The Hokuriku Arch Pass is a 7-day regional rail ticket for tourists offered by JR East and JR West. It offers unlimited travel along the New Golden Route connecting Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka via the scenic Hokuriku region, including Nagano, Toyama, Kanazawa, and Fukui.
Instead of taking the direct Tokaido route between Tokyo and Kansai, you travel via the Hokuriku Shinkansen through central Japan and the Sea of Japan side. The pass also covers useful airport transfers, including connections from Narita Airport (NRT) and Kansai International Airport (KIX).
Table of Contents
- 1 Hokuriku Arch Pass key details
- 2 Hokuriku Arch Pass coverage: Map and travel area
- 3 Covered trains
- 4 Hokuriku Arch Pass price & where to buy
- 5 Is the JR Hokuriku Arch Pass worth it?
- 6 Main destinations on the New Golden Route
- 7 Hokuriku Arch Pass vs. JR Pass
- 8 Itinerary ideas
- 9 How to activate & use
- 10 Frequently asked questions
Hokuriku Arch Pass key details
- Duration: 7 consecutive calendar days
- Price: From ¥35,000 for adults (¥17,500 for children)
- Shinkansen: Covers ordinary-class reserved seats on the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Tsuruga
- Airport transfers: Includes the Narita Express (N’EX) from Narita Airport, the Tokyo Monorail from Haneda Airport, and the Haruka Limited Express from Kansai International Airport
- Trains: Includes covered JR East and JR West Limited Express, Special Rapid, Rapid, and local services, including the Limited Express Thunderbird, Yamanote Line in Tokyo, and Osaka Loop Line
- Main destinations covered: Tokyo, Nagano, Toyama, Kanazawa, Fukui, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, and Nara
Unlimited 7-day access to JR transport across the Hokuriku region, from Tokyo to Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka, to the Japanese Alps and Nagano's ski resorts.
Hokuriku Arch Pass coverage: Map and travel area
The Hokuriku Arch Pass covers travel between Tokyo and Kansai via the Hokuriku region, including major stops such as Nagano, Toyama, Kanazawa, Fukui, Kyoto, and Osaka. It also includes selected JR services in Tokyo and Kansai, as well as several non-JR railway sections along the route.
Covered trains
The Hokuriku Arch Pass covers much more than travel between Tokyo and Kanazawa. You can use it for long-distance Shinkansen journeys, airport transfers, local JR travel, and several non-JR lines along the route.
Shinkansen, Limited Express, and JR Lines
- Hokuriku Shinkansen: Between Tokyo and Tsuruga, including ordinary-class reserved seats
- Narita Express (N’EX): Between Narita Airport and stations in the Tokyo area
- Haruka Limited Express: Between Kansai International Airport and Osaka/Kyoto
- Thunderbird: Between Tsuruga and Kyoto/Osaka
- Joetsu Shinkansen: Covered between Tokyo and Takasaki
- Tohoku/Yamagata Shinkansen: Covered between Tokyo and Omiya
- Yamanote Line: Covered for JR travel around central Tokyo
- Osaka Loop Line: Covered for JR travel around central Osaka
- Other JR services: Includes covered JR East and JR West local, Rapid, and Special Rapid trains within the pass area
The Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen are not covered. If you’re traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka with this pass, you need to take the Hokuriku route rather than the direct Pacific-coast route.
Non-JR Lines included
- Tokyo Monorail: Covered for the full trip between Haneda Airport and Hamamatsucho Station
- IR Ishikawa Railway: Covered between Kanazawa and Tsubata when traveling straight through without getting off at an intermediate station
- Ainokaze Toyama Railway: Covered between Toyama and Takaoka on local trains when traveling through the full covered section
- Hapi-Line Fukui: Covered on local trains between Fukui and Echizen-Hanandō
- Noto Railway: Covered between Nanao and Wakuraonsen
Some non-JR sections have specific conditions, so check your route before getting off at intermediate stations.
