Asia

Is the JR Pass Worth It?

If you’re planning a trip to Japan, chances are you’ve asked yourself this very question: Is the JR Pass worth it?

I know I did when planning our adventure to Japan. From research, YouTube rabbit holes, and friends raving about their experiences, the general consensus seemed clear: when traveling to Japan, get the JR Pass!

But… is it really a no-brainer? Once I dug into it myself, things didn’t feel as straightforward anymore. So, here’s what I found and why the JR Pass might (or might not) be the best choice for your trip.

Does the JR Pass Fit Your Trip Style?

The first thing to consider is your travel itinerary. If you’re doing a whirlwind tour of Japan—hopping between cities, taking lots of day trips, or only staying for a week or two—the JR Pass Japan could be a lifesaver.

But for our trip, which was 23 days of slower travel—spending a few days in each destination, then moving on—it didn’t make as much sense.

Here’s how I broke it down:

My Research: To Pass or Not to Pass?

I started by calculating the cost of all our planned train rides and comparing it to the JR Pass prices.

  • Total estimated cost of individual train rides: €371 per person
  • JR Pass prices (September 2023):
    • 7-day pass: €200
    • 14-day pass: €319
    • 21-day pass: €400

Since our travel plans involved long stays in each city and fewer back-and-forth trips, we decided to skip the pass and buy tickets separately.

Was it the Best Choice?

Honestly? I’m still not 100% sure. On one hand, when you by individual tickets the prices vare depending on the type of train you catch for that specific time of day (check out this blog post for more info on this) which can decrease the initial average calculations. On the other hand, the JR Pass includes metro and bus rides (except in smaller towns where cash-only systems still reign), which might have tipped the scales in its favor.

Worst case scenario, we broke about even.

JR pass Prices in 2024

In October 2023, Japan Rail announced a significant price increase—up to 20%! Now, in December 2024, the prices are:

  • 7-day pass: €330
  • 14-day pass: €529
  • 21-day pass: €661

Given these new prices, if long-distance train fares haven’t risen dramatically, the JR Pass Japan is now mostly worth it for short trips or packed itineraries. For slower, extended travel, buying individual tickets could save you money.

Handy Tools for Your Research

Want to calculate your costs and figure out the best option for your trip? These tools were super helpful during my planning:

I used Google Maps most, as it gives you an idea of the average costs and time for train routes and can be a great starting point!

My final Thoughts

So, is the JR Pass worth it? It depends. Think about your travel style, how many cities you’ll visit, and whether the convenience of having an all-in-one pass outweighs the potential savings of buying tickets separately.

 

Planning a trip to Japan can feel overwhelming, but it’s also incredibly exciting! If you want to learn more about navigating public transport, check out my guide: How to Survive Japanese Public Transport.

 

And if you’ve used or not the JR Pass Japan, I’d love to hear about your experience! Connect with me on Instagram: @thetravellingblondy.

Happy travels, and see you soon!