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Japan Rail
Regional PassesRegional passes for Japan are rail passes offered by the JR companies in different regions of Japan.
Each regional pass covers specifically designated areas within Japan, as opposed to the JR Pass, which covers train travel across the whole country.
Regional passes marked as ‘tourist passes’ can also be used on other modes of transport other than trains on specific routes within the designated area.
JR Passes for specific regions are only available for foreign citizens who travel to Japan: Japanese citizens are not eligible to apply.
Japan Rail Passes by Area
Below you can find a list of the different regions that make up Japan, as well as the rail passes available to visit each area.
Browse the list to discover if it is worth buying a regional pass or the JR Pass for the whole country.
Discover Japan region by region
Explore the different areas of Japan using this map and uncover the top destinations of each region.
Hokkaido Area
Discover and enjoy the main destinations of the region
East Area
Discover and enjoy the main destinations of the region
West Area
Discover and enjoy the main destinations of the region
Central Area
Discover and enjoy the main destinations of the region
Shikoku Area
Discover and enjoy the main destinations of the region
Kyushu Area
Discover and enjoy the main destinations of the region
JR Hokkaido Passes
A Hokkaido Pass is valid to explore the northern Japanese island on any of the JR Hokkaido trains, which cover the entire region.
Hokkaido passes allow you to take in the whole island, from the capital city, Sapporo, which boasts a stunning ice festival in winter, to the port city of Hakodate in the south.
JR East Passes
Passes for JR East cover the extensive rail network in the eastern area of Japan’s largest island, Honshu, including the Kanto and Tohoku regions.
An ideal choice if you are planning to travel between Tokyo and Nagano in the central mountains, or even further north to the port city of Niigata.
JR West Passes
JR West Passes permit train travel throughout the south-west of the island of Honshu and allows the holder to discover the Kansai and San’in regions.
This pass is an excellent choice for those who wish to explore the spectacular coastline of the Seto Inland Sea, and the cities of Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Tottori.
JR Central Passes
There are several passes issued by JR Central which give holders access to different regions in the centre of Honshu, including the Takayama Hokuriku Tourist Pass.
The other JR Central Pass options include the MT. Fuji - Shizuoka Pass, which allows the holder to explore the Japanese Alps and discover charming mountain towns such as Kamikōchi.
JR Shikoku Passes
This regional pass covers a number of rail lines on the Japanese island of Shikoku, including all JR Shikoku trains.
It allows the holder to take in the entire island during its validity, including Matsuyama, the largest city, and Takamatsu, the capital of Kagawa prefecture, as well as the wealth of historical attractions in the region.
JR Kyushu Passes
Holders a of a Kyushu pass are able to freely travel around Japan’s southernmost island, and explore this subtropical regions natural attractions such as hot springs and volcanoes.
JR Kyushu passes cover train travel across the whole island, from the metropolitan centres of Fukuoka and Nagasaki in the north, to the picaresque city of Kagoshima in the south.
Why a Regional Pass?
A regional rail pass is a good investment for visitors who only plan to travel within a limited area of Japan, as it removes the need to pay for a JR pass for the whole country. Regional passes also offer different periods of validity with flexible days.
JR passes for children are also available for a number of individual regions, for half the price of an adult ticket. These passes are usually issued to kids between 6 to 11 years old.
Whole Japan Rail Pass
Planning to visit more than more region during your stay in Japan? Find it out if a JR Pass for the whole country is a better investment.
Unlimited acces
Whole Japan
Full Shinkansen network
Main airport transfers