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Unlocking Western Japan: A Comprehensive Guide to Using JR West

Embarking on a journey through Western Japan with JR West unveils a tapestry of breathtaking landscapes, ancient traditions, and modern marvels . This guide serves as your compass, navigating through the complexities of the rail system, unraveling ticket options, and planning seamless travel itineraries . From the neon-lit streets of Osaka to the tranquil temples of Kyoto and the historical depth of Hiroshima , discover how to immerse yourself fully in the diverse experiences that Western Japan offers. Equipped with cultural insights and etiquette tips , you’re set to explore the region with the grace and ease that define Japanese travel. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or setting foot in Japan for the first time, this guide promises a journey through Western Japan that is as smooth as it is unforgettable .

• Leverage JR West Rail Passes for cost-effective and flexible travel across Western Japan.
• Plan around train schedules to maximize your exploration of cultural sites, natural beauty, and culinary delights.
• Embrace Japanese etiquette on trains and stations for a respectful and enriching travel experience.

Introduction to JR West: A Gateway to Western Japan

JR West, formally known as West Japan Railway Company, plays a pivotal role in connecting travelers to the rich cultural tapestry and breathtaking landscapes of Western Japan. Operating in a region renowned for its historical cities, culinary delights, and scenic beauty , JR West offers an extensive network of trains, including the world-famous Shinkansen (bullet trains) , local, rapid, and special express services. This vast network makes destinations like the ancient capital of Kyoto , the vibrant city of Osaka , the solemn peace memorials of Hiroshima , and the spiritual heights of Mount Koya readily accessible. For travelers eager to dive into the heart of Japan, JR West serves as the perfect starting point, offering a blend of efficiency, comfort, and unparalleled access to a region steeped in history and natural beauty. Whether it’s exploring centuries-old temples , savoring the flavors of Japan’s culinary landscape , or simply soaking in the natural hot springs that dot the countryside, JR West is your gateway to an unforgettable journey through the soul of Japan .

Understanding the JR West Rail System

Navigating the JR West Rail System can seem daunting at first glance, but understanding its structure is key to unlocking the full potential of your travels in Western Japan . JR West operates a comprehensive network that caters to both high-speed and local travel needs, ensuring that whether you’re looking to move quickly between major cities or explore the region’s hidden gems, there’s a train service tailored to your itinerary.

Types of Trains and Services: Shinkansen, Rapid, Local, and Special Trains

Shinkansen (Bullet Trains) : The crown jewel of Japan’s rail system, offering fast and frequent services between major cities. Key lines include the Sanyo Shinkansen , connecting Osaka with Fukuoka, and the Hokuriku Shinkansen , which takes you from Kanazawa to Tokyo.

Rapid Trains : Ideal for medium-distance travel, these trains stop at fewer stations than local trains, making them a quicker option without the premium price of the Shinkansen.

Local Trains : These trains stop at all stations along the route, perfect for exploring local towns and countryside vistas at a leisurely pace.

Special Trains : JR West also offers unique train experiences, such as the scenic San’in coastline route and the luxurious Twilight Express Mizukaze for those looking to travel in style.

Key Routes and Destinations: Highlighting must-visit places accessible via JR West

JR West’s network spans across some of Japan’s most culturally rich and scenic regions. Key destinations include:

• Kyoto : The heart of Japan’s traditional culture, home to thousands of shrines and temples.
• Osaka : Known for its vibrant food scene and modern attractions.
• Hiroshima : A city of peace, offering historical insights and beautiful island getaways like Miyajima.
• Kanazawa : A hidden gem where the Edo period comes alive amidst well-preserved districts and the Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan’s top three gardens.
• Tottori and Shimane : For those seeking off-the-beaten-path destinations, the San’in region offers mythological sites, sand dunes, and coastal towns rich in folklore.

With a bit of planning, the JR West Rail System can be your key to an enriching travel experience, blending the convenience of modern rail travel with the exploration of Japan’s rich cultural landscapes.

Navigating Ticketing and Pass Options

Navigating the ticketing options for JR West offers a path to both convenience and savings, crucial for enhancing your travel experience in Japan. With a variety of passes and ticketing options available, understanding these can significantly ease your journey.

JR West Rail Passes: Benefits, Types, and How to Choose the Right One

JR West offers several rail passes, each designed to cater to different travel needs and itineraries, providing unlimited travel within specific regions and on certain types of trains. The key benefits include substantial savings for extensive travel and the flexibility to explore at your pace.

• Kansai Area Pass : Ideal for exploring the Kansai region, including Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe .
• Sanyo-San’in Area Pass : Expands the travel area to include Okayama, Hiroshima, and parts of Kyushu .
• Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass : A perfect blend for those looking to explore both Kansai and Hiroshima .
• Hokuriku Area Pass : Focuses on the coastal region of the Sea of Japan, including Kanazawa and Fukui .

Choosing the Right Pass : Consider your itinerary, the regions you plan to visit, and the duration of your stay. The more extensive your travel plans within JR West’s service area, the more likely a rail pass will offer significant savings.

Buying Tickets and Reservations: Step-by-Step Guide and Tips

• Ticket Machines : Available at all JR stations, ticket machines are user-friendly and offer English guidance. They’re perfect for purchasing single-journey tickets or recharging your IC card.
• Reservation Offices (Midori-no-Madoguchi) : For seat reservations, visit any JR Ticket Office, recognizable by their green windows. Reservations can be crucial during peak travel seasons or if you prefer guaranteed seating on specific trains.
• Using IC Cards : For non-reserved local train travel within urban areas, consider an IC card like ICOCA for tap-and-go convenience and flexibility.
• Online Reservations : JR West offers online booking for certain passes and train reservations, allowing travelers to plan ahead before arriving in Japan.

Tips for Smooth Travel :

• Always check the validity of your rail pass for your intended train service, as some passes have restrictions.
• Consider reserving seats in advance for long-distance travel on Shinkansen and limited express trains, especially during holiday periods.
• Keep your rail pass handy , as you may need to show it when entering or exiting station gates or to onboard personnel.

Understanding and leveraging JR West’s ticketing and pass options can transform your travel experience, offering both cost savings and the freedom to explore the wonders of Western Japan with ease.

Planning Your Journey with JR West

Effective planning can significantly enhance your travel experience across Western Japan. By strategically aligning your itinerary with JR West’s train schedules and optimizing your budget, you can ensure a smooth, enjoyable journey through this culturally rich and scenic region.

Building an Efficient Itinerary: Tips on Aligning Destinations with Train Schedules

Start with Major Destinations : Identify the major cities or attractions you wish to visit. Key hubs like Osaka, Kyoto, and Hiroshima are well-connected by JR West services, making them good starting points for planning.

