JR WEST PASS (KANSAI Area Pass / SANYO Area Pass)

What is the JR West Pass?

The JR West Pass is an interesting twist in service provided for temporary visitors (90 days or less) to Japan. There are two distinct types of rail passes available for travel within the JR-West Area: Sanyo Area Rail Pass and Kansai Area Rail Pass.

Who can buy a JR West Pass?

You are eligible to purchase a JAPAN RAIL PASS if you meet one of the following 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 "temporary visitor". Only persons who have a passport bearing this stamp can use a JAPAN RAIL PASS. * Japanese living abroad can not use this pass.

Caution:

Even if you visit Japan with an Exchange Order, to be turned in for a JR Pass, the exchange cannot be made unless you have "temporary visitor" status; if you enter Japan under any other official status, such as "trainee" or "entertainer", you can not change the Exchange Order for a JR 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.

How to obtain JR West Pass

Purchase an Exchange Order before you come to Japan

You need to purchase a JR WEST RAIL PASS Exchange Order from an authorized sales agent in the US prior to your arrival in Japan. JTB USA is one of a few authorized sales agents for Japan's National Railway Group and offers a full selection of rail pass options.

* Don't forget that the JR WEST RAIL PASS cannot be purchased inside Japan

Present your Exchange Order and obtain your JR WEST RAIL PASS after you arrive in Japan

Upon arrival in Japan, you need to turn in the Exchange Order to receive your JR WEST RAIL PASS at an applicable JAPAN RAIL station that has a JR WEST RAIL PASS exchange office.

Items to Remember at time of use

Please Keep in Mind the Following When Using the JR-West Rail Pass

  • You must show your passport when exchanging the ticket voucher for the JR-West Rail Pass. The voucher exchange and the starting date for the rail pass must be within three months from the date of voucher issue (starting with the day of issue). The JR-West Rail Pass is only valid for the person whose name is on the pass. The pass cannot be transferred to another person.
  • Refunds for ticket vouchers and JR-West rail passes: A ticket voucher may be returned to the place of issue for a refund up to one year from the date of issue. Processing charges will be deducted from the amount refunded. JR-West rail passes can be refunded at the location where the pass was obtained, but only prior to the starting date of the pass. A processing fee of 10% of the amount of the pass (in Japanese yen) will be deducted from the amount refunded. The minimum processing fee is 210 yen, regardless of the amount of the refund. Absolutely no refunds will be made after the starting date of the pass.
  • No changes can be made to the information on ticket vouchers or JR-West rail passes.
  • Lost or stolen ticket vouchers and JR-West rail passes cannot be reissued.
  • Other usage conditions may be subject to the passenger transport regulations established by the West Japan Railway Co. (JR-West) as well as to the laws of Japan. The ticket voucher is also subject to the rules and regulations of the company that issued the voucher.

JR West-Kansai Pass

Excursion Pass for the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe-Nara-Himeji Area .

This pass allows unlimited use of the ordinary-class cars (including rapid-service and special rapid-service trains) when traveling in the Kansai area to Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara, Himeji, and the many other famous sightseeing locations of the area.

Kansai Area Pass Description

One-day and four-day (consecutive days) passes are available. These passes allow unlimited travel, within the designated area, using non-reserved seats in ordinary-class cars on local trains operated by JR-West (including rapid-express and new rapid-express trains). This pass can not be used for Shinkansen trains. When boarding limited-express and express trains other than Shinkansen trains, a ticket for the additional charges for these trains must also be purchased separately.

* Prices are subject to change without notice
* Pass prices for children apply from age 6 to and including age 11.

JR West-Sanyou Pass

Excursion Pass for the Osaka-Okayama-Hiroshima-Hakata Area.

This pass can be used in the ordinary-class cars for 500-Series "Nozomi" and other Sanyo Shinkansen trains (reserved or non-reserved seats) while traveling in the Sanyo area to such famous sightseeing locations as Osaka, Okayama, Hiroshima, and Hakata.

Sanyo Area Pass Description

  • Four-day and eight-day (consecutive days) passes are available.
  • These passes allow unlimited use, within the designated area, of the following trains are transportation services operated by JR-West. "Nozomi", "Hikari", and "Kodama" Sanyo Shinkansen super express trains, "Haruka" limited express trains, ordinary-class cars on local trains (reserved and non-reserved seats), and the Miyajima ferry line in Hiroshima.

* When using reserved seats, you must obtain a reserved seat ticket (at no extra charge) from a JR-West ticket office "Green Window" or a TiS travel center prior to boarding the train.

* Prices are subject to change without notice
* Pass prices for children apply from age 6 to and including age 11.



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