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Fares

Children's fares

Children aged 6 to 11 (and 12-year-olds still in elementary school) pay half fare; under-6s ride free, up to 2 per paying adult or child. A small child who takes their own reserved seat needs a child ticket. Child IC cards (Welcome Suica Child, child ICOCA) need the child's ID, and rail passes for children are half price.

Age groups on JR

  • Adult: 12 and over. A 12-year-old still in elementary school pays the child fare. [1]
  • Child: 6 to 11. A 6-year-old who has not started elementary school counts as an infant (free). [1]
  • Child fares, express and reserved-seat fees are half the adult price (rounded down to 10 yen). [1]
  • Green Car, GranClass and sleeper charges are the same for children as for adults. [1]

Small children who ride free

  • Under-6s are free, but only 2 per adult or child; the third one pays the child fare. [1]
  • A small child who uses their own reserved seat, Green seat or berth needs a child ticket. [1]
  • On Nozomi in the all-reserved peak periods, book a child ticket if your small child needs a seat of their own. [2]
  • Tokyo Metro uses the same rule: up to 2 under-6s free with each adult or child, the third pays the child fare. [3]
  • On Tokyo Metro the child fare paid by IC card is exactly half, rounded down to 1 yen (paper tickets round up to 10 yen). [3]

Child IC cards

  • Welcome Suica (Child) is valid until 31 March after the child's 12th birthday. Show the child's passport when buying. [4]
  • A child card used by someone too old is charged the adult fare plus a penalty of twice the fare. [4]
  • Child ICOCA (JR West) is sold at ticket offices, not machines: fill in a form and show an ID such as the child's passport. A parent can buy it. [5]

Rail passes for children

  • The JAPAN RAIL PASS child price (age 6 to 11) is half: 25,000 yen for 7 days ordinary car, bought online. A 12-year-old in elementary school needs the adult pass. [6]
  • JR Kyushu Rail Pass: children 6 to 11 pay half. [7]
  • JR West passes: each pass holder can take up to 2 children aged 1 to 5 free; from the third one, each needs a child pass (the page lists other cases too). [8]

Applies to

JR East (East Japan Railway Company), JR West (West Japan Railway Company), JR Central (Central Japan Railway Company), JR Kyushu (Kyushu Railway Company), Tokyo Metro

Sources and quotes checked 2026-10-10
  1. www.jreast.co.jp/kippu/06.html
    • おとな 12歳以上（12歳でも小学生は「こども」です）
    • こども 6歳～12歳未満（6歳でも小学校入学前は「幼児」です）
    • 「こども」の乗車券、特急券、急行券、指定席券は「おとな」の半額です（5円のは数は切り捨てます）。
    • グリーン券、グランクラス、寝台券は「おとな」と同額です。
    • （1）「おとな」または「こども」1人に同伴される「幼児」の人数が2人を超える場合（3人目から「こども」の運賃・料金が必要です）。
    • （2）「幼児」「乳児」が1人で指定席、グリーン席（自由席グリーン車を除く）、寝台等を利用する場合。
  2. railway.jr-central.co.jp/nozomi/
    • お子様用のお座席を確保する場合には、指定席の予約が必要です。
  3. www.tokyometro.jp/ticket/guide/age/index.html
    • 大人もしくは小児1人に同伴された幼児は2人まで無料となりますが、 3人目からは小児運賃を適用します。
    • ICカードでご乗車になる場合は、1円未満の端数は切り捨てて1円単位とします。
  4. www.jreast.co.jp/en/multi/welcomesuica/purchase.html
    • This card can be used until the March 31st after the child’s 12th birthday.
    • If you use the Welcome Suica (Child) and are above the specified age range, you will be charged the adult fare from your boarding station, plus a penalty that is two times the amount of the fare.
  5. www.jr-odekake.net/icoca/purchase/icoca.html
    • ご利用のお客様（小児運賃が適用されるお客様）のお名前、生年月日を公的証明書（パスポート、健康保険・国民健康保険等の資格確認書、マイナンバーカード等）のご提示により確認させていただきます。
  6. japanrailpass.net/purchase/price/
    • 「こども」は、利用時において6歳以上12歳未満に限ります(12歳以上の小学生は「おとな」とします)。
  7. www.jrkyushu.co.jp/english/railpass/railpass.html
    • Pass price for children (age between 6 and 11) is half of the adult price.
  8. www.westjr.co.jp/travel-information/en/tickets-passes/jrwest-rail-pass/kansai_hiroshima/
    • * An adult or child rail pass holder can accompany up to two children (ages 1-5) for free. * The infants from the third one will require Child’s rail passes for each.

Review status: draft_unreviewed.