Use JR West’s Online Tools : Utilize JR West’s English website and timetable tools to check train times. Planning your day around the train schedules can help you maximize sightseeing time.

Consider Travel Time : When planning day trips or moving between cities, account for travel time. Even with the efficiency of the Shinkansen, moving between distant points can consume a significant part of your day.

Be Flexible with Off-Peak Travel : Traveling during off-peak hours can offer a more relaxed experience and often better seating availability, especially on local and rapid services.

Reserve Seats for Long Journeys : For long-distance travel on Shinkansen or limited express trains, consider reserving seats to guarantee comfort and peace of mind, especially during busy seasons.

Cultural Insights and Etiquette: What to Know About Train Travel in Japan

Queueing : When waiting for the train, line up at the marked positions on the platform. Each door position is clearly indicated, promoting an orderly boarding process.

Silence is Golden : Keep conversations low and set mobile phones to silent mode. If you must take a call, step into the area between cars where it’s less disruptive.

Priority Seating : Be mindful of designated priority seating for the elderly, disabled, pregnant women, and parents with small children. Offer your seat if you see someone who needs it more than you do.

Keep it Clean : Maintain the cleanliness of the trains by taking your trash with you. Eating is generally acceptable on long-distance trains but less so on urban and local trains.

Navigating Stations : Stations can be large and crowded. Pay attention to signage for exits, transfers, and platform information. Knowing the name of the last station on your line can help ensure you’re heading in the right direction.

Understanding and respecting these cultural practices and logistical details can significantly enhance your travel experience with JR West. It allows not only for a smoother journey but also for a deeper appreciation of the Japanese way of life and its impeccable approach to public transportation.

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Purchasing tickets

To use the train, first purchase a ticket at a vending machine or ticket window. Pass your ticket through the automated ticket gate or show your ticket to the inspector. Please keep the ticket as you will need it once you arrive at your destination. Most, if not all trains stop operating late at night or around midnight.

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If you do not have a JAPAN RAIL PASS, please visit the JR Travel Service Center to purchase the necessary ticket.

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JRailPass.com » Japan Travel Blog » HyperDia and Alternatives: Japan Rail Planners

HyperDia and Alternatives: Japan Rail Planners

August 1, 2023

HyperDia has been an invaluable route planner tool for those traveling on trains and Shinkansen within Japan with a JR Pass since the early 2000’s. However, recent changes in HyperDia’s timetable services mean that you may like to consider an alternative option.

What is HyperDia?

HyperDia is a web and mobile app, which can be used as a guide to location in Japan. It is available in English , Japanese, and Chinese and will give you direct access to train information, prices, and average journey times . You can plan future trips by selecting the destination, journey date, and arrival or departure time.

Furthermore, the app will give you access to useful links , such as hotels, car rental services, and restaurants for the selected locations. You can filter your searches, by deselecting or selecting more options from the “More options” menu (see example below).

How HyperDia has changed

The service that HyperDia offers changed significantly on April 1, 2022 . Previously, users were able to see full timetable details by using the route search service. However, this is no longer the case.

Users of HyperDia can still search for itineraries for the trains they wish to use. However, HyperDia no longer provides specific times that passengers need to depart and board these trains.

Additionally, HyperDia no longer provides the option to exclude Nozomi trains from search results. This was previously useful for Japan Rail Pass users, as the JR Pass could not be used on Nozomi services. However, JR Pass holders can ride these trains from October 2023, if they pay a supplement.

Current features of HyperDia

Users of HyperDia can still use the search function to look up train routes in Japan. They are still able to see:

• The average time the journey will take
• Journey and seat reservation fares
• The name of the services they need to use

However, the search will no longer display specific timetable data such as the stations the train will stop at along the way, and the list of departure times for that service on a particular day.

How to Use HyperDia

After selecting the preferred language, type the place where you are departing from in the From field and the place you want to go to in the To field. HyperDia will generate a list of possible options to select after you have entered the first few letters.

After having made all the main selections, you can also click more options to view all the filters available. As you can see from the image, you can select the particular type of transport you wish to use.

HyperDia then offers the possible transport options to get you from point A to point B, for the selected date and time. The example gives you a clear view of the route suggestions . HyperDia will generate the following information:

• Duration of the trip
• Name of the service (s)
• Number of transfers
• Distance from point A to point B
• Seat fare for reservations
• The cost (fare) of the trip
• Useful links

Scroll down on the web to see all the possible results and make your preferred selection. Once you have chosen the option that matches your personal preferences, you are ready to go.

Seat Reservation Information

When you select your preferred route, you will see different prices for seat reservations from the suggestions made by HyperDia. Japan Rail Pass holders do not have to pay for seat reservations and can ignore these suggested prices . Similarly, the Green Seat offer will also be free for everyone who has purchased a Green Pass.

This is especially useful for people traveling with large luggage who need to take more than one train to get to their destination. Making a seat reservation in advance will make your trip smoother and easier.

Tip : Always make a seat reservation in advance. You can do so just before boarding the train or a couple of hours before. Online seat reservations are not possible, but it is straightforward to make a reservation at the ticket desk at any train station.

Note : Regardless of whether you are traveling with a Standard Japan Rail Pass or with the Green Pass, you will not be charged for making seat reservations. However, if you have purchased a Standard Japan Rail Pass you would be charged for reserving a Green seat.

Alternatives to HyperDia

Although HyperDia is still a useful tool, the fact that it no longer offers detailed train timetables and arrival and departure times means that you may wish to use an alternative route planner within Japan.

Jorudan (Japan Transit Planner)

One useful alternative is Jorudan , also known as Japan Transit Planner , which is available as an app or web service. Unlike Hyperdia, the free Jorudan app displays full timetables, and platform and station details.

The app also includes a JR Pass search option that only displays trains that can be used with the pass. Jorduan also allows users to exclude specific train categories such as Shinkansen or limited express, but only if they pay a subscription fee.

Useful links :

• Android app

Navitime (Japan Travel by Navitime)

Navitime is another alternative trip planner which offers many of the same features as Jorudan. It also offers an exclusive JR Pass search option, which is free on both web and app.

Additionally, Navitime allows users to not only search for trains and Shinkansen timetables, but also shows taxi fares for the selected routes as well as any flights available.

Google Maps

Finally, Google Maps can also be very useful when it comes to locating your station and moving around different cities in Japan. You can also use our interactive, printable maps for subway and railway lines.

