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Thread: MASSIVE price increase for Japan Rail Pass starting October 2023
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Old May 22, 2023 | 2:27 am
  #72  
lsquare
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Originally Posted by nexusCFX
Just get the smartEX app for your phone and make an account. If booking even a couple weeks in advance you can do something like Tokyo -> Shin-Osaka on Nozomi trains in green car for 15,940 JPY. Compare that to 70,000 for a 7 day green car pass. I cannot imagine it being worth buying the JR pass in over 99% of tourist circumstances.

You can also link your IC card (if you need to get the full number for your mobile Suica / Pasmo download the respective apps to see it) and then just tap into the Shinkansen gates with that, no paper tickets.

FWIW, flying with explorer passes is definitely cheaper but I've never done it because the time going to/from airports is not time I want to give up.
I've actually never flown a domestic flight before. If I know I want to travel outside of Tokyo, I would buy a JR Pass. It's always been a good deal for me. If the price increase does happen then it's highly unlikely I'll buy it again.
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