Transit Guide: JBL Pass

The JBL Pass, not to be confused with the Japan Bus Pass, is a flat-rate bus ticket that allows holders to ride up to three express buses per day for three, five, or seven days.

Short for Japan Bus Lines Pass, the JBL Pass provides access to roughly 130 routes across 35 prefectures, including popular destinations like Hida Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, and Osaka. It has both an “all days” pass and a cheaper “Mon–Thu” option, allowing travelers during those days to enjoy additional savings. With this pass, you can craft seemingly infinite itinerary options.

The JBL Pass vs. the Japan Bus Pass

The Japan Bus Pass is largely the same as the JBL Pass. Its most significant differences are that it is limited to Willer Express buses (while the JBL Pass covers buses across numerous operators), is slightly cheaper, and does not cover most of northern Japan (Tohoku and Hokkaido).

Prices

The JBL Pass price depends on the type of pass and duration.

Eligibility and validity

The JBL Pass is only available to people with non-Japanese passports, such as foreign tourists, foreigners living in Japan, and international students.

Depending on the type of pass you purchase, it is valid for three, five, or seven days. The days do NOT have to be consecutive and must only fall within a month of the purchase date. The “all days” pass can be used any day, and the “Mon–Thu” pass can only be used during those days.

You can use the pass for a variety of routes, including:

• Osaka/Kyoto → Tokyo
• USJ (Osaka) → Shinjuku or Shibuya (Tokyo)
• Nagoya (Aichi) → Shinjuku (Tokyo)
• Matsumoto (Nagano) → Shinjuku (Tokyo)
• Hiroshima → Osaka/Kyoto
• List of all available routes

Should you buy it?

You will need to consider your desired destinations, travel preferences, and trip duration to determine if the JBL Pass is suitable for you.

• Cost effective—great for budget travel
• Long travel times (compared to train travel)

Money-wise, the JBL Pass is incredibly cost-effective. For instance, a one-way shinkansen ticket (reserved seat) from Tokyo to Osaka generally costs around ¥20,000. In comparison, a three-day, Mon-Thu JBL Pass only costs ¥13,500 and covers express bus travel for three days. With ¥13,500, you can travel from Tokyo to Hida Takayama, Shirakawa-go to Nagoya, and then Nagoya to Osaka.

Of course, one of the downsides of bus travel is that it is typically much longer than train travel. For example, shinkansen travel (Nozomi train) from Tokyo to Osaka takes about 2.5 hours, while traveling by bus can take between eight to nine hours.

Purchase

You can only purchase the JBL Pass online from the official website with a credit card. You must also become a member of the website (registration is free).

Please note that each passenger must book their own pass. One passenger can only book multiple passes if all of the members are following the exact same route.

Since you must use the pass within one month of purchase, do not purchase it sooner than a month in advance. You can purchase the pass before or after arriving in Japan.

Usage

The JBL Pass is a ticketless service in which all bookings are completed online.

When you board the bus, please bring your booking confirmation email (printed or digital) and passport. You cannot board another bus if you miss your reserved bus, so please plan accordingly and arrive at the departure point early.

You can cancel your pass and receive a full refund as long as it is unused and not expired. You can also change and cancel your bookings; however, please note that you cannot cancel a booking on the departure date.

Additional resources

• JBL Pass FAQ
• How to cancel the JBL Pass
• How to book a bus with JBL Pass
• How to change or cancel a booking with JBL Pass

Example destinations with the JBL Pass