How to ACTUALLY Use Your JR Pass in Japan【Pick-Up, Seat Reservations, Ticket Gates】#japan #travel 

I'll also pin a message here just in case you guys didn't see the disclaimer in the video. There are many JR Passes/Area Passes issued by different branches of the Japan Rail Group. The Pass I used for demonstration in the video was the Setouchi Area Pass co-issued by JR-West and JR-Shikoku. Different JR passes, when used in different regions in Japan, can give you slightly different experiences, especially when using a ticket machine. For example, if you are a holder of the National JR Pass(i.e. 'Japan Rail Pass'), you might have to first touch the dedicated 'Japan Rail Pass' button(can be seen at 03:29) and scan the QR code on the pass to initiate the reservation process. What comes next should be more or less the same. Also remeber, if the ticket machine doesn't work, just go to a ticket counter. For 90% of the time, it works every time...just joking, the JR staff at ticket counters are polite and helpful and they'll help you with all your reservation needs.

I'd highly recommend the JR Rail Cafe in Tokyo Station for help the the JR pass. You can grab a number for the queue, a coffee and then wait for the super helpful people behind the desk to help out. They were brilliant when we exchanged our vouchers there earlier in the month and couldn't do enough to help us. Plus the queue wasn't too long!

Someone give this 🤴 his 👑 Never visited Japan before, flying in 2 month's time and boy did this video come in the nick of time. 👍

Excellent video! You explained the very things I was wondering about. . . like the insertion of two tickets into the gate, and what the differences are between the ticket (and one of them is a useless ticket). Thank you very much!

Short and sweet. I couldn't find anyone else who talks about how to actually use the reserved ticket. Very helpful!!

Short, sweet, and informative! Love it.

Essential video. Thank you for uploading.

Not only this video is easy to follow, but it funny as hell as well LOL.

I have been trying to find a video that actually explains this!! Thank you so much!! 🎉

Got my first Japan trip coming up next week so this is really useful, thanks!

The simplest explanation ever! Thank you for the video

The format of this video was straight forward, entertaining, and educational. Great job! Subbed.

Thanks for the information, super helpful. We are looking foward to our first trip to Japan in a few weeks 😸

Thank you for this video! I was overwhelmed with all the information I got online and from the JR brochure, your video made everything clean and simple. So thank you

Awesome vid man! No fat, straight to the point! You’ve explained me more useful stuff in 5 minutes than all the other vids ive watched…combined!!

This was extremely helpful. Thank you

Great stuff so easily explained which truly no one has explained till date .. i really appreciate and have subscribed to your channel to watch more useful videos thanks a lot

Yooo. Your video is helpful. Thank you!!!

This is probably the best video on it, been to Japan a few times myself and it's pretty straight forward. I'd recommend just setting up your JR pass when you land in the country at the airport. We typically don't activate it till the bulk of the trip but like Will said the staff at the airports know English a little better.

Very useful, thank you!

Dude these videos are so helpfull

Great video!

Thanks, you are doing a great job! I am going to Fukuoka next month and it helps a lot. 😊

Wow, Excellent video!!!!!!!!

Very helpful!

its totally helpfulllll. thank youuuuuuuuuu

Thanks! It's good to know that I can set a later activation date from when I pick the pass up

great video. i never reserved a seat and was able to get onto the non-reserved sections at both tokyo and shin-osaka station when i did that route last week

Thank you for making this video guide. I was wondering how I would make seat reservations after I exchanged my voucher at the airport. Luckily for me I got your video here to explain before I visit Japan in a few weeks.

Very helpful

Thank you so much!

Ah memories of that JR ticket room at Kansai Airport shown in the video....a big line the night we got there.

Thank you!

That was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for this helpful video 🫶

Thank you!!!

Uff, im going japan in a few days, and you just saved my life XD

a big fat THANK YOU

I wish this had existed when I first went to Japan. I made SO many mistakes. The only ting this video needs is a section on how to engage with JR rail staff. They are very patient and helpful even if you don't know Japanese you can always get excellent help from them. Going over that would be a good idea.

super.helpful.video....tks

thank you!

