JR East Passes Comparison Guide: Which One is Right for You?

JR regional passes are designed for travelers who want to explore certain areas of Japan, and don’t need the nationwide JR Pass.

JR East offers several different passes that can reach cities like Sapporo, Kanazawa, and Niigata while enjoying unlimited train rides within a fixed period.

They’re great for multi-day routes if you’re only interested in eastern and northern parts of the country.

JR East Wide Area Passes

Wide area passes offered by JR East are designed for travelers covering long distances across eastern Japan. The best JR Pass for your trip depends on the cities and regions you plan on visiting.

JR East – South Hokkaido Rail Pass

The JR East – South Hokkaido Rail Pass is your gateway to Japan’s north.

Starting in Tokyo, you can ride up through the Tohoku region, and reach Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaido. You’ll see everything from urban life in the capital to hot springs, snowy mountains, and historic port towns.

The 6 consecutive days pass includes:

• JR East train lines in the Kanto and Tohoku regions
• JR Hokkaido train lines in southern Hokkaido, extending as far as Sapporo
• Tohoku and Hokkaido Shinkansen (Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto)
• Akita Shinkansen
• Yamagata Shinkansen
• Hokuriku shinkansen (between Tokyo and Sakudaira)
• Joetsu Shinkansen (between Tokyo and Gala Yuzawa)
• Tokyo Monorail (Haneda Airport to Tokyo)
• Narita Express (Narita Airport to Tokyo
• Izu Kyuko Line (Ito to Izukyu-Shimoda)
• Aoimori Railway and Iwate Galaxy Railway
• Sendai Airport Transit
• Joyful trains, including the Pokémon with You train
• Access to major cities like Tokyo, Sendai, Aomori, Hakodate, Sapporo

This pass is perfect for travelers covering long distances and combining nature with big cities.

Hokuriku Arch Pass

The Hokuriku Arch Pass is a collaboration between JR East and JR West. It allows you to explore a lesser-known but beautiful route connecting Tokyo and Osaka through the coastal Hokuriku region.

You’ll be able to visit traditional cities like Kanazawa, explore the art and crafts of Toyama, and enjoy more flexibility with airport arrivals in Tokyo or Kansai.

The pass is valid for 7 days and includes:

• Unlimited travel on certain JR lines between Osaka and Tokyo
• Hokuriku Shinkansen (Tokyo to Tsuruga)
• Access to major cities like Tokyo, Toyama, Kanazawa, Fukui, Kyoto, Osaka and Nara
• JR lines between Tokyo and Narita and Haneda airports
• JR lines between Osaka/Kyoto and Kansai airport

This pass is best for travelers looking for a unique route to Osaka through lesser-known cultural regions.

JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass

This pass is ideal if you want to explore Japan’s rugged northeastern coastline, visit local festivals, and discover hidden gems like Aomori and Hakodate. It covers most of Tohoku and southern Hokkaido, going all the way to Sapporo.

Perfect if you want to explore Tohoku’s nature and culture and also reach Hokkaido’s gateway city of Hakodate. This pass keeps your journey flexible and affordable.

Valid for 6 consecutive days, the pass covers:

• Unlimited travel on applicable JR lines (all JR East in the Tohoku region, JR Hokkaido lines as far as Sapporo)
• Tohoku and Hokkaido Shinkansen
• Sendai Airport Transit Line
• Access to major cities like Sendai, Aomori, Hakodate

This pass is ideal if you want to reach Hakodate while exploring Tohoku’s cultural and natural beauty.

JR East Pass (Tohoku Area)

Covering a vast area from Tokyo to Aomori, this pass gives you access to regional treasures like Sendai’s castle ruins, the Oirase Gorge, and Lake Tazawa. It’s one of the best options for travelers interested in exploring the Tohoku region in-depth.

The 5 or 10 consecutive days pass includes:

• All JR East lines in Tohoku and the Tokyo metropolitan area
• Tohoku, Akita, Yamagata Shinkansen, and the Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen within the covered area
• Tokyo Monorail (to Haneda Airport) and the Narita Express
• Access to major cities like Tokyo, Sendai, Aomori, Akita, Morioka, Fukushima, Yamagata

This pass is great for travelers heading deep into the north of Honshu to discover cultural and natural highlights, but don’t plan on going as far as Hokkaido.

