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hanny
hanny
over 9 years ago
4 responses

Dear Sir and Madam,

Will appreciate your advice for the following:

My daughter will be an exchange student of AIU (Akita) for fall semester 2014.
Is she eligible for JR East bought in Tokyo as she is not eligible for JR Pass bought outside Japan?

Our itinerary will be as follows:
(there are 4 of us, 3 with tourist visa using JR Pass 7 days and 1 with student visa) 21 Aug arriving Haneda
22 Aug Takayama Matsumoto
23 Aug Hakone
24 Aug Tokyo
25 Aug Akita (the student will stay)

The rest
26 Aug Tok
27 Aug return Jakarta

How can we make the most of JR Pass for the said itinerary?

Appreciate your advice.

Regards, Hanny

avatar
Daniel-san
18832 posts
over 9 years ago
Expert

Hello Hanny,

Unfortunately the JR East pass, like any JR Pass, is only for travellers who enter Japan under a 14 or 90 day tourist visa. Other visas do not qualify, including a student visa.

Taken from the JR East website:
The JR EAST PASS is a special discounted pass available only to customers visiting Japan (with a short-term visa no longer than 90 days) and holding a non-Japanese passport.

That being said, you will make really good use of the JR Pass with the above itinerary.

Sorry for the bad news :(
Daniel

hanny
hanny
4 posts
over 9 years ago

Hi Daniel-san,

Thank you so much for your prompt reply.
Understood that my daughter will buy ordinary passes in Japan. Is there any special pass for students?

Regarding the JR East can we buy that pass in Japan? Because I checked with your Jakarta agent, they only sell JR Pass and JR West.

I understand that for JR East holders there is a reduction for the Matsumoto - Takayama round trip ticket. My question is whether this reduction is also applied for JR Pass holders.

Really appreciate your kind advice.

Regards, Hanny

avatar
Daniel-san
18832 posts
over 9 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

Yes some universities can provide the student with a ''Gakuwari'' or student discount card. These will give you 20% off normal ticket prices if you travel 100KM or more. Student discount cards are provided by the University and you should ask the school administration if they have one available. An example of this can be found here.

For travel from Matsumoto - Takayama, the JR Pass covers the complete route by rail. There's also a bus service available, however no discount is gives for the bus.

Hope this helps!
Daniel

hanny
hanny
4 posts
over 9 years ago

Hi Daniel,

Thanks for the answer. Will check with the Uni then.....
One still left, can we buy JR east in Japan?

Warmest regards, Hanny

avatar
Daniel-san
18832 posts
over 9 years ago
Expert

Hi Hanny!

Yes you can purchase the JR East Pass directly in Japan.

hanny
hanny
4 posts
over 9 years ago

Daniel-san,

Thank you so much for all the advice.

Have a nice day.

Regards, Hanny


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