Last Updated: Jan 7, 2024

JR East Pass (Nagano, Niigata Area)

Explore Central Japan

This story was originally published on donnykimball.com and has been syndicated here on Medium.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know by now that the vaunted Japan Rail Pass, which provides unlimited rides on all JR trains, saw a significant price increase in 2023. What’s more, many of the regional offerings from JR’s various branches also saw price hikes, though not to the same extent. As a result, it’s no longer so obvious whether these passes are as good a deal as they used to be. Before the hikes, it was a no-brainer to snag the Japan Rail Pass, as the total cost was just about the same as buying round-trip tickets from Tokyo to Kyoto. Now, it’s not as clear whether it will actually save you money.

Recently, I took the JR East Pass (Nagano, Niigata Area) for a bit of a test drive. My goal was, first and foremost, to highlight some of the regional alternatives that JR offers as opposed to the countrywide Japan Rail Pass, while also showcasing how to maximize value from these now pricier options. While I still think that many of the various passes can be a good deal, you need to go in with your eyes wide open and make a concerted effort to ride as many bullet trains as is reasonable for your trip. Otherwise, it’s generally more affordable to pay for your transportation the regular way.