Japan is a rich nation – rich in history and culture, traditions and art, geographic diversity and natural
beauty. At the same time, it’s a small country with a booming economy and infrastructure to match. There are a veritable smorgasbord of ways to experience all that Japan has to offer. After a whirlwind adventure visiting six cities in two weeks, I can say with certainty the best way is via train, and that train travel is exponentially easier and less expensive with the Japan Rail Pass.
The Math. I thought I’d start us off with the most objective, straightforward measurement. If you are considering train travel on your own journey, compare the cost of each train ticket on your potential travel itinerary to the overall cost of the JR Pass. Train travel in Japan is expensive, and unless you’re only planning on riding a time or two, I can almost guarantee that the JR Pass will be a better deal. Visit the Japan Rail lines website for fares and timetables.
The Convenience. Train travel in Japan is easy, made easier by the advanced technology and record-setting speed of the Shinkansen trains, which max out at 200 mph. High speed trains connecting Tokyo with Kyoto, for example, leave every ten minutes during the day. Trains are well-maintained, and train stations are centrally located, easy to navigate, and close to other forms of public transportation.
The Food Culture. I don’t think I’ve written a blog post in quite a while that doesn’t mention snacks. If most of my trips sounds like non-stop eat-a-thons, that’s because they are. In all seriousness, the food associated with train travel in Japan is both delicious and unique. Most major train stations contain food courts, with every type of food imaginable available, from the exotic to the familiar. More exciting, however, are the food stands on the train platforms themselves. Here the savvy traveler can discover a wide variety of the quintessentially Japanese bento box. Tasty, portable, and compact, the bento box is the perfect lunchtime solution, especially for those of us that like to try a little bit of everything.
The View. Japanese countryside is stunning. Trains pass through small towns, major metropolises, mountains and valleys. Even in winter, the landscape is heart-stoppingly beautiful. See miles and miles of wilderness between the most modern of cities for a truer picture of Japan.
The Process
Acquiring a JR Pass isn’t without its challenges. In an effort to limit JR Passes to tourists only, they are not sold within Japan itself. Buying a pass requires a level of advanced planning this traveler rarely embraces. If you’ve done your research, it’s easy enough to purchase the pass online from the JR Pass website. A voucher for the pass will then be delivered to you anywhere in the United States via FedEx. You can also purchase a voucher from any Japan Airlines or All Nippon Airways counter, provided you have a JAL or ANA ticket. If you’ve waited until the last minute and, two days before your flight to Tokyo leaves from Seoul where you’re hotel-bound with the worst food poisoning in the world, hopefully your good-looking travel companion can take a bus and two trains to one of several Japanese travel agencies with an overseas office, including JTB Corporation, Kintetsu International, and Nippon Travel Agency. Close one.
No matter how you acquire the voucher, you’re now ready for step two – trading it in for the coveted JR Pass itself. Take your passport and your voucher, which at this point is worth its weight in gold, to an exchange office, located in most train stations around the country. The official at the exchange office will confirm that you are tourist and not a resident via the “temporary visitor” stamp on your passport before issuing you the JR Pass. These passes are intended to promote tourism; Japanese residents are therefore ineligible to receive one. Once you have your pass in hand, guard it with your life. I was more protective of my train pass than my passport; it certainly would have been more expensive and more difficult to replace.
With all of Japan just a train ride away, where will you go?
Let’s be fearless,
Jen