Japan's modern transportation is often considered one of the best in the world. Carrying millions of passengers daily with incredible efficiency and few delays, a trip on the rails in Japan is a true delight. However, rail travel in Japan can be a costly endeavor. Luckily, several passes exist to help ease the burden of the cost of a train or metro ride, while also connecting riders quickly to the places they want to go.
JR Pass
The Japan Rail Pass, or JR Pass, is arguably the most popular pass amongst foreign travelers to Japan.
Offered in lengths ranging from 1-3 weeks, the pass allows international visitors (or Japanese who can prove residency abroad) the chance to travel on all JR rail routes, with some exceptions. Aside from the Mizuho and Nozomi shinkansen, visitors can criss-crosss Japan – from Hokkaido to Kyushu – using a variety of trains and occasionally buses. Passes must be used on consecutive days.
Seishun 18
Seishun 18 permits unlimited rides on all local and rapid JR services (not reserved seats) in Japan—though doesn't include shinkansen.
However, the ticket provides reasonable value with multiple days worth of train travel on a 3- or 5-day pass.
Please note there have been some major changes to the Seishun 18 pass since Winter 2024, so that now sharing a ticket is no longer possible.
More Seishun 18 info and pricing
Hokkaido: JR East-South Hokkaido Pass
The JR East-South Hokkaido Pass allows foreign visitors to Japan to travel on both all JR East routes and all JR Hokkaido trains in southern Hokkaido (to Sapporo).
The pass also permits users to ride the shinkansen linking Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate station in southern Hokkaido. This is a 6-day pass that must be used consecutively.
The pass can be bought both inside Japan (JR East's website) and outside
| 6-day pass | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic | ¥35,000 | ¥17,500 |
JR Hokkaido Rail Pass
The JR Hokkaido Rail Pass is an excellent choice for travelers looking to cover large areas of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island.
The pass allows for travel on all JR Hokkaido trains and several JR bus routes. Travelers are not permitted, however, to use the pass on the new Hokkaido shinkansen. The Hokkaido Rail Pass comes in 5-day, 7-day and 10-day options (all consecutive).
| Type | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| 5 day | ¥20,000 | ¥10,000 |
| 7 day | ¥26,000 | ¥13,500 |
| 10 day | ¥32,000 | ¥16,500 |
If buying inside Hokkaido, prices are ¥500 (child) or ¥1000 (adult) cheaper.
JR East Pass (Tohoku, Nagano/Niigata)
The JR East Pass is a 5-day consecutive-use pass that comes in two regional editions. One covers the Tohoku area (Japan's northern region) while the other covers Nagano and Niigata.
Visitors can use the pass to reach Tokyo from either Haneda or Narita airport, then continue on to explore the Tohoku region. The pass can be used to explore the various summer festivals of Aomori and Akita, visit the onsen of Miyagi Prefecture, or explore the famous shrines and natural wonders of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Nikko.
With the Nagano/Niigata edition, why not plan a wintry visit to the slopes which can even be used on shinkansen from Tokyo. The pass even covers some travel in the neighboring Izu and Nikko regions, as well as the journey from either Narita or Haneda airport into central Tokyo.
| Type | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| 5-day pass (Tohoku) | ¥30,000 | ¥15,000 |
| 5-day pass (Nagano/Niigata) | ¥27,000 | ¥13,500 |
Sendai Area Pass (Miyagi)
The Sendai Area Pass covers travel on multiple lines within Miyagi's Sendai City and outlying regions.
Visitors can use the pass to travel around Sendai and popular attractions as far as Yamagata's Yamadera temple and Miyagi's Matsushima coastal area too. Besides affordable travel, the pass also provides the opportunity to get discounted entry to many popular attractions.
The Sendai Area Pass is available as a one-day pass.
| Type | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| One-day pass | ¥1,320 | ¥660 |
Tokyo Wide Pass
The Tokyo Wide Pass is a useful option for visitors who aim to cover numerous destinations in the Tokyo region (Kanto area) over three consecutive days.
The pass allows for travel on a multitude of routes – from the JR East lines (including in unreserved cars of the shinkansen), the Izu Kyuko line, the Fujikyu Railway and several other private rail lines in and around Tokyo.
| Type | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| 3-days | ¥15,000 | ¥7,500 |
Tokyo Metro 24 Hour Ticket
Perfect for travelers aiming to maximize their time in Japan’s capital, this pass allows unlimited travel on the nine Tokyo Metro lines for a period of 24 hours.
