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JR Pass for trip in Jan 2024

arsenal1983
arsenal1983
almost 3 years ago
5 answers

Good Evening Daniel-san,

I am a foreigner planning for a trip to Japan on mid/end-Jan 2024.

There are a couple of questions which I would like to seek your guidance on for my itinerary.

Day 1: Narita Airport to Tokyo
Day 2: Tokyo to Yudanaka (via Nagano)
Day 5: Yudanaka (via Nagano) to Kyoto
Day 7: Kyoto to Nara and back (local train/bus)
Day 8: Kyoto to Osaka (local train/bus)
Day 9: Osaka to Osaka Airport

  1. I am thinking of getting a 7days JR pass to cover my travel from Day 2 to Day 8. Understand that I am that as long as (i) purchase the JR pass by end-Sep 203, and (ii) activate the Exchange Order by end-Dec 2023, I would be able to the JR pass for the above plan.

Can I check how may i activate the Exchange Order? Can I activate the Exchange Order online as I do not reside in Japan?

  1. Does the JR pass covers all trains including Thunderbird, Shinkansen?

  2. Understand that JR covers some of the local rails and buses at Kyoto and Osaka, could you share with me which ones I could use the pass for?

Look forward to your guidance. Thank you.

Regards
Steve

avatar
Daniel-san
19359 posts
almost 3 years ago
Expert

Hi Steve,

I reviewed your itinerary but do not think you'd make savings on this route: Tokyo - Nagano/Yudanaka - Kyoto/Osaka. As such, my advice is to just buy a normal ticket. The JR Pass would have been valuable if you returned to Tokyo after.

As for your question, yes the JR Pass covers all JR lines nationwide, including the Shinkansen lines and Thunderbird ltd. Express.

For full coverage, see: www.jrpass.com/map

Kind regards,
Daniel

Useful!1
arsenal1983
arsenal1983
5 posts
almost 3 years ago

Thanks Daniel-san for your feedback.

In the event that I would still want to secure the jr pass, could you also guide me on the following:

I am thinking of getting a 7days JR pass to cover my travel from Day 2 to Day 8. Understand that I am that as long as (i) purchase the JR pass by end-Sep 203, and (ii) activate the Exchange Order by end-Dec 2023, I would be able to the JR pass for the above plan.

Can I check how may i activate the Exchange Order? Can I activate the Exchange Order online as I do not reside in Japan? Understand there may be an option to activate this at Singapore ie. “changi recommend”

Look forward to your guidance. Thank you.

Useful!0
avatar
Daniel-san
19359 posts
almost 3 years ago
Expert

Hi again,

Yes, you will be above to use the JR Pass at the old price, when you follow the above conditions.

You can activate the JR Pass at any major station in Japan full list is here.

I know the pass is super popular in Singapore, so maybe you can do so at the airport there, but this is not something I'm familiar with. Would love you hear your experience if that worked out.

Kind regards,
Daniel

Useful!1
arsenal1983
arsenal1983
5 posts
almost 3 years ago

Dear Daniel-san,

I had consulted a few local brokers in singapore and was informed the following:
Query 1. I would need to be in Japan (with my passport) to activate the Exchange Order in end-dec 2023 (after i purchased the JR pass in end-sep 2023, ie. 90days).
Query 2. I would need to top up the excess fare (for my purchase in end-sep 2023, activation of exchange order in end-dec 2023 and actual usage in mid-Jan 2024).

As I would only be in Japan on mid-Jan 2024, could you guide me how I can activate the Exchange Order in Singapore, or online?

Could you confirm whether a fare top-up is really required for Query 2?

Much appreciate your guidance.

Thank you.

Regards
Steve

Useful!0
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