Tips : Purchasing Train Ticket (Japan) Yokoso!

Tips : Purchasing Train Ticket (Japan) Yokoso! grin emoticon

Unlike Europe, price of Japan train ticket is fix. If you buy outside Japan, the diff is only the exchange rate of the currency that fluctuates (if you purchase JR Pass).

a) If u plan to travel only in one place, say Tokyo...you may opt for IC Card. It is not an identification card though..lol...IC Card is a prepaid card. smile emoticon (imagine our TouchnGo, Oyster in London and Octopus in HK). IC Card consists of refundable deposit of 500 yen plus initial amount up to 20k yen. Japan has 10 types of IC Card namely Suica, ICOCA, Pasmo, Pitapa, Manaca, Hayakaken, Toica, Nimoca, Kitaca & Sugoca. Each card has its own coverage area. The famous is Suica & Pasmo as both are commonly use for Tokyo, and ICOCA is for western side as Osaka. You may purchase IC Card at ticket machine or counter. Since this is for within urban area, it is not valid to ride the shinkansen (bullet train).

b) If you don't like prepaid card, you can also buy daily pass for subway; 1 day Ticket, 2 days, 3 days. You can buy at BIC shop, they will ask your passport.

c) Japan has lots of JR Pass such as JR East, JR West, JR Kansai, JR Hokkaido...etc depending on the coverage area. These trains run by different group of companies (JR) and different from regular train/subway.

d) For long distance, you may try Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass). This pass is definitely worth every penny and the most cost efficient. JR Pass has 7,14 or 21 consecutive days. This pass is not valid for Japan nationals and you have to purchase it outside Japan. For 99% accurate schedule, check online at Hyperdia.com. I give 11/10 !

For KL residence, I used to buy at JTB (Japan Travel Bureau) at Amoda Building, Bkt Bintang. It is also available at selected travel agencies as well. Normally I will spend 7 days trvlg +- 9 days, so I will opt for JR 7 Days Pass which costs 29,110 yen = RM1,066. Wow! Wait, do you know that single ride of shinkansen from Osaka/Kyoto to Tokyo is around RM500 ? Now, if your vacay consists of multiple shinkansen rides and once you done with your calculation, you will be surprised on the total cost of all single rides and you will arigatou your RM1k pass smile emoticon Did I tell you that you can utilise your JR Pass (JR train tracks only) from Fukuoka up to Hokakido? That is the best part. It is unlimited ride of shinkansen except for Nozomi and Mizuho. I only travel twice to Japan and these were my route utilising my 1000 bucks ticket..haha tongue emoticon

i) Osaka-Kyoto-Kobe-Nara-Nagoya-Tokyo-Aomori-Hakodate-Sapporo-Tokyo
ii) Osaka-Hiroshima-Nagoya-Takayama-Shirakawago-Tokyo

Train; Europe vs Japan? JAPAN ! Shinkansen is osem! 

credit to owner fb Lady Oslo