Most streets in Japan have no names. The ones that do will be confusing to tourists as even locals often need a map to locate a particular building. For example, a building numbered 5 could be located next to number 75. This means that having reliable internet access is essential if you do not want to get lost. Using Google Maps allows you to see your exact location and find nearby buildings, without having to translate any Japanese.

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The Complete Guide to JR West Rail Passes

No doubt you’ve heard of the famous All Japan Rail Pass . JR West rail passes are a similar deal, but are designed specifically for travel around Kansai and the western half of Honshū (Japan’s main island). They’re cheaper than the national rail pass, which means they could potentially save you even more money — depending on where you plan to go.

Overview of JR West passes

Kansai area pass, kansai wide area pass, jr west all area pass, setouchi area pass, jr west regional passes that include kansai.

• Sample Shinkansen and limited express train fares

JR West passes FAQs

JR West covers the western half of Honshū: from Kansai to Shimonoseki (at the tip of Yamaguchi prefecture and right across the strait from Kyūshū ). This includes popular destintions like Kyoto , Osaka , Nara , Kobe , Himeji , Hiroshima , and Miyajima .

The key Shinkansen route here is the Sanyō Shinkansen, which connects Osaka (Shin-Osaka Station) with Kobe (Shin-Kobe Station), Himeji, Okayama, and Hiroshima. A few of the passes also include Shinkansen travel all the way to Hakata ( Fukuoka ), the main entry point to Kyūshū.

So if you’re thinking to focus on this part of the country, JR West has A LOT of options for you. Like, ±10 options.

tl;dr If you’re just interested in visiting the major Kansai cities and tourist destinations of Osaka , Kyoto , Nara , and Kobe , you’re best off with a Kansai Area Pass. However, if you’re looking to travel within Kansai and then dip out to other major destinations, consider some of the other passes (like the Kansai–Hiroshima Area Pass), or even purchasing two passes (like the Kansai WIDE Area Pass + the San’in–Okayama Area Pass).

Unlike the country-wide JR Pass, JR West passes can be used on the fastest Nozomi and Mizuho trains on the Sanyō Shinkansen. Passes that include Miyajima cover the ride on the JR Miyajima ferry.

Important! Only foreign passport holders entering on a temporary visitor visa are eligible for JR West passes.

are cheaper if bought overseas (which you can do online). -->

The Kansai Area Pass covers travel on regular JR lines between the major cities of the Kansai region, which are also major tourist destinations: Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Kobe. It also covers travel to/from Kansai International Airport (on the limited express Haruka train), Universal Studios Japan , castle town Himeji , and points around Lake Biwa ; travel on the Osaka Loop line and JR West buses in Kyoto (which travel from Kyoto Station to Takao ). It does not cover any Shinkansen travel.

Kansai Area Pass at a glance:

The Kansai Area Pass — the most popular of the JR West passes — is a bit different to other regional passes. Since the cities and attractions in Kansai tend to be a bit more spread out than in the greater Tokyo area, the pass actually makes more sense for daily travel than major intercity travel.

Included with the pass is an additional 1-day pass that is good for unlimited rides on the Kyoto subway and Kyoto area Hankyū and Keihin line trains. It must be used within the validity period of the Kansai Area Pass.

The pass can currently be bought online in advance or from certain travel agents in Japan.

The Kansai Area Pass is an excellent deal if you game it right. The cost of a one-way reserved seat ride on the Haruka limited express train from Kansai International Airport to Osaka costs ¥ 2,400 — almost as much as the one-day Kansai Area Pass. A one-way trip from Osaka to Himeji is ¥ 1,520 , and the pass makes you eligible for a 20% admission discount at Himeji Castle . So if you plan on doing one or both of these trips, the pass will definitely save you money.

Otherwise you might want to punch in your planned trips into a fare calculator like Jorudan or Hyperdia. For example, the one-way fare between Osaka and Kyoto is only ¥ 570 on JR lines (and only ¥ 400 on the Hankyū line). There are also other Kansai area transport/discount passes that aren’t JR, like the Kansai Thru Pass , to consider.

The Kansai WIDE Area Pass covers everything that the Kansai Area Pass does, plus some other key destinations.

Kansai WIDE Area Pass at a glance:

Notably, it includes travel to Kansai’s most popular hot spring town, Kinosaki Onsen ; Tottori, which is known for its sand dunes ; the Kii Peninsula, where the Kumano Kodō pilgrim trails are located; Okayama , which has a famous garden and is also the jumping off point for exploring Naoshima and other islands in the Seto Inland Sea; pretty canal town Kurashiki; and Takamatsu, which is across the strait on the island of Shikoku .

Round-trip travel between Kyoto and Kinosaki Onsen costs ¥ 9,860 on the Kinosaki limited express train — so this one excursion is three-quarters of the pass by itself. (Travel to Kinosaki Onsen on regular trains costs only ¥ 2,640 one-way but the journey takes over 5 hours — compared to 2.5 on the direct limited express train — and requires several transfers).

**New Kansai WIDE Area Excursion Pass: This is a three-day version of the Kansai WIDE Area Pass, available to foreign residents of Japan. The regular Kansai WIDE Area Pass is not available to residents; only short-term visitors to Japan can buy it. However, JR West have made a shorter version of the pass available to residents for a limited time (through March 2023). It costs [price amount=10000]. Find out more . !-->

The JR West All Area Pass is the most comprehensive of the JR West passes. It covers travel around Kansai and the Kii peninsula; journeys on the Sanyō Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Hakata (Fukuoka) via Okayama and Hiroshima; and limited express trains to Kinosaki Onsen and Kanazawa.

JR West All Area Pass at a glance:

The pass also includes travel to the often overlooked destinations in the San’in region of western Honshū, including: castle town Matsue ; Izumo , with its ancient grand shrine; and the well-preserved historical town Hagi .

The JR West All Area Pass is good value if you are traveling extensively around this side of Japan. If you are focusing more on certain regions, one of JR West’s regional passes might make more economical sense (more on those below).

Pro tip: If you have a lot of luggage, or even one huge bag, consider sending it on ahead with a luggage delivery service . New Shinkansen luggage rules from May 2020 dictate that luggage with dimensions of over 160cm but under 250cm will require special reservations (at no extra cost), and bags over 250cm won’t be allowed onboard the bullet train at all.

Sanyō-San’in Northern Kyūshū Pass

The Sanyō-San’in Northern Kyushu Pass is a joint pass between JR West and JR Kyūshū. It covers Kansai and all of western Honshū — basically everything that the JR West All Area Pass covers except Hokuriku (i.e. Kanazawa) — plus the northern half of Kyūshū (the same area covered by the Northern Kyūshū Pass). You can ride the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka all the way to Kumamoto, which would normally cost ¥ 19,200 one-way!

