*Processing Fee $25

1.	You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing,under the entry status of "temporary visitor."
	"Temporary Visitor" entry status, according to Japanese Immigration Law, allows a stay in Japan of 15 days or 90 days for "sight-seeing, etc." If you apply for a "stay for sight-seeing" when you enter Japan, entry personnel will stamp your passport as "Temporary Visitor," as shown below. Only persons who have a passport bearing this stamp can use a JAPAN RAIL PASS.
	Caution: Even if you visit Japan with an Exchange Order, to be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS, the exchange cannot be made unless you have "Temporary Visitor" status; if you enter Japan under any other official status, such as "Trainee," "Entertainer," or "Reentry Permit," you cannot change the Exchange Order for a JAPAN RAIL PASS. Please note that according to strict interpretation of the Japanese Immigration Law, "Temporary Visitor" status differs even from other types of stays that are also for only short time periods. Examples of the "Temporary Visitor" entry status stamp
2.	You are a Japanese national living in a foreign country,
	a.who is qualified to live permanently in that country, or
	b. who is married to a non-Japanese residing in a country other than Japan.
Note: Persons meeting conditions a or b above must be required to show proof of same at the point of purchase of an Exchange Order and obtaining a JAPAN RAIL PASS.  Also note: The former condition about a Japanese national "who has been living in a foreign country for ten or more years" is discontinued from 1 April 2004 purchase.

The above are yen (or ) prices for a JAPAN RAIL PASS Exchange Order; the actual cost in local currency is calculated at the time the Exchange Order is issued. Note that the purchase exchange rate may differ from the exchange rate in effect when you actually visit Japan.

The local currency price, applicable exchange rate, and issue date for an Exchange Order are specified on the Exchange Order itself. PASS prices for children apply from age 6 to and including age 11. Prices are subject to change. The applicable price is the price valid on the date when an Exchange Order is issued.

How to turn in an exchange order to receive a JAPAN RAIL PASS

 

	You cannot use an Exchange Order when you travel on JR lines. Turn in your Exchange Order and obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS at one of the JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange offices. shown on the pages to the right. (Please note the Service hours and closing days.)
	Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS within three months of the date the Order was issued.
	When you make the exchange you will be asked to fill in a simple application form (You can fill in the form when you are in Japan, but it can be downloaded from this home page, as indicated below) and also to show the Temporary Visitor visa that was stamped in your passport when you entered Japan. You must show your passport with the Temporary Visitor stamp in it in order for your Rail Pass exchange order to be screened.
	* Without your passport, the pass exchange will not be made. (A photocopy of your passport is also not acceptable because you must show the "Temporary Visitor" stamp in it.) * If you are a Japanese national resident in a country other than Japan and with permanent resident status in that country, please show, in addition to your passport, documents testifying to your status. *The type of PASS described on the Exchange Order cannot be changed.
	In order to speed up the exchange process in Japan, you should fill in this exchange application form in advance.

	Shinkansen,* most limited express and ordinary express trains have reserved Green Car seats and both reserved and non-reserved ordinary car seats. ( The JAPAN RAIL PASS is not valid for any seats, reserved or non-reserved, on “NOZOMI” trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen.) *There are no Green Cars on most HIKARI and KODAMA trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (Shin-Osaka ?Hakata), or on TSUBAME trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen line (Shin-Yatsushiro ?Kagoshima-Ch??)
	A non-reserved seat (except for “NOZOMI” trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen) can be used simply by showing your JAPAN RAIL PASS.
	Seat reservations can be made without additional payment.To make a reservation, go to any Travel Service Center or a Reservation Office (Midori-no-madoguchi) at a JR station, or to the sales office of a JR-associated travel agency. There, show your PASS, and obtain your reserved-seat ticket before boarding.
	Note: Do not use an automatic ticket-reading gate with a JAPAN RAIL PASS or a reserved-seat ticket. Please show the PASS at a manned ticket gate.
Caution:  The sign for a Resevation Office(Midori-no madoguchi)   Please note that during crowded periods you cannot be guaranteed a seat on a specific train. The periods when seat reservations are particularly difficult to secure are as follows: December 28 to January 6 The New Year holiday period is the most popular travel time for Japanese people, for vacations and returns to hometown areas.  April 27 to May 6 Due to consecutive holidays in a comfortable travel season,there is large-scale travel throughout Japan for leisure and recreation.  August 11 to 20 Another time for traditional travel to hometown areas, called the Obon season

Please show the PASS at a manned ticket gate