While planning your trip to Tokyo Disney Resort, Universal Studios Japan, and the rest of this beautiful country, one question is whether it’s worth buying the Japan Rail Pass. The answer is “it depends.” I’ll help you decide whether it’s right for you and give you an ideal itinerary to make the most of your pass.

A large number of articles out there already go in-depth about the Japan Rail Pass. Still, I wanted to add my spin on it for those wishing to include Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan in their itinerary.

Table of Contents

• What is the Japan Rail Pass?
• How to Buy the Japan Rail Pass
• Should I Buy the Japan Rail Pass?

What is the Japan Rail Pass?

The Japan Rail Pass allows short-term visitors (90-day tourist visa) unlimited travel across Japan using the world-renown Shinkansen (bullet train), JR Commuter trains, JR Buses, JR Ferries, and even the Narita Express.

Rail pass users are issued a paper pass the size of a small greeting card presented to the staff at the train gates to access the platforms (this is for ordinary trains). For the Shinkansen bullet train, you can book your tickets in person at a JR ticketing office (also known as a midori-no-madoguchi) and present your Japan Rail Pass when making your reservation.

The official website has a list of locations to book your tickets (in English), also how to use the ticket machines.

How to Buy the Japan Rail Pass

I highly recommend buying the Japan Rail Pass before you get to Japan (it saves you time and money). Get your JR Rail Pass in advance through one of these trusted affiliates:

• Klook
• Voyagin (includes free luggage storage in Shibuya)
• Japan Rail Pass Official Vendor

Choose the duration of your pass, and you’ll have an “Exchange Order” mailed to you. You’ll then exchange that for the JR Rail Pass. You can choose the Standard Pass or the Green Pass First Class. It’s simple, easy, and worry-free.

Japan Rail Pass Official Vendor Prices

A child is considered ages 6 to 11. The Green Pass gets access to First Class seats, including perks such as larger seats and luggage areas, onboard service, seat reservations, and separate train facilities.

Can I Buy the JR Rail Pass in Japan?

You can buy your JR Rail Pass when you arrive in Japan, but it’ll cost you extra (more below). Historically, you could only buy a Japan Rail Pass before arriving in Japan. However, JR Rail sells passes at select ticketing offices throughout the country.

Buying the JR Rail Pass Online

The easiest way is to buy from the trusted vendors listed above. However, starting Summer 2020, you can officially buy the JR Rail Pass through the Japan Rail website.

You’ll buy through the website and pick it up once you arrive in Japan.

Should I Buy the Japan Rail Pass?

The simple answer is no if you only stay in the Tokyo area and Tokyo Disney Resort. You’re best buying various day passes or Tokyo Wide Pass if you plan to make short trips within Tokyo. Most of these passes won’t cover transportation to/from Tokyo Disney Resort (as it’s outside the Tokyo Area) but are perfect for within the city.

• Tokyo Metro
• Tokyo Metropolitan District Pass (Tokunai Pass)
• Tokyo 1-Day Ticket (subways, trains, and buses)
• Other JR Day Passes
• JR Tokyo Wide Pass

I recommend buying a Suica or Pasmo Card, a contactless payment card (IC Card) that you can use to pay for transit. It can be purchased from any ticket machine (press English to make it easier) for a ¥500 deposit, add money to the card (again, this is done on the machine), then tap through the ticket gates without having to buy a ticket. The best part about this is you don’t have to figure out how much your trip costs. It calculates it for you.

Travelling Beyond Tokyo

If you want to travel outside of Tokyo (Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Northern Japan) via Shinkansen, then the simple answer is yes – you will wish to get a Japan Rail Pass. You can work this into your trip if you want to visit Tokyo Disney Resort, Universal Studios Japan, LEGOLAND Japan, or Huis Ten Bosch. Of course, experience plenty of other non-themed park-related aspects of Japan.

The cost of a round-trip Shinkansen Hikari from Tokyo Station to Shin-Osaka Station is ¥28,680 (~$260USD). While the cost of the 7-day Japan Rail Pass is ¥29,110 (~$263USD). Which is a difference of ¥430 (~$ 4 USD). You’ll make up the difference by taking local trains and the Shinkansen to/from Kyoto. Use Hyperdia to price out your trips.

Get your JR Rail Pass before you go:

• Voyagin
• Japan Rail Pass Official Vendor

Note: Japan Rail Pass doesn’t include the faster Shinkansen bullet trains, the Nozomi and Mizuho. You can ride the slower Hikari, however.

14-Day Japan Itinerary

Here’s a suggested itinerary with the 7-Day Japan Rail Pass that includes Tokyo Disney Resort, Universal Studios Japan, and other popular tourist destinations. This is a 14-Day itinerary to get the most out of your 7-Day Japan Rail Pass and to experience the highlights of Japan (certainly not all of it, but that means there’s more to see next time).

I suggest taking an Airport Limousine Bus (from Narita or Haneda Airport) to Tokyo Disney Resort. After Tokyo Disney Resort, head to Tokyo Station and exchange for your pass. That way, you don’t have to activate your Japan Rail Pass until after you’re done at the parks.

• 4 Days at Tokyo Disney Resort
• 2 Days in Osaka and Nara
  • Activate your pass when travelling to Osaka and reserve your Shinkansen ticket
  • Use Osaka as your home base
• 1 Day at Universal Studios Japan
• 1 Day in Hiroshima
• 1 Day in Kyoto
• 4 Days in Tokyo
  • Take the Shinkansen from Osaka to Tokyo. You should be left with one full day left on your pass. Use this within Tokyo. Use your Pasmo card or buy one of the day passes listed above for the rest of the days.
• Last day make your way to the airport.

Once you leave Tokyo, use Osaka as your home base and take the Shinkansen to Hiroshima and Kyoto as day trips (this is my preference). Then the local trains (JR Yamatoji Line) to Nara will use your pass. Afterward, head back to Tokyo for the rest of your trip.

Other Japan Rail Passes

Several other passes cover specific areas of Japan. Chances are you won’t need these, but it’s good to know if you do.

• Hokkaido Rail Pass
• JR Tokyo Wide Pass
• JR East Pass (Tohoku Area)
• JR East Pass (Nagano & Niigata Area)
• JR Central FLEX JAPAN Tourist Pass
• JR West Rail Pass
• ALL SHIKOKU Rail Pass
• JR Kyushu Rail Pass

In short, if your trips consist of only Tokyo Disney Resort and the greater Tokyo area, there is no need for the Japan Rail Pass. As soon as you want to do a single round-trip on the Shinkansen to another part of Japan, then it’s worth the money.

Explorer Thoughts?

Have you used the Japan Rail Pass before? Share your itinerary with us in the comments!

Feature photo by Fikri Rasyid on Unsplash.