Pass holders can purchase a round-trip ticket between Matsumoto and Takayama for 2,500 yen. That's less than half the normal price!
Explore Iwate with the JR East Pass
[Limited time only!] Visitors to Iwate with the JR East Pass will receive a dyed cloth with traditional designs.
The Northern Tohoku Welcome Card is great value!
JR East Pass holders are eligible to receive a free Northern Tohoku Welcome Card valid for a discount on hotels, tourist facilities and more!
What is it?
The JR East Pass is a great way for tourists to save money while enjoying Japan. It allows unlimited rides on all JR East train lines. Start with a trip from Narita Airport to Tokyo, for example, then ride around, and maybe hop aboard the Shinkansen or a limited express to Sendai or Nagano. In addition to JR East lines, the JR East Pass allows rides on some trains in the Izu, Naoetsu and Nikko areas. Passes are available for youth and children at a discounted rate. While in Japan, take advantage of this great offer to see a lot more for a lot less.
Prices
| JR East Pass | Pass Type | Ordinary Car | Green Car | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adults (26 and over) |
Youth (12 to 25) |
Children (6 to 11) |
Adults (12 and over) |
Children (6 to 11) |
||
| 5- day | 20,000 yen | 16,000 yen | 10,000 yen | 28,000 yen | 14,000 yen | |
| 10- day | 32,000 yen | 25,000 yen | 16,000 yen | 44,800 yen | 22,400 yen | |
| Flexible 4- day | 20,000 yen | 16,000 yen | 10,000 yen | 28,000 yen | 14,000 yen | |
Note:
Age requirements apply on the date of Exchange Order issuance if purchased abroad. If the JR East Pass is purchased on arrival in Japan, the age requirements apply at the time of pass issuance. A passport or other valid identification is required for age verification.
Validity
Valid Train Routes
Unlimited travel on local, limited express and express trains including Shinkansens on the following rail company lines:
- JR East Lines
- Sendai Airport Transit
Note: Because of the earthquake, we will be running a substitute bus service until September 30. The train service will recommence on October 1. - Tokyo Monorail
- Izu Kyuko Line
- Hokuetsu Kyuko Railway Hokuhoku Line
- Aoimori Railway
- IGR Iwate Galaxy Railway
- The following limited express trains between Shinjuku and Tobu-nikko/Kinugawa-onsen Stations that directly run between the JR East lines and Tobu Railway lines: the Nikko, the Spacia Nikko, the Kinugawa, and the Spacia Kinugawa. Also, the local trains between Shimo-imaichi and Tobu-nikko/Kinugawa-onsen Stations.
Note:
The JR East Pass is not valid for the Tokaido Shinkansen as that is operated by a different rail company.
The JR East Pass is not valid for JR buses.
Train Accommodations
- Green Car Passes are valid on Green Cars and ordinary cars.
- Ordinary Car Passes are valid only on ordinary cars.
- To use a JR East Pass for a private compartment, a liner or sleeper car, an additional ticket must be purchased. See a station staff or a train conductor for further details.
Trains that can be used with the JR East Pass at no additional charge.
| Train | Type of JR East Pass | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Car | Ordinary Car | ||
| Shinkansens and limited expresses |
GranClass* | N | N |
| Green Car | Y | N | |
| Green Car private compartment | N | N | |
| Ordinary Car | Y | Y | |
| Ordinary Car private compartment | N | N | |
| Liner trains | Ordinary Car | N | N |
| Sleeper trains | Sleeper | N | N |
| Sleeper private compartment | N | N | |
*Please note that the JR East Pass alone is not adequate for travel on the Tohoku Shinkansen in GranClass. For this special class seating, a limited express ticket and a GranClass ticket must be purchased in addition to the JR East Pass.
Valid Periods
- 5-day JR East Pass: five consecutive days
- 10-day JR East Pass: 10 consecutive days
- Flexible 4-day JR East Pass: Any four days within one month from the date issuance.
How to use the Flexible 4-day JR East Pass
Select any four days within a one-month period. The one month begins on the day the pass is issued. At the start of each day you use the pass, present it to a station staff or a train conductor to receive a stamp with the date. The one-month period ends on the day of the month prior to the day of issuance. For example, if the pass is issued on February 16, the last valid day of the pass is March 15.
