Is the JR Pass worth it? Itinerary by itinerary
Common Shinkansen itineraries worked out with JR's official fares: the regular-ticket total, the Japan Rail Pass price and which one costs less. Open an itinerary for the leg-by-leg table, Green Car and overseas-agent prices.
Pass or regular tickets (ordinary car, official online price)
| Itinerary | Pass | Regular, pass-covered trains | Regular, with Nozomi/Mizuho |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima in 7 days | 7 days¥50,000 | ¥50,300Pass saves ¥300 | ¥52,220Nozomi tickets on the pass: ¥18,260Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥16,040 |
| Golden Route with Hiroshima in 7 days | 7 days¥50,000 | ¥51,960Pass saves ¥1,960 | ¥53,660Nozomi tickets on the pass: ¥18,260Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥14,600 |
| Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka loop in 7 days | 7 days¥50,000 | ¥31,120Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥18,880 | ¥31,760Nozomi tickets on the pass: ¥9,920Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥28,160 |
| Tokyo, Kanazawa and Kyoto in 7 daysNot priced: Kanazawa to Kyoto | 7 days¥50,000 | ¥28,450Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥21,550 | ¥28,770Nozomi tickets on the pass: ¥4,960Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥26,190 |
| Tokyo to Hiroshima and Hakata in 14 days | 14 days¥80,000 | ¥57,000Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥23,000 | ¥59,550Nozomi tickets on the pass: ¥20,670Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥41,120 |
| Tokyo with Sendai and Morioka trips in 7 days | 7 days¥50,000 | ¥54,160Pass saves ¥4,160 | Nozomi/Mizuho do not run on these legs |
| Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto round trip in 7 days | 7 days¥50,000 | ¥48,400Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥1,600 | Nozomi/Mizuho do not run on these legs |
| Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima round trip | 7 days¥50,000 | ¥20,840Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥29,160 | ¥21,900Nozomi tickets on the pass: ¥8,340Regular tickets are cheaper by ¥36,440 |
Amounts are regular-ticket totals for one adult, normal season, priced leg by leg. The pass side with Nozomi/Mizuho adds the NOZOMI MIZUHO Ticket for each ride. The 7-day ordinary pass is ¥50,000 on the official online site.
- Source: Types and prices | JAPAN RAIL PASS (JAPAN RAIL PASS (JR Group)) · Verified on · Official online purchasing service (JAPAN RAIL PASS Reservation). Per the JR Group release of 9 Apr 2026, online prices stay unchanged 'for a limited time' after the 1 Oct 2026 increase; the end of this price freeze will be announced later (no end date published as of 2026-10-26). validFrom is the date of the previous price change named in that release.
All itineraries
- Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima in 7 days
A Tokyo to Kyoto round trip plus a Kyoto to Hiroshima round trip, all on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen.
- Golden Route with Hiroshima in 7 days
Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Shin-Osaka, a Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima round trip, then Shin-Osaka back to Tokyo.
- Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka loop in 7 days
Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Shin-Osaka, then Shin-Osaka back to Tokyo.
- Tokyo, Kanazawa and Kyoto in 7 days
Tokyo to Kanazawa on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, then Kyoto back to Tokyo on the Tokaido Shinkansen. The Kanazawa to Kyoto part is not priced.
- Tokyo to Hiroshima and Hakata in 14 days
Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Hiroshima, Hiroshima to Hakata (Fukuoka), then Hakata back to Tokyo, compared with the 14-day pass.
- Tokyo with Sendai and Morioka trips in 7 days
Two round trips from Tokyo on the Tohoku Shinkansen: Tokyo to Sendai and back, and Tokyo to Morioka and back.
- Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto round trip in 7 days
A Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto round trip on the Tohoku and Hokkaido Shinkansen.
- Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima round trip
A single Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima round trip on the Sanyo Shinkansen, compared with the shortest (7-day) nationwide pass and with regional passes.
Your own route
None of these matches your plan? Add your own legs in the JR Pass calculator, or compare regional JR passes.