Discover ancient cities and cultural relics with a JR West Rail Pass
What is the JR West Rail Pass?
JR West offers a variety of rail passes for exclusive use by foreign tourists visiting Japan for the purpose of sightseeing and traveling on a short-stay visa.
Whether you are travelling within a smaller, more specific area of western Japan or if you are planning on a trip to the western most point of Honshu, there is a JR West rail pass to suit any traveller’s requirements.
A combination of passes can provide a highly efficient way to visit Japan’s former imperial capitals of Kyoto and Nara, see beautiful Japanese gardens in Okayama and Shimane and marvel at the construction of ancient castle fortresses across the entire region.
Types and Prices of JR West Rail Pass
JR West offers the following types of Passes:
| Kansai Wide Area Pass | ||
| Ordinary | Age Group | Price |
| 5 Day pass | Child (11 and under) | $62 |
| Adult (12 and over) | $123 | |
| Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass | ||
| Ordinary | Age Group | Price |
| 5 Day pass | Child (11 and under) | $92 |
| Adult (12 and over) | $184 | |
| Sanyo-San’in Area Pass | ||
| Ordinary | Age Group | Price |
| 7 Day pass | Child (11 and under) | $128 |
| Adult (12 and over) | $257 | |
| Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass | ||
| Ordinary | Age Group | Price |
| 7 Day pass | Child (11 and under) | $103 |
| Adult (12 and over) | $205 | |
Prices are subject to exchange rate fluctuations.
* No credit card charges for Visa, MasterCard or AMEX. 2% credit card surcharge for JCB and Diner’s Club
* Reissue fees apply
Delivery Methods
The JR West Pass is delivered as an electronic voucher.
How to buy a JR West Rail Pass
You can purchase a JR West Rail Pass Exchange Order before you go to Japan.
Upon arrival in Japan, you need to turn in the JR West Rail Pass Exchange Order to receive your JR West Rail Pass at a JR train station that has an exchange office. We will provide you with a list of applicable stations.
At the exchange office, you will be asked to fill in a short application form and to show your passport with the ‘Temporary Visitor’ stamp/sticker you received on entry into Japan.
Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a JR West Rail Pass within three months of the date the Order was issued.
After turning in your Exchange Order for a JR West Rail Pass, you can make seat reservations at a “Midori-no-madoguchi” Reservation Office.
Who is eligible for a JR West Rail Pass?
The JR West Rail Pass is available exclusively to travellers visiting Japan from abroad on a non-Japanese passport for sightseeing, under the entry status of ‘Temporary Visitor.’
Australian residents travelling on a Japanese passport are not allowed to purchase the JR West Rail Pass. If you have both a Japanese passport and a passport from another country, you must enter Japan using the non-Japanese passport on a “Temporary Visitor” status to be eligible for this pass.
Where can I use the JR West Rail Pass?
Each JR West Rail Pass is valid for different trains and different areas of western Honshu. The best pass for your trip will depend on where you will be travelling to and how long you wish to stay in the area. A brief summary of each pass is listed below.
Click here to see the valid train route maps
The Kansai Wide Area Pass is valid for unlimited travel within the designated area on the following trains:
- Non-reserved seats on the “SANYO SHINKANSEN” includes Nozomi and Mizuho, between Shin-Osaka and Okayama
- Non-reserved seats on Express Trains ‘Haruka, Kuroshio, Thunderbird, Kounotori, Super Hakuto’
- Special Rapid Services, Rapid Services, and Local trains on JR West conventional lines.
*The trains below cannot be used:
- Bullet Train “TOKAIDO SHINKANSEN” between Shin-Osaka and Tokyo
- Bullet Train “SANYO SHINKANSEN” between Okayama and Hakata
- Bullet Train “KYUSHU SHINKANSEN” between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo
The Kansai-Hiroshima Area pass is valid for unlimited travel within the designated area on the following trains:
- Non-reserved seats on the “SANYO SHINKANSEN” includes Nozomi and Mizuho between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima
- Non-reserved seats on Express Trains ‘Haruka, Kuroshio, Thunderbird, Kounotori, Super Hakuto’
- Special Rapid Services, Rapid Services, and Local trains on JR West conventional lines.
- JR West Miyajima Ferry
*The trains below cannot be used-
- Bullet Train “TOKAIDO SHINKANSEN” between Shin-Osaka and Tokyo
- Bullet Train “SANYO SHINKANSEN” between Hiroshima and Hakata
- Bullet Train “KYUSHU SHINKANSEN” between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo
The Sanyo-San’in Area pass is valid for unlimited travel within the designated area on the following trains-
- Reserved seats on the “SANYO SHINKANSEN” includes Nozomi and Mizuho between Shin-Osaka and Hakata
- The Limited Express ‘Haruka, Kuroshio, Thunderbird, Kounotori, Super Hakuto’
- Special Rapid Services, Rapid Services, and Local trains on JR West conventional lines.
- JR West Miyajima Ferry
*The trains below cannot be used-
- Bullet Train “TOKAIDO SHINKANSEN” between Shin-Osaka and Tokyo
- Bullet Train “KYUSHU SHINKANSEN” between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo
The Kansai-Hokuriku Area pass is valid for unlimited travel within the designated area on the following trains-
- Non-reserved seats on the “SANYO SHINKANSEN” includes Nozomi and Mizuho between Shin-Osaka and Okayama
- Non-reserved seats on the “HOKURIKU SHINKANSEN” between Kanazawa and Joetsu-Myoko
- Non-reserved seats on Express Trains ‘Haruka, Kuroshio, Thunderbird, Kounotori, Super Hakuto’
- Special Rapid Services, Rapid Services, and Local trains on JR West conventional lines.
*The trains below cannot be used-
- Bullet Train “TOKAIDO SHINKANSEN” between Shin-Osaka and Tokyo
- Bullet Train “SANYO SHINKANSEN” between Okayama and Hakata
- Bullet Train “HOKURIKU SHINKANSEN” between Joetsu-Myoko and Tokyo
Should I buy a JR West Rail Pass?
If you are wondering whether a JR West Rail Pass is worth it, we’d recommend you have a look at your itinerary and do a quick search on the costs of each train journey you intend to take when you travel to Japan.
There are two sites that you can use to search for both JR and non-JR train timetables and the prices of your journeys.
The first is Hyperdia and the second is Jorudan. Use both sites to ensure that you get the most accurate information to help you to determine if a JR West Rail Pass is right for you, or whether you should just buy your train tickets when you need to use them.
When you organise your package tour of Japan through us, we include the best Japan rail pass or area pass to match your itinerary.
Important information
For further information including refund policies, please read the Rail Pass Terms and Conditions
