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Is the JR Pass Worth It? Calculator

You’ll see 指定席 shiteiseki: reserved seat, on tickets and train car signs

Add the train trips you plan to take. We compare regular shinkansen ticket prices with the Japan Rail Pass, using official JR fares.

Your one-way trips
Tokyo → Kyoto
¥13,850 · Hikari · ~154 min
0
Tokyo → Shin-Osaka
¥14,400 · Hikari · ~174 min
0
Tokyo → Nagoya
¥11,090 · Hikari · ~118 min
0
Kyoto → Shin-Osaka
¥1,450 · Nozomi/Hikari · ~13 min
0
Tokyo → Hiroshima
¥19,760 · Nozomi only · ~230 min · pass holders pay ¥6,500 extra for Nozomi
0
Shin-Osaka → Hiroshima
¥10,420 · Sakura · ~88 min
0
Shin-Osaka → Hakata
¥15,280 · Sakura · ~156 min
0
Hiroshima → Hakata
¥9,100 · Hikari · ~66 min
0
Tokyo → Kanazawa
¥14,600 · Kagayaki · ~152 min
0
Tokyo → Nagano
¥8,450 · Kagayaki/Asama · ~80 min
0
Tokyo → Sendai
¥11,630 · Hayabusa · ~94 min
0
Tokyo → Shin-Aomori
¥18,110 · Hayabusa · ~191 min
0
Narita Airport → Tokyo
¥3,140 · N'EX (Narita Express) · ~55 min
0
Kansai Airport → Kyoto
¥3,590 · Haruka · ~80 min
0

Prices are one way; for the return trip add the same route again.

Quick answer

Only if you take several long shinkansen trips within 7, 14 or 21 days. A classic Narita–Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka–Tokyo–Narita loop costs about ¥35,980 in regular tickets, less than the ¥50,000 7-day pass, so separate tickets are cheaper. Add a Shin-Osaka–Hakata round trip and tickets reach ¥66,540, so the 7-day pass saves about ¥16,540.

Price rise on October 1, 2026
The 7-day pass goes from ¥50,000 to ¥53,000 for exchange orders bought at overseas agencies. The official site does not list a separate new price for online purchases.

More about the JR Pass

Regional passes to compare
JR EAST PASS · JR East
JR East lines (incl. Tohoku, Aomori, Sendai, Nagano, Niigata) plus some partner railways
5 days ¥35,000 · 10 days ¥50,000
Not valid on the Tokaido Shinkansen.
Hokuriku Arch Pass · JR East / JR West
Hokuriku (Toyama, Kanazawa, Fukui) by JR East and JR West lines, plus some sections of partner railways
7 days ¥35,000
Only for foreign visitors with "Temporary Visitor" status. Not valid on the Tokaido Shinkansen.
Kansai Area Pass · JR West
Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, Himeji, Wakayama, Otsu, including the Haruka
1 day ¥2,800 · 2 days ¥4,800 · 3 days ¥5,800 · 4 days ¥7,000
Sales end on 2026-09-30. Passes bought by then stay valid for their full period.
Kansai WIDE Area Pass · JR West
Wider Kansai area
5 days ¥12,000
JR KYUSHU RAIL PASS (All Kyushu) · JR Kyushu
All of Kyushu
3 days ¥22,000 · 5 days ¥24,000 · 7 days ¥26,000
The official page says JR Kyushu's online booking has different prices.
Is the JR Pass Worth It in 2026? Three Itineraries Priced

Frequently asked questions

Is the JR Pass worth it?
Only if you take several long shinkansen trips within 7, 14 or 21 days. A classic Narita–Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka–Tokyo–Narita loop costs about ¥35,980 in regular tickets, less than the ¥50,000 7-day pass, so separate tickets are cheaper. Add a Shin-Osaka–Hakata round trip and tickets reach ¥66,540, so the 7-day pass saves about ¥16,540.
How much is the JR Pass?
A 7-day Ordinary pass is ¥50,000, 14 days ¥80,000 and 21 days ¥100,000 for adults. For exchange orders bought at overseas agencies from October 1, 2026, the prices rise to ¥53,000, ¥84,000 and ¥105,000.
Can I ride the Nozomi with a JR Pass?
Not included. Pass holders can ride Hikari and Kodama trains at no extra cost, or buy a special NOZOMI/MIZUHO ticket for each ride — for example ¥4,960 between Tokyo and Kyoto. A regular Tokyo–Kyoto ticket on the Hikari costs ¥13,850.
How much is the shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto?
¥13,850 one way for an ordinary reserved seat on the Hikari (about 154 minutes), according to JR Central's fare search; the Nozomi costs slightly more and is faster.
Is there a cheaper regional pass?
Often, if you stay in one region. The JR EAST PASS costs ¥35,000 for 5 days and covers Tohoku, Nagano and Niigata; JR West, JR Kyushu and the Hokuriku Arch Pass have their own passes. The JR EAST PASS and the Hokuriku Arch Pass do not cover the Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka.
Sources · 9 official pages · checked September 24, 2026
  1. Japan Rail Pass (JR Group) — Prices, including the October 1, 2026 change
    7/14/21-day prices
  2. Japan Rail Pass — NOZOMI/MIZUHO ticket for pass holders
    Extra ticket prices for Nozomi and Mizuho
  3. JR Central — Official fare and timetable search
    One-way fares and travel times (searched for October 14, 2026)
  4. JR East — JR-EAST Train Reservation (fares)
    One-way fares and travel times (searched for October 14, 2026)
  5. JR East — JR EAST PASS
    Regional pass prices
  6. JR East / JR West — Hokuriku Arch Pass
    Regional pass prices
  7. JR West — Kansai Area Pass
    Regional pass prices
  8. JR West — Kansai WIDE Area Pass
    Regional pass prices
  9. JR Kyushu — JR KYUSHU RAIL PASS (All Kyushu)
    Regional pass prices

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