Information updated: 2023-10-1
6 days of unlimited travel on trains and Shinkansen in the area covered!
Only for foreign visitors with the entry status of "Temporary Visitor"
*For more information, see Eligibility.
Only for foreign visitors with the entry status of "Temporary Visitor"
*For more information, see Eligibility.
Unlimited travel on lines in the area covered.
Use your JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass to visit the following places and enjoy travelling on Joyful Trains!
[Railway companies and lines you can use]
JR East (including BRT*)
JR Hokkaido Lines
Izu Kyuko Line
Tokyo Monorail
Aoimori Railway Line
Iwate Galaxy Railway (IGR) Line
Sendai Airport Transit Line
Reserved seats in ordinary cars of the following express trains with through operations between JR East and Tobu Railway lines: Nikko, Kinugawa, and SPACIA Kinugawa trains.
You can also use ordinary trains (including rapid trains) on the Tobu Railway lines between Shimo-imaichi and Tōbu-nikkō / Kinugawa-onsen.
Between Kurihashi and Shimo-imaichi, you can only use express trains that have through operations with Tobu Railway.**
*BRT: bus rapid transit
**You cannot use express trains that begin at stations on Tobu Railway lines.
You can only use the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass on Tobu Railway lines if the train either starts or ends at a JR station.
Please note
You cannot use the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass to travel on the Tokaido Shinkansen. (Because the Tokaido Shinkansen is operated by a different company)
Gala Yuzawa Station only operates during the winter and spring.
You cannot use the South Hokkaido Railway Line.
With just one pass, you can visit most of the main attractions within a specified area.
The round trip fare for an adult on the Hokkaido Shinkansen (Tōkyō Station to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station) with a reserved seat is about ¥44,000.
With a JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass, you can take the same journey plus get on and off at stations along the way for 35,000 yen!
*During regular periods
*See the timetable, etc. for the exact fare
The pass saves you money!
Please note
A child’s age on the date of purchase is used to make decisions regarding age restrictions. You must prove your child’s age with a passport or other form of identification.
Children under the age of 6 do not require a pass, unless you wish to reserve seats.
An additional fee is required for use of Green Cars and GranClass trains.
This pass does not have student discounts or youth fares.
You can only use one JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass at a time while travelling in Japan. (You cannot purchase two of the same type of pass if they have overlapping periods of validity.)
6 consecutive days
[OK] Use for 6 consecutive days
[Not OK] Use for 6 days during a 14-day period
1Purchase your pass
Purchases can be made online via JR-EAST Train Reservation, at ticket offices in Japan, or at travel agencies outside of Japan.
2Picking up your pass
You can pick up or purchase a pass at major airports and train stations.
3Use your pass
You can use your pass for 6 days starting on the date you indicated when purchasing the pass. Please use automatic ticket gate machines.
Step 1Purchase
Before your arrival in Japan, purchase a voucher from a travel agency or other such vendor.
Step 2Collect
After your arrival in Japan, present your voucher (e-ticket) issued by a travel agency along with your passport at a pick-up location. An eligibility check will be conducted, after which you will receive your JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass.
Please note: You must bring your passport when you collect your pass. You cannot collect your pass using a copy of your passport.
Step 3Use
You can use your pass for 6 days starting on the date you indicated when collecting the pass.
Please note
After a voucher is issued, you must use it to collect your JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass within 3 months.
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Step 1Purchase
Purchase your pass on the JR-EAST Train Reservation website.
Step 2Collect
After your arrival in Japan, an eligibility check will be conducted before you can pick up your pass. Please see the User Guideon the JR-EAST Train Reservation website on how to pick up your pass.
Please note: You must bring your passport when you collect your pass. You cannot collect your pass using a copy of your passport.
Step 3Use
You can use your pass for 6 days starting on the date you indicated when purchasing the pass.
Please note
What you need when picking up your pass will depend on how you collect it. Please see the User Guideon the JR-EAST Train Reservation website.
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Step 1Purchase
Present your passport at a JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass point of sale.
An eligibility check will be conducted, after which you can purchase your pass.
Note: You must have your passport with you to receive your pass. We cannot issue you a pass if you only have a copy of your passport. Please note that an original passport with an IC chip is required for purchases at a Reserved Seat Ticket Vending Machine with a passport reader. (only at a point of sale)
Click here to see how to use a Reserved Seat Ticket Vending Machine.
Step 2Use
You can use your pass for 6 days starting on the date you indicated when collecting the pass.
