JR East Rail Passes

JR East offers several regional rail passes tailored to different regions of the JR East network. These passes are designed to provide flexibility and cost savings for travelers exploring certain regions of Eastern Japan.

JR East Pass Types, Price, and Duration

Name	Duration	Adult Price (JPY)	Child Price (JPY)
JR East (Tohoku Area) Pass	5 days	30,000 YEN	15,000 YEN
JR East (Nagano, Niigata Area) Pass	5 days	27,000 YEN	13,500 YEN
JR TOKYO Wide Pass (can be purchased only in Japan)	3 days	15,000 YEN	7,500 YEN
Hokuriku Arch Pass	7 days	30,000 YEN	15,000 YEN
JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass	6 days	30,000 YEN	15,000 YEN
JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass	6 days	35,000 YEN	17,500 YEN

JR East Pass Coverage

JR East covers most of the island of Honshu and is a major rail region worth knowing about. It includes Tokyo and the Tsugaru Strait. Destinations such as Sendai, Niigata, and Aomori are in its zone.
JR East's railway lines primarily serve the Kanto and Tohoku regions, along with adjacent areas in the Kōshin'etsu region (Niigata, Nagano, Yamanashi) and Shizuoka prefectures.

JR East allows unlimited rides using reserved seats on the ordinary cars:

• Limited Express trains (including Shinkansen)
• Express Trains
• Local trains on JR East train lines (including BRT)
• all the Izu Kyuko lines
• all the Tokyo Monorail lines
• all the Aoimori Railway lines
• all the Iwate Galaxy Railway (IG) lines
• Sendai Airport Transit lines
• JR Bus Tohoku, as well as JR Bus Kanto buses

1. Covered regions of JR East: JR East primarily operates in the eastern part of Honshu (Japan's main island), encompassing the Kanto region (where Tokyo is located) and the entire Tohoku region. It does provide access to the southern part of Hokkaido via the Hokkaido Shinkansen, which connects to the Tohoku Shinkansen.
2. It covers such cities: Tokyo, Yokohama, Nikko, Sendai, Aomori, Morioka, Akita, Niigata, Fukushima, Yamagata, Iwaki, Nagano, Matsumoto, Takasaki, Mito, Ueda, Choshi, and more.
3. Travel operator covers these shinkansen trains:
   • Tohoku Shinkansen is a high-speed line connecting Tokyo with Aomori with a length of 674.9 km, the longest shinkansen line in Japan.
   • Joetsu Shinkansen is a high-speed line connecting Tokyo and Niigata. Despite its name, the line does not pass through Joetsu, which is instead served by the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
   • Hokuriku Shinkansen connects Tokyo with Tsuruga in the Hokuriku region.
   • Yamagata Shinkansen. This is a mini-Shinkansen route in Japan, providing service between Tokyo and Shinjo in Yamagata Prefecture along the Tohoku Shinkansen and Ou Main Lines.
   • Akita Shinkansen - mini-Shinkansen railway line that serves the Kanto and Tohoku regions of the country, it links Tokyo and Akita.
4. This travel operator covers travel on the following trains:
   • Narita Express is a limited express train, serving Narita International Airport from various Greater Tokyo Area stations.
   • Hayabusa Train (Tohoku Shinkansen) is a high-speed Shinkansen service operated between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto
   • Hayate Train is a high-speed that operates as far as the northern terminus of Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto (Tohoku Shinkansen)
   • Komachi Train is a high-speed train between Tokyo and Akita. It is the only Shinkansen service that runs on the Akita Shinkansen. (Akita Shinkansen)

Other limited express trains include Narita Express (N'EX): Tokyo to Narita Airport, Super Azusa: Tokyo (Shinjuku) to Matsumoto, Hitachi: Tokyo (Ueno) to Iwaki, Odoriko: Tokyo to Izukyu-Shimoda, Inaho: Niigata to Akita, Kaiji: Tokyo (Shinjuku) to Kofu, Akagi / Kusatsu: Tokyo (Ueno) to Takasaki.

