Are there differences between Japan Rail pass vendors?

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The Japan Rail pass provides visitors with an easy way to travel by rail.



This answer claims that the official website for information about it is japanrailpass.net (which does not appear to make any claims itself about being the official website and is not HTTPS). However, there are many other places that also claim to sell the product, such as the following (in alphabetical order):



  • govoyagin.com

  • japan-jr-pass.com


  • japan-rail-pass.com (claims "Worldwide Official Distributor")


  • japantravel-centre.com (claims "Official agent for Japan Rail Pass")


  • jrailpass.com (claims "Official Vendor")


  • jrpass.co.uk (UK)

  • jrpass.com


  • jtbtravel.com.au (Australia)

  • klook.com

  • viator.com

Pricing varies between sites, with the more expensive end at about 40% pricier than the less expensive end (with or without shipping fees).



There also seems to be variance in descriptions and claims about what's covered, especially for auxiliary services like buses, or if surcharges apply for certain routes/tracks (e.g. jrpass.com indicates it doesn't cover Nozomi/Mizuho class trains but DOES fully cover all the rest with no route-specific exceptions.).



Are there differences between the products that these different sites offer, such as which trains are and aren't included or surcharges which may apply when using a pass purchased from one vendor but not another?



Are some of these sites known scams that send expensive but worthless paper?










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    up vote
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    down vote

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    The Japan Rail pass provides visitors with an easy way to travel by rail.



    This answer claims that the official website for information about it is japanrailpass.net (which does not appear to make any claims itself about being the official website and is not HTTPS). However, there are many other places that also claim to sell the product, such as the following (in alphabetical order):



    • govoyagin.com

    • japan-jr-pass.com


    • japan-rail-pass.com (claims "Worldwide Official Distributor")


    • japantravel-centre.com (claims "Official agent for Japan Rail Pass")


    • jrailpass.com (claims "Official Vendor")


    • jrpass.co.uk (UK)

    • jrpass.com


    • jtbtravel.com.au (Australia)

    • klook.com

    • viator.com

    Pricing varies between sites, with the more expensive end at about 40% pricier than the less expensive end (with or without shipping fees).



    There also seems to be variance in descriptions and claims about what's covered, especially for auxiliary services like buses, or if surcharges apply for certain routes/tracks (e.g. jrpass.com indicates it doesn't cover Nozomi/Mizuho class trains but DOES fully cover all the rest with no route-specific exceptions.).



    Are there differences between the products that these different sites offer, such as which trains are and aren't included or surcharges which may apply when using a pass purchased from one vendor but not another?



    Are some of these sites known scams that send expensive but worthless paper?










    share|improve this question























      up vote
      3
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      3
      down vote

      favorite











      The Japan Rail pass provides visitors with an easy way to travel by rail.



      This answer claims that the official website for information about it is japanrailpass.net (which does not appear to make any claims itself about being the official website and is not HTTPS). However, there are many other places that also claim to sell the product, such as the following (in alphabetical order):



      • govoyagin.com

      • japan-jr-pass.com


      • japan-rail-pass.com (claims "Worldwide Official Distributor")


      • japantravel-centre.com (claims "Official agent for Japan Rail Pass")


      • jrailpass.com (claims "Official Vendor")


      • jrpass.co.uk (UK)

      • jrpass.com


      • jtbtravel.com.au (Australia)

      • klook.com

      • viator.com

      Pricing varies between sites, with the more expensive end at about 40% pricier than the less expensive end (with or without shipping fees).



      There also seems to be variance in descriptions and claims about what's covered, especially for auxiliary services like buses, or if surcharges apply for certain routes/tracks (e.g. jrpass.com indicates it doesn't cover Nozomi/Mizuho class trains but DOES fully cover all the rest with no route-specific exceptions.).



      Are there differences between the products that these different sites offer, such as which trains are and aren't included or surcharges which may apply when using a pass purchased from one vendor but not another?



      Are some of these sites known scams that send expensive but worthless paper?










      share|improve this question













      The Japan Rail pass provides visitors with an easy way to travel by rail.



      This answer claims that the official website for information about it is japanrailpass.net (which does not appear to make any claims itself about being the official website and is not HTTPS). However, there are many other places that also claim to sell the product, such as the following (in alphabetical order):



      • govoyagin.com

      • japan-jr-pass.com


      • japan-rail-pass.com (claims "Worldwide Official Distributor")


      • japantravel-centre.com (claims "Official agent for Japan Rail Pass")


      • jrailpass.com (claims "Official Vendor")


      • jrpass.co.uk (UK)

      • jrpass.com


      • jtbtravel.com.au (Australia)

      • klook.com

      • viator.com

      Pricing varies between sites, with the more expensive end at about 40% pricier than the less expensive end (with or without shipping fees).



      There also seems to be variance in descriptions and claims about what's covered, especially for auxiliary services like buses, or if surcharges apply for certain routes/tracks (e.g. jrpass.com indicates it doesn't cover Nozomi/Mizuho class trains but DOES fully cover all the rest with no route-specific exceptions.).



