The Japan Rail Pass can be used 24/7, all year long, even if it is sometimes difficult to get a seat during the holiday periods:
- From December 28th to January 6th: New year holiday during which most Japanese go back to their hometowns
- From April 27th to May 6th: 'Golden week', time during which Japanese people travel in the country
- Around August 15th: 'O-bon Festival', which brings families together.
In addition to the
National Japan Rail Pass, other
regional ones can be bought (JR Hokkaido Rail Pass, JR East Pass, JR Kansai area Pass, JR Sanyo area Pass and JR Kyushu Rail Pass) but are only valid for a specific region.