Sanyō-San’in Northern Kyushu Pass at a glance:

What is worth seeing in the northern half of Kyūshū ? A lot! The cosmopolitan and compact city of Fukuoka ; the fascinating and moving historical sites of Nagasaki ; castle town Kumamoto ; volcanic hot spot Mt. Aso ; and the onsen resorts of Beppu and Yufuin .

The Setouchi Area Pass , a joint pass between JR West and JR Shikoku, covers travel between the major cities of Kansai, western Honshū’s Sanyō coast (the southern stretch that runs along the Seto Inland Sea, including Okayama and Hiroshima), and both Takamatsu and Matsuyama in Shikoku.

It is an interesting pass as it also covers travel on select ferries that cross the Seto Inland Sea — the only pass to do so. You can travel by ferry from Okayama to Takamatsu, via the island of Shodōshima , and from Matsuyama to Hiroshima. The pass also covers travel on the JR Miyajima Ferry to Miyajima and select local buses in Okayama and Hiroshima (including travel to the ferry ports).

Setouchi Area Pass at a glance:

Unfortunately, the Setouchi Area Pass does not cover all ferries to islands in the Seto Inland Sea. For example, you cannot use this pass to visit Naoshima . It also does not cover as wide an area of Kansai as many other JR West passes. The pass not cover travel to the Kii Peninsula or Kinosaki Onsen.

But you can use it to travel on the Sanyō Shinkansen to Himeji, Hiroshima, and Hakata (Fukuoka). And with the addition of Matsuyama, you can visit one of Japan’s most famous hot springs, Dōgo Onsen . In sum it’s a pass for a very specific itinerary — one that takes you to some major sights but also to some more off-the-beaten-track ones.

With JR West’s extensive menu of regional passes, you can ideally find one that covers all the places you want to go (and none of the places you don’t want to go).

The following passes cover the same destinations/regions as the Kansai Area Pass (including travel to/from Kansai Airport) — and then some.

Note that for whatever reason the Sanyō–San’in Area Pass does not cover JR trains on the Kii Peninsula , while the Kansai–Hiroshima Area Pass and the Kansai–Hokuriku Area Pass do.

JR West regional passes that DO NOT include Kansai

JR West also offers several passes that do not include transit around the Kansai area. These do cover some major destinations (like Hiroshima and Miyajima ) but are mostly intended for travelers who want to do a deep dive of the less traveled areas of the country (like Shimane and Yamaguchi Prefectures).

These passes don’t cover the cost of getting to these regions from major Kansai-area hubs. So bear in mind you’ll still be on the hook for a flight to a regional airport or train or bus fare. You can also consider stacking one of the passes below that includes Okayama with the Kansai Wide Area Pass (which covers travel as far west as Okayama).

JR West discount Shinkansen tickets

Sample train fares.

Just some handy reference tables so you can work out how much you’d save (or not) by using a JR West pass.

Sanyō Shinkansen fares from Shin-Osaka Station:

Note that only Kodama and Hikara trains stop at Himeji and only Kodama trains stop at Shin-Onomichi. Check other routes and destinations with our handy Shinkansen fare calculator .

JR West limited express trains connect the Kansai region with destinations on the Kii Peninsula, in Hokuriku, and along the San’in Coast.

Limited express train fares:

Who can use JR West passes?

Only foreign passport holders entering Japan on a temporary (tourist) visa are eligible for JR West passes.

Where can I buy JR West passes?

The JR West All Area Pass can only be purchased from an overseas travel agency (this can be done online) or from the JR West Online Train Reservation portal. It cannot be purchased within Japan. Other passes can be bought through an overseas travel agency, the JR West portal, or certain Japanese travel agencies . In all cases, purchasing the pass through an overseas agency (which can be done online) gets you the best price.

What is included in JR West passes?

JR West passes cover travel on pretty much all JR trains within the regions covered by the pass. This may include travel on the Sanyō Shinkansen and sections of the Hokuriku Shinkansen. What no JR West passes include is travel on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, which is the one that travels between Tokyo and Osaka — via Kyoto. So you cannot use any of the JR West passes to travel between Osaka and Kyoto on the Shinkansen (you can use it to travel on regular trains between the two, which takes only 30 minutes).

Passes are also good for rides on local (but not intercity) JR West and JR Chugoku buses and for free bicycle rentals from JR West Ekirin rent-a-cycle shops within the scope of the pass.

Passes that include Miyajima cover the ride on the JR Miyajima ferry. The only JR West pass that includes additional ferries is the Setouchi Area Pass.

JR West passes do not cover travel on the privately operated Hanshin, Hankyū, and Keihin rail lines in the Kansai area.

Do JR West passes cover the subway?

No. Munciple subway networks, like those in Osaka and Kyoto, are not covered by any JR passes. Only the JR Osaka Loop Line is covered, which connects Osaka Station with Namba (via Imamiya) and Tennōji stations (but generally isn’t the best way to get around Osaka).

The Kansai Area Pass comes with an additional 1-day travel pass for Kyoto that covers travel on the Kyoto subway.

Can I use JR West passes to travel to or from Kansai International Airport?

Yes! All JR West passes that cover Kansai area travel cover the journey between Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Osaka or Kyoto on the limited express Haruka train, a ¥ 1,200 – ¥ 1,800 value one-way.

Can I use a JR West pass to travel from Tokyo to Osaka or Kyoto?

Unfortunately, no. This is the big downside to these passes. The only JR passes that cover travel between Kantō (Tokyo) and Kansai are the country-wide Japan Rail Pass and the JR East-West Hokuriku Arch Pass . The country-wide JR Pass covers travel on the Tokaidō Shinkansen — the only pass to do so. The Hokuriku Arch Pass covers travel between the two regions via Kanazawa .

Get the lowdown on all the different ways to travel between Tokyo and Osaka and between Tokyo and Kyoto .

Are JR West passes a good deal?

If you plan to travel a fair amount around western Japan — but are skipping eastern Japan — then these passes are a good deal. The price for a one-way Shinkansen journey between Shin-Osaka and Hakata (Fukuoka), for example, is ¥ 15,280 , so a round-trip journey more than covers the cost of, say, the Sanyō–San’in Area Pass.

JR West passes work best if you are flying into Kansai International Airport (KIX) . Unfortunately, there are often fewer flight options to Kansai compared to Narita — though it depends on your departure point. So if you can find a significantly cheaper flight to Narita, then a country-wide rail pass might work out to be a better deal.