Riders can range from the bustling streets of Asakusa to the glitz of Ginza, from the gardens of the Imperial Palace to the trendy boutiques of Shibuya, all for the bargain price of ¥600.
| Type | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | ¥600 | ¥300 |
Tokyo Subway Ticket
This combination pass allows riders to travel on all 13 of the city’s subway lines – the nine lines of the Tokyo Metro company and the four lines of the Toei Metro Company.
On this 24-hour ticket (also available in 48-hour and 72-hour versions), it’s easier than ever to visit the up-and-coming areas of eastern Tokyo, the refined glamor of Ginza, the perpetually-exciting neighborhoods of Shibuya and Shinjuku or the quiet escapes of the northern part of the city. The Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway 1-Day Pass costs ¥900.
| Type | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| 24-hour ticket | ¥800 | ¥450 |
| 48-hour ticket | ¥1200 | ¥600 |
| 72-hour ticket | ¥1500 | ¥750 |
Tokyo Combination Ticket 1-Day Pass
For those who don’t like to be tied to a single train company, this is the most comprehensive pass available for the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Users can travel on all Tokyo Metro and Toei subway trains as well as JR trains such as the Yamanote and Chuo lines. The ticket can also be used on the Toden streetcar and the Nippori-Toneri liner. The 1-day combination ticket costs ¥1590.
| Type | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | ¥1,590 | ¥800 |
Hakone Freepass
The Hakone Freepass is sold by the Odakyu train company for travel to and around the Hakone region.
The pass covers the various forms of Odakyu-owned transportation around the Hakone area – trains, cable car, ropeway, lake cruise and bus routes – as well as provides discounts on certain sightseeing destinations.
The Hakone Free Pass is sold in increments of 2 days or 3 days and can be purchased from the Odakyu information counters in Shinjuku, Odawara or Hakone-Yumoto.
| Type | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| From Shinjuku (2 day) | ¥6,100 | ¥1,000 |
| From Shinjuku (3 day) | ¥6,500 | ¥1,100 |
| From Odawara (2 day) | ¥5,000 | ¥1,250 |
| From Odawara (3 day) | ¥5,400 | ¥1,350 |
Kansai Railway Pass
The Kansai Railway Pass gives visitors comprehensive access to major sightseeing destinations in the Kansai region, including Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe and even the mountaintop temple complex of Koyasan.
The pass can be used on nearly all public and private rail companies and subways, but not buses like its Kansai Thru Pass predecessor. The Kansai Railway Pass is offered in both 2-day and 3-day options. The pass is fine to use on non-consecutive dates. Purchasers will be given a set of dates within which they can use the pass.
| Type | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| 2 day | ¥5,600 | ¥2,800 |
| 3 day | ¥7,000 | ¥3,500 |
Kyoto Bus and Subway 1-Day and 2-Day pass
The Kyoto Bus and Subway pass is designed to be used on any Kyoto Bus and City Bus routes, as well as on Kyoto’s two municipal subway lines.
The pass carries certain geographical limitations, but covers the majority of Kyoto’s best-known sights. The pass is sold in 1-day (¥1200) and 2-day (¥2000) options.
| Type | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | ¥1,200 | ¥600 |
| 2 day | ¥2,000 | ¥1,000 |
Hiroshima 1-Day Streetcar Pass
This pass can be used on Hiroshima’s streetcar system over 24 hours.
Passes can be bought and used at a later date, as the validity is good for whatever date the user scratches off on the back of the card. The Hiroshima Streetcar connects many of Hiroshima’s major spots, from the JR train station to the Genbaku Dome (A-Bomb Dome). Passes can be purchased from the Hiroshima station, from many major hotels in the city, and from conductors onboard the streetcars themselves.
| Type | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | ¥700 | ¥350 |
Hiroshima 1-Day Streetcar and Ferry Pass
This pass combines the regular streetcar pass – which is good for use on any of Hiroshima’s streetcar lines – with a round-trip ferry ticket to and from Miyajima.
The ticket must be used over one calendar day and does not apply for overnight stays on the island. It includes the Miyajima Visitor Tax.
| Type | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | ¥1000 | ¥550 |