Thank you very much for this extremely helpful video. When I used the JR Pass the last time (2010) thinga were completely different (we had a little booklet as the Pass). Thank you! Thank you!

Thank you 🙏

thank you! They all say how to exchange the Jr Pass but not the details of what the machine looks like and how to insert the tickets. I already feel less stressed about the trip.

Thanks a lot.

Great video with useful information and wonderful editing of sound effects! Just a tip, one actually do not require to insert 2 passes into the machine, since technically the machine will only read the JR Pass. The LTD Express reservation ticket is mainly for the staff to check when aboard the train ~

Thank you, gosh i have so many doubts regarding transportation

Damn it, you saved me. I got confused with other videos where the jr pass has the qr code, but not mine! My thought is the ticket was wrongly printed. Found you video here before one day leaving. Thank God, many thanks to your video!

Thank you so much, I'm going next month and have a JR pass to pick up. I've been trying to find a good video like this the rest show just really how to pick up or how to reserve and none showed you needed to insert the pass into the machine.

i watched a guy film himself getting from the airport to tokyo to kyoto while trying to find the JR voucher exchange. and it was hilarious omg. the guy struggled so hard. very real. very terrifying.

Thank you for this amazing video!🤩 We're leaving to Japan next week, already got our JR Pass...do you think the JR pass is sufficient to move around or do you think we'll also need to get an IC card OR buy train passes to use on the lines not covered by the JR pass like Oedo line or Chiyoda line?Can these metro tickets be bought as needed or if needed?

Thanks you

Thanks for the information and instruction that you share in the video. I have a question and hope that you would please help me with. I'm going to have a 9-hour layover in Tokyo from Haneda Airport. So I would like to take the chance to visit the Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Tower. So my question are: 1. Do I need a JR pass to go on monorail to these two towers? What is a better transportation from Haneda Airport to Skytree? 2. Could you please please please indicate how to get to Tokyo Skytree from Haneda Airport? As what I've been searching, firstly, I need to get on the monorail from Haneda Airport. But after that I don't really know where I should get off and how to get to the Skytree. 3. About the carry-on luggage. I heard about lockers/ coin lockers but where is the most convenient way to get it? Because after 6 hours I will return the Haneda Airport to catch another International flight. Looking forward to your response. Really appreciate

Thanks for the practical tips. If I have two JR Passes, can I insert them both at the green hanbaiki to reserve seats or do I have to do it twice?

Are busy shinkansen trains mostly during commuter hours? Thanks for the video!

What a great and informative video! It clarified many of the confusions I had while researching on Setouchi Area Pass. Thank you so much! But I still have a few questions, hoping I can get some answers here. 1. What if I accidentally inserted my JR Pass at the starting station (covered by JR pass), and want to alight at another station that is not covered by JR Pass? 2. How do I reserve the tickets with oversized baggage compartment? And how much does it cost for the compartment? Thanks in advance for the replies!

Great vid . I got it down to a science when my son and I were there last year . Funny thing was , unlike what you said in the vid , I never put my reserve seat ticket through . When I went through all I did was put my pass through and it never set anything amiss . Is that way for something different ? I had the green pass last year , might as well go for it all for the first trip ..lol, did that mean anything ? This summer just getting the reg pass and I assume that reserving the seats is the same but only not choosing the green car as the option . Thanks for your vids , they are great !!

So helpful. On my first and second Japan trips, Idid not understand how to get a jr pass, where to find useful information, what the difference was between the various passes, and getting a seat, so I paid full fair :( or took a taxi. again :( In 2 months, I return for another 3 month trip and with your explanations will make another assault on the JR pass conundrum. 🎉

Thank you for this awesome video! We are going to Japan next week and already got our JR Pass, do you think we'll also need an IC card or a Tokyo train pass to use on train lines not included in JR pass or can we buy metro passes as needed as we go exploring?

