The math on a JR Pass
A 7-day Japan Rail Pass costs ¥50,000 ($330). A one-way Shinkansen ticket from Tokyo to Osaka costs ¥14,720 ($97). If you're hitting stadiums in multiple cities, the pass pays for itself fast. If you're staying in one city, skip it.
When the pass is worth it
Tokyo Dome (Friday night) → Shinkansen to Osaka → Koshien (Saturday day game) → Shinkansen to Hiroshima → MAZDA Stadium (Sunday). That trip costs ¥30,000+ in train tickets without a pass. The 7-day pass saves you money and covers local JR trains too.
When it's not worth it
If you're watching three games in Tokyo (Tokyo Dome, Jingu, Yokohama), local trains cost under ¥1,000 per trip. No pass needed.
Which stadiums are near Shinkansen stops
MAZDA Stadium: 10-minute walk from Hiroshima Station. Vantelin Dome: 20 minutes from Nagoya Station. Koshien: 15 minutes from Shin-Osaka via Hanshin Line. ES CON Field: 30 minutes from Shin-Sapporo. PayPay Dome: 25 minutes from Hakata Station. Tokyo Dome: 15 minutes from Tokyo Station.