If you’re visiting Japan as a tourist, it’ is a good idea to consider purchasing a Japan Rail Pass – a very-cost effective solution for visitors that are planning to travel long distances. But is it worthwhile if you have a disability? If you are a wheelchair user, is the Green JR Pass worth it?
General Information
Designed to stimulate the travel and tourist industry within the country, the JR Pass provides foreign visitors with unlimited use of JR trains for one, two or three weeks. It comes in two types – an ordinary and Green Car pass, with the latter being valid on the Green Cars that are generally more spacious and less crowded that ordinary train cars. The price of the ordinary JR Pass varies between around ¥30,000 for 7-days and ¥60,000 for a 21-day pass, and is a bit more affordable than the price of the Green JR Pass (around ¥40,000 and ¥80,000, respectively). The Japan Rail Pass, whether it’s ordinary or Green one, can be used on almost all JR-operated trains, including the Shinkansen, limited express, express, rapid and local trains, and more (check the official Japan Rail Pass website for full information).
The JR pass can be used only by foreign tourists and is therefore not available for sale in Japan. If you’re a tourist or a short-term visitor, you’ll have to purchase your Japan Rail pass before entering the country. You can obtain it online, through a travel agent or from any Japan-based airline, such as All Nippon Airways or Japan Airlines. Once payment is received, you’ll receive a voucher which you can then exchange for your actual pass at the designated JR stations across Japan. You can select any starting date, as long as it’s within a one month period, but keep in mind that once the pass has been issued, the date cannot be changed.
Considerations for those with Disabilities
The JR pass can be an incredibly cost-efficient option, but will only pay off if you’re planning to travel around the country. The cost of the urban travel alone won’t be enough to cover the price of the JR pass (even though Tokyo and Osaka are the two places where the pass might be useful for urban travel). To get an idea of how much money you can save, the 7-day pass costs about the same as a regular Shinkansen ticket for a round trip between Tokyo and Kyoto. If you travel or plan to travel less than that, you’re probably better off with normal train tickets.
However, if you’re covering some long distances within a short period (7, 14 or 21 days), the JR pass will provide you with immense convenience and flexibility, in addition to saving saving you money. With the pass, you can ride trains whenever you want and spontaneously make side trips, without having to pay extra.
As the Japan Rail Pass is already heavily subsidized by the government, there is no special additional discount for those with disabilities.
If you are a wheelchair user, it is strongly recommended you get an ordinary JR Pass. On local and express lines, the Green Car is often a double-decked carriage and not wheelchair accessible. Additionally, the Green Car on the Shinkansen has no wheelchair accessible seating and wheelchair users will need to regular carriage – making a Green JR Pass meaningless.