The Japan Rail Pass is either the best deal in travel or a complete waste of money—there's no in-between. Do the math:
- Just Tokyo/Kyoto? Skip it and buy individual tickets
- Zigzagging across regions? The 14-day pass will save you enough yen to afford that ridiculous $80 Wagyu dinner you're eyeing
Activation is a breeze if you know what you're doing:
- March straight to the JR office at Narita (ignore the snaking line at Tokyo Station)
- Flash your exchange order like you mean business
- Book ALL your seats right then and there
The JR East app is supposedly helpful, but like most Japanese apps, it was designed by someone who hates user interfaces.
The Green Car is worth every penny for overnight trips. Regular cars are fine if you enjoy being sandwiched between a snoring businessman and a teenager watching TikToks without headphones.
And for the love of everything sacred, use the luggage forwarding service—nothing screams "amateur" like wrestling your giant suitcase onto the Shinkansen.
Insider secret: The regional passes (Kansai, Hokkaido) are often better value if you're focusing on one area. The math works out, I promise.