5. This operator covers the major lines:
   • Chūō Line (Rapid): This line operates between Tokyo and Takao, with some services extending to Kōfu and Matsumoto.
   • Hachinohe Line: Runs from Hachinohe to Kuji.
   • Keihin-Tohoku Line: Operates from Omiya to Yokohama.
   • Yamanote Line: A circular line around central Tokyo.
   • Saikyo Line: Runs from Osaki to Omiya.
   • Sobu Line (Rapid): Connects Tokyo to Choshi.
   • Ueno-Tokyo Line: This line runs from Ueno to Tokyo Station and extends services to the Utsunomiya Line, Takasaki Line, and Joban Line.

Popular Routes Covered by JR East

• Tokyo to Osaka (Tokaido Shinkansen)
• Tokyo to Sendai connects Tokyo with Sendai’s historical sites (Tohoku Shinkansen)
• Tokyo to Niigata highlights scenic Japanese Alps (Joetsu Shinkansen).
• Tokyo to Nagano highlights Zenko-ji Temple, snow monkeys, and winter ski resorts (Hokuriku Shinkansen)
• Tokyo to Aomori highlights Scenic Tohoku region, Nebuta Matsuri, Hakkoda Mountains (Tohoku Shinkansen)
• Tokyo to Nikko highlights UNESCO World Heritage sites, Toshogu Shrine, Kegon Falls (Tohoku Main Line and Nikko Line)

How to Book And Use JR East Rail Pass

1. Book the desired JR Pass:
   • Select the specific Rail Pass, its type (Adult or Child), class, and the duration;
   • During checkout, ensure that you enter the correct personal information, including the passenger names as they appear on their passports.
2. Receive the QR code:
   • After purchasing the JR Pass, you will receive an e-ticket voucher (QR Code) via email.
3. Exchange the QR code for the actual Rail Pass:
   • In Japan, visit a JR Pass exchange office and present your voucher, along with your passport, to receive the actual JR Pass. Exchange offices are located at major airports, railway stations, or designated tourist centers;
   • Another way is to use a ticketing machine at every major JR station.

Seat reservation for JR East Rail Pass

1. You can book reserved seats on Shinkansen and conventional express trains on JR East’s official online reservation site, Eki-net.
2. Station counters and reserved seat ticket machines.You can make reservations directly at the Midori no Madoguchi (Green Window) at JR stations.
3. JR East app. You can also make reservations through the official JR East mobile app.

How to Refund the JR East Pass?

If you have any inquiries or need assistance, please visit the 12Go Support page. When contacting support, ensure you have your booking number ready for a quicker resolution.

Ensure that the pass has not been activated or used. Refunds are typically only available if the pass has not been used. Refunds are not provided in cases of train delays or non-operations.

Customer Support for JR East Rail Pass

If you need assistance with your JR East Rail Pass, there are several ways to contact customer support. Visit JR East travel service centers, which are located at major train stations and airports such as Tokyo, Shinjuku, Narita, and Haneda. They provide assistance with pass exchanges, reservations, and travel information. Phone Support Domestic: 050-2016-1603
International: +81-50-2016-1603. If you have problems regarding your JR East tickets, please contact the 12Go support team.

Travel Tips with JR East Rail Pass

Check the timetable: check the train schedules, especially for Shinkansen and limited express trains. This will help you avoid waiting for extended periods at the train station.
Avoid peak travel times: Golden Week (late April to early May), Obon (mid-August), and New Year (late December to early January) are the peak travel times. Avoid weekday mornings (7:30 AM to 9:00 AM) and evenings (5:00 PM to 7:00 PM) in metropolitan areas like Tokyo, Yokohama, and Saitama.
Luggage restrictions: Your luggage should not exceed 160cm (total height, width, and depth) and a weight limit of 30kg. Some Shinkansen trains have designated spaces for large luggage. Reserve these spaces in advance.

JR East Pass FAQ

Can I use the pass for airport transfers?

Yes, the JR East Pass can be used for travel on the Narita Express (N'EX) to and from Narita International Airport and other JR East trains to and from Haneda Airport.

Can a JR East Pass be reissued?

No, lost or stolen JR East Passes cannot be reissued. It is important to keep your pass secure at all times.

Can I extend or refund my JR East Pass?

The JR East Pass cannot be extended. Refunds are generally only available before the exchange order is exchanged for the pass and are subject to a handling fee.

What do I need to obtain a JR East Pass?

You must have a valid passport (original).