Handbook · getting around · 鉄道

Trains: the pass, the Shinkansen, the suitcase

Whether a Japan Rail Pass pays, what the Shinkansen does with a big suitcase, and what one long ride costs. The prices are JR's own pages; the verdict is our own priced week.

01 · The Japan Rail Pass

What the pass costs

Bought on the official website, ordinary class. Overseas agencies charge more.

  1. ¥50,000
    7 days

    Green Car (first class): ¥70,000. Child (6 to 11): ¥25,000.

    JAPAN RAIL PASS, official prices ↗checked 1 October 2026

  2. ¥80,000
    14 days

    Green Car: ¥110,000.

    JAPAN RAIL PASS, official prices ↗checked 1 October 2026

  3. ¥100,000
    21 days

    Green Car: ¥140,000.

    JAPAN RAIL PASS, official prices ↗checked 1 October 2026

  4. ¥53,000
    7 days, from an overseas agency

    The same pass bought from a JR-designated agency abroad, ordinary class. Booking seats in advance is only possible when you buy on the official website, JR says.

    JAPAN RAIL PASS, official prices and home page ↗checked 1 October 2026

02 · Our verdict

On a first week, no

Our seven-day first week, Tokyo to Osaka, priced ride by ride: the trains and buses come to ¥22,997, less than half the 7-day pass, and only one ride, the Shinkansen, is JR at all.

  1. ¥22,997
    The whole week's rides

    Every ride on the week, from the operators' own fare pages, against ¥50,000 for the 7-day pass. A pass can pay when the days hold several long JR rides; this week has one.

    The week, priced

03 · The suitcase on the Shinkansen

Over 160 cm, book the space

On the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen, the size is the three sides added up: length, width and height.

  1. ≤160 cm
    Up to 160 cm

    At your feet or on the rack above the seats; a large case of this size can also go in the baggage area on the deck. No reservation.

    JR Central, luggage information ↗checked 1 October 2026

  2. Reserve
    161 to 250 cm

    Only in the space behind the seats with an oversized baggage area, and only with that seat reserved, which costs the same as an ordinary reserved seat. Ask for it at the ticket office, at the machines or online, also with a Japan Rail Pass.

    JR Central, luggage information ↗checked 1 October 2026

  3. ¥1,000
    Without the reservation

    The baggage fee for an oversized case brought on board without a seat with the space.

    JR Central, luggage information ↗checked 1 October 2026

  4. Not allowed
    Over 250 cm

    Baggage over 250 cm in total cannot be brought on board. Send it ahead instead.

    Sending it ahead

    JR Central, luggage information ↗checked 1 October 2026

04 · One long ride

What a Shinkansen costs

  1. ¥12,100
    Odawara to Kyoto, Hikari, reserved seat

    JR Central's smartEX price, ordinary car, regular season, as of 1 April 2025 on its fare table. On a ride within one Shinkansen line like this one, the off-peak season takes ¥200 off, the peak adds ¥200 and the busiest days ¥400.

    smartEX, fares for reserved seats (PDF) ↗checked 1 October 2026

05 · In the city

Tap, don't queue

  1. IC cards and tapping a bank card

    TOURIST PASMO, ICOCA, Suica, and the gates in Tokyo that take a contactless bank card, with what each costs.

    First 24 hours
  2. The last trains

    The last JR trains from Shibuya, from JR East's timetable.

    The last trains

Prices change; each line carries the day we checked it. Every line names where it comes from; the newest was checked 1 October 2026.