Available anytime, regardless of the season, a one-way basic fare ticket (simply called the ticket) for the JR lines over 101km is great for budget travel throughout Japan. It is valid for 2-day (or more) and there are unlimited stopovers on one-way direction. The shinkansen (bullet trains) and the limited express trains are available for extra charge. It is truly a flexible ticket.
⚫︎ Terms of use and prices are subject to change. Check the JR official website for the latest information.
INDEX
Where to Buy
The one-way basic fare ticket (joshaken: 乗車券) for the JR lines over 101km can be purchased at the JR Station ticket windows (みどりの窓口), reserved seat ticket vending machine, or Japan’s major travel agencies. Otherwise, you may be able to purchase the ticket from the train crew (except the drivers) inside the train.
⚫︎ As a general rule, purchase the ticket on the day of boarding the train. If you purchase the ticket at the same time as reserved seat tickets or arranging the ticket for complicated routes, it will go on sale one month in advance.
Age Categories
| CATEGORIES | AGE |
|---|---|
| Adult | +12 years old (except elementary school student) |
| Child | +6-12 years old (except under elementary school age): half-price for children |
| Infant | +1-6 years old |
Validity Period
Tickets for up to 100km are valid only on the day of sale and cannot be disembarked from the ticket gate.
⚫︎ If you are still on a train after the validity period, your ticket is considered valid to the last stop.
| DISTANCE | VALIDITY PERIOD |
|---|---|
| up tp 100km | 1 day |
| up to 200km | 2 day |
| up to 400km | 3 day |
| up to 600km | 4 day |
| up to 800km | 5 day |
| up to 1000km | 6 day |
| up to 1200km | 7 day |
| For every 200km added | add 1 day |
Terms of Use
You can travel on local and rapid trains (non-reserved seats).
The following trains and seats can be used with the basic fare ticket at additional charges. Purchase the train or seat tickets at the JR stations or travel agencies before boarding the train.
| TRAINS | SEATS |
|---|---|
| Shinkansen | Green Car, Reserved Seat, Non-reserved Seat |
| Limited Express and Express | Green Car, Reserved Seat, Non-reserved Seat, Sleeping Car |
| Rapid and Local | Green Car, Reserved Seat |
| Home Liner | Green Car, Ordinary Car |
⊿ Special Cases (Limited Express)
You can use the limited express train’s ordinary reserved or non-reserved seats in the following sections by the basic fare ticket. Special cases are not applied when getting over the limited express train outside the designated sections, or using Green Car.
| SECTIONS | LIMITED EXPRESS SEATS |
|---|---|
| Shin-Yubari – Shintoku | Vacant ordinary reserved seats |
| Higashi-Muroran – Muroran | Vacant ordinary reserved seats |
| Shin-Aomori – Aomori | Ordinary non-reserved seats |
| Haiki – Sasebo | Ordinary non-reserved seats |
| Miyazaki – Miyazaki Airport | Ordinary non-reserved seats |
Discount Tickets
If you use the following tickets, you can get a discount from the basic fare.
Round-trip discount ticket (往復割引乗車券)
If the one-way basic fare ticket is over 601km, you can get 10% discount on outbound and return fares.
Student discount ticket (学生割引乗車券)
Students of Japan’s educational institutions designated by the JR groups can get 20% discount on one-way basic fares over 101km. Show your ‘Student Passenger Fare Discount Certificate’ (学生・生徒旅客運賃割引証) issued by your school at the ticket window. If you buy the round-trip discount ticket, you can get 28% discount in total. For more info, ask your school.
Overlap Section
As an example, there are two ways to purchase an ordinary ticket for a trip from Tokyo to Sapporo via Hakodate and the JR Muroran Line.
e.g. 1
Purchase the basic fare tickets between Tokyo and Sapporo (¥14,850; valid for 8 days), and between Shin-Hakodate Hokuto and Hakodate (round-trip ¥880) separately. The total fare is ¥15,730.
e.g. 2
Purchase the basic tickets between Tokyo and Hakodate (¥12,100; valid for 6 days), and between Hakodate and Sapporo (¥6270; valid for 3 days) separately. The total fare is ¥18,370.
If you travel by train from Tokyo to Sapporo within 8 days, (e.g. 1) is ¥2640 cheaper than (e.g. 2). Fares between Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Hakodate can be purchased or adjusted locally.
Refund
If your ticket is unused and within the validity period, you can get a refund at the JR station’s ticket windows (commission will be deducted).
⚫︎ Ask at the station for a refund after you have started using it. You can get a refund if the remaining distance on your ticket is 101km or more.
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