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Budget Train Travel Japan

Train travel Japan doesn't have to be expensive. We've already mentioned a lot of good deals on our Japan travel information page. Still... we think this particular offer by JR is difficult to beat.

Whether you're traveling to Japan on a budget, or if you just want to do a Michael Palin and travel the local way, the Seishun ju-hachi kippu or 18 kippu is a steal! Here's what it's all about.

Seishun Ju-Hachi Kippu Discount Train Travel Japan

So how does the seishun ju-hachi kippu ticket work and how much does it cost?

This special discount for train travel Japan is only on sale 3 times a year and is only valid during 3 set times per year. The table below gives you all the information:

The best thing about the Seishun Ju-Hachi Kippu is the way you can use it.

Basically the ticket is valid for 5 days of travel on all JR local and rapid trains. You can't use it on the shinkansen, on trains that require reservations, on express or limited express trains, or in special Green cars on certain trains. Always check if you're not sure.

Each day is valid for 1 day from midnight to 23:59 in any one 24 hour period.

When you use the ticket for the first time on each day you just take it to the train guard who has an office next to the ticket gates at any station you go to and he will stamp it with that day's date. After that, whatever station you need to travel to or from, you just show the ticket to the guard and they'll wave you through until the next day.

To see what we're talking about see the video of our day out at Saw Mountain Nokogiriyama in Chiba.

You can choose to use the days all for one person or you can have a trip out for 5 people in a group all using one ticket. The choice is yours.

If you decide to keep the special train travel Japan ticket for just one person it's entirely up to you whether you use the ticket on consecutive days or not. The only definite criteria is that you must use the ticket up during the designated period. You can't carry it over to the next Seishun Ju-Hachi Kippu period.

How Far Can You Go On The Seishun Ju-Hachi Kippu?

It is possible to travel as far as Tokyo to Hiroshima in one 24 hour period if you're willing to make many changes and basically stay on the train for up to 16 hours in one day.

How do we know? We checked it out for ourselves.

The staff at Hiroshima station were fantastic and gave us a timetable which showed exactly where we needed to change and what time the trains were due. It's certainly doable but still, we'd recommend taking it a little slower and spending some time in some of the places you'll pass. It's a chance to do some train travel Japan the local way!

Where Can I Buy A Seishun Ju-Hachi Kippu Ticket?

This one's easy to answer. All you need to do is go to any of the major JR stations or travel agencies during the sale periods shown on the table above.

Have fun!