How to purchase
Purchases Outside Japan
Purchasing through a Travel Agent
- Step1.Purchase an Exchange Order from a travel agent having a designated global distribution system (GDS)
- Step2.After arriving in Japan, present the Exchange Order along with your passport at a JR East Exchange Office (see below). You will receive your JR East Pass after confirmation of eligibility.
Please contact your local travel agency with global distribution system.
For Travel Agents
- When selling an Exchange Order with a global distribution system, enter "9B" as the carrier code, "XZJ" for the departure, and "XZP" for the arrival. For further information on Exchange Order sales refer to the AccesRail sales manual.
Online Purchases
- Step1.Click here to purchase an Exchange Order online.
- Step2.You will receive your Exchange Order in the mail. After arriving in Japan, present that along with your passport at a JR East Exchange Office (see below)
You will receive your JR East Pass after confirmation of eligibility.
Your Exchange Order will be an e-ticket. Print it out and take it with you. The Exchange Order must be redeemed for a JR East Pass within three months of Exchange Order issuance.
The pass can be issued up to one month prior to the first day of the use of the pass. For example, if the first day of use is March 1, then the purchase may be made no earlier than February 1.
Purchasing in Japan
- Please show your passport and round-trip airplane ticket when they are requested by a JR employee.
For e-tickets, a printout of the reservation page may be used. After purchase eligibility has been confirmed, the pass will be available for pickup. - One JR East Pass may be purchased in Japan per stay in Japan.
List of JR East Pass Exchange/Sales Offices
- JR East Passes may be obtained at Narita Airport as well as Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shinjuku, Sendai and many other JR East stations.
JR East Travel Service Center - Narita Airport Terminal 1
B1F
JR East Travel Service Center - Narita Airport Terminal 2
B1F
JR East Travel Service Center
- Haneda Airport International Terminal (Tokyo Monorail)
2F Ticket Gate / Arrival Lobby
| Station | Office | Sales | Exchange | Office Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shin-Aomori | Travel Service Center | Y | Y | All Days | 10:00-17:30 |
| Hachinohe | Travel Service Center | Y | Y | All Days | 10:00-17:30 |
| Akita | Travel Service Center | Y | Y | Weekdays | 10:30-18:00 |
| Weekends and Holidays | 10:30-17:00 | ||||
| Sendai Airport | Ticket Office (Sendai Airport Transit Co.,Ltd.) Note: The issue of JR East Passes in exchange for exchange orders is currently halted but will recommence on December 1. As of September 20. |
N | Y | Weekdays | 10:00-19:00 |
| Weekends and Holidays | 10:00-18:00 | ||||
| Sendai | Travel Service Center | Y | Y | Weekdays | 10:00-19:00 |
| Holidays | 10:00-18:00 | ||||
| Yamagata | Travel Service Center | Y | Y | Weekdays | 10:00-18:00 |
| Weekends and Holidays | 10:00-17:00 | ||||
| Fukushima | Travel Service Center | Y | Y | Weekdays | 10:00-18:00 |
| Weekends and Holidays | 10:00-17:00 | ||||
| Niigata | Travel Service Center | Y | Y | Weekdays | 10:00-19:00 |
| Weekends and Holidays | 10:00-17:00 | ||||
| Nagano | Travel Service Center | Y | Y | Weekdays | 10:00-19:00 |
| Weekends and Holidays | 10:00-17:30 | ||||
| Narita Airport Terminal 1 | Travel Service Center | Y | Y | All Days | 8:15-19:00 |
| Ticket Office | Y | Y | All Days | 6:30-8:15 | |
| 19:00-21:45 | |||||
| Narita Airport Terminal 2 | Travel Service Center | Y | Y | All Days | 10:30-20:00 |
| Ticket Office | Y | Y | All Days | 6:30-10:30 | |
| 20:00-21:45 | |||||
| Haneda Airport International Terminal |
Travel Service Center (Tokyo Monorail 2F Ticket Gate / Arrival Lobby) |
Y | Y | All Days | 11:00-18:30 |
| Tokyo | JAPAN RAIL PASS Exchange Corner (Yaesu North) | N | Y | All Days | 7:30-20:30 |
| Ticket Office (Yaesu North) | Y | N | All Days | 7:00-21:00 | |
| Shinagawa | Information Center (Central) | N | Y | All Days | 9:00-19:00 |
| Travel Service Center | Y | N | Weekdays | 10:00-20:00 | |
| Weekends and Holidays | 10:00-18:00 | ||||
