Japan has several passes to make domestic travel easier when traversing the country, the most familiar being the regional rail passes connecting many to the various cities in Japan. However, if you fly with JAL (Japan Airlines) you may get the chance to have all of your domestic travel in Japan made free. If you’re considering a trip to the country, take a quick look at this blog to see if you can take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime deal.
JAL Aircraft – Photo Credit: Reuters
What is the Japan Explorer Pass?
At its simplest, the Japan Explorer Pass is something you receive after you book a round-trip international flight with JAL Airlines. As of now, it is only available to those both with residence and who are flying from the following countries:
- The U.S.
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Vietnam
- Indonesia
- Philippines
- Thailand
- Mexico
- China
- Taiwan
- India
By reserving your flight with JAL, you will have access to special fare prices for the Japan Explorer Pass.
How Much is the Pass?
Price is always important when considering these passes, as some across the last couple of years have seen major spikes in costs. However, the passes JAL offers are a small price to pay when considering you will have unlimited access to multiple areas, whether popular or unpopular, across Japan. Here is a breakdown of the three available passes:
7,700 Yen
This pass will give you access to 8 short routes consisting of Tokyo to Nagoya, Osaka to Matsuyama, along with domestic travel access to Okinawa’s main island Ishigaki.
11,000 Yen
This option will make you eligible to travel along 61 routes such as Tokyo-Akita, Osaka-Aomori, Nagoya-Okinawa main island, and routes within Hokkaido.
14,300 Yen
At this price, you will be able to travel across 49 longer routes such as Tokyo-Kyushu, Nagoya-Sapporo, and Osaka-Amami Island.
By purchasing any of these passes, depending on the one you choose, you will have all of the included routes free to travel by flight. Isn’t that a great deal?
JAL Airline on Takeoff – Photo Credit: freightwaves
How do I Get the Pass?
Your first step will be to go to the JAL website and book your roundtrip flight using their airline. Once you have a ticket for this, you will have access to the fares and you can choose the right one depending on how big of a range of domestic travel you plan to do during your trip. The first tier has pretty simple, short routes, the second has middle-length, and the third consists of the largest travel routes that you can take easily by a free plane with this fare.
If you’re confused about the website’s procedures you can follow these two simple steps:
- (Once you have a ticket ready) Click on Japan Domestic Flights
- Find Flights by clicking the “Find Flights and Book” option.
Important Things to Note
While this pass may have many already planning their next round-trip flight, it is crucial to be aware of the conditions of the Japan Explorer Pass to make sure you apply. First, as already mentioned is the country of origin and residence. As you will have to submit your passport for confirmation of these two things, you must make sure that you are currently residing in any of the above-listed countries, and that your flight departs from said country. Also, you must make sure that both your round-trip flight and any of the free domestic flights you hope to take are in the same reservation.
Fuji on the Lake – Photo Credit: travelution
Start Exploring with the Japan Explorer Pass!
This pass offered by JAL has finally returned to travelers who wish to explore more of what Japan has to offer. With affordable prices for access to beautiful areas of the country, it’s no surprise that it is such a popular option for tourists to reach more off-the-beaten-path destinations like Aomori or Akita, but also very popular destinations like Kyoto and Okinawa. Even better, for those dealing with a lot of luggage on their trip, this pass has been well-praised because all of your travel is done by plane, keeping your hands free for most of your trip! If you’re thinking about expanding what you already know about Japan or want to make your first time to Japan to have a bit of everything, this pass is definitely something to check out!
Featured Photo Credit: JAL
