Japan's “Youth 18” pass has no age limit

A closer look

The Seishun 18 Kippu translates directly to 'Youth 18 Ticket,' designed by Japan Railways to encourage cash-strapped teens to explore the country on cheap, excruciatingly slow local trains during school holidays. But there's a glaring loophole: there is absolutely no age restriction. Today, the demographic dominating this slow-train pilgrimage isn't rebellious teens, but thrifty, time-rich senior citizens. They routinely hijack the 'youth' pass to endure agonizing 15-hour journeys across prefectures, proving that extreme frugality knows no generational bounds.