All You Need to Know About JR East Passes

Previously, many visitors to Japan only knew of one Japan Rail Pass that covered the entirety of Japan — or at least, anywhere in Japan serviced by Japan Railways (JR). One single pass gave tourists unlimited access to Japan Railways’ vast network of trains, including most bullet trains, for a fixed period such as one week. A single round-trip between Tokyo and Kyoto alone was already enough to get your money’s worth of the pass, making it an incredibly cost-effective deal for travelers who wanted to explore Japan.

Unfortunately, with the steep price hike introduced in October 2023, gone are the days when this all-Japan rail pass was king. What are travelers to do when they want to travel around Japan but don’t have the budget to spare for the Japan Rail Pass? Enter regional rail passes, which cover specific parts of Japan.

For those planning to base their travels in East Japan (where Tokyo is located), let us introduce you to the two main JR East Passes. Unlike many other regional rail passes, any holder of a non-Japanese passport can use these two passes — yes, even non-Japanese residents! Read on to find out more about these passes.

JR EAST PASS －Tohoku area

Among JR East’s passes, the most popular choice is the Tohoku version for its extensive coverage area. For 30,000 JPY for five consecutive days, you’ll get unlimited access to all JR East railways within the coverage area, including the following Shinkansen bullet trains: Tohoku, Akita, Yamagata, Joetsu, and Hokuriku.

The pass allows you to use most regular JR bus routes in the coverage area and a selection of private railways, such as the Tokyo Monorail and Izu Kyuko Line.

With the Tohoku version of the JR East Pass, you can head north(east) to the Tohoku region, which consists of the Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Yamagata, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures.

JR EAST PASS －Nagano, Niigata area

Costing 27,000 JPY for five consecutive days, this version is for those who wish to spend their time mainly in Nagano and Niigata, two areas famous for winter activities such as skiing and snowboarding.

This pass grants you unlimited rides on all JR East railways within the coverage area, including the Tohoku, Yamagata, Joetsu, and Hokuriku Shinkansen — plus some private railways such as the Echigo Tokimeki Railway, albeit only between Naoetsu and Arai stations.

JR East also offers various other regional passes, some of which are only available to non-Japanese passport holders with Temporary Visitor status.

The JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass (35,000 JPY for six consecutive days, temporary visitors only) is similar in coverage to the Tohoku version of the JR East Pass but with the addition of parts of Hokkaido, including the capital of Sapporo City.

Meanwhile, the JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass (30,000 JPY for six consecutive days, temporary visitors only) is for those who only want to explore Tohoku and parts of Hokkaido.

The JR Tokyo Wide Pass (15,000 JPY for three consecutive days, visitors and residents eligible) is for those who just want to explore prefectures near Tokyo, such as Tochigi — home to the popular and scenic town of Nikko — and Gunma.

Purchasing a JR East Pass is very simple! You can book one directly via JR East's website. Outside Japan, you can get a pass from a designated travel agency, and online travel booking platforms are included.

For those already in Japan, you can book a pass via the reserved-seat ticket vending machines with passport readers, which are usually available at major stations like Tokyo and Shinagawa. You can purchase a pass at a JR East Travel Service Center if you'd rather have a staff member assist you.

Note that a Travel Service Center is different from a Midori-no-Madoguchi ticket office; you won't be able to buy or redeem a JR East Pass at the latter.

To redeem your JR East Pass, simply pick it up from a ticket vending machine with a passport reader or a Travel Service Center. Be sure to have your exchange voucher and passport ready. You don't have to use your pass on the day you receive it; you can specify your preferred start date.

Using your JR East Pass is quite straightforward. Simply start using it on your specified start date. In the past, some rail passes required users to show their pass and passport to a station attendant to get to the station platform; nowadays, all you have to do is insert your pass into the slot of an automatic ticket gate. However, make sure to still keep your passport with you at all times, as station attendants may conduct random inspections.

Some trains, such as bullet trains, offer reserved seating, and some limited-express trains may be reservation-only. Your JR East Pass entitles you to reserve seats for free whenever applicable. You can ask a staff member to make a reservation for you at any JR East Midori-no-Madoguchi ticket office. You can also make a reservation yourself via a reserved-seat ticket vending machine.

Once you’ve started using your JR East Pass, you can no longer change its validity period, regardless of the reason. Your pass will expire once the fifth consecutive day of use is up.

For more information on usage terms and conditions, we recommend carefully reading the conditions for use of each pass before making your purchase.

Can’t decide which of the two main JR East Passes to get? We recommend the Tohoku version. Given its price and coverage area, this pass offers better value for money.

With this pass, you can visit some of the best places in Tohoku: the samurai town of Aizu-Wakamatsu in Fukushima; Odate in Akita, the birthplace of the lovable Akita dog; the picture-perfect Ginzan Onsen in Yamagata; Zao Fox Village in Miyagi; Iwate’s Sanriku Coast; and the scenic areas of Hirosaki and Lake Towada in Aomori, which are especially beautiful in cherry-blossom season and autumn, respectively.

The Tohoku region is generally known for fine sake and seafood, so if those are your things, let them be an extra incentive to get this pass!

Not to mention, the Tohoku version of the JR East Pass does include some parts of Nagano and Niigata, too: quaint Karuizawa in Nagano, as well as Niigata’s Gala Yuzawa and Echigo-Yuzawa, both havens for winter sports.

If you want to explore more JR options, be sure to read through our other JR guide articles below!