The JAPAN RAIL PASS is a special ticket that is available only to travellers visiting Japan from foreign countries for sight-seeing. 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 sight-seeing under the entry status of "temporary visitor" ( 短期滞在 ).

"Temporary visitor" entry status, according to Japanese Immigration Law, allows a stay in Japan of 15 days or 90 days for "sight-seeing, etc." If you apply for a "stay for sight-seeing" when you enter Japan, entry personnel will stamp your passport "temporary visitor". Only persons who have a passport bearing this stamp can use a JAPAN RAIL PASS.

2. You are a Japanese national living in a foreign country,

1. Purchase an Exchange Order before you come to Japan

You need to purchase a JAPAN RAIL PASS Exchange Order from an authorized sales agent in NZ prior to your arrival in Japan. JTB NZ is one of a few authorized sales agents for Japan's National Railway Group and offers a full selection of rail pass options.

2. Present your Exchange Order and obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS after you arrive in Japan

Upon arrival in Japan, you need to turn in the Exchange Order to receive your JAPAN RAIL PASS at an applicable JAPAN RAIL station that has a JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange office.

There are two types of JAPAN RAIL PASS; Green (for superior-class Green cars), and Ordinary. Each of these types is available as a 7-day, 14-day, or 21-day PASS.

Type	Green		Ordinary
Duration	Adult	Child	Adult	Child
7-DAY	NZ$630 (37,800)	NZ$315 (18,900)	NZ$472 (28,300)	NZ$236 (14,150)
14-DAY	NZ$1,020 (61,200)	NZ$510 (30,600)	NZ$752 (45,100)	NZ$376 (22,550)
21-DAY	NZ$1,327 (79,600)	NZ$664 (39,800)	NZ$962 (57,700)	NZ$481 (28,850)

• Prices are subject to change without notice
• Pass prices for children apply from age 6 to and including age 11.

These prices are subject to exchange rate fluctuation. The applicable exchange rates are updated each morning of each working day.
If you have any question, please call 0800-525-725.

Transportation Services

Categories

Most JR trains have Ordinary Cars (coach class) while many long-distance trains also offer Green Cars (superior class). With a Green-type JAPAN RAIL PASS you can use either class, while with an Ordinary-type JAPAN RAIL PASS you can use only Ordinary Cars without paying an additional charge.
There are no Green Cars on most HIKARI and KODAMA trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (Shin-Osaka-Hakata), or on TSUBAME trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen line(Shin-Yatsushiro -Kagoshima--chuo )

• Private Compartments are available on some of "HIKARI" and "KODAMA" trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen.
• Green Private Compartments are on certain limited express trains, such as "Super-view Odoriko."
• Use of "Home Liner" and other "liner" trains requires an additional charge.

Valid Period

• The valid period of a Japan Rail Pass is the consecutive 7, 14, 21 days beginning on the date the Pass is first used.
• Within 3 months from the date the Exchange Order was issued, you must turn in your Exchange Order to obtain your Japan Rail Pass. At that time, you have 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.

• You cannot use an Exchange Order when you travel on JR lines. Turn in your Exchange Order and obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS at one of the JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange offices.
• Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS within three months of the date the Order was issued.
• When you make the exchange you will be asked to fill in a simple application form and also to show the Temporary Visitor visa that was stamped or stuck in your passport when you 　entered Japan. You must show your passport with the Temporary Visitor stamp/sticker in it in order for your Rail Pass exchange order to be screened.
  • Without your passport, the pass exchange will not be made.
  • If you are a Japanese national resident in a country other than Japan and with permanent resident status in that country, please show, in addition to your passport, documents testifying to your status.
• The type of PASS described on the Exchange Order cannot be changed.
• If the Exchange Order is lost or stolen, or you are unable to provide it for another reason, no exchange for a JAPAN RAIL PASS can be made.
• In order to speed up the exchange process in Japan, you should fill in this exchange application form in advance.

• Shinkansen and most limited express and ordinary express trains have reserved Green car seats and both reserved and non-reserved ordinary car seats.
• A non-reserved seat can be used simply by showing your JAPAN RAIL PASS.
• To use a reserved seat, apply at any Travel Service Centre or reserved-seat ticket office (Midori-no-madoguchi) at a JR station, or at a sales office of a JR-associated travel agency. There, show your JAPAN RAIL PASS, and obtain your reserved-seat ticket before your trip.
• Seat reservations cannot be made outside Japan.

Do not use an automatic ticket-reading gate with a Japan Rail Pass . Please show the Pass at a manned ticket gate. Note: Please note that during crowded periods you cannot be guaranteed a seat on a specific train. The periods when seat reservations are particularly difficult to secure are as follows.