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Can my son use a JR pass to travel with me? 2014/7/7 09:59
My son has attended Keio University for the past year and is set to return to the United States. We will join him in Tokyo when school finishes to vacation in Japan as a family. Can I purchase a JR pass for him to use while we are all there. We will all be returning together.
by Linda Russ (guest)  

Re: Can my son use a JR pass to travel with me? 2014/7/7 10:08
If he maintains "Student" visa (resident status), no. If he is completely done with his course, and he converts his "Student" status to "Temporary Visitor" status, then he will be eligible for a JR Pass.
by ... (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Can my son use a JR pass to travel with me? 2014/7/7 17:23
In fact, residents with a student visa can not buy the JR Pass. However, I have a doubt in the opinion how to buy a JR Pass by changing the qualifications of stay are possible. JR companies are judged by the stamp to the passport of travelers whether the issue of it. Even he changes in short-term stay to qualify, if he continues to stay in Japan, immigration stamp is not pressed to his passport.
http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en002.html

I recommend that your son purchase a ticket other than JR Pass. However, the means will be spending more than the purchase of JR Pass.

Alternative:
JR Kanto Pass
Even a student visa holders, passengers have a foreign passport is available for purchase.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/kantoareapass/index.html

JR HOKKAIDO Foreign Student Pass
Only student visa holders can be purchased.
http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/railpass/student.html

JR Kyushu Ryugakusei Pass
Only student visa holders can be purchased.
http://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/tabi/2011_study_abroad_pass/index.jsp

The student discount system 'Gakusei Waribiki'
Students enrolled in school JR has specified that it is possible to use the student discount system. By using the system, when they make use of a section of JR of 100Km or more, the base fare ticket is discounted. However, for the application of it, there is a need themselves to the procedures at their school.
by passby168 rate this post as useful

Re: Can my son use a JR pass to travel with me? 2014/7/7 21:47
Depending on the places you want to visit, domesting flights using low-cost carriers might be a cost-effective option, maybe even better than a JR Pass. (JetStar in particular serves a lot of destinations from Tokyo.)
by Firas rate this post as useful

Re: Can my son use a JR pass to travel with me? 2014/7/8 11:22
In fact, residents with a student visa can not buy the JR Pass. However, I have a doubt in the opinion how to buy a JR Pass by changing the qualifications of stay are possible. JR companies are judged by the stamp to the passport of travelers whether the issue of it. Even he changes in short-term stay to qualify, if he continues to stay in Japan, immigration stamp is not pressed to his passport.
http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en002.html


As far as I know, immigration should stamp his passport when he changes his resident status so this may not be an issue. Have your son call his local immigration office to confirm.
by yllwsmrf rate this post as useful

Re: Can my son use a JR pass to travel with me? 2014/7/8 13:43
Yes, as … and yllwsmrf say.: once he has finished his studies, he can change his residency status to a temporary 90 day visitor. Immigration will cancel the student status and take his ZC and put a sticker into his passport similar to the landing permission one given to visa waiver arrivals. Plenty of people report doing this at the end of their student or working visas for exactly the reason the OP was asking about.
Here is the form to fill out for immigration http://www.moj.go.jp/content/000103484.pdf
by Lady Kodaira rate this post as useful

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