Tools · Updated July 2026
Should you buy the JR Pass?
A free calculator that compares the Japan Rail Pass against buying individual Shinkansen reserved-seat tickets for your actual itinerary. No email required.
Heads up:JR Pass prices increase on October 1, 2026 (7-day: ¥50,000 → ¥53,000). This calculator uses current (pre-hike) prices. We'll update the day rates change.
JR Pass prices in 2026
Ordinary-class prices for the nationwide Japan Rail Pass. A documented price hike takes effect on October 1, 2026.
| Pass | Until Sep 30, 2026 | From Oct 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 7-day | ¥50,000 | ¥53,000 |
| 14-day | ¥80,000 | ¥84,000 |
| 21-day | ¥100,000 | ¥105,000 |
When a regional pass beats both
If your whole route stays inside one region, a JR regional pass is usually far cheaper than the nationwide pass. The calculator flags these automatically — here is the quick reference. Prices last verified July 2026.
| Pass | Price | Validity | Covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hokuriku Arch Pass | ¥35,000 | 7 days | Tokyo → Nagano → Kanazawa → Kyoto/Osaka arc | Tokyo–Osaka trips routed through the Japan-sea side |
| JR-West Kansai Wide Area Pass | ~¥12,000 | 5 days | Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Himeji, Okayama | Kansai-only trips — a steal vs the national pass |
| JR-West Sanyo-San'in Area Pass | ~¥23,000 | 7 days | Kansai through Hiroshima to Fukuoka (Hakata) | Trips starting in Osaka heading west |
| JR Kyushu Pass (All Kyushu) | ~¥17,000 / ¥18,500 | 3 / 5 days | Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Kagoshima and all of Kyushu | Any Kyushu-only itinerary |
| JR-East Tohoku Area Pass | ~¥30,000 | 5 flexible days | Tokyo plus Sendai, Morioka, Akita, Aomori | Tokyo + northern Japan without going west |
Full breakdown with itinerary examples: JR Pass vs regional passes vs individual tickets.
JR Pass calculator — FAQ
QIs the JR Pass worth it in 2026?
For most first-time trips it is not. A one-way Golden Route itinerary (Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka) costs around ¥15,000–17,000 in individual tickets, far less than the ¥50,000 7-day pass. The pass starts winning when you cover long distances and return to your starting city — for example Tokyo → Kyoto → Hiroshima → Tokyo. Enter your actual route in the calculator above to get a definitive answer in seconds.
QHow much does the JR Pass cost in 2026?
Until September 30, 2026: ¥50,000 (7-day), ¥80,000 (14-day), ¥100,000 (21-day) for Ordinary class. From October 1, 2026 prices rise to ¥53,000, ¥84,000 and ¥105,000. This calculator uses the current (pre-hike) prices and will be updated the day the new rates take effect.
QDoes the JR Pass cover the Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen?
No. The two fastest services — Nozomi (Tokaido/Sanyo) and Mizuho (Sanyo/Kyushu) — are not covered by the base pass. You can pay a supplement to ride them, or take the slightly slower Hikari, Kodama or Sakura services, which the pass fully covers.
QWhat about regional passes like the Hokuriku Arch Pass or Kansai Wide Area Pass?
If your whole route stays inside one region, a JR regional pass is usually far cheaper than the nationwide JR Pass. For example, the Hokuriku Arch Pass (¥35,000, 7 days) covers the Tokyo–Kanazawa–Osaka arc, and the JR-West Kansai Wide Area Pass (around ¥12,000, 5 days) covers Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and Himeji. This calculator automatically flags a matching regional pass when your route fits one.
QWho can buy the JR Pass?
The nationwide Japan Rail Pass is for foreign visitors entering Japan with Temporary Visitor status. Residents of Japan are not eligible. Most regional passes (including the Hokuriku Arch Pass) have the same foreign-visitor requirement.
Keep planning
- The JR Pass in 2026: complete guide — what changed, what it covers, how to decide.
- How to use your JR Pass, step by step — activation, seat reservations, common mistakes.
- Suica & IC card guide 2026 — for all the local trains the pass math ignores.