| Ueno | Information Center (Central) | N | Y | All Days | 9:00-19:00 |
| Travel Service Center | Y | N | Weekdays | 10:00-20:00 | |
| Weekends and Holidays | 10:00-18:00 | ||||
| Shinjuku | Information Center (South) | N | Y | All Days | 9:00-19:00 |
| Information Center (East) | N | Y | All Days | 9:00-19:00 | |
| Travel Service Center (East) | Y | N | Weekdays | 10:00-20:00 | |
| Weekends and Holidays | 10:00-18:00 | ||||
| Shibuya | Information Center (South) | N | Y | All Days | 10:00-18:30 |
| Travel Service Center | Y | N | Weekdays | 11:00-20:00 | |
| Weekends and Holidays | 11:00-18:00 | ||||
| Ikebukuro | Information Center (Central) | N | Y | All Days | 9:30-18:00 |
| Travel Service Center (West) | Y | N | Weekdays | 10:00-20:00 | |
| Weekends and Holidays | 10:00-18:00 | ||||
| Yokohama | Travel Service Center | Y | Y | Weekdays | 11:00-20:00 |
| Weekends and Holidays | 10:00-18:00 | ||||
Note:
Some Travel Service Centers are closed during the New Year holiday period.
Offices and office hours are subject to change or discontinuation without notice.
As of December 3, 2010, the Travel Service Center in Aomori Station is no longer selling JR East Passes.
Eligibility
The JR East Pass is a product exclusively for travelers visiting Japan from overseas on a temporary visitor's visa. The following two requirements must be met to purchase and use a JR East Pass:
- The pass user must have a passport issued by a country other than Japan.
日本国籍のお客様は使用できません。 - The pass user must enter Japan on a temporary visitor's visa, stamped in the passport at the time of entry such as shown at right.
Note:
If the above conditions cannot be verified as being met, the traveler may not be allowed to purchase a JR East pass or redeem an Exchange Order for a JR East pass. Travelers must carry their passport when using the JR East Pass as they may be asked to present it for identification purposes.
Seat Reservations
Making a Reservation at a Station
Visit a JR Ticket Office (Midori-no-madoguchi) or Travel Service Center (View Plaza), located in most major JR East stations, and present your JR East Pass to reserve a seat.
Making an Online Reservation
Some JR East Shinkansen and limited express seats can be reserved online.
- JR Ticket Office (Midori-no-madoguchi)
- Travel Service Center (View Plaza)
Note:
Seating is limited, so please make your reservation early.
If no reserved seats are available, please use the unreserved seating. JR East does not make refunds for the difference between the price of a reserved and an unreserved seat in such situations.
Exploring Japan with the JR East Pass
The region of Japan covered by JR East has many natural attractions. In addition to the abundance of natural beauty and quality hot springs, there are numerous national treasures and historical World Heritage Sites. Stroll around Tokyo, one of the world's great megalopolises, take a trip on a Shinkansen, or enjoy a relaxing ride on a resort train or a local line. Or even do all of these activities during your stay in Japan. Spread your wings in the Eastern Japan area. We guarantee you will encounter a Japan you never knew existed.
- Suggested Places to Visits
-
Hirosaki Castle, Aomori Prefecture
Furo Fushi Hot Spring, Aomori Prefecture
The Hayate train on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line
Refunds
JR East Pass Refunds
- Refunds can be obtained for valid, unusued passes from most location where the pass is sold. A service fee is charged for refunds.
- Refunds are not made for canceled or delayed train service.
Exchange Order refunds
- Refunds are made for Exchange Orders within one year of issuance if not redeemed. See the seller for the refund. A fee may be charged by the seller. JR East does not make refunds for Exchange Orders.
Other
- Lost Exchange Orders and JR East Passes will not be reissued.
- The JR East Pass is non-transferrable. Only the person whose name is on the pass may use it. Travelers must carry their passport when using the JR East Pass as they may be asked to present it for identification purposes.
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