<B> Japan Rail Offers Passes</B>
Japan Rail has introduced new JR East and JR West passes ideal for business travelers who need to get around these regions.
JR East passes cover a 446-mile stretch from Izu Peninsula, Mount Fuji and the metropolitan Tokyo area--including express trains linking Narita Airport with downtown Tokyo--in the south to Nagano and Honshu Island in the north. While five- and 10-day passes are available, a new four-day flexible pass can be purchased as well.
JR West only can be bought by visitors in Japan, while JR East and the standard passes only can be bought outside the country.
The West Japan Railway Co., meanwhile, now offers two passes valid for different areas of its system. The Sanyo pass is good for service on the Sanyo Shinkansen (bullet train), the JR Sanyo main line or within metropolitan Osaka, including connections to Kansai International Airport.
Passengers traveling throughout Japan, or on the popular Tokyo to Osaka route, still can take advantage of the standard Japan Rail Pass. A pass good for seven consecutive days costs about $225.