Trains in Japan: Cheap and Easy (Part 2)

My last entry discussed how to find the best train or subway route from A to B using route and fare finder web sites. Once you've figured out your route, you'd still probably like to save some yen on ticket fares. I'll tell you how in this and other posts. This one will be about buying kaisuuken or multiple trip tickets.

When you buy kaisuuken (sometime called coupon tickets) you pay for 10 tickets, but get 11, 12 or 14. Here are photos and descriptions of the kaisuuken. These are Tokyo Metro tickets, but most other train lines are similar.

Regular kaisuuken (left photo--the button on the machines says 回数券) can be used any time. You get 11 for the price of ten. You can buy child or adult tickets.

Off-peak kaisuuken (center photo--時差券 jisaken) can be used between 10AM and 4PM on weekdays and any time on weekends and holidays. You get 12 tickets for the price of ten (adult tickets only).

Holiday kaisuuken (right photo--土休券 dokyuuken) can be used any time on weekends and holidays. You get 14 tickets for the price of 10 (adult tickets only).

These holiday kaisuuken save us about 1800 yen or so each month on our transportation to and from church.