JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
JR trains from Tokyo through Tohoku to Hakodate, Sapporo and Otaru for 6 days, including the Hokkaido Shinkansen
JR Hokkaido, JR East
Adults from¥40,000Price checked 2026/09/27
Provider prices may differ from the price above. Booking through our links earns us a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Fares
| Ticket | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| 6 consecutive days | ¥40,000¥6,667 a day | ¥20,000¥3,333 a day |
Child fares are for ages 6 to 11. From age 12, the adult fare applies. Children under 6 who don't need a reserved seat don't need a pass. Age is counted on the date you buy the pass.
Prices for passes sold from 2026/03/14.
Is the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass worth it?
- You go from Tokyo to Hokkaido by train: Tokyo to Hakodate and back costs ¥49,060 in reserved seats, against ¥40,000 for the pass.
- You go on to Sapporo: Tokyo to Sapporo is ¥30,120 one way, so riding both ways would cost ¥60,240.
- You stop in Sendai, Morioka or Aomori on the way, which the 6 days allow at no extra cost.
- You fly into Sapporo and stay in Hokkaido: this pass doesn't reach Asahikawa, Furano or Biei, and the Hokkaido Rail Pass covers all of Hokkaido for ¥22,000 for 5 days.
- You ride the train only one way and fly the other: Tokyo to Sapporo one way is ¥30,120, less than the pass unless you add stops or side trips.
- Your trip starts in Sendai or further north: the JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass covers that part for ¥32,000.
Fares are regular-season reserved-seat fares.
What's covered
- The Hokkaido, Tohoku, Akita, Yamagata and Joetsu Shinkansen, in ordinary-car reserved seats
- The Hokuriku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Takasaki
- JR East lines in the area, including BRT
- JR Hokkaido lines around Hakodate, Sapporo and Otaru, as far as Kutchan, Toya, Noboribetsu, Muroran and New Chitose Airport
- The Tokyo Monorail, Aoimori Railway, Iwate Galaxy Railway (IGR) and Sendai Airport Transit
- Reserved seats on the Nikko, Kinugawa and SPACIA Kinugawa limited expresses that run through from JR onto Tobu lines
- Tobu local and rapid trains from Shimo-imaichi to Tobu-Nikko and Kinugawa-Onsen
- The Hokuriku Shinkansen beyond Takasaki, and Karuizawa
- Atami and Otsuki, which are outside the area
- Asahikawa, Furano and Biei in Hokkaido
- The Tokaido Shinkansen, which another company runs
- The South Hokkaido Railway
- Green Cars and GranClass, which cost extra
- Tobu limited expresses that start and end on Tobu lines, and other Tobu trains between Kurihashi and Shimo-imaichi
How to use it
The pass runs for 6 consecutive days from the day you choose. It includes reserved seats in ordinary cars, so book seats for shinkansen and limited expresses before you ride.
For Nikko and Kinugawa, the pass covers limited expresses only if they run directly from a JR line onto Tobu tracks, so a trip from Tochigi, Shin-Kanuma, Shimo-imaichi, Tobu-Nikko, Tobu World Square or Kinugawa-Onsen must start or end at a JR station. Gala Yuzawa Station only operates in winter and spring.
JR East's own example: a round trip between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto on the Hokkaido Shinkansen costs about ¥48,000 in reserved seats, against ¥40,000 for the pass, which also lets you stop along the way.
Before you buy
Anyone with a non-Japanese passport can use the pass. You can hold only one at a time; a second pass can't overlap the first. There are no student or youth fares.
Buy it on JR-EAST Train Reservation, at JR EAST Travel Service Centers in the pass area, at some stations, or from participating travel agencies outside Japan. For a child pass, bring a passport or other proof of age. JR East and JR Hokkaido offer the pass jointly.
Questions
Does the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass cover the Hokkaido Shinkansen?
Yes. The Hokkaido Shinkansen to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto is covered, in reserved seats.
Does it go to Sapporo?
Yes. JR Hokkaido lines around Hakodate, Sapporo and Otaru are covered, as far as New Chitose Airport, Toya and Kutchan.
Can I use it to Asahikawa or Furano?
No. Asahikawa, Furano and Biei are outside the pass area.
Does it cover the Tokaido Shinkansen?
No. The Tokaido Shinkansen is run by another company.
Can foreign residents of Japan use it?
Yes. Anyone with a non-Japanese passport can use it.
Do children need their own pass?
Children aged 6 to 11 need a child pass, ¥20,000. Children under 6 who don't need a reserved seat don't need a pass.
You might also like
SNOW MIKU
A yearly winter festival in Hokkaido built around Snow Miku, a white Hatsune Miku, with exhibitions, live shows, a snow sculpture and a themed tram.
6–7 Feb 2027Otaru · Hokkaido
Munich Christmas Market in Sapporo
The Munich Christmas Market brings German Christmas food and crafts to Sapporo, a sister-city celebration held every year since 2002.
20 Nov – 25 Dec 2026Sapporo · Hokkaido
Shiroi Koibito Park Sweet Illumination
Every winter the garden of Shiroi Koibito Park in Sapporo is lit from late afternoon, with a colour-changing main symbol and a red London bus.
1 Dec 2026 – 31 Mar 2027Sapporo · Hokkaido
Shiroi Koibito Park
A confectionery theme park in Sapporo built around Shiroi Koibito, the ISHIYA biscuit, with its factory, chocolate history exhibits and a rose garden.
Sapporo · Hokkaido
Sapporo Beer Garden
Restaurant in Hokkaido serving Genghis Khan, the local dish of grilled lamb and mutton with apple and lemon sauce, cooked on a dome-shaped metal skillet.
Sapporo · Hokkaido
Jozankei Shrine
A Shinto shrine in the Jozankei hot spring town of Sapporo, beside the trail up Mount Yuhi and the main venue of the winter snow lantern event.
Sapporo · Hokkaido