Ultimate Guide on JR-West Pass

1. What is a JR-West Pass? 

JR-West Pass is a transportation card, with which you can take JR’s trains, Shinkansen, buses, and ferries in West Japan area, including Kansai, Hiroshima, Sanyo, San’in, Hokuriku. For example, there are 3 types of JR-West Pass in Kansai region and 4 types of Passes for Kansai and its neighboring areas. Different passes have different valid time, ranging from 1 day to 7 days and their prices also vary based on valid days.

2. Who can buy the Pass?

Temporary foreign visitors, who will stay in Japan no more than 90 days, can buy JR-West Passes by their passports.

3. Where can I buy a JR-West Pass?

You can buy JR-West Pass both online and offline. 

Online Purchase:

Log in to the JR-West Online Train Reservation Platform and reserve the wanted JR pass. You can book tickets of any day within the future month, which also applies to offline purchase. You can withdraw the paper pass at the ticket machines or ticket offices at the major stations in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Kobe. Please note that online payment only supports credit card. Before withdrawing the paper pass, please prepare your passport, the 4 numbers you set for identification, the phone number, and the credit card you used to make the reservation. If your passport has an IC chip, then withdraw your pass at the ticket machines, which helps save your time.

Offline Purchase:

Kyoto	Osaka
JTB Kansai Tourist Information Center Kyoto	JTB Kansai Tourist Information Center Kansai International Airport
NTA Tis Kyoto Branch	NTA Tis Shin-Osaka Branch
NTA West Japan International Travel Branch	NTA Tis Osaka Branch (Travel Service Center Osaka)

4. What is the valid time of JR Pass?

JR Pass is valid from 0:00 the first day you use it to take vehicles and it expires at 24:00 the last day of the valid period. Remember that JR Pass can only be used for continuous days. 

5. Can I change the type, valid period, or valid period start date of My JR Pass?

Changes can be made only if you reserve it online, as well as before you withdraw the paper pass. If you buy pass offline, changes can’t be made even if you haven’t used it, but you can choose to refund it and buy a new one. 

6. How to refund unwanted Passes?

Only unused passes can be refunded. The refunding service fee is about 10% of the price of the pass or at least 220 yen. You can refund the paper pass at the major station of JR lines. If you haven’t withdrawn the paper pass, then please refund from where you bought it.

7. How to reserve seats? 

Reserve them at the ticket machines or ticket offices at the stations of JR trains. Passengers who bought passes online can also reserve seats online.

8. Tips:

(1) The Pass only supports the pass holders to use. 
(2) Passport is needed when using JR passes to take vehicles.
(3) One visitor can buy 1 JR pass of the same kind at most during the same period.
(4) The valid period of the pass would not be prolonged due to accidental circumstances for trains, such as when the trains are out of service or delayed.