Hokuriku Arch Pass price & where to buy
The current Hokuriku Arch Pass prices are as follows:
| Traveler | 7-Day Price | Cost/Day |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | ¥35,000 | ¥5,000 |
| Child | ¥17,500 | ¥2,500 |
The child price applies to children between 6 and 11 years of age. Children under 6 generally do not need a pass if they don’t require their own reserved seat.
JR West allows one adult or child pass holder to accompany up to two children ages 1 to 5 free of charge. A child pass is required in some cases, including when the child uses a reserved seat by themselves.
The pass is only available to foreign visitors traveling in Japan with Temporary Visitor status. You’ll need to show your passport when you exchange your pass.
Is the JR Hokuriku Arch Pass worth it?
The Hokuriku Arch Pass offers great savings if you use it for a round-trip from Tokyo, or a one-way trip packed with day tours and airport transfer:
| Journey | Individual ticket | Hokuriku Arch Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Narita Airport → Tokyo (Narita Express) | ¥3,070 | Included (free) |
| Tokyo → Nagano (Hokuriku Shinkansen) | ¥8,650 | Included (free) |
| Nagano → Kanazawa (Hokuriku Shinkansen) | ¥9,370 | Included (free) |
| Kanazawa ↔ Toyama (Round-trip day tour) | ¥6,460 | Included (free) |
| Kanazawa → Kyoto (Shinkansen + Thunderbird) | ¥7,720 | Included (free) |
| Kyoto ↔ Nara (Round-trip day tour) | ¥1,440 | Included (free) |
| Kyoto → Osaka (Special Rapid) | ¥580 | Included (free) |
| Osaka → Kansai Airport (Haruka Express) | ¥2,900 | Included (free) |
| TOTAL ESTIMATED EXPENSE | ¥40,190 | ¥35,000 |
In this case, buying the Hokuriku Arch Pass saves you ¥5,190. Plus, you get the flexibility to hop on and off local JR trains within the Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka metropolitan areas at no extra cost during those 7 days.
The pass makes even more sense if you use it for a round-trip. A return trip covering the core route (Tokyo → Kanazawa → Kyoto → Osaka → Tokyo via the Hokuriku Shinkansen) would cost ¥52,640 in individual tickets (Potential saving: around ¥17,640).
Main destinations on the New Golden Route
The New Golden Route gives you a very different Tokyo-to-Kansai trip, with mountain scenery, historic cities, coastal stops, and smaller destinations along the way.
Nagano
Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano, where Zenkoji Temple is just over 1 mile from the station. You can walk there in around 25 to 30 minutes or take a local bus.
Nagano is also a popular starting point for Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. The pass gets you to Nagano Station, but onward private and public train or bus services to the park are not included.
Toyama & Kanazawa
Toyama is one of the main gateways to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, famous for mountain scenery, the Kurobe Dam, and its huge spring snow walls.
Once you arrive, you’ll need to buy separate tickets for Toyama Chiho Railway and transportation on the Alpine Route itself.
In Kanazawa, you can spend time at Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle, Omicho Market, and the historic Higashi Chaya district.
If you want to visit Shirakawa-go, the UNESCO-listed mountain village known for its traditional thatched-roof farmhouses, the pass can take you as far as Kanazawa or Toyama. From there, you’ll need to buy a separate bus ticket to reach the village.
Fukui
The Hokuriku Shinkansen now reaches Tsuruga, making Fukui an easy stop to add along the route.
Highlights include Tsuruga, the Tojinbo cliffs, and the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum. The pass covers the main JR journey through Fukui, but some attractions require extra local transport.
For the Dinosaur Museum, you’ll need to change at Fukui for the Echizen Railway to Katsuyama, then continue by bus or taxi.
Tokyo & Kansai
The pass is also useful after you reach Japan’s bigger cities.
