Trains
Japanese rail is the part of a trip where a small decision made before you arrive — which pass, bought where — is worth several tens of thousands of yen, and where the published information is unusually easy to misread.
Three rules that decide most of it
- The price is fixed when you buy, not when you travel. That is why the 1 October 2026 revision is about purchase dates, and why buying a few days earlier can be worth thousands of yen.
- Passes are per operator group. The nationwide pass covers JR Group railways. Subways, private railways and several airport services belong to other companies and are billed separately, whatever your pass says.
- The fastest train is often the excluded one. NOZOMI and MIZUHO sit outside the nationwide pass; the slightly slower HIKARI and SAKURA run the same routes and are included.
What changed in 2026
From 1 October 2026 the nationwide Japan Rail Pass costs about 5–6% more when bought through an overseas travel agency. The official online reservation service kept its earlier prices, with no announced end date — so the same pass now has two prices depending on the channel.
Sending luggage in Japan — what it costs, and the size rule that decides the price
The class is the larger of the size class and the weight class, so a compact heavy bag is priced as a big one. Full published fares for every zone pair, plus the two sports items accepted above the 200 cm limit.
Shinkansen luggage rules — measure your suitcase before you book the seat
Above 160 cm of length plus width plus height you must reserve a specific seat, on four lines only, or pay JPY 1,000 on board. Enter your case's three measurements and find out which of the four separate limits it runs into.
Japan Rail Pass calculator — and why the price now depends on where you buy it
Since 1 October 2026 the nationwide Japan Rail Pass has cost more at overseas agencies while the official online price stays put. Work out whether the pass beats individual tickets, and which channel to use.