Is the JR Pass Still Worth It? How to Buy Shinkansen Tickets & Use Suica in Apple Wallet

Following the major 70% price increase for Japan Rail Passes, the iconic rail pass has ceased to be cost-effective for most travelers navigating Japan’s Golden Route (Tokyo – Kyoto – Osaka – Hiroshima). Purchasing point-to-point Shinkansen bullet train tickets is now significantly cheaper!

This guide reveals how to easily buy Shinkansen tickets and tap through subways using your smartphone.

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1. Why the JR Pass is NO Longer Worth It

The 7-day Ordinary JR Pass jumped from ~29,000 JPY to a steep 50,000 JPY. Compare that to individual point-to-point Shinkansen fares:

• Tokyo $\rightarrow$ Kyoto Shinkansen: ~14,000 JPY.
• Kyoto $\rightarrow$ Hiroshima Shinkansen: ~11,500 JPY.
• Hiroshima $\rightarrow$ Tokyo Shinkansen: ~19,000 JPY.

Total individual train tickets cost approx. 44,500 JPY — buying point-to-point tickets saves money and frees you from rushing through a 7-day window!

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2. Booking Shinkansen Bullet Trains via SmartEX App

The official and most seamless way to book individual Shinkansen seats is the SmartEX app:

• Seat Selection: Choose your car and pick Mount Fuji side seats (Seats E or D on Tokyo-bound trains).
• Oversized Baggage Seats: Easily reserve designated luggage seats for bags exceeding 160 cm dimensions.

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3. Digital Suica & Pasmo Cards in Apple Wallet

Tokyo subways and Kyoto buses are best navigated using contactless transit cards.

How to add a digital Suica card to Apple Wallet:

1. Open the Apple Wallet app on iPhone.
2. Tap the + icon in the upper right corner.
3. Select Transit Card $\rightarrow$ search Suica.
4. Top up the card with 2,000 JPY using Apple Pay (Mastercard recommended).
5. Simply tap your iPhone through subway turnstiles without unlocking your screen (Express Transit Mode)!

Explore our complete, field-tested 14-day Japan itinerary with vetted hotels on our Japan Itinerary Page!