Page 383 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  381

Tickets and Fares
Basic fare tickets for short
distances are normally bought
from ticket machines. Most
machines accept ¥1,000 and
¥5,000, while some take ¥10,000
notes and all supply change.
Many stations have maps in
English, indicating the fares to
destinations. If in doubt about
the cost of a trip, simply buy a Signboard listing the arrival of trains, Keihin Tohoku Line
cheap ticket and pay any excess
at the destina tion using the Fare Okayama, Hiroshima, and JNTO offices (see p363) have
Adjustment machine near the Hakata; the Kansai Area Pass a list of Rail Pass agents over-
exit barrier. Several have an includes Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, seas. The agent issues a Japan
English-translation button. The Himeji, and Nara. Both can be Rail Pass Exchange Order, the
machine supplies you with a bought within or outside Japan. price is usually based on the
new ticket. If there is no such Many cities have their own day’s exchange rate with the
machine, station staff will work special tickets: ask at local TICs yen. This voucher is exchanged
out the excess for payment. You or “i” centers. The Tokyo Free for the actual Japan Rail Pass
will not be penalized for having Kippu covers most of the at designated JR Travel Service
the wrong-value ticket. subway, bus, and streetcar Centers in Japan, including
Tickets and seat reservations lines in central Tokyo. Narita and Kansai airports
for longer trips can be bought and major train stations. You
at the Ticket Offices at JR train need to show your passport
stations. You can also buy tickets The Japan Rail Pass in order to obtain the pass
at Travel Service Centers in the Specially devised for people and also specify the date on
larger stations and from visiting Japan on tourist visas, which you wish to start using
authorized travel agents. Credit the Japan Rail Pass is an it, which must be within
cards are usually accepted. excellent, relatively cheap three months of issue of the
Shinkansen tickets can also be option for those planning on exchange order. After the start
purchased at ticket machines traveling around the country. date of the pass, its cost cannot
at train stations and many How ever, it must be purchased be refunded; the exchange
machines have an English before the trip from an agent order and pass cannot be
function to do so. abroad, as it is not on sale replaced if lost or stolen.
Seat reserva tions are within Japan.
recommended for long-distance The pass gives unlimited DIRECTORY
trips; a small extra fee is charged travel on all JR lines and affi-
unless you have a liated buses and Railway Network
Japan Rail Pass. ferries, including JR East
The reservation the Narita Express ∑ jreast.co.jp
ticket will bear the (see p378), city- JR East Infoline (English)
date and time of center JR trains, Tel (050) 2016-1603 (10am–6pm).
the train, and also and shinkansen,
the car and seat except Nozomi. JR Kyushu
number. If in Subways and ∑ jrkyushu.co.jp
doubt about these Passenger holding the popular private railroads JR Tokai
num bers, ask the Japan Rail Pass are not included. ∑ english.jr-central.co.jp/
vendor to point You can choose index.html
out what they refer to. On a 7-day, 14-day, or 21-day Pass,
the platform, try to find the first or standard class. Standard JR West
number that corresponds with prices are ¥29,110, ¥46,390, ∑ westjr.co.jp/english
the car number and line up. and ¥59,350 respectively. Tickets and Fares
There are also other less Showing it to staff at station
expensive regional rail passes. ticket barriers also saves having Japan Rail Pass
The JR East Rail Pass covers to buy tic kets and negotiate ∑ japanrailpass.net/eng/
Honshu northeast of Tokyo, and ticket gates with luggage. If en001.html
can be purchased both in Japan you want to explore Japan JR East Rail Pass
and overseas. There are two by train for more than 21 days, ∑ jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass
types of JR West Rail Pass: the or prefer to break up your
Sanyo Area Pass covers the travels by staying in one place JR West Rail Pass
shinkansen, including Nozomi for more than a few days, ∑ westjr.co.jp/global/en/travel-
information/pass/privilege
and Mizuho, as well as regular consider buying more than
bullet trains from Osaka to one pass.

380-381_EW_Japan.indd 381 08/08/16 3:10 pm