The JR Pass, honestly, after the price rise
For years "buy the JR Pass" was default tourist advice, and for years I quietly told hotel guests to check the math first. Since the 2023 price rise, the math fails for most people.
The simple test: add up your actual long-distance legs at real ticket prices (Google them or check SmartEX). Tokyo to Kyoto round trip is roughly 28,000 yen; the 7-day pass costs about 50,000. One round trip does not pay for it. Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, back to Tokyo in one week? Now it is close, sometimes yes.
What Tokyo-based travelers actually need is an IC card and nothing else. Metro rides are 170 to 250 yen. Even riding six trains a day you will not spend 2,000 yen. The pass does not even cover Tokyo Metro lines, they are a different company.
The regional passes are the sleeper deal: JR East passes for day trips to Nikko or Nagano, the Hakone Free Pass for the classic Fuji-view loop, all still price like the old generous era.
Money aside, the pass pushes people into a Japan-in-7-days sprint they do not enjoy. Pick one or two hops, ship the luggage ahead, and actually see the places you paid to reach.
Is the JR Pass worth it for a Tokyo trip?
If you are staying in and around Tokyo, no, not even close. City transit runs a few hundred yen a ride on your IC card; the pass costs more than most people's entire two-week transit spend.
When does the JR Pass pay off?
Roughly: only when you cover Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka AND back, plus more long-distance legs, inside the pass window. One round trip alone no longer covers the 7-day pass since the 2023 price rise. Add Hiroshima or multiple legs and the math can work.
What should I buy instead of a JR Pass?
An IC card for city transit, individual Shinkansen tickets for your one or two long hops (SmartEX online works with foreign cards), and if you fit the niche, regional passes like JR East or Hakone Free Pass are the ones that still genuinely save money.
Do I need to reserve Shinkansen seats without a pass?
Outside holiday peaks, no, non-reserved cars are fine. See the Shinkansen tickets page here for the full how-to.