Japan Rail Pass validity

ROUTES AND SERVICES

The JAPAN RAIL PASS is valid for the railways, buses, and ferry boats shown below.

Railways:

All JR Group Railways-Shinkansen “bullet trains” (except any reserved or non-reserved seat on “NOZOMI” and ”MIZUHO” trains), limited express trains, express trains, and rapid or local trains (with some exceptions).
JAPAN RAIL PASS holders can also use the Tokyo monorail.
*Aoimori Railway services between Aomori and Hachinohe (but only for direct travel between these two stations on local or rapid services. Travel is not covered if you disembark at any other station on the Aoimori Railway line excluding Aomori, Noheji, and Hachinohe.)

The routes and trains for which the JAPAN RAIL PASS is valid are subject to change after the start of service of the Hokuriku Shinkansen on March 14, 2015.
Full details at the official website japanrailpass.net

Buses:

Local lines of JR bus companies: JR Hokkaido Bus, JR Bus Tohoku, JR Bus Kanto, JR Tokai Bus, West Japan JR Bus, Chugoku JR Bus, JR Shikoku Bus, JR Kyushu Bus. Excludes some local lines. Pass validity for particular routes is subject to change.
*The PASS is not valid for travel on express bus routes operated by JR bus companies.

Ferry:

Only the JR Miyajima ferry is covered. The JR Hakata-Pusan (Korea) ferry is not covered.
 
Important notes:
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 lines. (Take “HIKARI,” “SAKURA,” “KODAMA,” or “TSUBAME” trains.) If you use a “NOZOMI” or “MIZUHO” train, you must pay the basic fare and the limited express charge, and for a Green Car the Green Car surcharge. In addition, if you use the GranClass car of the Tohoku Shinkansen and Nagano Shinkansen, you must pay the limited express charge and the GranClass car surcharge. Note also that passengers using JR trains on non-JR lines must pay additional fares and charges for sections traveled on such lines.
Some JR trains use the lines of private railways for direct services.
When the JAPAN RAIL PASS is used on JR trains that run through non-JR lines, fares and charges for the sections travelled on such lines must be paid to the private railway company concerned. Please pay these on the train or at a station on the said company’s line.

CLASS OF TRAVEL

• Most JR trains have Ordinary Cars (standard/2nd class) while many long-distance trains also offer Green Cars (superior/1st class). With a Green-type JAPAN RAIL PASS you can use either class, while with an Ordinary-type JAPAN RAIL PASS you can use only Ordinary Cars without paying an additional charge. Refer to the table below for details.
• “YES” means JAPAN RAIL PASS can be used.
• “add” means additional charges are payable.
• There are no Green Cars on most HIKARI and KODAMA trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line (Shin-Osaka-Hakata), or on TSUBAME trains on the Kyushu Shinkansen line(Shin-Yatsushiro – Kagoshima-chūō)