Thanks for such an informative guide. You might've given me just enough confidence to try reserving a seat using a machine. I wanted to ask, in your opinion, do you think it'd be necessary to reserve a seat on the shinkansen from Umeda to Hiroshima (I'm planning to go to Miyajima)? I was going to just leave it to chance in the unreserved carriages but this is for a Saturday morning before 7am and I wasn't sure how busy it'd get at this time on a weekend. I had similar concerns for reserving a seat from Hiroshima to Tokyo for the next day (Sunday) around noon. I think I'll have to transfer at Osaka so would that mean I need two separate reservations as well?

When you exit the train, do you again put both tickets through the gate to exit, or just the JR pass?

Thanks for the video! How far in advance can you reserve seats on the Shinkansen? On some sites I see 3 days, while others say 1 month.

I am going to Hokkaido soon and I found out when I reach there, the JR exchange counter is close. Can I exchange the actual pass outside of Japan? or the green machine really able to exchange it (i couldn't find any info regarding this)?

What if you need to change your reservation (time/date) after making one? And what happens if you no-show a reservation (any penalties)?

I recently bought a JR pass however, i was looking to upgrade the individual tickets to green car. Since i can't upgrade my pass, i read that its possible to use the green car with an ordinary JR pass however, i just have to pay the difference. With that, is it possible to reserve and pay the difference for the green car using the ticket machine or do i have to go to the counter to do this?

How to exit ticket gates when you have reserved seat ticket, do you still insert both ticket and pass? If so, the pass will come back right 😂?

I'm planning to visit Japan next month but I'm kind of confused about this JR pass, when should I buy it? I tried to just see how, and it says it will be delivered by FedEx. does it mean my home country or what?

Nice job with this! As far as I know, if you buy the nationwide pass from JR directly, your activation date is set in stone at time of purchase. Which means you don't get to choose when you pick up the pass. This is one of the remaining advantages of buying an exchange order. Also, you don't actually need to put the seat reservation ticket into the gate. Your pass is sufficient.

Also a tip. Buy the Pass before the price hike in october 2023 ..... whops never mind...

Hey there, thank you for the info. Is there any way to reserve shinkansen seats online with or without JRPass?

nice and easy to understand video! question, can you also reserve seats directly if you buy from jr website? would you then be able to reserve for multiple travel at that time? I’d like to buy via jr site instead of agency. but you also mentioned reserving seat is only possible when pass is activated (when received in japan), or did I misunderstood something.. thanks!

Thanks for this useful content! quick question though, does the JR nationwide pass also have limited number of seat reservation from the Green machine i.e. after number of reservation I will have to go to the ticket office?

Hi, great video! Why is it necessary to insert the reservation ticket? What happens if I have a reservation ticket but don't insert it?

I'm currently looking into buying the Sapporo-Noboribetsu JR pass. I was under the impression that I would need an exchange voucher mailed to me, along with my passport, in order to get my JR pass in Japan. However it seems that in the video, there isn't any exchange voucher? Have things changed as of recently?

Will it be a problem if I cannot present the credit card used to purchase the JR Pass?

Do I still need to use the green ticket machines if I don't intend to reserve a seat?

Hi! I will be traveling to japan next month and i plan on buying the nationwide Japan Rail Pass, could you please provide more details on this since it allows me to reserve seats online. i don’t think i’ll be given a separate reserved ticket if i book it online and i was confused as to how it works. Thank you!

Thanks for the info! The one question I have yet to get answered is, Am I able to reserve multiple JR group reservations at the JR office at Narita airport or is it only for JR East train reservations? For example Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima, or the Takayama Limited Express from Nagoya to Takayama?

Is there also a seat reservation limit if i buy the 21 day Japan Rail pass for all of japan? 😢 3:58

Is hokoriku arch pass cover this route? - KIX to Kyoto - Osaka to Okayama - Kyoto to Kanazawa - Kanazawa to Tokyo - Tokyo to Narita

How many trips can you book at once. I heard that you can sometimes only book 2 trips at one time. As the booking ticket office gets busy. So if it’s just my wife and myself. Would that count as 2 trips for the one booking. Or would we have to go back each day if we wanted to make like 5 trips on different days.

