JR Pass - Green vs Ordinary
 

Hello Fodorites,
We are planing a trip to Japan and will be buying JR pass. There is Ordinary type and Green type. Do we need Green - what extras does one get with Green vs Ordinary?
We will be traveling in August (in case it matters given the time of travel).

Thanks

The Green Pass entitles you to sit in the Green Cars rather than the Ordinary Cars. Seats on the Green cars have more legroom, and in some cases the seats are wider. You're more likely to have an empty seat next to you on Green cars.

The difference between Green and Ordinary is not nearly as enormous as, say, the difference between economy and business class on international flights. If you're on a limited budget for your trip, then getting an Ordinary pass is the way to go. If you don't mind spending the $100 or so extra for more space/comfort, the get the Green.

Coach class in Japan is like first class everywhere else. Save your money and don't go green.

August is a busy month for domestic travels, esp around the Obon festival either side of Aug 15th. Trains leaving Tokyo tend to be packed before 15th and those going to Tokyo after 15th, and it will be easier to get a seat reservation in Green cars than in ordinary cars. While I agree with others that ordinary class is perfectly comfortable, for August it may make sense to go Green, esp if your schedule involves travelling to and from Tokyo particularly on Shinkansen around the 15th. Just remember almost all Green cars are reservation only, while there are non-reserved cars in ordinary.

I gotta say, we travelled Green recently, and it was well worth it on the JR East and Kyushu network. Much bigger seats, and very empty carriages made the trip hassle free and had a touch of luxury to it!

There's a good post on the differences between normal and green cars here: http://www.jrpass.com/blogs/what-to-...green-car-pass

I like to travel with the green pass. When you average the extra cost of the green pass over the amount of days in the pass I find the price difference too good a deal to pass up. Others of different minds think differently,lol.

Its all up to the individual and how they like to travel in the end.

Aloha!

I have been traveling on the ordinary pass for the last 2 weeks (June 23-July 5)and there have been a few times it was hard to get reservations (they are free). Since August is a big travel month, the green pass is probably what you should get. The following website is wonderful for planning your train travel in Japan. I recommend getting reservations at the train station upon your arrival for your entire trip. Here's the website:
http://www.hyperdia.com/en/

Thanks everyone. We will be indeed traveling during Obon. We will leave Tokyo for Kanazawa on 11th of August, then Kanazawa to Kyoto on 16th, back to Tokyo on 21. We may have few side visits (Kobe, Nara), areas around Kanazawa.
What I gather - green is a way to go.

I am 6'3" and legroom is sufficient in the standard cars. The width of the seat may be of concern if you're a bit larger (like I am), but otherwise it's sufficient. During Obon, travel is quite hectic, so it may be the way to go. Not all of the trains offer green cars though, so I may recommend checking the routes to make sure shelling out the additional money is worthwhile on your particular routes.

How does one check (and where) if the green cars are available or not?

It's indicated on timetable book (jikokuhyo), and on display boards at station, with a symbol (square box with an X in it, coloured green). Almost all Shinkansen and limited express trains have Green cars, and some local trains. When you come to reserve your seat (usually compulsory for Green), staff can tell you.
If you go to Hyperdia site and input your travel details, then on the result page, click under 'Seat Fee' and if the train has Green cars, it tells you what the supplementary charge is.

It is my understanding that most Hikari and Kodama shinkansens (between Tokyo and Kyoto for you) do not have green cars. Also, I'm not convinced that a JR Pass is a good valuevfor your itinerary. You'll need a 14 day pass with those dates. Perhaps cost out your journeys in hyperdia.com to be sure.

Made a mistake about the green cars...there should be green cars between Kyoto and Tokyo on the Hikari and Kodama...it's from ShinOsaka to Hakata that there are not green cars.

From March next year, when through trains called Sakura begin operating from Sanyo Shinkansen to Kyushu Shinkansen (and v.v.), most Hikari trains will carry Green cars from Shin Osaka to Hakata.

Here is an announcement regarding the above Sakura Shinkansen. They have already cut the Hikari Shinkansens from Shin-Osaka to Hakata to one train per hour while increasing the Nozomi on the same routes to three per hour.

http://www.japan-guide.com/news/0015.html

http://www.japan-guide.com/news/0014.html

Aloha!

Went to hyperdia and JR and w/o JR turned about the same if we dont make any side trips. But given oportunity to check out some places from Kyoto (Kobe, Nara) or Kanazawa, we may be better off with JR.
Do you all share the same opinion (in case I am, as I am, novice in Japan trip).

Tokyo to Kanazawa to Kyoto to Tokyo ¥35,800/¥50,990 (regular/green).
JR Pass 2 weeks ¥45,100/¥61,200.

Thanks KimJapan.
Does JR help within Tokyo (for example - metro)? We will be staying in Tokyo for several days.

You can use the JR pass on JR lines in Tokyo, but not the others. Metro is not JR. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2017.html shows you the JR options. It is more convenient to not be limited to JR within the city. Travel within Tokyo is cheap regardless of which lines you use, though, so would not make up for ¥10,000 price difference.

Roger. Thanks