Every guide tagged JR Pass, for a trip to Japan.
The pass got much more expensive and for many itineraries it no longer pays: how to do the arithmetic in ten minutes, which trips still justify it, and what to buy instead.
How Japan travel actually works: the shinkansen bullet trains, IC cards like Suica and Pasmo, the metro, and the honest math on whether the JR Pass is worth it for your trip.
Planning your first trip to Japan? Here is when to go, how the trains and IC cards work, whether the JR Pass is worth it, how much cash to carry, and the etiquette that keeps you out of trouble.