Travelling to Japan? A JR Move may not be what you’re searching for, learn on to search out out!
Prepare journey is among the quintessential experiences when travelling in Japan so it’s no shock a JR Move is perhaps the very first thing you look to get.
Travelling by way of Japan rail will be actually expensive — a single 2.5hr journey from Tokyo to Osaka by way of the Shinkansen will set you again ¥14,720 (~S$150). However that additionally means if deliberate out effectively, you may get much more worth than what you pay for a JR Move.
Apart from Complete Japan JR Passes, there are regional passes which will be half the worth of the Complete Japan JR Move.
Throughout an eight-day journey exploring the Kansai area, we travelled with the 5 Day Kansai-Hiroshima JR Move (~S$148) and managed to cowl 9 cities whereas saving a complete of ¥20,880 (~S$206) — as in comparison with travelling on single-trip tickets.
Limitless rides on the Shinkansen apart, some JR passes additionally cowl limitless transport on the native JR Trains, JR ferries in addition to JR buses.
The largest drawback although is planning your route and deciding which of the 20 over completely different JR passes you must get. Comply with these 9 steps and also you’ll by no means need to google elsewhere for solutions to your JR Move.
JR Move Itineraries:
5 Day Kansai Hiroshima Move: 8-Day Japan Itinerary: 9 Cities in Kansai for beneath S$900 — Osaka, Kobe, Himeji, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Okunoshima, Naoshima, Kyoto, Nara
7 Day Complete Japan JR Move: 10-Day Japan Itinerary — Tokyo to Osaka With The JR Move for $1.1k — Tokyo, Hakone, Kamakura, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto
7 Day Complete Japan JR Move: 8-Day Japan Winter Itinerary For Much less Than S$1.2k — Tokyo, Fox Village, Kawaguchi, Nagano Snow Monkey Park, Takayama, Shirakawago, Osaka.
1) Plan Your Route
Photograph credit score: Japan-guide
Which cities would you want to go to? If two or extra fall beneath Shinkansen strains that aren’t adjoining to one another, chances are high, you’ll require a Complete Japan JR Move.
The commonest route for this move is a spherical journey from Tokyo to Osaka as a result of that alone will exceed the fee you pay for the JR Move.
2) Resolve on Your JR Move
Complete Japan VS Regional JR Passes
There are over 20 completely different JR Passes — with various days, time flexibility and areas lined. Most individuals gravitate in direction of the Complete Japan JR Move — you get limitless rides on a lot of the JR trains and free seat reservations. Nevertheless it additionally comes with a hefty price ticket of ¥30,000–60,000 (~S$292–596).
Complete Japan JR Passes: 7 days, 14 days, 21 days (all Complete Japan JR Passes are for consecutive days solely)
When you’re planning to cowl cities throughout completely different areas e.g. Tokyo within the Kanto area and Osaka within the Kansai area, the Complete Japan JR Move is the one move that covers this journey.
Learn additionally: 10-Day Japan Itinerary — Tokyo to Osaka With The JR Move for $1.1k
Japan is big and maybe one of the simplest ways to actually get probably the most out of your journey is to discover in areas. When you plan your route effectively and know the particular areas you’d wish to cowl, the regional passes are positively cheaper.
Listed below are a few of the key regional passes you may get:
3) Buy Your JR move in Singapore
Plan per week forward earlier than your journey and order your passes on-line by way of Klook — they’re positively cheaper than getting from Japan.
Some passes just like the Complete Japan JR Move would require an trade voucher (obtained by way of mail in Singapore) whereas others will be collected straight in Japan by exhibiting an e-ticket. Extra on assortment in level (6).
Try the complete record of passes accessible on Klook right here
4) Use Japan Journey by Navitime to Plan Your Routes
Google maps does a reasonably good job once you’re on the go however if you happen to’re planning on a laptop computer/desktop, Japan Journey by Navitime can be your greatest buddy. Some trains don’t arrive continuously so failing to plan your route may end up in a 1-2 hour wait on the station (when you can spend the time exploring as a substitute)!
What’s nice about Japan Journey is that it has a Vacationer Move possibility so you may plan your route accordingly to what prepare move you may have. It additionally exhibits the prepare timetable in addition to different transport choices like buses, taxis, and ferries. What’s extra, the service is free and comes as a web site and app!
5) Trains lined by JR Move
When trying to find trains by way of Japan Journey, you’re prone to see various kinds of Shinkansen trains with various durations similar to Nozomi/Mizuho, Hikari and Kodama.
Nozomi trains are the quickest as they make the least stops, adopted by Hikari and Kodama which stops at each station. JR Move holders are solely allowed on Hikari and Kodama trains. To get an concept, listed below are the stops every prepare makes from Tokyo to Osaka.
Nozomi (2.5hrs): Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka
Hikari (3hrs): Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Nagoya, Gifu-Hashima, Maibara, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka
Kodama (4hrs): Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Odawara, Atami, Mishima, Shinfuji, Shizuoka, Kakegawa, Hamamatsu, Toyohashi, Mikawa-Anjo, Nagoya, Gifu-Hashima, Maibara, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka
6) Accumulating Your JR Move in Japan
Complete Japan JR Move: Put together your passport and trade voucher (delivered to your deal with in Singapore) and head to the closest JR Journey Service Centre. There’s normally one on the airport and main stations like Tokyo or Shin-Osaka station. You’ll be requested once you’d wish to activate the move so you may accumulate it first and have it begin in a while the journey.