While we strive to make sure all details are correct, information is subject to change. This post was first published in November 2016. Last updated in October 2023.

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• Rail passes
• Transportation

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Plan your trip with the Japan Rail Pass & How to use the Online Timetable

If you are travelling around Japan and need help planning your travel around the country then Hyperdia will help.  You can use the website to find the most efficient routes and to see what is covered by your Japan Rail Pass . You can also use it as an online timetable for train routes all around the country.

You can use Navitime to plan your trip. We’ve included an example and you can work of this link:  https://japantravel. navitime.com/en/area/jp/route/ result?start=00006668&goal= 00001756&start_name=Tokyo& goal_name=Kyoto&japan_rail_ pass=true

Hyperdia (OLD):

Hyperdia  is a complete timetable of all transportation routes in Japan. It is available in both Japanese and English, and it provides information on how you can get from one point to another – whether by train, bus, or plane. You can view it online, or download it to your Android or  iPhone device .

Information Includes

Step by step instructions for using the tool:.

When using the tool you will need to follow the instructions below to make sure the routes are eligible for the Japan Rail Pass.

• Go to the Hyperdia website – http://www.hyperdia.com/

• Information
• Am I Eligible?
• What is Included
• Map & Popular Routes
• Planning Your Trip
• Swapping Your Exchange Order
• Using Your Pass
• Reserving Your Seats
• Tips & Advice
• Green Class Information
• Japan Railways Hotel Discounts

"The whole trip was simply amazing. I hadn’t done a lot of research before my trip and with the flexibility of the pass it allowed me to change things as I went. It was safe, reliable and great value for money”.

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JR West All Area Pass

The JR West All Area Pass is a rail pass for exclusive use by foreign tourists, providing seven consecutive days of unlimited travel on designated JR train and bus lines (including shinkansen and limited express trains) in the entire service area of JR West which includes the Kansai , Chugoku and Hokuriku regions.

• Reduced rates apply to children aged 6-11 (50% off); a green car version is not available.
• Unlimited use of local , rapid and limited express JR trains in the coverage area shown on the map above, including trains along the Chizukyu Express Line between Kamigori and Chizu, a non-JR line that provides the fastest train access to Tottori .
• Unlimited use of the Sanyo Shinkansen (including Nozomi and Mizuho) between Shin-Osaka and Fukuoka 's Hakata Station and of the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Tsuruga and Joetsu-Myoko Station. However, the Tokaido Shinkansen between Kyoto and Osaka is not covered.
• Seat reservations can be made at no additional cost at ticket offices. The first six reservations can alternatively be made at ticket machines (or online if you buy your pass via the official website), but subsequent reservations can be made only at ticket offices.
• Unlimited use of the IR Ishikawa Railway between Kanazawa and Tsubata to access the JR Nanao Line, on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway between Toyama and Takaoka to access the JR Himi and Johana lines, and on the Hapi Line Fukui between Fukui and Echizen-Hanando to access the JR Kuzuryu Line; however, it is not allowed to get on and off at any stations in between. The liner surcharge for Ainokaze Liner trains is not covered.
• Unlimited use of the Kyoto Tango Railway, which provides access to Amanohashidate .
• Unlimited use of JR ferry to Miyajima .
• Unlimited use of local JR buses around Kyoto , Kanazawa , Hiroshima and Yamaguchi , including buses between Kyoto Station , Takao and Shuzan, and between Yamaguchi, Hagi and Akiyoshidai .
• Free use of rental bicycles at designated Ekirin Kun outlets within the covered area.
• The pass is valid on seven consecutive calendar days (midnight to midnight).
• Only foreign visitors to Japan (with temporary visitor status) can use the pass. It cannot be used by residents of Japan.
• The pass can be used only by a single person. It cannot be transferred between multiple persons. The pass holder has to carry his/her passport at all times.

Points of sale

The JR West All Area Pass can be purchased online through various websites and at selected travel agents outside of Japan.

Note that the pass is also sold at the official JR West website . An advantage of purchasing the pass through the official website is that you can make seat reservations online, while others can make seat reservations only at ticket machines and ticket offices.

If purchasing the pass through the official website, a start date within a 1-month period needs to be specified at the time of purchase. If purchasing through other channels, you will receive a voucher, which needs to be exchanged to the actual pass in Japan within a 3-month period. At the time of the exchange, you then select the start date for the pass, which can be any date within a 1-month period.

The JR West All Area Pass can be a very good value for those visiting all three regions covered, namely the Kansai , Chugoku and Hokuriku regions.

Questions? Ask in our forum .

Trains Moscow to Elektrostal: Times, Prices and Tickets

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• Accommodations

Moscow to Elektrostal by train

The journey from Moscow to Elektrostal by train is 32.44 mi and takes 2 hr 7 min. There are 71 connections per day, with the first departure at 12:15 AM and the last at 11:46 PM. It is possible to travel from Moscow to Elektrostal by train for as little as or as much as . The best price for this journey is .

Get from Moscow to Elektrostal with Virail

Virail's search tool will provide you with the options you need when you want to go from Moscow to Elektrostal. All you need to do is enter the dates of your planned journey, and let us take care of everything else. Our engine does the hard work, searching through thousands of routes offered by our trusted travel partners to show you options for traveling by train, bus, plane, or carpool. You can filter the results to suit your needs. There are a number of filtering options, including price, one-way or round trip, departure or arrival time, duration of journey, or number of connections. Soon you'll find the best choice for your journey. When you're ready, Virail will transfer you to the provider's website to complete the booking. No matter where you're going, get there with Virail.

How can I find the cheapest train tickets to get from Moscow to Elektrostal?

Prices will vary when you travel from Moscow to Elektrostal. On average, though, you'll pay about for a train ticket. You can find train tickets for prices as low as , but it may require some flexibility with your travel plans. If you're looking for a low price, you may need to prepare to spend more time in transit. You can also often find cheaper train tickets at particular times of day, or on certain days of the week. Of course, ticket prices often change during the year, too; expect to pay more in peak season. For the lowest prices, it's usually best to make your reservation in advance. Be careful, though, as many providers do not offer refunds or exchanges on their cheapest train tickets. Unfortunately, no price was found for your trip from Moscow to Elektrostal. Selecting a new departure or arrival city, without dramatically changing your itinerary could help you find price results. Prices will vary when you travel from Moscow to Elektrostal. On average, though, you'll pay about for a train ticket. If you're looking for a low price, you may need to prepare to spend more time in transit. You can also often find cheaper train tickets at particular times of day, or on certain days of the week. Of course, ticket prices often change during the year, too; expect to pay more in peak season. For the lowest prices, it's usually best to make your reservation in advance. Be careful, though, as many providers do not offer refunds or exchanges on their cheapest train tickets.