JR East Pass (Nagano, Niigata Area)

This pass is your ticket to Japan’s mountain retreats. You can visit onsen towns, ski resorts, and cultural sites like Zenko-ji Temple and the Snow Monkey Park. It’s ideal for winter trips or scenic escapes from Tokyo.

The 5 consecutive days pass includes:

• Unlimited travel on applicable JR East lines in the Nagano and Niigata regions, and certain parts of the Kanto region
• Hokuriku and Joetsu Shinkansen
• Tokyo Monorail (access to Haneda Airport) and the Narita Express
• Access to major cities like Tokyo, Nagano, Niigata, Karuizawa, Matsumoto

This pass suits travelers wanting alpine scenery, seasonal activities, and a quieter escape from Tokyo.

JR East Passes Comparative Table

Use this table to quickly compare the major passes for travel across multiple prefectures:

Pass Name	Validity	Price (Adult)	Major Cities Covered
JR East-South Hokkaido	6 days	¥35,370	Tokyo, Sendai, Hakodate, Sapporo
Hokuriku Arch Pass	7 days	¥30,000	Tokyo, Kanazawa, Osaka, Kyoto
JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido	6 days	¥30,640	Tokyo, Sendai, Aomori, Hakodate
JR East Pass Tohoku	5 or 10 days	¥30,000/¥48,000	Tokyo, Sendai, Morioka, Aomori
JR East Pass Nagano Niigata	5 days	¥27,000	Tokyo, Nagano, Niigata

Tokyo Area Passes

These passes are ideal if you’re staying near Tokyo and want to take day trips to nearby cities, lakes, ski resorts, or hot springs. They offer great value for shorter stays and weekend breaks.

JR Tokyo Wide Pass

The perfect pass for day trips and weekend escapes from Tokyo. You can explore popular spots like Mount Fuji, historic Nikko, and ski destinations like GALA Yuzawa. It’s designed for flexibility without leaving the Kanto region.

The 3 consecutive days pass includes:

• Unlimited travel on applicable JR lines
• Joetsu Shinkansen (partial)
• Local, Rapid, Limited Express trains
• Coverage from Kanto region including Mt. Fuji and ski resorts
• Access to major cities like Tokyo, Nikko, Yokohama, Karuizawa, Fuji Five Lakes

Tokyo 1-Day Ticket

If you’re staying in central Tokyo and want to explore the city in depth, this one-day ticket is a simple and cost-effective option. It gives you unlimited travel across multiple train, subway, and bus lines within the 23 special wards of Tokyo.

The 1-day pass includes:

• Unlimited travel on JR East lines within Tokyo’s 23 wards
• Tokyo Metro/Toei Subway access
• Nippori-Toneri Liner
• Tokyo Sakura Tram (Toden Arakawa line)
• All Toei Buses (excluding late night and reserved seat buses)

This pass is ideal for tourists spending a full day discovering neighborhoods like Shibuya, Asakusa, Ueno, and Shinjuku using multiple transport modes.

Tokyo Metropolitan District Pass (Tokunai Pass)

The Tokunai Pass gives you easy access to all of Tokyo’s JR stations within the 23 special wards, perfect for a full day of hopping between neighborhoods.

From morning markets to late-night shopping, this ticket keeps your day moving.

The 1-day pass includes:

• Unlimited travel on JR East lines (ordinary and rapid) within Tokyo’s 23 wards
• Valid on non-reserved seats in ordinary cars

The Tokunai Pass is great if you want to cover lots of ground in one day within the JR network in central Tokyo.

Tokyo Area Passes Comparative Table

Here’s a quick look at the regional pass designed for shorter stays around Tokyo:

Pass Name	Validity	Price (Adult)	Main Coverage	Shinkansen Coverage
JR Tokyo Wide Pass	3 days	¥15,000	Tokyo, Nikko, Fuji area	Joetsu (Tokyo to GALA Yuzawa)
Tokyo 1-Day Ticket	1 day	~¥1,600	Central Tokyo JR lines and Metro/Subway (23 wards)	No
Tokyo Metropolitan District	1 day	¥760	JR lines in 23 Tokyo wards	No