With the roughly 70 percent price hike on the JR Pass in October 2023, you may benefit from these 4 other alternatives to the JR Pass.
Regional JR Passes
Look into the regional JR group passes. These regional passes are the obvious choice for alternatives to the JR Pass, but despite the similar name, are not the same as the Japan-wide JR pass commonly referenced. They will cover JR lines in certain areas, like Tokyo, the Kansai area (Hyogo, Kyoto, Mie, Osaka, Nara, Shiga, Wakayama, etc.) and beyond. Think of them more like mini-JR passes. You can find more info below.
JR Central – Mt. Fuji Alternative
JR Central passes are less useful to the average tourist than JR East and JR West passes. You will find coverage in cities between (but not in) Kyoto/Osaka and Tokyo. If you’re traveling around Mt. Fuji or near the north coast, these passes can help. You may also want to check out the Hakone Free Pass, if you’re exclusively heading to Mt. Fuji.
JR East – Tokyo Alternative
Staying in Tokyo? JR East passes may benefit you. These passes cover Tokyo and north up to the start of Hokkaido in Hakodate. There is one pass that covers both Tokyo and Osaka/ Kyoto on this site: The Hokuriku Arch Pass. Before you jump on the pass, note that this pass does not cover the direct path (Tokaido Shinkansen) between Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka but rather an “arch” through the scenic Nagano and Kanazawa before reaching Kyoto/ Osaka. Scroll to the bottom to see all the JR Central passes.
JR West – Kansai Alternative
JR West passes generally cover JR travel in the Kansai Area and cities further south like Hiroshima, Miyajima, and Hakata. You should look into these passes if you’ll visit various cities around Kyoto and Osaka, like Nara, Kobe, and Himeji. Just know that if traveling within Osaka and Kyoto, you will likely travel on quite a few private and municipal lines where these JR-only passes will not work. You may want to look at the Kansai Thru Pass, the Kintetsu Rail Pass, the Hankyu Tourist Pass as well as others, for “intra-city” travel.
Hokkaido Rail Pass – Hokkaido Alternative
If you’re traveling in Hokkaido, these can help. Note that you won’t be able to get to Hokkaido from Tokyo or the Kansai area with these passes. You’ll have to fly in to Sapporo (recommended), or connect by Shinkansen in Hakodate to get use out of these. Make sure you check the weather, as snow can impede all sorts of travel.
Shikoku Railway – Shikoku Alternative
As with the Hokkaido Rail Pass, this Shikoku Pass is very region-specific. You won’t be able to get to Shikoku with just this pass. You’ll have to fly into a nearby airport or take a train. But once you’ve done that, this pass will cover your travels.
JR-Kyushu Rail Pass – Kyushu Alternative
Limited to Kyushu JR trains, you’ll find three options: all of Kyushu, the north of Kyushu, and the south of Kyushu. Make sure you plan your trip to the island, by booking a flight or train ride first, so you can take advantage of these passes.
Flying – A Surprisingly Cheap Alternative
Not much to mention here. Budget airlines like Peach or Jetstar can get you to most locations for 100USD or less on the right days. Use google flights, or ITA Matrix to find the best price, but remember to search in INCOGNITO or in a private tab to prevent artificial price hikes.
Buses – A Hotel Alternative
You may benefit from bus travel. If you’re on a time crunch or trying to save on a hotel, look for overnight buses. You can reserve online at sites like Willer Express or in-person at major bus terminals. Just don’t expect buses to travel nearly as fast as the trains or shinkansen. In general, bus tickets may cost less than or around the same cost as a flight, making them difficult to recommend unless it meets your specific needs.
Trains without a Pass – The Original Way
You can always just purchase individual tickets for the bullet and local trains. These are usually a good value. You can reserve online at the specific JR group sites, or purchase in-person at automated machines or the ticket counters in the train station. Look here for JR West, East, and Central Reservations. The trains constantly run, so don’t feel like you need advance reservation–just hop on the most convenient one. Timetables are available at the stations or on apps like Google Maps.
Despite what others may state, IC cards like Suica, and Pasmo are not required for this type of travel. If you have a credit card without a foreign transaction fee or cash (JPY), you’ll be just fine. Despite their ease of use, traveling without an IC card may help you better track your funds abroad and prevent a minor amount of loss (if you don’t use everything on the card).
Other Alternatives to the JR Pass
You can always find other alternatives to the JR Pass like taxis, but these listed are the most accessible and provide the best bang for your buck.
What alternatives did you find? Feel free to let us know or if you have any questions!