How long does it take to get from Moscow to Elektrostal by train?

The journey between Moscow and Elektrostal by train is approximately 32.44 mi. It will take you more or less 2 hr 7 min to complete this journey. This average figure does not take into account any delays that might arise on your route in exceptional circumstances. If you are planning to make a connection or operating on a tight schedule, give yourself plenty of time. The distance between Moscow and Elektrostal is around 32.44 mi. Depending on the exact route and provider you travel with, your journey time can vary. On average, this journey will take approximately 2 hr 7 min. However, the fastest routes between Moscow and Elektrostal take 1 hr 3 min. If a fast journey is a priority for you when traveling, look out for express services that may get you there faster. Some flexibility may be necessary when booking. Often, these services only leave at particular times of day - or even on certain days of the week. You may also find a faster journey by taking an indirect route and connecting in another station along the way.

How many journeys from Moscow to Elektrostal are there every day?

On average, there are 71 daily departures from Moscow to Elektrostal. However, there may be more or less on different days. Providers' timetables can change on certain days of the week or public holidays, and many also vary at particular times of year. Some providers change their schedules during the summer season, for example. At very busy times, there may be up to departures each day. The providers that travel along this route include , and each operates according to their own specific schedules. As a traveler, you may prefer a direct journey, or you may not mind making changes and connections. If you have heavy suitcases, a direct journey could be best; otherwise, you might be able to save money and enjoy more flexibility by making a change along the way. Every day, there are an average of 18 departures from Moscow which travel directly to Elektrostal. There are 53 journeys with one change or more. Unfortunately, no connection was found for your trip from Moscow to Elektrostal. Selecting a new departure or arrival city, without dramatically changing your itinerary could help you find connections.

Book in advance and save

If you're looking for the best deal for your trip from Moscow to Elektrostal, booking train tickets in advance is a great way to save money, but keep in mind that advance tickets are usually not available until 3 months before your travel date.

Stay flexible with your travel time and explore off-peak journeys

Planning your trips around off-peak travel times not only means that you'll be able to avoid the crowds, but can also end up saving you money. Being flexible with your schedule and considering alternative routes or times will significantly impact the amount of money you spend on getting from Moscow to Elektrostal.

Always check special offers

Checking on the latest deals can help save a lot of money, making it worth taking the time to browse and compare prices. So make sure you get the best deal on your ticket and take advantage of special fares for children, youth and seniors as well as discounts for groups.

Unlock the potential of slower trains or connecting trains

If you're planning a trip with some flexible time, why not opt for the scenic route? Taking slower trains or connecting trains that make more stops may save you money on your ticket – definitely worth considering if it fits in your schedule.

Best time to book cheap train tickets from Moscow to Elektrostal

The cheapest Moscow - Elektrostal train tickets can be found for as low as $35.01 if you’re lucky, or $54.00 on average. The most expensive ticket can cost as much as $77.49.

Find the best day to travel to Elektrostal by train

When travelling to Elektrostal by train, if you want to avoid crowds you can check how frequently our customers are travelling in the next 30-days using the graph below. On average, the peak hours to travel are between 6:30am and 9am in the morning, or between 4pm and 7pm in the evening. Please keep this in mind when travelling to your point of departure as you may need some extra time to arrive, particularly in big cities!

Moscow to Elektrostal CO2 Emissions by Train

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Internet data centers are fueling drive to old power source: Coal

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — A helicopter hovers over the Gee family farm, the noisy rattle echoing inside their home in this rural part of West Virginia. It’s holding surveyors who are eyeing space for yet another power line next to the property — a line that will take electricity generated from coal plants in the state to address a drain on power driven by the world’s internet hub in Northern Virginia 35 miles away.

There, massive data centers with computers processing nearly 70 percent of global digital traffic are gobbling up electricity at a rate officials overseeing the power grid say is unsustainable unless two things happen: Several hundred miles of new transmission lines must be built, slicing through neighborhoods and farms in Virginia and three neighboring states. And antiquated coal-powered electricity plants that had been scheduled to go offline will need to keep running to fuel the increasing need for more power, undermining clean energy goals.

“It’s not right,” said Mary Gee, whose property already abuts two power lines that serve as conduits for electricity flowing toward the biggest concentration of data centers — in Loudoun County, home to what’s known as Data Center Alley. “These power lines? They’re not for me and my family. I didn’t vote on this. And the data centers? That’s not in West Virginia. That’s a whole different state.”

The $5.2 billion effort has fueled a backlash against data centers through the region, prompting officials in Virginia to begin studying the deeper impacts of an industry they’ve long cultivated for the hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue it brings to their communities.

Critics say it will force residents near the coal plants to continue living with toxic pollution, ironically to help a state — Virginia — that has fully embraced clean energy. And utility ratepayers in the affected areas will be forced to pay for the plan in the form of higher bills, those critics say.

But PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator, says the plan is necessary to maintain grid reliability amid a wave of fossil fuel plant closures in recent years, prompted by the nation’s transition to cleaner power.

Transmission

line proposal

Expand lines along existing right of way

Rebuild lines along existing right of way

Expand lines along

existing right of way

Rebuild lines along

Transmission line proposal

New transmission line

First Energy

502 Junction Substation

PENNSYLVANIA

Fort Martin power station

power plant

Brandon Shores

Harrisonburg

Fredericksburg

Charlottesville

Longview power plant

Fort Martin

Expand along existing right of way

Rebuild along existing right of way

Build new line

Detail below

Harrison power plant

502 Junction

Power lines will be built across four states in a $5.2 billion effort that, relying on coal plants that were meant to be shuttered, is designed to keep the electric grid from failing amid spiking energy demands.

Harpers Ferry

transmission

Poolesville

Purcellville

High density of

data center

Int’l

Centreville

Gainesville

Cutting through farms and neighborhoods, the plan converges on Northern Virginia, where a growing data center industry will need enough extra energy to power 6 million homes by 2030.

With not enough of those green energy facilities connected to the grid yet, enough coal and natural gas energy to power 32 million homes is expected to be lost by 2030 at a time when the demand from the growing data center industry, electric vehicles and other new technology is on the rise, PJM says.

“The system is in a major transition right now, and it’s going to continue to evolve,” Ken Seiler, PJM’s senior vice president in charge of planning, said in a December stakeholders’ meeting about the effort to buy time for green energy to catch up. “And we’ll look for opportunities to do everything we can to keep the lights on as it goes through this transition.”

