Discounts on JR trains abound for those who are aware of them. In part two of our guide to
cheaper travel, Jeffrey Strain explains a variety of ways to save on every train ride you take.
Seishun 18 Ticket
If you have time, but not a whole lot of money, the least expensive way to travel on JR is
to buy a seishun juhachi kippu. This ticket allows unlimited travel using local trains on
ordinary JR train lines (bullet train lines are excluded) as well as the JR Miyajima ferry
line. One ticket (JY11,500) is good for five travel days enabling you to travel anywhere
in Japan for only JY2300 a day. The days need not be consecutive and the ticket is
transferable. Alternatively, it's possible to travel with up to four other people using
the one ticket if the group is travelling the same route - but in that case the whole
ticket will be used up within one day (five people travelling on one day is of the same
value as one person travelling on five days). There are no stopover limitations, meaning
you can go in and out of train stations as many times as you want within the period the
ticket is valid. The ticket is accepted at all JR stations.
The potential savings become apparent when you consider it's possible to reach most places
in Japan in a day. A one-way ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto on JR costs JY7980, and tickets
for distances over 140 km start at JY2520. Both these are more expensive than the JY2300
it costs to ride an entire day on JR trains using the Seishun Juhachi ticket, so the
savings can be quite large if you're planning any long distance trips.
In most areas, the ticket is good for the entire day it's activated until the first
station stop past midnight on the next day. However, it's valid until the last train stops
running on the Tokyo and Osaka urban lines (densha tokuteikukan). Seishun Juhachi
tickets are good during three time periods a year: spring (March 1-April 10), summer (July
20-September 10) and winter (December 10-January 20). The ticket is only good for the
season and year during which it's purchased, and are available at major JR train stations
or travel agencies about two weeks before each season begins.
Shuyu Kippu
This pass can be purchased for around JY3700 (depending on the zone you are travelling to)
and must be used in conjunction with a round-trip ticket or a one way ticket that exceeds
201km. When you purchase a shuyu kippu pass, you're automatically entitled to a
5%-20% discount on your final destination. Ideal for trips in and around your destination
point, it additionally allows you five consecutive days of unlimited travel on local lines
within your chosen travel zone. It cannot, however, be applied to express trains.
Nice Midi Pass
This is a special pass available for groups of two or more women over the age of 30. The
pass is good for unlimited JR train use for three consecutive days on all JR trains,
including all bullet trains except the Nozomi bullet train. Passes cost JY57,100
(JY77,400 first class) for two women and JY85,650 (JY116,100 first class) for three women.
This pass can be purchased at any JR station or at travel agencies and is available for
purchase until September 28 and can be used until September 30. There are two blackout
periods from April 27-May 6 and August 11-20.
These are only a few of the discounts JR has on offer. The "Waku Waku Odekake"
ticket guide (in Japanese) lists over 75 different discount tickets available, many of
them seasonal promotions in conjunction with amusement parks, as well as other attractions
and events taking place in Japan. You can contact the JR East Infoline (03-3423-0111) to
receive English information about discounts available. No matter where you plan to travel,
utilizing the discounts will not only save you tens of thousands of yen each year over
regular JR prices, it'll give you the satisfaction of knowing you're no longer paying too
much for your train tickets.
Reproduced courtesy of Kansai Time Out.
With Pamela Stoikopoulos.
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