Regional JR Move: You’ll want to verify when reserving however most JR West Passes don’t require any pre-trip assortment. When you’re ordering from Klook, simply head to the gathering counter on the airport together with your QR code (from the app) prepared in hand. You’ll be handed the move you should use instantly. These passes solely activate in your first trip out.
7) Making Seat Reservations
Seat reservations can solely be made when you may have collected your JR move and solely free for Complete Japan JR move holders. Regional JR move holders would possibly must pay a top-up charge for reservations, relying on the kind of move.
To order, simply head to any “Journey Companies” or “Prepare Reservation” at any main JR station together with your begin/finish station and time.
In case you have a change of plans, modifications/cancellations to the reservation are free for Complete Japan JR move holders.
8) Coming into The Station With Your JR Move
Entry with the JR Move is by the manned gate solely. That is the gantry nearest to the station’s workplace. While you enter with the JR Move for the primary time, you will want to get a stamp for the beginning date. Subsequently, simply flash the again of the move exhibiting the date stamp. For versatile day passes, you’ll have your move stamped on the primary prepare you are taking every day.
Observe that JR Stations are separate from the native metros so if you happen to’re travelling on a metro, you’ll must exit and find a separate JR Station gantry.
9) Discovering The Proper Platform And Seat
On the entrance gantry, look out for the massive overhanging digital board. It will inform you what platform your prepare is at.
When you’re on the suitable platform, the digital boards right here will inform you which “vehicles” are for non-reserved ticket holders. All the time verify the time of departure as a result of there are all the time a number of trains departing from the identical platform.
In case you have reserved tickets, verify the Automobile quantity on the ground. This might be completely different for various trains (e.g. Hikari or Kodama).
When you arrive early and want to queue up for non-reserved seats, there are normally at the very least two separate queues. Verify the sting of the platform to be sure to’re in the suitable queue.
Different continuously requested questions on JR Move
1) Osaka Station Vs Shin-Osaka Station
You would possibly realise a few of the stations has “Shin” in entrance similar to Shin-Osaka and Shin-Kobe, that are the truth is completely different stations from Osaka and Kobe Station.
Native strains can carry you to the Shin-xxx stations however the Shinkansen will go away from the Shin-xxx station. While you arrive at Shin-Osaka by way of a neighborhood prepare, you will want to enter a separate gantry for the Shinkansen platform.
Dotonbori, Osaka – A Gastronomic’s heaven
2) Atypical Automobile Vs Inexperienced Automobile
Inexperienced Automobile principally means extra premium and spacious seats, that are normally accessible on the Shinkansen (bullet prepare) and Tokkyū (restricted specific) trains. Sort of like first-class seats on flights.
Actually the Atypical vehicles are already fairly spacious and cozy however if you happen to’re holding on to an Atypical Automobile Japan Rail Move and want to expertise the Inexperienced Automobile, you may pay a top-up charge on the JR counters for a single improve too.
FAQs about Complete Japan JR Move
1) I’m travelling from Tokyo – Osaka/Kyoto – Tokyo and nothing else in between. Is it nonetheless price getting a Complete Japan JR Move?
Sure! Simply the spherical journey between Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto is definitely worth the 7 Day Complete Japan JR Move. However on high of the 2 rides, you’ll be capable to use the move on native JR trains or buses in every metropolis.
When you’re flying in from Tokyo and out from Osaka (or vice-versa), it would make extra sense to buy a single Shinkansen ticket (¥14,720) and get a regional move as a substitute. Try our eight-day Kansai itinerary for extra concepts! 🙂
2) Does the JR Move cowl the trip from Narita Airport to Tokyo Station/Kansai Airport to Osaka station?
Sure to each! From Narita (NRT), you may take the JR Narita Specific (NEX) and attain Tokyo station in 53 minutes without cost. Nonetheless, if you happen to plan to activate your JR move later within the journey, a less expensive (& sooner) various is the Keisei Skyliner (41 minutes to Tokyo Predominant Station).
From Kansai (KIX), each the Kansai Airport Fast Service (65 minutes to Osaka Station) and the Restricted Specific Haruka (50 minutes to Shin-Osaka) are lined by the JR Move. When you’re travelling to/from the airport with out your JR move, pre-book the Nankai Line Airport Specific as a substitute. It solely takes 35 minutes from Namba station and prices ~S$11 on Klook.
3) Ought to I start my journey from Tokyo or Osaka?
For me, the largest deciding issue was whether or not I’m there for USJ in Osaka or the Tokyo Disney Parks. Since these parks take up a whole day and also you gained’t be utilizing the JR Move that day, it is smart to activate the move later once you’re leaving town as a result of these prepare rides will price extra.
Can’t determine which theme park to take a look at? Learn our intensive theme park guides to search out out extra!
Common Studios Japan: The Final USJ Information And Ideas To Planning A Magical Expertise — Common Studios Japan
Tokyo Disney Parks: The Final Tokyo Disneyland and Disneysea Information — 11 Ideas & Methods to Maximising your Tokyo Disney day
Fuji Q Highland: The Greatest Curler Coasters in Japan Most Vacationers Miss — Fuji Q Highland Information
We hope you discovered this JR Move Information helpful particularly for these residing in Singapore!
Tell us within the feedback sections beneath if we missed out something you’d wish to learn about travelling with Japan Rail Passes. That approach we will preserve the information updated! 🙂
This publish was delivered to you by Klook.
