Rail Pass Terms and Conditions

Japan Rail Pass Eligibility

The Japan Rail Pass is a special fare ticket that is available exclusively to travellers visiting Japan from foreign countries for sightseeing. To be eligible to purchase a Japan Rail Pass, you must meet one of the following two conditions:

1. You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sightseeing, under the entry status of “temporary visitor”.
“Temporary visitor” entry status, according to Japan Immigration Law, allows a stay in Japan of 15 days or 90 days for “sightseeing, etc.”. When you enter Japan for sightseeing, Immigration personnel will stamp the passport as “temporary visitor “. Only persons who have a passport bearing this stamp can use a Japan Rail Pass.

Caution: Even if you visit Japan with an Exchange Order, to be exchanged for a Japan Rail Pass, the exchange cannot be made unless you have “temporary visitor” status; if you enter Japan under any other official status, such as “Trainee”, “Entertainer” or “Re-entry Permit”, you cannot change the exchange order for a Japan Rail Pass. Please note that according to strict interpretation of the Japanese Immigration Law, “temporary visitor” status differs even from other types of stays that are also for only short time periods.

2. You are Japanese citizen living in a foreign country you must meet the following conditions;
If you have both your Japanese passport and written proof—obtained from the embassy or legation of Japan in the foreign country where you live—that you have been living legally in the country for 10 consecutive years or more:
-You must present both your passport and proof of eligibility to purchase an Exchange Order in a country other than Japan, and to exchange your Exchange Order for a JAPAN RAIL PASS in Japan.
-You cannot use a photocopy of your passport to purchase an Exchange Order or to exchange your Exchange Order for a JAPAN RAIL PASS.
-You can purchase an Exchange Order and exchange it for a JAPAN RAIL PASS only if your stay in the country for 10 consecutive years or more is verified by such written proof.

Note: Persons meeting conditions 1) or 2) above may be required to show proof of name at the point of purchase of an Exchange Order and obtaining a JAPAN RAIL PASS.

Acceptable written proof:
(1) Copy of your Overseas Residential Registration issued by the embassy or legation of Japan in the foreign country where you live (limited to an Overseas Residential Registration with a date of acceptance at least 10 years earlier);

(2) Certificate of Overseas Residence issued by the embassy or legation of Japan in the foreign country where you live (limited to a Certificate of Overseas Residence with a date at least 10 years earlier as the date on which your address (or place of temporary residence) was established as your present address);

(3) As a special case limited to the USA, Brazil, and Canada, the Permanent Resident Card issued by these 3 countries can be used as written proof until further notice (limited to a Permanent Resident Card confirming your stay in the relevant country for 10years or more).

In regard to (1), if a single copy of your Overseas Residential Registration verifies that any family members living with you in the country have stayed for 10 consecutive years or more, such a document is valid for those family members.
Concerning children (under 12 years of age) whose stay in the country is less than 10 years at the time of purchase of an Exchange Order, if a single copy of the Overseas Residential Registration stated in (1) verifies that they live together with the applicant whose stay in the country is 10 consecutive years or more, and if they also use the Japan Rail Pass together with that applicant, their eligibility requirements are satisfied.
The copy of the Overseas Residential Registration and the Certificate of Overseas Residence are only valid for 6 months after the date of issue.
You cannot use a photocopy of your written proof to purchase an Exchange Order or to exchange your Exchange Order for a Japan Rail Pass.
Definition of “10years or more”: At the time of purchase of an Exchange Order, a date in the same month 10 years earlier or before is valid.
Example : In the case of the purchase of an Exchange Order on June 1, 2017, a date any time in June 2007 or earlier is valid. (A date between June 1 and June 30, 2007 is deemed as “June 2007” and valid.)

You can purchase an Exchange Order and exchange it for a Japan Rail Pass only if you can present any one of the written proof described in the above (1) to (3).

Note: A foreign passport is not considered evidence of the right of permanent residence and is not sufficient documentation to receive a Japan Rail Pass.

Note: If you are dual citizen and have two passports (Japan and your country of residence), you MUST enter Japan under the entry status of “temporary visitor” on your foreign passport in order to exchange an Exchange Order to Japan Rail Pass in Japan

Note: Australian residents travelling on a Japanese Passport are not allowed to purchase JR East, JR West, JR Hokkaido, JR East-South Hokkaido JR Kyushu or All Shikoku Rail Passes.

Japan Rail Pass Validity

The valid period of a Japan Rail Pass is the consecutive 7, 14, or 21 days beginning on the date the Pass is first used.

Within three months from the date the Exchange Order was issued, you must exchange your Exchange Order to obtain a Japan Rail Pass in Japan. At that time, it is necessary to specify the date that you want to start using the Pass. It can be any date within one month from the date the Pass is received.

Once the Pass has a starting date written on it, the date cannot be changed.

Japan Rail Pass Refund Policy

An Exchange Order that has not been exchanged for a Japan Rail Pass can be returned to our office for a refund within one year of the date of issue. In such cases, a $143 processing fee per exchange order will be charged.

The original rail pass exchange order must be returned to our office to process the cancellation.

After an Exchange Order is exchanged for a Japan Rail Pass, the Pass can be presented to any Japan Rail Pass exchange office in Japan for a refund as long as this is done before the starting date of the Pass. (Ten percent of the Japanese yen price of the Pass will be charged as a handling fee.)

Also, no refund or extension of the validity period can be made in the event of a train non-operation, delay, or the like.

Reissue Policy for Japan Rail Passes

Neither an Exchange Order nor a Rail Pass can be reissued if lost or stolen. Please ensure its safekeeping.

Please note that if you type incorrect or insufficient information and reissuance of the voucher is required (including misspelling of names, not advising middle name, or departure date is more than 3 months later), a $44 reissue fee plus any fare difference will be charged. A pass issued in a completely new name is treated as a cancellation.

*In case the fare as of the date of reissue is cheaper than the fare of the original order date, the fare difference will not be refundable.

The original rail pass exchange order must be returned to our office for us to re-issue an exchange order with the correct details.

JR West Rail Pass Eligibility

To be entitled to purchase the rail pass, a person must have a passport issued by a government or other authority outside Japan and have the stamp for “temporary visitor” stamped in their passport.

JR West Pass Refund and Re-issue Policy

An Exchange Order that has not been exchanged for a JR West Rail Pass can be returned to our office for a refund within one year of the date of issue. In such cases, a 22% handling fee per exchange order will be charged.