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Discover Japan’s unique northern charm with a JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass

What is the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass?

The JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass is a special discounted pass available only to travellers visiting Japan and holding a non-Japanese passport.

The pass is available for use for 6 consecutive days and is available in ordinary class only.

It allows unlimited rides on the JR Hokkaido Lines and on JR East Lines, even on the Shinkansen and limited express trains, within the valid area. Convenient for travel from Narita or Haneda Airport to Tokyo and from New Chitose Airport to Sapporo. Leave the city behind and visit the stunning scenery of Tohoku and southern Hokkaido.

Take a little adventure to East and North Japan.

Types and Prices of JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass

There is only one type of JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass. The JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass is available for use for 6 consecutive days.

Pass Type Age Group Price
6 Day Pass Child (6 to 11) $183
Adult (12 and over) $366

Prices are subject to exchange rate fluctuations.

* No credit card charges for Visa, MasterCard or AMEX. 2% credit card surcharge for JCB and Diner’s Club

* Reissue fees apply

Delivery methods

Local pick-up from our office in Melbourne is available. We’ll contact you once your JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass is ready.

Priority post with tracking is available for $3 extra (delivery estimated between 1 – 3 days).

Express Post is available for $7 extra.

Registered Post (person to person) is available for an additional $11.30.

*We are not liable for lost or misplaced passes.

How to buy a JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass

You can purchase a JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass Exchange Order before you go to Japan. It is cheaper to do so.

Upon arrival in Japan, you need to turn in the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass Exchange Order to receive your JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass at a JR train station that has an exchange office. We will provide you with a list of applicable stations.

Japan Rail JR Pass - JR West Rail Pass JR East Rail Pass JR Kyushu Rail Pass All Shikoku Rail Pass JR Hokkaido Rail Pass

At the exchange office, you will be asked to fill in a short application form and to show your passport with the ‘Temporary Visitor’ stamp/sticker you received on entry into Japan.

Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass within three months of the date the Order was issued.

After turning in your Exchange Order for a JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass, you can make seat reservations at a “Midori-no-madoguchi” Reservation Office.

Who is eligible for a JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass?

The JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass is available exclusively to travellers visiting Japan from abroad on a non-Japanese passport for sightseeing, under the entry status of ‘Temporary Visitor.’

Australian residents travelling on a Japanese passport are not allowed to purchase the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass. If you have both a Japanese passport and a passport from another country, you must enter Japan using the non-Japanese passport on a ‘Temporary Visitor’ status to be eligible for this pass.

The JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass cannot be purchased if the period of stay in Japan noted in the passport is shorter than the validity period of the pass.

Where can I use the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass?

The JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass is valid for unlimited travel on local, limited express and express trains, including Shinkansen trains, on the following rail company lines:

  • JR Hokkaido Lines
  • JR East Lines (including BRT – Bus rapid transit)
  • The Narita Express
  • Izu Kyuko Line
  • Aoimori Railway
  • IGR Iwate Galaxy Railway
  • Tokyo Monorail
  • Sendai Airport Transit
  • Local and rapid trains between Shimo-imaichi and Tobu-nikko/Kinugawa-onsen on Tobu Railway Lines. Between Kurihashi and Shimo-imaichi Stations, the pass may be used only on limited express trains that connect directly with Tobu Railway Lines. The JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass may only be used for Tobu Railway Lines as long as either the departing or destination station is on a JR line.

The JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass is not valid for the below:

  • The Tokaido Shinkansen as it is operated by a different rail company.
  • JR buses
  • Between Goryokaku Sta. and Kikonai Sta. on the “South Hokkaido Railway” line
  • Travel in Green Class, private compartments or sleepers

Click here to see the valid train route map

Should I buy a JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass?

If you are wondering whether a JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass is worth it, we’d recommend you have a look at your itinerary and do a quick search on the costs of each train journey you intend to take when you travel to Japan.

There are two sites that you can use to search for both JR and non-JR train timetables and the prices of your journeys.

The first is Hyperdia and the second is Jorudan.  Use both sites to ensure that you get the most accurate information to help you to determine if a JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass is right for you, or whether you should just buy your train tickets when you need to use them.

When you organise your package tour of Japan through us, we include the best Japan rail pass or area pass to match your itinerary.

Important information

For further information including refund policies, please read the Rail Pass Terms and Conditions