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Present your passport at a JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass at a pick-up/sales location. An eligibility check will be conducted, after which your pass will be issued.
Click here to see how to use a Reserved Seat Ticket Vending Machine.
* You can purchase passes at reserved seat ticket vending machines with passport readers at stations that are designated as sales points. Please have your original e-passport ready. Please note that ticket sales at reserved seat ticket vending machines with passport readers may be available for more hours of the day than at ticket sales counters (at JR EAST Travel Service Center, etc.). For inquiries regarding purchases and refunds, please contact a ticket sales counter (at JR EAST Travel Service Center, etc.) during business hours.
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The JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass is for the exclusive use of visitors from overseas who enter Japan with the status of Temporary Visitor.
Customers who fulfill both of the conditions below can purchase and use this pass.
You must be a foreign national with a passport issued by a country other than Japan (Japanese nationals cannot use this pass.)
Please have the pass user present a valid passport (original) when making a purchase. (Passes cannot be purchased by anyone else, including family members.)
You must have entered Japan with the status of Temporary Visitor and have an immigration sticker in your passport bearing the status Temporary Visitor as shown in the illustration below.
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Shinkansen and limited express train seats can be reserved using reserved seat ticket vending machines at major JR EAST stations.
Present your JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass at a JR EAST Travel Service Center or a JR Ticket Office (Midori-no-Madoguchi) at a major JR EAST station within the area covered by the pass to reserve a seat.
You can also make seat reservations at JR Ticket Offices (Midori-no-Madoguchi) at major JR Hokkaido stations in the area covered by the pass.
JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass holders can reserve seats on Shinkansen services, express trains, Joyful Trains, and other trains.
*Seats are limited, so please make your reservation as early as possible.
*You can reserve seats on trains up to 1 month prior to the date of your journey.
You cannot change the period of validity after collecting or purchasing a pass.
To make changes to a pass purchased on the JR-EAST Train Reservation website before collecting it, please see the User Guide.
A refund can only be provided within the period of validity of your pass and before you have started using it. To obtain a refund, you must apply at a JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass collection/sales point (not available at some collection/sales points).
If a seat ticket is issued and you are late for the indicated train's departure, no refund will be issued, even if the ticket has not been used.
Please note that ticket sales at reserved seat ticket vending machines with passport readers may be available for more hours of the day than at ticket sales counters (at JR EAST Travel Service Center, etc.). For inquiries regarding refunds, please contact a ticket sales counter (at JR EAST Travel Service Center, etc.) during business hours.
To obtain a refund for passes purchased on the JR-EAST Train Reservation website before collecting them, please see the User Guide.
Can I use Joyful Trains?
Can I use Joyful Trains?
You can use the Joyful Trains listed under [Joyful Trains in this area].
If all the seats on the train require a reservation, please reserve a seat.
Can I use Green Cars (first class cars) and GranClass?
Can I use Green Cars and GranClass trains?
Green Cars and GranClass trains can be used for an additional fee (a Green Car ticket charge, GranClass ticket charge, super limited express train ticket charge, etc.). You can use your rail pass as a basic fair ticket.
Does a period of validity of 1 day mean the actual date of use? Or does it mean 24 hours?
Is 1 day of the validity period counted by the date or by 24 hours?
It refers to the date.
If the date changes while you are on a train, the period of validity continues until you exit a station's ticket gate.
(The product can be used until the last train in some suburban areas of Tokyo.)
Can another person use a rail pass that I have purchased?
Can another person use a rail pass that I purchased?
Only the person who collected or purchased a pass can use it.
What should I do if I lose my pass?
What should I do if I lose my pass?
A pass will not be reissued if it is lost (or stolen).
Please newly purchase any tickets required for your trip.
Can I buy two of the same rail passes?
Can I buy two of the same rail pass?
You can purchase multiples of the same rail pass if their periods of validity do not overlap.
What should I do if I am going to go outside the area covered by my rail pass?
What should I do if I am going outside the area covered by my rail pass?
If you are going outside the area covered by your pass, please purchase tickets for outside that area in advance.
Adult: ¥30,000 / Child: ¥15,000
You can use this pass for 5 consecutive days after first use.
Niigata/Sado
Nagano
GALA Yuzawa
Hakuba
Karuizawa
Matsumoto
Adult: ¥30,000 / Child: ¥15,000
You can use this pass for 6 consecutive days after first use.
Miyagi (Sendai, Matsushima)
Aomori
Yamagata
Iwate (Hiraizumi)
Akita
Fukushima
Hakodate
Sapporo
Hirosaki
