Transportation Services

Accommodations

Many JR trains have Green Cars (First class): all have ordinary cars. You can use Green cars or ordinary cars with a Green-type JAPAN RAIL PASS, and you can use ordinary cars with an Ordinary-type JR Pass without paying additional charges.

G1* (Green Car), O1* （Ordinary Car）, G2* （green private compartment）, O2* （Ordinary private compartment）, S* （Sleeping car）

Trains	Shinkansen				Limited express and ordiary express					Local & Rapid Trains
Accommodations	G1*	01*	G2*	O2*	G1*	O1*	G2*	02*	S*	G1*	O1*
Green
Ordinary

Expiratoin date

The valid period of a JAPAN RAIL PASS is the consecutive 7, 14, 21 days beginning on the date the PASS is first used. Within 3 months from the date the Exchange Order was issued, you must turn in your Exchange Order to obtain your JAPAN RAIL PASS. At that time, you have to specify the date that you want to start using the PASS. It can be any date within one month from the date the PASS is received. Once the PASS has a starting date written on it, the date can not be changed.

You can not 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. Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS within 3 months of the date the Order was issued. At the JAPAN RAIL PASS Exchange office, fill in an application form to accompany your Exchange Order, and submit it, along with your passport, when you turn in your Exchange Order. The type of PASS described on the Exchange Order can not be changed.

Shinkansen and most limited express and ordinary express trains have reserved Green car seats and both reserved and non-reserved ordinary car seats. A non-reserved seat can be used simply by showing your JAPAN RAIL PASS. To use a reserved seat, apply at any Travel Service Center or reserved-seat ticket office (Midori-no-madoguchi) at a JR station, or at a sales office of a JR-associated travel agency. There, show your JAPAN RAIL PASS, and obtain your reserved-seat ticket before your trip.

Caution:

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.

* Seat reservations cannot be made outside Japan.
Do not use an automatic ticket-reading gate with a JAPAN RAIL PASS. Please show the PASS at a manned ticket gate.

Dec 29 - Jan 5
The New Year holiday period is the most popular travel time for Japanese people, for vacations and returning to hometown areas.

Apr 29 - May 5
Due to consecutive holidays in a comfortable travel season, there is large scale travel throughout Japan for leisure and recreation.

Aug 13 - Aug 15
Another time for traditional travel to hometown areas, called the o-bon season.

• You can reserve seats in advance before you boarding with no extra charge at JR ticket offices.
• The information on the voucher is not allowed be changed.
• Refunds for vouchers can be obtained at the place of issue within one year of the date of issue. The specified service fee and communication charges will be deducted from the refund amount. The original exchange order must be presented for the refund. If purchased with a credit card, it will be refunded to the credit card used when paying. It may take time to refund depending on the confirmation of cancellation.
• Refunds for rail passes can be obtained at the place of exchange prior to the starting date. A service fee corresponding to 10% of the price in Japanese yen stated on the rail pass concerned will be charged per rail pass. No refund is made for rail passes on or after the starting date.
• If you lose your voucher or JAPAN RAILPASS, it can not be reissued.