Question about JR Pass, Sunrise Izumo/Seto Booking, and Upcoming Price Increase on October 1st

Hi there,

For your well written post, I can see that you have already done your research.

There is not really a trick here that would be easy and fast.

The best option would be to buy the tickets full out using a channel that does point-to-point tickets and can make the reservation for you. Then, once you are in Japan, go to a JR office and have the same tickets rebooked under the JR Pass and get a refund for the other tickets. That's in theory, however you'd have to find an agent (likely in Japan) that can do so, and then you'll have to explain it to the JR Pass, which may also be confused about it, as it is not a very regular request.

My advice is, if you really want to be on that train, just book the tickets normally.

Kind regards,
Daniel

Hello Daniel,

Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude for your prompt and detailed response to my inquiry. Your insights have provided valuable clarity on a rather complex issue.

However, there's an underlying concern that I'd like to bring to your attention. The Sunrise Izumo/Seto train, particularly the "double twin" berth, is renowned for its demand and tends to sell out rapidly. Given this context, there's a considerable likelihood that by the time I arrive in Japan and convert my voucher into an actual JR Pass, the train might already be fully booked for my desired date. If that were the case, I wouldn't be able to obtain a refund for the separately purchased tickets.

This poses a significant challenge as the Sunrise Izumo/Seto is relatively expensive, and if I cannot include this trip under the JR Pass, the economics of purchasing the pass become questionable. The risk seems especially high given that the train might already be sold out before I even set foot in Japan.

With the above considerations in mind, do you think there might be another viable workaround? Or would it be safer, in your opinion, to just purchase the train ticket separately without relying on the JR Pass for this particular journey?

Again, thank you for your time and assistance. I truly appreciate the expertise you bring to the table.

Best regards,
Mastro

Hi Mastro,

I totally understand your concern and logistics involved, having taken this train several times.

Your best bet would be to buy the tickets directly (or have someone do so for you in Japan) on the day they are released (1 month ahead of time at 10am JST).

Once you have the tickets confirmed, then you could go to a JR ticket window. There, in theory, they could cancel this booking and rebook right away under the JR Pass (thus given you a refund of the difference). However, there is a small chance that someone would book them in this interval (very small chance, but possible).

That's why I was saying, if you really want to be on this train, just book the tickets normally. The JR Pass would only cover the base fare anyway (about 10.000yen depending on the route) and I'm not even sure that'd be worth it with all the effort and risk involved.

Kind regards,
Daniel

Hello Daniel,

Thank you once again for elaborating further on the matter. Your insights, especially given your personal experience with the Sunrise Izumo/Seto train, are immensely valuable.

Your suggestion about purchasing the tickets directly as soon as they're released makes sense. However, I'm now wondering about the feasibility of making this reservation online myself. Can I book the Sunrise Izumo/Seto tickets online starting October 16th from outside Japan, or would I need someone in Japan to physically buy them for me on that date?

Thanks again for your time and invaluable advice.

Best regards,
Mastro

Hi Daniel,

I haven't heard from you since my latest question, hope you can help. I'll try again hoping also to find someone else who might know the answer.

Can I book the Sunrise Izumo/Seto tickets online starting October 16th from outside Japan, or would I need someone in Japan to physically buy them for me on that date?

Thanks,
Mastro

Hi Mastro,

If you can speak Japanese, then yes, you could potentially do it online on Eki-Net or 5489 (odekake-net).

Else, it would be best in person at any ticket station in Japan.

Hopefully you can get your tickets!
Daniel

I'm a little late to the party but I faced the exact same issue a little while ago. As far as I know, the only way to effectively-guarantee tickets is via having someone in a ticket office in Japan at 10 a.m. the month before. The agent you are looking for is *** I used their services and was able to board a Single Twin from Tokyo to Okayama.