      Are there differences between the products that these different sites offer, such as which trains are and aren't included or surcharges which may apply when using a pass purchased from one vendor but not another?



      Are some of these sites known scams that send expensive but worthless paper?







      trains tickets japan japan-rail






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      asked 1 hour ago









      WBT

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          1 Answer
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          There is only one Japan Rail Pass. (Well, two: ordinary and Green Class.) Any notional differences you're seeing are only because the rules are very complicated and not all sites selling them will get into all the gruesome details.



          The Japan Rail Pass is a product of the JR ("Japan Railways") Group, which operates the vast majority of Japan's trains. Hence japanrailpass.net is the official site of the pass, since it's operated by the JR Group.



          The official list of authorized agents is here: http://www.japanrailpass.net/sphone/en/purchase.html



          Anybody else is subcontracting, meaning you'll have an extra middleman and likely extra commissions to pay, so I would steer clear. I haven't heard of any outright scams, but if you stick to the official agents (JTB etc) you don't need to worry about this.






          share|improve this answer




















          • How do you know that japanrailpass.net is an official site operated by the JR group, and that the other sites are not?
            – WBT
            36 mins ago










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          1 Answer
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          1 Answer
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          active

          oldest

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          oldest

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          active

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          up vote
          3
          down vote













          There is only one Japan Rail Pass. (Well, two: ordinary and Green Class.) Any notional differences you're seeing are only because the rules are very complicated and not all sites selling them will get into all the gruesome details.



          The Japan Rail Pass is a product of the JR ("Japan Railways") Group, which operates the vast majority of Japan's trains. Hence japanrailpass.net is the official site of the pass, since it's operated by the JR Group.



          The official list of authorized agents is here: http://www.japanrailpass.net/sphone/en/purchase.html



          Anybody else is subcontracting, meaning you'll have an extra middleman and likely extra commissions to pay, so I would steer clear. I haven't heard of any outright scams, but if you stick to the official agents (JTB etc) you don't need to worry about this.






          share|improve this answer




















          • How do you know that japanrailpass.net is an official site operated by the JR group, and that the other sites are not?
            – WBT
            36 mins ago














          up vote
          3
          down vote













          There is only one Japan Rail Pass. (Well, two: ordinary and Green Class.) Any notional differences you're seeing are only because the rules are very complicated and not all sites selling them will get into all the gruesome details.



          The Japan Rail Pass is a product of the JR ("Japan Railways") Group, which operates the vast majority of Japan's trains. Hence japanrailpass.net is the official site of the pass, since it's operated by the JR Group.



          The official list of authorized agents is here: http://www.japanrailpass.net/sphone/en/purchase.html



          Anybody else is subcontracting, meaning you'll have an extra middleman and likely extra commissions to pay, so I would steer clear. I haven't heard of any outright scams, but if you stick to the official agents (JTB etc) you don't need to worry about this.






          share|improve this answer




















          • How do you know that japanrailpass.net is an official site operated by the JR group, and that the other sites are not?
            – WBT
            36 mins ago












          up vote
          3
          down vote










          up vote
          3
          down vote









          There is only one Japan Rail Pass. (Well, two: ordinary and Green Class.) Any notional differences you're seeing are only because the rules are very complicated and not all sites selling them will get into all the gruesome details.



          The Japan Rail Pass is a product of the JR ("Japan Railways") Group, which operates the vast majority of Japan's trains. Hence japanrailpass.net is the official site of the pass, since it's operated by the JR Group.



          The official list of authorized agents is here: http://www.japanrailpass.net/sphone/en/purchase.html



          Anybody else is subcontracting, meaning you'll have an extra middleman and likely extra commissions to pay, so I would steer clear. I haven't heard of any outright scams, but if you stick to the official agents (JTB etc) you don't need to worry about this.






          share|improve this answer












          There is only one Japan Rail Pass. (Well, two: ordinary and Green Class.) Any notional differences you're seeing are only because the rules are very complicated and not all sites selling them will get into all the gruesome details.



          The Japan Rail Pass is a product of the JR ("Japan Railways") Group, which operates the vast majority of Japan's trains. Hence japanrailpass.net is the official site of the pass, since it's operated by the JR Group.



          The official list of authorized agents is here: http://www.japanrailpass.net/sphone/en/purchase.html



          Anybody else is subcontracting, meaning you'll have an extra middleman and likely extra commissions to pay, so I would steer clear. I haven't heard of any outright scams, but if you stick to the official agents (JTB etc) you don't need to worry about this.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 56 mins ago









          jpatokal

          111k17340495




          111k17340495











          • How do you know that japanrailpass.net is an official site operated by the JR group, and that the other sites are not?
            – WBT
            36 mins ago
















          • How do you know that japanrailpass.net is an official site operated by the JR group, and that the other sites are not?
            – WBT
            36 mins ago















          How do you know that japanrailpass.net is an official site operated by the JR group, and that the other sites are not?
          – WBT
          36 mins ago




          How do you know that japanrailpass.net is an official site operated by the JR group, and that the other sites are not?
          – WBT
          36 mins ago

















           

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