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How to buy and activate the JR Pass

Where to buy it, how to exchange it in Japan and how to reserve seats.

Transport 3 min read Updated 20 Oct 2026

Metro station in Tokyo with passengers

If you have already decided the JR Pass pays off on your route, the practical part remains: buying it, exchanging it on arrival, choosing the start date and reserving seats on the trains. Here it is step by step.

Where to buy it

The JR Pass is sold through authorised official distributors worldwide. The official price is the same at every distributor, so the most important thing is to choose a trustworthy one. We recommend buying it directly on the official Japan Rail Pass website, which offers home delivery and guaranteed exchange at the main airports in Japan.

Since 2023, it is also possible to buy the JR Pass at certain sales points in Japan (airport JR Ticket Offices), though at a slightly higher price than the advance sale abroad. If you arrive without having bought it, it is an option, but it works out more expensive.

How to activate it

When you buy the pass you will receive an exchange voucher. In Japan, present it at any JR Ticket Office (there is one at Narita and Haneda airports and in the major stations) to exchange the voucher for the physical pass. At the time of exchange you must indicate the start date of validity, which does not have to be your arrival day. You can arrive one day and activate the pass the next if you prefer.

Once activated, the pass gives you access to the included trains simply by showing it at the manual gates (JR line) — it does not go through the automatic card gates. At large stations there are dedicated lanes for passes.

Seat reservations

With the JR Pass you can travel in non-reserved cars without a reservation, sitting in any free seat. You can also make free seat reservations at JR counters — recommended on popular Shinkansen or in high season (sakura, public holidays). For trains with mandatory reservations (such as the Sunrise Izumo or some mountain trains), the reservation is free with the pass.

Organise the route you will travel with the pass

The planner splits the nights across cities according to your pace and interests, and with the route in front of you it is easier to decide when to activate the JR Pass.

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Frequently asked questions

When do you have to buy the JR Pass?

Before leaving home. You will receive a voucher that you exchange in Japan for the physical pass at any JR Ticket Office. Since 2023 it can also be bought at certain Japanese airports, but it works out more expensive.

Can you buy the JR Pass once in Japan?

Yes, but it is more expensive. Since October 2023 it is sold at JR offices in the main airports and stations, though the price is higher than the advance sale abroad.

How do you activate the JR Pass in Japan?

Present the voucher at any JR Ticket Office (there is one at Narita, Haneda and the major stations). You must indicate the start date of validity — it does not have to be your arrival day. Once activated, show it at the manual gates (it does not go through the automatic ones).

When should you activate the JR Pass to get the most out of it?

Activate it on the day of your first long-distance Shinkansen, not on your arrival day. If you spend the first days only in Tokyo using the metro (which is not JR), you would waste pass days without getting any benefit. Once active, also use it for the Narita Express back to the airport and for the free urban JR lines, such as the Yamanote in Tokyo or the Osaka Loop Line.

Do you have to reserve a seat with the JR Pass?

It is not mandatory — you can travel in the non-reserved cars. But you can make free seat reservations at JR counters. In high season (sakura, August, public holidays) it is recommended to reserve in advance for the most popular Shinkansen.