Hey guys,
Just wondering if anyone has had experience buying a JR pass online.
I'm thinking of getting it from here but the site looks a bit dodgy. It is, however, the cheapest I can find at the moment at $711 for 21 days.
I heard that a lot of people buy from but it's $6 more expensive.
If anyone has any insight or experience that would be awesome.
Thanks!
Well by asking here I realized that the cheaper site is also legitimate so I guess it pays to find out.
Try TravelJapan. One might be near you. These guys are under HIS japan.
https://www.traveljapan.com.au/rail-pass
I get mine in person from these guys.
Second this.
I bought from TravelJapan last month. Ordered online and picked up from one of their offices the following day. No issues.
I heard that a lot of people buy from https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/ but it's $6 more expensive.
So what is your problem then? Buy from the known source that works and GASP spend $6 extra on a many hundred dollar product…..
Agree. Just for 6 bucks created this thread… Omg
People are crazy…. I thought it was me at first, but I'm sure I'm sane the most of the world (or forum posters here) are crazy…. Buy from the dodgy looking website for $711 or buy from the known website that works for $717…. tough choice for some people it seems.
Thread took me 2 mins to create and I got the answer I was looking for from someone who had used the cheaper site with no problems.
2 minutes and I saved myself $6. I sure as hell don't earn $180 an hour so I'm happy with that.
I sure as hell don't earn $180 an hour so I'm happy with that.
You sure? Your username suggests you work in a high paying role, are you underpricing your services :P
I buy from JTB too. They have physical offices, I pick mine up from Melbourne CBD and save on post.
I purchased 2x 7-day passes from Sachi tours in March last year. It was mailed with Auspost Express post the day after payment.
Used it for my trip in May/June, no issues with it.
But I'm just a random internet stranger too
The only people on the internet are 16 year old girls and FBI agents.
The only people on the internet are 16 year old girls and FBI agents (pretending to be 15 year old girls).
Fixed that for you.
Cut the crap and worry - simply buy from the official site. You're gonna spend $000,s on airfare etc and your are now exploring short cuts to safe a few bucks on the add-ons?
There's no official site for overseas purchases. You buy from an authorised agent before leaving Australia.
As I understand the variance is small because JR sets the official price so just go with the lowest one you're comfortable with and don't sweat over the few bucks.
I got mine from JTB in person (on the Gold Coast)
I would spend the extra couple dollars and make sure it's 1000% legit by buying from a large Japanese company like JTB, any issues over there and your goanna have a tough time stating your case.
P.S did you work out if you actually NEED a pass? https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/
Buy from a reputable place and save money on this instead: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/376893
$4.50 ahead!
Gumtree.
Flight Centre will price match any sellers.
I ordered from Sachi and worried when the site rejected my payment. They called me the next day to request permission to complete payment - it had rejected as their site recognised I had used a VPN. I received the documents a couple of days later via overnight Aust Post parcel. Exchanged in Japan no problems at all. They were also the cheapest I could find.
I came back from Japan last Friday and can honestly say the best country I have been to, awesome country filled with even more awesome people.
Cheers mate!
I've bought JR Passes from SachiTours before for 5 people 1k+, they are 100% legit, not dodgy at all. In fact they are one of the offical agents for JR Passes in Australia, Nippon Travel Agency (NTA) Australia Pty Ltd. I found them the cheapest, local also not overseas. My passes arrived the next business day via Auspost Express, no problems exchanging them in Japan. If you are in Sydney, can visit their office and buy in person instead if you feel the site is not secured… Nippon Travel Agency (NTA) is just as reputable as JTB, I don't know why you think it's dodgy.
Thanks mate, just bought them from Satchi :)
how many people are you going with and where do you want to go?
my last trip to japan was tokyo —> night bus ($40) —> Kyoto —> local train—> osaka ($5) —> bus ($40) —> hiroshima —>bus ($30) —> fukuoka —> hire car —> kagoshima —> jetstar ($90) —>Narita
buses are cheap. easy. they travel on express highways. stop frequently at high rest stops. are a great way to see the country, see how Japanese travel domestically.
car hire is relatively cheap. however if you drop the car off at a different location then it can have very expensive one way fees.
I've used buses on my last 2 trips and when I lived there.
TOLLS! $40 to rent a car overnight from Toyko to Mito (approx. 3 hr driving return) $48 in tolls!
split between 4 people - nothing.
it also depends on which roads you use.
the last time I drove tokyo to Mito I paid nothing in tolls.
driving gives you freedom and allows you to interact rather than being a passive passenger.
You should be safe buying from any authorised agent: http://www.japanrailpass.net/area_07.html
Sachi Tours is on there (they are Nippon Travel Agency).
Sachi is 100% legit.
I recently heard of a woman being held by the authorities because she had a fake Japan Rail Pass. We bought from japan-rail-pass.com and experienced no troubles.
I also used Sachi Tours 18 months ago mainly because their turnaround of the passes was much quicker than what jtb stated. And saving money was a bonus.
This was for pickup, and all was fine.
Do they take Amex?
No idea, it looks like a small business, so check first.
I went with Klook, no issues at all.
The cost of legitimacy isn't worth $6?