Japan Rail Pass

JR WEST RAIL PASS

Contact: If you have questions, please contact your local JTB branch or call the phone number below.

Phone: (800) 223-6104
Email: reservation@jtbusa.com
Office hour : Mon-Fri 9:00 - 17:30 (PST)
<<JR Official Website>>

JR West-Kansai Area Pass


* Prices are subject to change without notice
* Child 5 years of age and under not requiring a seat is free of charge.

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

Passes starting at one day, up to 4 days (consecutive days) 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.


See a map for the detail.

https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/travel-information/pass/kansai/

JR West-Sanyo-San'in Area Pass

7 days 7days
Ordinary
Coach Class
$156 $78

* Prices are subject to change without notice
* Child 5 years of age and under not requiring a seat is free of charge.

Excursion Pass for between Shin-Osaka and Hakata, San’in (5 prefecture in Chugoku), and Takamatsu, in addition to the Kansai 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-San’in Area Pass Description

These passes allow unlimited use within the designated area, of the following trains operated by JR West: "Nozomi", “MIizuho”, "Hikari",”Sakura” "Kodama", Sanyo Shinkansen super express trains, "Haruka" limted express trains, ordinary cars of local trains(both reserved and non-reserved seating) 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.


See a map for the detail.

http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/travel-information/pass/sanyo_sanin/

JR West-Kansai WIDE Area Pass

5 days 5days
Ordinary
Coach Class
$82 $41

* Prices are subject to change without notice
* Child 5 years of age and under not requiring a seat is free of charge.

What is the JR West-Kansai WIDE Area Pass?

For the travelers who are planning to travel around wide Kansai area, the JR West-Kansai WIDE Area Pass is the most economical and useful pass. Compared to the Kansai Area Pass, this pass offers you unlimited ride to much larger area. With the pass you can travel from the Kansai Area (Kyoto/Osaka/Kobe) to Kansai Airport, the Okayama area, the Nanki area, and the Kinosaki onsen (hot springs)


Valid area of the JR West-Kansai WIDE Area Pass

The JR West-Kansai WIDE Area Pass is valid for unlimited travel in the following area: Non-reserved seats on Bullet train “Sanyo Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka ⇔Okayama)”, Kounotori, Hamakaze, Kansai-airport express Haruka, Kinosaki, Thunder Bird, Kuroshio.


See a map for the detail.

http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/travel-information/pass/kansai_wide/

<NOTE>
The following trains cannot be used.
Bullet Train "TOKAIDO SHINKANSEN" (Shin-Osaka⇔Tokyo),
Bullet Train "SANYO SHINKANSEN" (Okayama⇔Hakata),
Bullet Train "KYUSHU SHINKANSEN" (Hakata⇔Kagoshima-Chuo)


What is the JR West Rail Pass? Who can buy?

A train pass specially designed for overseas tourists in the Kansai area. There are three distinct types of rail passes. Available to travelers visiting Japan from foreign countries for sightseeing.

What is the JR West Rail Pass?
The JR West Pass is an interesting twist in service provided for temporary visitors (90 days or less) to Japan. There are three distinct types of rail passes available for travel within the JR-West Area: Kansai Area Pass, Sanyo-San’in Area Pass and Kansai WIDE Area Pass.
Who can buy the JR West Rail Pass?

The JR West Pass is a special pass, only available to travelers visiting Japan from foreign countries for sightseeing. You must hold a passport issued by a foreign government and enter Japan as a “Temporary Visitor”, which is a status of residence defined under Japanese immigration law.

"Temporary visitor" entry status, according to Japanese Immigra- tion 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 JR West Pass.

* Japanese citizens living abroad can not use this pass.
* If you hold both a Japanese passport and a passport of another country (Dual Citizenship), please be sure to enter Japan with the non-Japanese passport and obtain the "temporary visitor" stamp to be eligible to exchange.


Caution:
Even if you visit Japan with an Exchange Order, to be turned in for a JR West 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" or "entertainer", you can not change the Exchange Order for a JR West 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.
When you exchange to JR West Rail Pass, you must submit the original Exchange Order. A copy is not acceptable.


How to obtain? How to use?

Purchase an Exchange Order before you leave for Japan and exchange the voucher in Japan. You are able to purchase the voucher through the JTB USA website.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3.Let's use the JR West Rail Pass!
JR West Pass may be use on rail, buses and ferries operated by JR-West Area.

Items to Remember at time of use

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

You must show your passport when exchanging the ticket voucher for the JR West 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 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 Pass: 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 Pass 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 20% 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 Passes.


Lost or stolen ticket vouchers and JR West 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.


More Information about the JR Pass

If you have questions, please contact your local JTB branch or call the phone number below.

Phone: (800) 223-6104
Email : reservation@jtbusa.com
Office hour : Mon-Fri 9:00 - 17:30 (PST)