{"id":160,"date":"2020-01-16T17:01:51","date_gmt":"2020-01-16T17:01:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/?p=160"},"modified":"2020-12-22T13:43:10","modified_gmt":"2020-12-22T13:43:10","slug":"new-updates-to-the-japan-rail-pass-for-2020-what-you-need-to-know-and-how-youll-benefit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/new-updates-to-the-japan-rail-pass-for-2020-what-you-need-to-know-and-how-youll-benefit\/","title":{"rendered":"New updates to the Japan Rail Pass for 2020: what you need to know and how you\u2019ll benefit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re going to Japan and thinking about travelling around it, you\u2019ll want to get a Japan Rail Pass. Also known as the JR Pass<\/a>, this handy pass will allow you to travel around the country whilst benefiting from a great discount. You\u2019ll also be able to enjoy unlimited travel on a range of trains (including Japan\u2019s notorious bullet train network), on buses and on the ferry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2020, there are some exciting and significant new changes that will make it even more convenient \u2013 from simplified bookings for reserved seats to automatic ticket gates and an easier online booking syste<\/a>m<\/a>. 
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Here\u2019s a little more information about the changes:<\/strong>
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At the start of spring 2020 (estimated to be around April), upgrades to the JR pass system will start to take place. Long-awaited, they align with the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics<\/a> which are taking place between July and August of this year. Intended to make it easier for international customers to buy tickets through the website and have an easier journey in general, it\u2019s a welcome change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Automatic ticket gates <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Designed to make your journey as simple as possible, you\u2019ll now be able to go through the automatic ticket gates. Whether you want to catch a local JR train or a bullet train, you\u2019ll now be able to do so without having to queue up. Before this upgrade was made, people had to wait to show their pass to a staff member working at the station before they were let through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will now become a thing of the pass and you\u2019ll be able to quickly get through in order to get to your destination. This small change will make all of the difference throughout the next 12 months and beyond!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Reserved seat booking made simpler <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For those intending to use the Shinkansen (Japanese bullet trains) when there, it\u2019s important to know that there are two types of seating options to choose from – either reserved or non-reserved. Although during quieter periods it\u2019s easy to not reserve a seat and jump on and off the train, if it\u2019s busier, it might be worth reserving one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though it\u2019s an extra surcharge (the price will depend on how far you\u2019re travelling), many think that it\u2019s worth it. You don\u2019t want to be standing up for a long journey after all. If you\u2019re travelling with a group and you don\u2019t reserve seats, you might also have to split up over several carriages because it\u2019s so busy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, currently the system makes it quite difficult to reserve a seat in the first place. Currently, you would have to go to a ticket window that specifically caters to customers catching the JR train to book a seat. But from spring of this year, this will become a thing of the past. In the next few months you will be able to reserve a seat either online and still be able to do so at the bullet train station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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You no longer have to exchange orders<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Previously, the exchange system on the JR pass website tended to cause some issues. For those who simply wanted to buy the pass it was a step that made the process longer than it needed to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From spring 2020, those looking to buy a JR pass can do so directly on the website without having to exchange to the order via their home address or buy it at a travel agents. Once this step is complete, you will then be able to go to a JR ticket office and pick up the tickets directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

General website improvement <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many people opt for the Japan Rail Pass because of the incredible discounts and benefits it offers \u2013 including unlimited travel. However, the current website is very confusing to international visitors due to its overload of information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout this year, however, it will become far simpler with general improvements taking place across the website. Making each customer\u2019s online experience far more pleasant, they will be able to book a ticket and navigate through the site with little to no problems! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Final thoughts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

So, there you go! Those are some of the exciting new updates to the Japan Rail Pass<\/a> that you should know about. Very beneficial for those travelling to Japan in the next year, you\u2019ll love the simplicity of the website and the amazing deals that you can get with the pass \u2013 no matter how long you\u2019re travelling to the incredible country for. 