So fir the other remainining trip we only insert JR pass all the time?

I am spending 1 week in Tokyo then 1 week in Kansai area. I bought a 5 day Kansai-Hiroshima area pass from a travel agency. According to your video, I will be able to exchange my Kansai voucher when I arrive in Tokyo and have them set an activation date to 1 week later, and I should be able to reserve Shinkansen and limited express train seats as well? Thank you for any help!

I’m still unsure how to book multiple seats at the green ticket machine. Do my partner and I use the machine separately, then try and book seats next to each other? Or can we book two seats using the one JR Pass?

Now when using an all of Japan rail pass on local JR lines, do you insert the pass to get on a train and insert it again when leaving the train at your destination?

Thanks for the video! One question, is necessary insert the "seat reservation ticket" in the ticket slot? Thanks

Very useful. Thanks.

I don't remember setting an Identification No, is there a way I could check this? Thank you

Wonderful video, @Will_Zhao I have a question which I hope you could answer. I'm preparing for my trip to Japan in October. I'm planning to buy 7 days Japan Rail Pass (national) via official website where I can reserve my seats one month ahead of my planned train travel date. I have planned 9 shinkansen rides (with specific routes, dates, & time) and I will proceed to reserve seats for all 9 of them. Therefore, I will have 9 "seat reservation" tickets. My question: When I land in Narita and go over to the JR East Travel Service centre to collect my national JR Pass, would they also provide me with all 9 seat reservation tickets? Thank you.

Awesome video! The only thing Is that when I purchased and reserved my JR pass from the Official JAPAN RAIL PASS site, it did not ask me for an Identification Number. The email confirmation mentions the following "When picking up your pass, your passport (copies not accepted) must be presented to confirm that you are staying for a short period of time."

Also, If you book the JR Pass directly from JR website you can reserve seats online and just pick up the tickets at the machine/counter. I've used It for JR whole Japan Pass, does anyone know If It works the same for the other regional passes?

I hate this new system. The old passes were laminated and hard to lose. I'm so worried about losing the pass as it looks identical to regular tickets and you have to take the pass out each time. Ugh. Thanks for the tips and demos

Great vid. I think the hardest part of the JR passes was trying to remember where/when to use them for local (non-Shinkansen) trains to maximize the value. By the 2nd week visiting Japan, I was switching between Suica and JR, but it took awhile.

Man, I wish I could’ve found a video as useful as this one before I went on my trip to Japan back in March! 😑 The hardest thing I had to deal with during my trip was figuring out how to get around with the train system. And using the JR Pass was also rather complicating as well. It doesn’t help either that I’m not used to riding trains. 😕 Not that my trip sucked at all, but I can honestly say that it was miraculous how I managed to get myself around despite the complications. I do plan to go back to Japan eventually, and I’m grateful to have found this video. Thanks a lot!

Does anyone know how to get trough the gates if i have jr pass but my daughter has free travel bc she is 4 yrs… do i lift her up? Or let her go trough the automatic gate first and i go after her quickly?

Hi thank you for this video. All you videos helped me alot. But i have a question and i hope you find time to answer:) do i need JR pass if my travel is only in Osaka-Kyoto-Nara thank you so much

So if I dont wanna bother reserving seats i can just insert my jrp at any gate and ride as many JR trains as i want as long as it is active, am I right?

Hello, Can I insert more than 1 JR pass and choose more seats in one time?

I wonder is Switzerland ticket system is better than Japan? No need to insert the tickets as there isnt turnstile but need to show the tickets when asked for. Its that simple there.

I just bought a JR pass from the official site for my trip in a few weeks. What is four digit identification number? I don't remember setting it up and have no idea what that is.

Wow I did not know you needed to enter both tickets at the machine to pass! What about if you need luggage space in the train? Thanks!