Information updated: 2023-10-1
5 days of unlimited travel on trains and Shinkansen in the area covered!
* Foreigners living in Japan can also purchase a JR EAST PASS!
Unlimited travel on lines in the area covered.
Use your JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) to visit the following places and enjoy travelling on Joyful Trains!
[Railway companies and lines you can use]
JR East (including BRT*)
Tokyo Monorail
Izu Kyuko Line
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.**
JR buses in the area (exc. highway and some regular bus routes)
See bus map here
*BRT: bus rapid transit
**You cannot use express trains that both depart from and terminate at stations on Tobu Railway lines.
You can only use the JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) on Tobu Railway lines if the train either departs from or terminates at a JR station.
Please note
You cannot use the JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) to travel on the Tokaido Shinkansen. (This is because the Tokaido Shinkansen is operated by a different company)
Gala Yuzawa Station only operates during the winter and spring.
With just one pass, you can visit most of the main attractions within a specified area.
The total fare for an adult using the Narita Express (Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station to Tōkyō Station), the Tōhoku Shinkansen (Tōkyō Station to Sendai Station), the Akita Shinkansen (Sendai Station to Akita Station/Akita Station to Tōkyō Station), and the Narita Express again (Tōkyō Station to Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station) with reserved seats is about ¥41,000.
With a JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area), you can take the same journey plus get on and off at stations in the Tokyo, Sendai, and Akita areas freely for 30,000 yen!
*During regular periods
*See the timetable, etc. for the exact fare
Even better value!
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 PASS (Tohoku area) at a time while travelling in Japan. (You cannot purchase two of the same type of pass if they have overlapping periods of validity)
5 consecutive days
[OK] Use for 5 consecutive days
[Not OK] Use for 5 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 5 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 (e-ticket) from a travel agency or other such vendor.
Step 2Collect
After your arrival in Japan, present your voucher (e-ticket) issued by a travel agent or other such vendor along with your passport at a collection point. Checks to confirm your eligibility and other such matters will be performed, after which you will receive your JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area).
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 5 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 PASS (Tohoku area) 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 5 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 PASS (Tohoku area) point of sale.
Checks to confirm your eligibility and other such matters will be performed, after which you can purchase your pass.
Note: A passport is required for purchases. You cannot make a purchase using 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 5 days starting on the date you indicated when collecting the pass.
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Present your passport at a JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) collection/sales point. Checks to confirm your eligibility and other such matters will be performed, 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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Customers who fulfill 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.)
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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 PASS (Tohoku area) 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.
JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) 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 PASS (Tohoku area) 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.
Are there any recommended passes for foreigners living in Japan?
Are there any passes you recommend for foreign residents living in Japan?
We recommend the JR EAST PASS and the JR TOKYO Wide Pass. Please note that you may be required to have a temporary visitor status to purchase other types of passes. Check your eligibility and conditions of use before purchasing a pass.
Adult: ¥27,000 / Child: ¥13,500
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
Adult: ¥35,000 / Child: ¥17,500
You can use this pass for 6 consecutive days after first use.
Miyagi (Sendai, Matsushima)
Aomori
Yamagata
Iwate (Hiraizumi)
Akita
Fukushima
Hakodate
Sapporo
Hirosaki