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re going to Japan and thinking about travelling around it, you\u2019ll want to get a Japan Rail Pass. Also known as the JR Pass, this handy pass will allow you to travel around the country whilst benefiting from a great discount. You\u2019ll also be able to enjoy unlimited travel on a range of trains…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":165,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":"","spay_email":""},"categories":[32,3],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Japan-Rail-Pass-CompleteGuide.jpg?fit=1000%2C586&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":25,"url":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/what-is-the-japan-rail-pass-and-how-does-it-work\/","url_meta":{"origin":160,"position":0},"title":"What is the Japan Rail Pass and how does it work?","date":"18th April 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"So, you\u2019ve decided you want to go to Japan on holiday and discover there are are lots of places across the country you want to visit. The Japan Rail Pass is perfect for travelling between Japan\u2019s major cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima but is also ideal for visiting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Japan Rail Advice"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Japan-Rail-Pass.png?fit=1000%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":29,"url":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/how-to-make-a-seat-reservation-with-the-jr-pass\/","url_meta":{"origin":160,"position":1},"title":"How to make a seat reservation with the JR pass","date":"20th April 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The idea of travelling by train in Japan can be slightly daunting, but we assure you that it is very exciting. There are next to no language issues when travelling on the Japan Rail train network with your Japan Rail pass. As Japan welcomes more and more foreign visitors the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Japan Rail Advice"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Japan-Rail-Ticket-Office.png?fit=1000%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":546,"url":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/hiroshima-unveiled-exploring-the-top-7-sights-in-this-japanese-gem\/","url_meta":{"origin":160,"position":2},"title":"Hiroshima Unveiled: Exploring the Top 7 Sights in this Japanese Gem","date":"8th March 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Konnichiwa, fellow explorers! Hiroshima, a city that has risen from the ashes, tells a tale of resilience and hope. With the Japan Rail Pass as your golden ticket, Hiroshima's treasures unfold seamlessly. Join us on a virtual adventure as we reveal the top 7 sights that make Hiroshima a compelling\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Japan Travel Guides"","img":{"alt_text":"Hiroshima","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/abdulaziz-alfawzan-BiW6bpatNgg-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":479,"url":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/is-the-japan-rail-pass-still-worth-it-after-the-65-price-hike\/","url_meta":{"origin":160,"position":3},"title":"Is the Japan Rail Pass still worth it after the 65% + price hike?","date":"17th May 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"It\u2019s no secret that for those wanting to experience Japan to the full, the best way to do it is via a Japan Rail Pass. Giving you the chance to explore this breathtaking country by train, you\u2019ll have the opportunity to see an array of different landscapes, from the bustling\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Japan News"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/fikri-rasyid-3ba59K57wE4-unsplash-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":503,"url":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/3-days-in-sendai-what-to-see-and-where-to-go\/","url_meta":{"origin":160,"position":4},"title":"3 Days in Sendai: What to See and Where to Go","date":"26th May 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Sendai is a beautiful city for tourists to visit when travelling around Japan on a Japan Rail Pass, but it offers more than just its natural beauty, such as its bays and mountain ranges. Only two hours away from Tokyo by bullet train, it boasts a wealth of activities for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Japan Travel Guides"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/kentaro-toma-rGXWety91bU-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":81,"url":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/follow-englands-rugby-world-cup-fixtures-across-japan-with-a-japan-rail-pass\/","url_meta":{"origin":160,"position":5},"title":"Follow England's Rugby World Cup fixtures across Japan with a Japan Rail pass","date":"8th August 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The Rugby World Cup is fast approaching, taking place across September and October in Japan, stretching from Sapporo in Hokkaido through Honshu and down to Kumamoto in Kyushu.\u00a0 We are here with a travel guide on how to follow England to at least 4 of their venues.\u00a0 Group stages England\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Japan Travel Guides"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/rwc2019.jpg?fit=647%2C390&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=160"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":166,"href":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160\/revisions\/166"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=160"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=160"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/japanrailplanner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}