Seishun 18 Ticket

The ticket can also be purchased from discount ticket shops at a small discount (¥300-500). These shops often offer partially-stamped tickets, as well, for those who may not want or need the full 5 days, or need just a couple extra on top of the 5 that the standard ticket comes with. Expect to pay a higher per-day price when buying a partially stamped ticket - it can go as high as ¥3500 for a ticket with one day left. The price slowly goes down toward the end of the effective period - say ¥2000 three days before expiration. Additionally, these shops are all cash-only.

You may also sell partially stamped ticket to these shops - get several thousand yen back and help another budget traveler. Sooner the better, because of the price erosion and possible rejection - shops stop buying tickets about one week before expiration. However, you will need the help of a Japanese citizen or resident as non-resident foreigners are not allowed to sell to ticket shops.

The Tokaido Line is undoubtedly the easiest line to travel with a Seishun 18 ticket, and probably one of the most convenient for tourists because it forms the shortest link between Tokyo and the Kansai region. Trains run every 15 minutes or so during the day, making it easy to take breaks en route without running over schedule. It takes about nine hours to get from Tokyo to Kyoto, not including rest or meal stops; this requires about 4-6 transfers along the way depending on when you travel. These transfers will most likely occur in cities such as Atami, Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Toyohashi, Ogaki, and Maibara. From Maibara, you can go north to the Hokuriku Region or continue west. There are trains that run all the way from Maibara to Himeji and Banshu-Ako (Ako) on the Sanyo Line. Tokyo to Nagoya takes about 6 1/2 hours without stops.

The Sanyo Main Line is the westward extension of the Tokaido Main Line, connecting the Kansai region to Okayama, Hiroshima, and Kitakyushu. It is not quite as convenient as the Tokaido Line, but generally runs at least every half hour (with frequent service around Kobe, Hiroshima and Fukuoka). Shin-Kaisoku Trains can travel from Maibara (on the Tokaido Main Line) all the way to Himeji before a transfer is necessary. Osaka to Hiroshima is about 6 hours; Hiroshima to Fukuoka is another 6 hours.

Those wishing to visit Shikoku must transfer at Okayama to the Marine Liner. The Liner is covered by the pass, as long as you remain in the non-reserved section. The Yosan Line, Yodo Line, and Dosan Line travel in a circle from Kagawa to Ehime (Yosan), Ehime to Kochi (Yodo), and Kochi through western Tokushima and back to Kagawa (Dosan). The Uchiko Line in Ehime is the only additional line along the route and provides access to the historic town of Uchiko. Most Seishun travelers use this as their "Golden Route" around Shikoku to visit the most famous locations, such as Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Uwajima, Kochi, and the Iya Valley as a single Shikoku Seishun 18 trip.

Additionally, the Tokushima Line connects Awa-Ikeda Station (Miyoshi) to Tokushima, the Kotoku Line connects Takamatsu to Tokushima, and the Mugi Line gives access to southern Tokushima Prefecture from Tokushima City. The Kuroshio Railway lines in Kochi Prefecture are private railways not covered by the pass.

Trains in Shikoku are less frequent, so it's important to plan ahead and be aware of train times when traveling to multiple cities around the island. The Yodo Line between Ehime and Kochi is particularly sparse of options. Missing your connection could leave you stranded for hours waiting for the next train.

The Chuo Main Line is a Y-shaped line through the Japan Alps, connecting Tokyo and Nagoya via Shiojiri. Although the Chuo Main Line can be used for travel between Tokyo and Nagoya, the Tokaido Main Line is faster. The corridor between Kofu and Nakatsugawa are very rural, so train connections are infrequent. Because of this, the Chuo Main Line is only recommended over the Tokaido Main Line for those who plan to stop at locations along the way or those wishing to travel travel further north to Matsumoto and Nagano which can be reached by transferring to the Shinonoi Line at Shiojiri. You can reach Nagano from either Tokyo or Nagoya in approximately 6 hours.

Since the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen in March 2015, the Hokuriku Main Line has been greatly shortened. It now extends from Maibara to Kanazawa. The rest of the former line (from Kanazawa to Naoetsu) is now run by private railways. This has disconnected some JR lines from any connections with a JR station. Deals were reached with the private railways to allow passengers to use the private railways without charges only if they get off at stations where a JR transfer can be made (Tsubata Station for the JR Nanao Line, Takaoka Station for the Himi Line and Johanna Line, and Toyama Station for the Takayama Line). If you get off at any station that does not have a JR connection, you will be charged.

The Tohoku Line follows the Pacific coast north from Tokyo to Sendai and Aomori--it is about 7 hours from Tokyo to Sendai, and another 9 hours from there to Aomori. Outside of the Tokyo and Sendai metropolitan areas, services are relatively infrequent, running on an hourly or bihourly basis.

