Am I authorized to use the JR Pass??

Hi there!

Good question, Visa matters can always be a little confusing but you are required to under Japan under a 90 day tourist visa in order to be eligible for the JR Pass. Some nationalities (such as people from the US and UK) have the ability the extend there 90 day tourist visa with an additional 90 days.

The most important thing is that you get a 90 day stamp/visa in your passport when you pass customs. I could give you some more information about possibilities if you tell me your nationality and purpose of visit.

Hope to hear from you!
Daniel

Hi Daniel,

I'm from Germany and I go to Japan to do some research for my master thesis, but I'm will not study at a university in Japan or something. Just research and traveling for which a JR Pass would be very convenient. It would be great if you could give me some more information. Thank you.

Regards,
Tina

Hi Tina,

You will be completely fine in that case! Germany like many other European countries have a Visa treaty with Japan, which allows you to visit Japan without and prior Visa procedures.

So you can simply fly to Japan and the customs officer will put a 90 day visa-stamp in your passport. (which you can renew with an additional 90 days whilst in Japan).

This means that you qualify for the JR Pass, so you can use it to travel around the country as you wish!

I hope this helps!
Daniel

Hi Daniel,

Thank you so much!!! That helps a lot. I'm glad to read that.
Nobody else could help me, it's really confusing.

Regards
Tina

I got the same issue: I am German and will stay in Japan until the middle of August (a total of 3,5 months).
My boyfriend will bring our JR passes when he comes to visit in the middle of July (so still within my first 90 days).
Am I eligible to exchange the voucher for a JR Pass in the middle of July when my passport already shows the visa extension for another 90 days?

Thanks a lot for the help!
Anne

Hi Anne,

Yes that is no problem, as long as you are under the status of a 90 days tourist visa. (you basically get a new tourist Visa once you extend it).

Great. Thank you so much for your quick response!

Hi Daniel-san,

sorry about asking again, but I got a different answer from www.japan-rail-pass.com (Japan experience) about this topic. here's the thread:

My question:
Dear Sir or Madam,

I’m german and I’m staying in Japan for 4 months now. As I arrived here, I got a "temponary visitor" permission for 90 days. A couple weeks ago I extended this permission for another 90 days (until april), still in "temporary visitor" status.
Am I eligible for the rail pass the upcoming weeks?

Thanks!
Matthias

Their answer:
Dear Matthias Weis,

Thank you for your message.

JR only accept to exchange the voucher for the 90 days “temporary visitor” visa. If you have an extension of visa, the risk is very high that JR will not accept to exchange your voucher.
Sorry about that.

Best regards

has anyone experience with extended "temporary visitor" permission and rail pass?
thanks!

Hello there,

Personally I don't think that it will be a problem, as you basically get "an other 90 day tourist visa".

Please send us picture or scan of the visa at [email protected] and we will check it for you.

All the best,
Daniel