Japan is a great country to visit, even with your young children in tow. If you want to see as much of the beauty of this place as you can with your entire family, you may want to look at purchasing Japan Rail Passes for each family member to save money and enjoy convenience and flexibility throughout your trip.

Can you purchase a JR Pass for young children?

The official website of the Japan Rail Pass states that there is a child pass available for children aged from 6 to 11 years. It costs half the price of an adult pass.

Children who are 12 years and older will need to buy an adult pass.

What about kids and infants younger than 5?

Children aged 0-5 years old are not required to have a JR Pass in order to get on JR trains, buses and the ferry. However, they are not entitled to get a seat.

In the unreserved, reserved & green cars, they may be seated in an empty seat if available. However, if the train starts filling with commuters, they need to be placed on an adult’s lap.

In short, infants and toddlers under the age of 5 who do not have a pass may only occupy seats if, and only if, there are no paying customers needing seats.

Is it okay to buy a JR Pass for very young children?

Yes, it is perfectly fine to purchase a Japan Rail Pass for your young child if you want to make sure that they are comfortably seated, whether in a reserved or unreserved car, every time you take the Shinkansen. This is particularly useful when travelling on major Japanese National Holidays, as commuter volumes during these special occasions are quite dense and dynamic.

It can also make the trip more comfortable for you if you do not have an eager and active child in your lap!

Conclusion

If you want convenient and hassle-free train travel around Japan with your infants, toddlers, and young children, you can be confident about purchasing Japan Rail Passes for them.

With a JR Pass, you can make seat reservations for every member of your family, both young and old, and guarantee that you will all enjoy the ride.

Read more about the Japan Rail Pass Eligibility here