In Tokyo, you can use covered JR services such as the Yamanote Line while sightseeing. In Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Kobe, covered JR local and rapid trains can take care of many day-to-day journeys.
Private subway and railway networks are generally separate, so you’ll still need another ticket or IC card for services such as Tokyo Metro, Osaka Metro, Hankyu, or Keihan.
Hokuriku Arch Pass vs. JR Pass
The Hokuriku Arch Pass is designed for travelers whose trip centers on one region and one route. The nationwide JR Pass gives much broader coverage if your itinerary is more wide-ranging.
| Pass | Adult Price | Days | Best For | Tokyo–Kansai Route |
| Hokuriku Arch Pass | ¥35,000 | 7 | Tokyo, Hokuriku, and Kansai | Via Nagano, Kanazawa, Fukui and Tsuruga |
| Japan Rail Pass — Ordinary | ¥53,000* | 7 | Longer nationwide trips | Tokaido or Hokuriku route |
The Hokuriku Arch Pass is cheaper than the 7-day nationwide JR Pass, but the two passes suit very different trips.
Choose the Hokuriku Arch Pass if your itinerary is focused on Tokyo, Nagano, Toyama, Kanazawa, Fukui, Kyoto, and Osaka. You’ll travel between Tokyo and Kansai via Hokuriku, rather than taking the direct Tokaido Shinkansen.
The nationwide JR Pass gives you much more freedom to travel beyond this route. It’s a better fit for trips that also include places such as Hiroshima, Kyushu, Tohoku, or Hokkaido.
If you simply need to get from Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka, neither pass is automatically the cheapest choice. If you are making that journey once and do not plan to explore Hokuriku or take several other long-distance trips, individual train tickets may cost less.
For a full comparison of the routes, coverage, and costs, see our Hokuriku Arch Pass vs. JR Pass guide.
Itinerary ideas
With 7 days to use the pass, you can combine the main New Golden Route stops without rushing between them.
For a ready-made route, see our 7-day Hokuriku Arch Pass itinerary from Tokyo to Kanazawa and Osaka.
How to activate & use
When you buy the Hokuriku Arch Pass, you’ll receive an e-ticket or a physical voucher needed to activate your pass in Japan.
Once you arrive in Japan:
- Take your passport and your proof of purchase to a JR exchange location.
- Activate your Hokuriku Arch Pass.
- Choose the date you want your 7-day validity period to start.
- Keep your passport with you while using the pass.
Make sure you activate the pass within the validity period stated on your purchase documents. Once the pass start date has been set, you cannot change it.
Seat reservation
The Hokuriku Arch Pass includes ordinary-class reserved seats on covered Shinkansen and limited express trains.
You can reserve seats at:
- JR ticket vending machines
- JR ticket offices
At JR West machines, the first six seat reservations can be made using the ticket machine. From the seventh reservation onward, use a JR ticket office.
Reserve ahead if you’re planning to use the Kagayaki, which is an all-reserved-seat Hokuriku Shinkansen service, or if you’re traveling during busy periods.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Hokuriku Arch Pass cover the Tokaido Shinkansen?
No. The Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo, Kyoto, and Shin-Osaka is not included. With this pass, you travel between Tokyo and Kansai through the Hokuriku region, changing at Tsuruga for the Thunderbird toward Kyoto or Osaka.
Can I go to Shirakawa-go with the Hokuriku Arch Pass?
The pass takes you partway to Shirakawa-go. With your Hokuriku Arch Pass, you can travel by train to Kanazawa or Toyama, both common starting points for the village. The connecting bus from there is not included, so you’ll need to buy that ticket separately.
Can I use the Hokuriku Arch Pass for a round trip between Tokyo and Osaka?
Yes. You can travel Tokyo–Osaka and back through the covered Hokuriku route as long as both journeys fall within the 7 consecutive days. A round trip with the pass is much more likely to save money compared with buying the same covered journeys separately.