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    My take: since the 2023 price hike the pass is a bad deal for a first trip (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka), and even Tokyo to Hiroshima and back does not get you there. It only pays if you go down to Kyushu or chain a lot of long legs in one week. When in doubt, single tickets, and a regional pass if your route fits one.

    Single fares are reserved seats on the fastest train (Nozomi, Hayabusa), regular season, checked August 2026; fares marked ≈ are estimates within about ¥1,000. The pass is priced at the official rate (¥50,000 / ¥80,000 / ¥100,000) and puts you on Hikari and Sakura trains, about 30 minutes slower between Tokyo and Kyoto. Local JR rides inside cities are ignored: they rarely change the answer.

    Happy with this route? Draw it on a map and plan each day with Ikuzo ↗.

    Got an iPhone? My Offbeat Japan app is genuinely rather good, it lives here:App Store ↗

    Is the JR Pass Worth It?

    Since the October 2023 price hike, the Japan Rail Pass costs 50,000 yen for 7 days, 80,000 for 14 days and 100,000 for 21 days. The question is no longer “should I get one?” but “for which itinerary?”. This tool does the maths: add your stops in order, the number of nights at each (0 nights for a day trip, Nara or Himeji for instance), your arrival and departure airports, and it compares the real price of single tickets (reserved Shinkansen seats, fares checked August 2026) with the best possible pass. It also looks for the smartest 7, 14 or 21-day window: a 12-day trip where all the long legs fit in one week only needs a 7-day pass.

    For a classic first trip (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka) the answer is no, and even Tokyo to Hiroshima and back no longer gets you there: the pass only becomes worth it if you go down to Kyushu or chain a lot of long legs in one week. In many cases a regional pass (Kansai-Hiroshima, Hokuriku Arch, Takayama-Hokuriku, JR Kyushu) beats the national one; the tool tells you when your route fits. To build the itinerary itself, see our 10-day Japan itinerary and the guide How much does a trip to Japan cost.