To travel to Hokkaido, you must purchase a ¥2490 option ticket described earlier in this article which will grant you access to the shinkansen for the segment through the Seikan Tunnel.

Be warned that the train schedules in northern Japan, particularly in Hokkaido, are very limited. You'll want to use a timetable like Navitime to plan your itinerary. If traveling between Aomori and Sapporo, you can expect the trip to take two days.

Here are some of the basic routes to use from Sapporo down to Hakodate, Aomori and Niigata:

• From Sapporo to Hakodate, take the Chitose Line to Tomakomai (1.5 hours), then the Muroran Line to Oshamambe via Higashimuroran (just over 3 hours), then the Hakodate Line to Hakodate (about 4 hours).
• From Hakodate to Kikonai, take the private South Hokkaido Railway Isaribi Line, covered by the option ticket (1 hour).
• From Kikonai to Okutsugaru-Imabetsu, which is only served by the Shinkansen, the option ticket permits you to take any available standard class seat on the Hayabusa or Hayate Shinkansen service (40 minutes). There are seven daily round-trips that operate between the two stations at about 2-3 hr intervals.
• From Okutsugaru-Imabetsu, walk a short distance to the nearby Tsugaru-Futamata station and take the JR Tsugaru Line to Aomori (1.5-2 hours; change of trains may be necessary)
• From Aomori to Akita, take the Ou Line via Hirosaki, Odate, and Higashinoshiro (1 hour to Hirosaki, 2.5 hours to Akita). You may have an extended layover at Hirosaki depending on your schedule.
• From Akita to Niigata, take the Uetsu Line to Shibata via Sakata and Murakami (5 hours), then change to the Hakushin Line for Niigata (30 minutes).

JR West Bus, the bus department of JR West, has given passengers who have Seishun 18 Tickets a discount on fares of three bus routes. The three bus routes which are operated by JR West Bus, the Meikin Line - 名金線（Kanazawa Station↔Fukumitsu Station), the Enpuku Line - 園福線（Fukuchiyama Station↔Sonobe Station), and the Wakae Line - 若江線（Ōmi-Imazu Station↔Obama Station). Through this campaign, passengers may ride on the above bus routes at a flat fare of ¥800 each.

Passengers show the bus driver the Seishun 18 Ticket, and the driver gives a discount ticket when passengers get off the last terminal. Passengers cannot get off at non-registered Registered bus stops are Kanazawa Station and Fukumitsu Station on Meikin Line, Fukuchiyama Station and Sonobe Station on Enpuku Line, Ōmi-Imazu Station and Obama Station on Wakae Line. bus stops. If you get off at the bus stops, the discount is annulled.

On the Hisatsu Orange Railway, the Orange 18 Free Ticket (おれんじ18フリーきっぷ) is sold for ¥2,100 to passengers who have valid Seishun 18 Tickets in a valid period of time (a same-day seal is placed on the ticket). Free Pass in Hisatsu Orange Railway Passengers can ride on the entire line on the Hisatsu Orange Railway for one day. Tickets can be purchased from crews, station staffs, and stations tellers on the trains or stations.

On the Echigo Tokimeki Railway, the Tokitetsu 18 Ticket (トキ鉄18きっぷ) is sold for ¥1,000 to passengers who have valid Seishun 18 Tickets in a valid period of time (a same-day seal is placed on ticket).Free Pass in Tokitetsu

Kampu Ferry gives passengers who have Seishun 18 Tickets a discounts about fares between Shimonoseki and Pusan. The company allows discount of 50% for second class (¥4,500/one-way/after discounting), discount of 36% for first class (¥8,000/one-way/after discounting), and discount of 25% for deluxe class (¥13,500/one-way/after discounting). Passengers must reserve a seat on the ferry and explain staff about using "Seishun 18 Kippu Tabi Daioen Waribiki" (青春18きっぷ旅大応援割引) by telephone before boarding on the ferry.

When you make a reservation, passengers must tell the staff their name, passport number, date of birth and gender. The company gives a discount about fares in terms of validity of the Seishun 18 Ticket. A round-trip ticket is counted as two tickets, so the tickets are discounted as two tickets. There is no discount when the passengers make a reservation at a one-way trip from Pusan Port to Shimonoseki.

Passengers must pay a fuel surcharge fee, and international tourist tax (¥1000) except fares and Seishun 18 Tickets.

JR Hotel Group gives guests who have Seishun 18 Tickets a discount. Guests must make a reservation at this hotel by the day before. Guests must show the hotel staff your Seishun 18 Ticket which is used on the same-day when you stay at hotel when you check into the hotel.