Discover western Japan with the Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass. Save money on unlimited travel on JR West transport in the region, including Shinkansen.
Discover the charm of western Japan with the Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass, one of the JR regional passes. This pass offers a simple and efficient way to explore the western part of Honshu, Japan’s largest island. It grants unlimited travel in the area.
If you're drawn to the peace and serenity of Hiroshima, the samurai tales of Yamaguchi, or the urban delights of Fukuoka, the Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass is the perfect travel companion for the region.
On this page, we explore the transportation options and benefits available with the Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass, including JR West trains and the Sanyo Shinkansen. We also outline how to easily apply online.
Additionally, we’ll allow you to assess its advantages compared to the JR Pass for the whole country.
The Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass offers extensive travel opportunities on the JR West lines connecting Onomichi, Miyoshi, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Masuda, Hagi, and Hakata (Fukuoka).
It permits passage on the Sanyo Shinkansen, which provides a quick and comfortable way to get between several important locations.
The limitless coverage includes:
The Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass is good value if you’re planning to exclusively explore western Japan and visit Hiroshima and Yamaguchi Prefecture.
For example, the full cost of the pass is already cheaper than a single round-trip ticket between Hiroshima and Fukuoka on the Sanyo Shinkansen bullet train.
It's ideal for:
With its 5-day validity, the pass is best suited for short to medium-length stays, allowing for a deep dive into the area's offerings.
On the other hand, you might want to think about getting a nationwide JR Pass if you intend to stay longer or visit other parts of Japan.
The Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass has a validity of 5 consecutive calendar days from the date you exchange/activate it.
The pass's validity is assessed in days rather than in 24-hour periods, from midnight to midnight. Any day that you use it for the first time is considered complete, regardless of when you started.
Like the JR Pass, only foreign citizens with temporary visitor status in Japan can purchase the Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass. Japanese residents are not eligible.
The rules for minors are as follow:
You should keep the following in mind when using your Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass:
Exchanging your Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass when you arrive in Japan is a straightforward process:
You can exchange your voucher for the pass at any of the following locations:
Choosing a regional pass like the Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Area Pass or the Kansai-Hiroshima Pass offers several benefits:
A regional pass offers both practical benefits and the chance to immerse yourself fully in the region you're exploring.
Considering hopping across multiple regions? Here's why a nationwide JR Pass might be your best bet:
Unlimited Access: Roam freely across Japan's regions without restrictions.
Covers all of Japan: The JR Pass covers all JR trains from the north of Japan to the very south. It’s the ultimate explorer's ticket.
Full Shinkansen Network: Experience Japan's iconic, super-fast bullet trains across the whole country.