• After you arrive in JAPAN, you have to turn in your Exchange Order (with your passport) to receive your JAPAN RAIL PASS at a JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange office in a major JR station and international airports – Narita, New Chitose and Kansai. Please note the Service hours and closing days. You cannot use an Exchange Order when you travel on JR lines.

Stations with JAPAN RAIL PASS exchange office

Maps of stations

• Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a JAPAN RAIL PASS within three months of the date the Order was issued (for example, an Exchange Order issued on April 15 would have to be turned in by July 14). *It may take time to turn in your Exchange Order and receive a JAPAN RAIL PASS if the service counter is busy. Please ensure you leave enough time when you visit the exchange office.
• At the exchange office, you will be asked to fill in a short application form and to show your passport with the Temporary Visitor stamp/sticker you received on entry into Japan. When exchanging the Exchange Order for a JAPAN RAIL PASS, you must show your passport* and the Temporary Visitor stamp/sticker.
• When turning in your Exchange Order for the Pass, you should specify the date to start using the Pass. It can be any date within one month from the date the Pass is received.

*In order to receive a JAPAN RAIL PASS, the name appearing on the Miscellaneous Changes Order must match the name appearing in your passport.

*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/sticker in it.)

*If you are a Japanese living in Singapore, you must provide additional documents proving eligibility in addition to your passport. If an applicant is unable to provide written proof of eligibility and the clerk is unable to verify compliance using electronic data or other means, the PASS may be denied. Please refer to eligibility requirement for more information. The Exchange Order will not be provided in the absence of required eligibility documentation or ability to immediately confirm eligibility by electronic means at the exchange office. In some cases, a certificate of residence with a period of stay of at least 5 years may suffice as proof of eligibility. For details on required documentation, please check with the office where you purchase the Exchange Order.

• The type of PASS describe on the Exchange Order cannot be changed.
• If the Exchange Order is lost or stolen, or you are unable to provide it for another reason, no exchange for a JAPAN RAIL PASS can be made.
•  You will not be able to exchange your Exchange Order for a PASS if you fail to satisfy the eligibility requirements.

After turning in your Exchange Order for a JAPAN RAIL PASS, you can make seat reservation at a “Midori-no-madoguchi” Reservation Office or JR Travel Service Center in the major train stations or international airports.

• There is no additional charge for making seat reservation.
• Seat reservations cannot be made at unmanned stations or stations without reservation capability.
• 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” and “MIZUHO” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen. Please use “HIKARI,” “SAKURA,” “KODAMA,” and “TSUBAME” trains.)
• A non-reserved seat (except for “NOZOMI” and “MIZUHO” trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen) can be used simply by showing your JAPAN RAIL PASS.
• There are no Green Cars on most “HIKARI” and “KODAMA” trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (Shin-Osaka—Hakata), or on Series 800 trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen line.
• The JR buses “Mizuumi-go” between Aomori and Towadako and “Oirase-go” between Hachinohe and Towadako require reservations. Please obtain your reserved-seat ticket before boarding these buses. (Service is not available during the winter period.)
• Use of Homeliner or other Liner trains is subject to additional fees.
• Some trains have no non-reserved seating (all seats are reserved).
• It may take time to make a seat reservation if the service counter is busy. Please ensure you leave enough time to make your reservation.