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Querying if it's worth buying a JR Pass

RoRulon
RoRulon
9 days ago
1 answer

Hi guys, I'm going to Japan with some friends from 2026-06-28 to 2026-07-18, and we'll be doing a fair bit of travelling about in that time. I've totalled up the cost for individual shinkansen tickets and I'm now wondering if a JR Pass might be a better option. The itinerary is:

2026-06-29 - Omiya > Sendai (Miyagi)
2026-06-30 - Sendai (Miyagi) > Omiya
2026-07-04 - Tokyo > Nagano
2026-07-06 - Nagano > Kanazawa
2026-07-07 - Kanazawa > Osaka
2026-07-08 - Osaka > Himeji (returning same day)
2026-07-12 - Osaka > Nagoya
2026-07-13 - Nagoya > Kyoto
2026-07-16 - Kyoto > Tokyo

Within these points we'll be using the local train or bus networks to get around as well. I just wanted to check if a JR Pass covers all of these routes, and the process of reserving seats on the shinkansen? Or if there's a more cost effective method (i.e. paying for the Omiya / Sendai tickets separately, then getting a shorter length JR Pass for the rest of the trip)?

Thanks in advance! :)

avatar
mariko
431 posts
about 23 hours ago
Expert

Hi there!

Given your itinerary, here are the most strategic options to consider:

1) 14-day Nationwide JR Pass (29 June to 12 July): This would cover your travel from Omiya through to Nagoya. However, please note you would still need an individual ticket for the last few days, as it falls outside the 14-day window.

2) JR East Tohoku Area Pass & Individual Tickets: You could use this pass for the Sendai and Nagano legs, then pay for the remaining trips individually.

3) The 'Pay-As-You-Go' Method: Since your travel is spread out, simply purchasing individual tickets may actually be the most cost-effective method overall.

The seat reservation process depends on your ticket type, but the most convenient way is to reserve your seats once you arrive in Japan at the JR ticket machines or the Midori-no-madoguchi (ticket office).

Kind Regards,

Mariko

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