JR Passes

Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites include ancient temples, castles, sacred mountains, historic villages, memorials, pilgrimage routes, and extraordinary natural landscapes. Many of the country’s best-known heritage sites are also surprisingly easy to include in a train-based Japan itinerary. As of 2026, Japan has 27 properties on the UNESCO World Heritage List: 22 cultural properties and … Read more

Japan has an extraordinary range of destinations that are easy to explore without a car. From Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka to historic castle towns, mountain destinations, hot-spring resorts, and coastal escapes, many of the country’s most popular places are connected by an excellent rail network. This guide brings together 20 of Japan’s most popular train-accessible … Read more

Japan’s cherry blossom season is even more memorable when you can combine it with a historic castle — and several excellent castle parks are surprisingly easy to reach by Shinkansen. The five places in this guide are particularly useful for train travellers because you can arrive by Shinkansen and continue to the castle on foot … Read more

Welcome Suica Mobile is JR East’s iPhone app for international visitors who want to use Suica without buying a physical card after arriving in Japan. It lets you issue a Suica on a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch, add money through Apple Pay, and use it for participating trains, buses, convenience stores, vending machines and … Read more

Japan’s JR network includes several different types of trains, from high-speed Shinkansen to limited express, rapid and local services. Understanding the difference between them makes it much easier to read timetables, plan connections and know when a reserved seat or extra express charge may apply. Quick Answer: What Are the Main Types of JR Trains? … Read more

One of the most useful features of the Japan Rail Pass is the ability to reserve seats on eligible Shinkansen and limited express trains without paying the normal reserved-seat charge each time. But whether you can make those reservations online before arriving in Japan depends on how you purchased your nationwide JR Pass. Quick Answer: … Read more

The Japan Rail Pass can make train travel around Japan much easier, but there are several rules and practical details that first-time visitors often overlook. Some of these details can save you money, while others can help you avoid common mistakes with seat reservations, train types, private railways and pass activation. Quick Answer: What Should … Read more

Not sure whether the Japan Rail Pass will save you money? Learn how to compare current JR Pass prices with individual train fares, check real itinerary examples, and decide whether a nationwide JR Pass, regional pass or separate tickets offer the best value.

The JR Kyushu Rail Pass is designed for international visitors traveling around Kyushu by train. Depending on your itinerary, you can choose a pass covering all of Kyushu or a smaller pass focused on northern or southern Kyushu. The passes cover many JR Kyushu local trains, limited express trains and Shinkansen services, making them worth … Read more