A need for power

Data centers that house thousands of computer servers and the cooling equipment needed for them to run have been multiplying in Northern Virginia since the late 1990s, spreading from the industry’s historic base in Loudoun County to neighboring Prince William County and, recently, across the Potomac River into Maryland. There are nearly 300 data centers now in Virginia.

With Amazon Web Services pursuing a $35 billion data center expansion in Virginia, rural portions of the state are the industry’s newest target for development.

The growth means big revenue for the localities that host the football-field-size buildings. Loudoun collects $600 million in annual taxes on the computer equipment inside the buildings, making it easier to fund schools and other services. Prince William, the second-largest market, collects $100 million per year.

But data centers also consume massive amounts of energy.

One data center can require 50 times the electricity of a typical office building, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Multiple-building data center complexes, which have become the norm, require as much as 14 to 20 times that amount.

The demand has strained utility companies, to the point where Dominion Energy in Virginia briefly warned in 2022 that it may not be able to keep up with the pace of the industry’s growth.

The utility — which has since accelerated plans for new power lines and substations to boost its electrical output — predicts that by 2035 the industry in Virginia will require 11,000 megawatts, nearly quadruple what it needed in 2022, or enough to power 8.8 million homes.

The smaller Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative recently told PJM that the more than 50 data centers it serves account for 59 percent of its energy demand. It expects to need to serve about 110 more data centers by July 2028.

Meanwhile, the amount of energy available is not growing quickly enough to meet that future demand. Coal plants have scaled down production or shut down altogether as the market transitions to green energy, hastened by laws in Maryland and Virginia mandating net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 and, for several other states in the region, by 2050.

Dominion is developing a 2,600-megawatt wind farm off Virginia Beach — the largest such project in U.S. waters — and the company recently gained state approval to build four solar projects.

But those projects won’t be ready in time to absorb the projected gap in available energy. Opponents of PJM’s plan say it wouldn’t be necessary if more green energy had been connected to the grid faster, pointing to projects that were caught up in bureaucratic delays for five years or longer before they were connected.

A PJM spokesperson said the organization has recently sped up its approval process and is encouraging utility companies and federal and state officials to better incorporate renewable energy.

About 40,000 megawatts of green energy projects have been cleared for construction but are not being built because of issues related to financing or siting, the PJM spokesperson said.

Once more renewable energy is available, some of the power lines being built to address the energy gap may no longer be needed as the coal plants ultimately shut down, clean energy advocates say — though utility companies contend the extra capacity brought by the lines will always be useful.

“Their planning is just about maintaining the status quo,” Tom Rutigliano, a senior advocate for clean energy at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said about PJM. “They do nothing proactive about really trying to get a handle on the future and get ready for it.”

‘Holding on tight’ to coal

The smoke from two coal plants near West Virginia’s border with Pennsylvania billows over the city of Morgantown, adding a brownish tint to the air.

Nearby sits the 502 Junction substation, connected to those plants and a third one about 43 miles away via existing power lines, which will serve as a terminus for a western prong of the PJM plan for new lines that will extend to another substation in Frederick, Md., then south into Northern Virginia.

The owner of one of the Morgantown-area plants, Longview LLC, recently emerged from bankruptcy. After a restructuring, the facility is fully functioning, utilizing a solar farm to supplement its coal energy output.

The other two plants belong to the Ohio-based FirstEnergy Corp. utility, which had plans to significantly scale down operations there to meet a company goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by nearly a third over the next six years.

The FirstEnergy plants are among the state’s worst polluters, said Jim Kotcon, a West Virginia University plant pathology professor who oversees conservation efforts at the Sierra Club’s West Virginia chapter.

The Harrison plant pumped out a combined 12 million tons of coal pollutants like sulfur and nitrous oxides in 2023, more than any other fossil fuel plant in the state, according to Environmental Protection Agency data. The Fort Martin plant, which has been operating since the late 1960s, emitted the state’s highest levels of nitrous oxides in 2023, at 5,240 tons.

After PJM tapped the company to build a 36-mile-long portion of the planned power lines for $392 million, FirstEnergy announced in February that the company is abandoning a 2030 goal to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions because the two plants are crucial to maintaining grid reliability.

The news has sent FirstEnergy’s stock price up by 4 percent, to about $37 a share this week, and was greeted with jubilation by West Virginia’s coal industry.

“We welcome this, without question, because it will increase the life of these plants and hundreds of thousands of mining jobs,” said Chris Hamilton, president of the West Virginia Coal Association. “We’re holding on tight to our coal plants.”

Since 2008, annual coal production in West Virginia has dipped by nearly half, to about 82 million tons, though the industry — which contributes about $5.5 billion to the state’s economy — has rebounded some due to an export market to Europe and Asia, Hamilton said.

Hamilton said his association will lobby hard for FirstEnergy’s portion of the PJM plan to gain state approval. The company said it will submit its application for its power line routes in mid-2025.

More than 200 miles to the east in Maryland, environmental groups and ratepayer advocates are fighting an effort by PJM to extend the life of two more coal plants — Brandon Shores and Herbert A. Wagner — just outside of Baltimore, which were slated to close by June 2025.

PJM asked the plants’ owner, Texas-based Talen Energy Corp., to keep them running through 2028 — with the yet-to-be determined cost of doing so passed on to ratepayers.

That would mean amending a 2018 federal court consent decree, in which Talen agreed to stop burning coal to settle a lawsuit brought by the Sierra Club over Clean Water Act violations. The Sierra Club has rejected PJM’s calls to do so.

“We need a proactive plan that is consistent with the state’s clean energy goals,” said Josh Tulkin, director of the Sierra Club’s Maryland chapter, which has proposed an alternative plan to build a battery storage facility at the Brandon Shores site that would cut the time needed for the plants to operate.

A PJM spokesperson said the organization believes that such a facility wouldn’t provide enough reliable power and is not ruling out seeking a federal emergency order to keep the coal plants running.

With the matter still unresolved, nearby residents say they are anxious to see them closed.

“It’s been really challenging,” said John Garofolo, who lives in the Stoney Beach neighborhood community of townhouses and condominiums, where coal dust drifts into the neighborhood pool when the facilities are running. “We’re concerned about the air we’re breathing here.”

Sounding alarms

Keryn Newman, a Charles Town activist, has been sounding alarms in the small neighborhoods and farm communities along the path of the proposed power lines in West Virginia.

Newman, who in the late 2000s waged a successful campaign to stop a plan for a 765-kilovolt line extending through the area into Maryland before the data center boom, sees the battle in terms of the more affordable, quieter lifestyle she and her neighbors cherish.

