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Since millions of people use the rail system daily in Japan there are numerous rules governing the use of tickets. Below we provide some of the basic information regarding the validity period of tickets, making stopovers, children’s rates, and discount fares on round-trip tickets. At present there are no special rates for students (unless enrolled in a Japanese school), or for seniors. For rules regarding the Japan Rail Pass and other rail passes please click on the Rail Pass button above. A hint for traveling with kids: if you are traveling with two or more children under age six, they can travel free (no seat reservation) but you might consider buying one half-price child’s ticket so you can get a reserved seat for them to share if the train is crowded. |
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For
travel up to 100 km (operating kilometers) and for travel
only between major urban areas and their suburbs, the corresponding
ticket is only valid on the day it is issued. For travel over
100 km, the period a validity depends on the distance traveled,
as shown in the following table. |
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| Up
to 200 km |
Up
to 400 km |
Up
to 600 km |
Up
to 800 km |
Up
to 1000 km |
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2
days |
3
days |
4
days |
5
days |
6
days |
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*For travel over 1000 km, the period a validity increases one
day for each additional 200 km |
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A
"stopover" means leaving a station en route during
a trip (within the travel area of the ticket). |
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Stopovers
are not permitted when using the following tickets. |
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| Standard
railway tickets for trips with a one-way distance
of 100 km or less (operating kilometers). |
| Standard
railway tickets for use only between major urban areas
and their suburbs (Tokyo-Osaka-Fukuoka). |
| Certain
discount tickets. |
| Limited
express tickets, express tickets, "Green" tickets,
sleeper car tickets, compartment tickets, reserved-seat
tickets, fare-adjustment railway tickets. |
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"Adult"
and "Child" are defined as follows. |
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| Adult |
Ages
12 and older (If a person is 12 years old but in elementary
school, the person is considered to be a "Child" passenger.) |
| Child |
Ages
6 to 11 (If a person is 6 years old but has not entered
elementary school, the person is considered to be
a "Small Child" passenger.) |
| Small
Child |
Ages
1 to 5 |
| Infant |
Less
than 1 year old |
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The
"Child" fares for railway tickets, limited express
tickets, express tickets and reserved-seat tickets are half
the corresponding "Adult" fare. Child fares are
rounded down to the nearest 10 yen. |
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The
"Child" fares for Green tickets, sleeper car tickets,
etc., are the same as the "Adult" fares.
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One
sleeper car berth may be used by one "Adult" and
one "Child" passenger, or by two "Child"
passengers. |
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Small
Child and Infant Fares and Fees
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"Small
Child" and "Infant" passengers can generally
board for free. However, a "Child" ticket is required
for these passengers in the following situations. |
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1 |
If
more than two "Small Child" passengers are accompanying
one "Adult" or "Child" passenger (a "Child"
ticket is required for the third "Small Child" passenger).
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2 |
If
one "Small Child" or "Infant" passenger
will occupy one reserved seat, Green seat, berth, etc.
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3 |
If the "Small Child" is traveling alone.
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Round-Trip
Discount Ticket
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When
using a round-trip railway ticket, if the distance one way
is more than 600 km (operating kilometers) the fare each way
is discounted 10%.
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Example:Fare
when traveling Round-trip between Tokyo and Okayama |
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The
one-way distance between Tokyo and Okayama is more than 600
km, so the ticket is eligible for the round-trip discount.
The trip is 732.9 km each way, which is rounded up to 733
km. The trip is in the 721 km to 760 km rank, so the fare
one-way is ¥10,190. With the 10% discount, the fare is
¥9171, and rounding down to the nearest ¥10 results
in a fare of ¥9170. Therefore, the round-trip discounted
fare is ¥9170 + ¥9170 = ¥18,340. |
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