As the JR Pass is now a paper ticket that is inserted into a JR ticket gate whenever you travel, it can be susceptible to daily wear and tear. We recommend keeping it in a handy case or ticket wallet while not in use, to keep it safe and protected.
If your JR Pass ticket stops working for any reason during its validity period (for example it gets torn, dirty or water damaged) , and it’s no longer accepted in the automatic JR ticket gates, it is possible to take the damaged pass to a participating JR ticket office or Travel Service Center along with your passport, and staff there may be able to print a replacement ticket for you. Note that they will only consider doing this if your pass is extremely damaged and no longer legible or usable.
If the JR staff will not issue a replacement pass for you, don’t worry. You can continue to use your original JR Pass ticket by simply showing it to JR staff at the manned ticket gates; they will still allow you to access the platform as long as your pass is still legible and they can see that it is still valid for use.
Unfortunately a lost JR Pass cannot be reprinted or refunded.
Comments
1 comment
I bought a 21 day JP Pass, which can be used in whole Japan. I kept the JP Pass in my briefcase to keep it safe. After three days the JP Pass got stuck in the ticket machine and a JR staff member had zu pull it out. He gave it back to me rucked-up and a bit was ripped. It happened in a Station listed on your website for official JR pass returns.
I went to the JR Center and they told me, a JR Pass can‘t be changed to a new one. I have to keep the desteoyed JR Pass for the rest of the time and show it to an employee anytime I enter a train platform. Absolutely no will to exchange the damaged (non working) pass card. After that I went to an other station, which was mentioned in the list. Same problem. They told me, that it is not possible or allowed to exchange the JR pass and print a new ticket, I have to keep my destroyed ticket and that I have to accept the rules of the country Japan.
This is definitely not in line of what is written on the official website! I kindly recommend to advise the employees in the travel service centers to follow the official procedure (exchange damaged JR passes) without hesitation or non-rational argumenting!
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