Because FirstEnergy prohibits any structure from interfering with a power line, building a new line along the right of way — which would be expanded to make room for the third line — would mean altering the character of residents’ properties, Newman said.

“It gobbles up space for play equipment for your kid, a pool or a barn,” she said. “And a well or septic system can’t be in the right of way.”

A FirstEnergy spokesperson said the company would compensate property owners for any land needed, with eminent domain proceedings a last resort if those property owners are unwilling to sell.

Some have accepted that more power lines will come through and seem open to selling to FirstEnergy and moving away.

Pam and Gary Gearhart fought alongside Newman against the defeated 765-kilovolt line, which would have forced them to move a septic system near FirstEnergy’s easement. But when Newman showed up recently to their Harpers Ferry-area neighborhood to discuss the new PJM plan, the couple appeared unwilling to fight again.

Next door, another family had already decided to leave, the couple said, and was in the midst of loading furniture into a truck when Newman showed up.

“They’re just going to keep okaying data centers; there’s money in those things,” Pam Gearhart said about local governments in Virginia benefiting from the tax revenue. “Until they run out of land down there.”

In Loudoun County, where the data center industry’s encroachment into neighborhoods has fostered resentment, community groups are fighting a portion of the PJM plan that would build power lines through the mostly rural communities of western Loudoun.

The lines would damage the views offered by surrounding wineries and farms that contribute to Loudoun’s $4 billion tourism industry, those groups say.

Bill Hatch owns a winery that sits near the path of where PJM suggested one high-voltage line could go, though that route is still under review.

“This is going to be a scar for a long time,” Hatch said.

Reconsidering the benefits

Amid the backlash, local and state officials are reconsidering the data center industry’s benefits.

The Virginia General Assembly has launched a study that, among other things, will look at how the industry’s growth may affect energy resources and utility rates for state residents.

But that study has held up efforts to regulate the industry sooner, frustrating activists.

“We should not be subsidizing this industry for another minute, let alone another year,” Julie Bolthouse, director of land use at the Piedmont Environmental Council, chided a Senate committee that voted in February to table a bill that would force data center companies to pay more for new transmission lines.

Loudoun is moving to restrict where in the county data centers can be built. Up until recently, data centers have been allowed to be built without special approvals wherever office buildings are allowed.

“They’re great neighbors, great taxes, all that sort of thing,” Phyllis Randall (D), chair of the county board, said about the industry before a February vote to set that plan in motion. “But somehow, someway, it started to get away from us.”

But such action will do little to stem the worries of people like Mary and Richard Gee.

As it is, the two lines near their property produce an electromagnetic field strong enough to charge a garden fence with a light current of electricity, the couple said. When helicopters show up to survey the land for a third line, the family’s dog, Peaches, who is prone to seizures, goes into a barking frenzy.

An artist who focuses on natural landscapes, Mary Gee planned to convert the barn that sits in the shadow of a power line tower to a studio. That now seems unlikely, she said.

Lately, her paintings have reflected her frustration. One picture shows birds with beaks wrapped shut by transmission line. Another has a colorful scene of the rural Charles Town area severed by a smoky black and gray landscape of steel towers and a coal plant.

“It feels like harassment,” Gee said. “But there’s no one we can call for help.”

A previous version of this article incorrectly reported that Prince William County receives $400 million annually in taxes on the computer equipment inside data centers. It receives $100 million annually. In addition, the article incorrectly stated that two FirstEnergy plants in West Virginia have been equipped with carbon-capturing technology. They do not have such technology in place, The article has been corrected.

About this story

Map sources: Proposed transmission line data provided by Piedmont Environmental Council based on information made available by PJM . The transmission line plan depicts general paths selected by PJM; the final routes will be determined by the utility companies. Existing transmission lines via the EIA U.S. Energy Atlas . Data center locations in Virginia provided by the Data Center Map . Other cartographic data via U.S. Geological Survey and OpenStreetMap.

Story editing by Jennifer Barrios . Copy editing by Thomas Heleba and Shay Quillen. Design and development by Carson TerBush . Design editing by Christian Font and Betty Chavarria . Photo editing by Mark Miller . Visual editing by Tara McCarty . Maps by Laris Karklis . Graphics editing by Kate Rabinowitz .

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New York Jets Add Weapon and Lineman in ESPN's Latest Mock Draft

The New York Jets went the offensive route with their first two selections in ESPN's latest mock draft.

• Author: Ralph Ventre

In this story:

New York Jets ' quarterback Aaron Rodgers is likely to have a new offensive weapon at his disposal by week's end.

In a scenario laid out by ESPN's Jordan Reid, Rodgers would get an extra protector, too.

Standing pat at No. 10 and No. 72 overall in Reid's full 257-pick mock draft , the Jets added Georgia tight end Brock Bowers in Round 1 followed by Notre Dame offensive tackle Blake Fisher in Round 3.

University of Washington receiver Rome Odunze and Notre Dame bookend Joe Alt were already off the board when New York picked at No. 10 overall. Odunze was the Tennessee Titans ' choice at No. 7 after the Los Angeles Chargers spent the No. 5 pick on Alt.

Deciding to pass on offensive tackles Taliese Fuaga , Olu Fashanu and Troy Fautanu , the Jets chose a dynamic pass-catching tight end with championship pedigree. Bowers, the back-to-back Mackey Award winner, joined Herschel Walker and David Pollack as the only Georgia players ever to claim three All-America First Team honors.

Despite being limited to 10 games by an ankle injury, Bowers led the Bulldogs in receptions (56), receiving yards (714) and touchdown catches (6) this past season.

The addition of Bowers would give New York more options to deploy two tight ends in the offensive formation with reliable veteran Tyler Conklin already aboard.

"It's a tough call between an offensive tackle and an offensive playmaker. New signee Tyron Smithhas been injury prone over the past two seasons, leaving the door open to take an OT here. But the pressure to win next season is at an all-time high in New York, as Aaron Rodgers returns from an Achilles injury at age 40. Bowers would give him an immediate top-tier option in the passing game behind Garrett Wilson, and the Jets would love his after-the-catch ability," said Reid.

After landing Bowers in Round 1, the Jets addressed their offensive tackle depth with their next pick. New York acquired two starting tackles this offseason but both are 33 years old.

"The Brock Bowers pick in Round 1 means the Jets might have to wait until Round 3 to find left tackle help (they don't have a second-rounder). Fisher can develop behind Tyron Smith, but I also see the strength and technique required to play early if necessary," said Reid.

For those fans wanting the Jets to be aggressive and give their star quarterback another weapon, then add a young offensive lineman to this roster, would get the best of both worlds in this scenario.

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