Shinkansen and limited express — which option actually saves money?
The October 2023 price hike pushed the JR Pass up roughly 70%, and for many itineraries individual tickets are now cheaper. Drop in your route and compare the nationwide JR Pass, regional passes and point-to-point tickets side by side.
Buying individual tickets is the cheapest option for this trip. Bonus: you can ride any train, including Nozomi and Mizuho.
For point-to-point bookings with reserved seats, NAViTIME Travel is the go-to. English-friendly and optimised for inbound travellers.
Book Shinkansen on NAViTIME ↗Shinkansen fares come from the official JR West and JR Central tables (as of May 2026). Regional pass prices are taken from each JR company's official site. Last updated: May 2026.
Wise and Revolut give you mid-market rates with transparent ~0.5% fees. Roughly ¥6,000 saved on a $1,500 trip. Order before you fly and you'll skip the counter queues entirely.
Also: get online the moment you land
Japan eSIMs from ~$10/week. Install before departure, connect 1 minute after landing.
Get an Airalo eSIM ↗