⚡ TL;DR
- National JR Pass ¥50,000/7 days (70% price hike in 2023) — only worth it for multi-region trips
- Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka only: Don't buy national pass. Individual Shinkansen cheaper (round trip ¥26,640)
- Add Hiroshima: National pass breaks even (Tokyo→Kyoto→Hiroshima→Osaka ≈ ¥55,000+ individual)
- Regional passes are 30-60% cheaper: JR East ¥30,000/5d, JR Kansai ¥4,000/1d
- Best strategy: combine 2 regional passes for your areas, save ¥10,000-20,000
6 Major Regional Passes Compared
Prices from official JR company websites and japan-guide.com (confirmed Feb 2026).
| Pass | Price | Days | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🎌 JR Pass (National) | ¥50,000 | 7 | All JR lines nationwide (excl. Nozomi/Mizuho) |
| JR East Tohoku Area | ¥30,000 | 5 | Tokyo, Sendai, Aomori, Nikko, GALA Yuzawa |
| JR East-South Hokkaido | ¥35,000 | 6 | Tokyo → Tohoku → Hakodate → Sapporo |
| JR West Kansai Area | ¥4,000 | 1 | Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, Himeji |
| JR West Kansai Wide | ¥12,000 | 5 | Kansai + Okayama + Kinosaki + Shirahama |
| JR Kyushu All | ¥18,500 | 5 | All Kyushu (Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Kagoshima) |
| JR Hokkaido | ¥24,000 | 5 | All Hokkaido |
5 Trip Scenario Analysis
Scenario 1: Tokyo→Kyoto→Osaka (Classic)
❌ Skip the national pass
Shinkansen round trip ¥26,640 vs JR Pass ¥50,000. Individual tickets save ¥23,360. Add Kyoto-Nara (Kintetsu is better) and Osaka metro (not JR), pass advantage shrinks further.
Scenario 2: Tokyo→Kyoto→Hiroshima→Osaka
✅ National pass breaks even
Individual Shinkansen: ¥13,320+¥11,420+¥10,580+¥13,870=¥49,190. Add Miyajima JR ferry (free with pass), JR Pass ¥50,000 roughly breaks even.
Scenario 3: Kansai only (Osaka/Kyoto/Kobe/Nara)
✅ JR Kansai Area Pass ¥4,000/day
1/12 the national pass price! Covers Special Rapid (Osaka-Kyoto 28min) and Haruka airport express. For longer stays, buy multiple 1-day passes or Kansai Wide Pass ¥12,000/5 days.
Scenario 4: Tokyo→Tohoku (Sendai/Aomori/Nikko)
✅ JR East Tohoku Area Pass ¥30,000/5 days
Saves ¥20,000 vs national pass. Covers all Shinkansen to Aomori (including Hayabusa), plus Nikko and GALA Yuzawa ski resort.
Scenario 5: Combo (Tokyo→Kansai→Kyushu)
🔀 Combine regional passes
Buy Tokyo→Kyoto Shinkansen ¥13,320 + JR West Kansai Wide ¥12,000 + JR Kyushu ¥18,500 = ¥43,820. Saves ¥6,180 vs ¥50,000 national pass, with more days (5+5).
Real Traveler Tips
From Reddit r/JapanTravel, japan-guide.com forums, Chinese travel communities (Xiaohongshu, Mafengwo, Qyer), cross-verified.
💡 Smartest post-price-hike strategy
Most recommended on Reddit r/JapanTravel and Chinese forums: use regional passes for main areas, buy individual Shinkansen for inter-region travel. E.g., "JR East + Kyoto→Tokyo one-way" or "JR Kansai + JR Kyushu + Shin-Osaka→Tokyo one-way".
⚠️ The Nozomi trap
Most common mistake on Reddit and Chinese forums: not knowing JR Pass excludes Nozomi/Mizuho. Hikari is only 15min slower (Tokyo→Kyoto 2h20m vs 2h05m) but runs half as often. In peak season, Hikari unreserved cars get packed — reserve seats in advance (free).
🇨🇳 Tips for Chinese travelers
Per Chinese travel forums: ①Buy in advance from home — cheaper than buying in Japan (some agents offer discounts) ②Regional passes can be picked up at JR counters in Narita/Haneda airports ③For Kansai Airport to Osaka, the Haruka + ICOCA combo is recommended — saves a JR Pass travel day.
Not sure which JR pass saves more?
Enter your Japan routes, compare national pass vs regional vs individual tickets.
🔍 Calculate Now — FreeFAQ
Is the JR Pass still worth it after the price hike?
The JR Pass jumped from ¥29,650 to ¥50,000 in Oct 2023 (70% increase). Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka only isn't worth it (Shinkansen one-way ¥13,320, round trip ¥26,640 < ¥50,000). But add Hiroshima or more cities and it pays off. Many travelers now prefer cheaper regional passes.
Can I ride Nozomi Shinkansen with regional passes?
Most regional passes cannot ride Nozomi or Mizuho (neither can the national JR Pass). But some JR West Sanyo Shinkansen passes allow Nozomi. Check each pass's rules. Generally use Hikari and Sakura instead — only 10-20min slower.
Can I combine multiple regional passes?
Yes! This is the most popular post-price-hike strategy. Example: JR East Tohoku Area Pass (¥30,000/5 days) + JR West Kansai Area Pass (¥4,000/1 day) = ¥34,000, saving ¥16,000 vs the ¥50,000 national pass, covering Tokyo + Tohoku + Kansai.
Can both tourists and residents buy regional passes?
Most JR regional passes are for foreign tourists on short-term visas only (same as national JR Pass). Some exceptions exist, like Seishun 18 Kippu which anyone can buy. Check each pass's eligibility.