JR Sanyo Sanin Area Pass

The JR Sanyo Sanin Area Pass is a rail pass for exclusive use by foreign tourists, providing seven consecutive days of unlimited travel on designated JR train and bus lines (including shinkansen and limited express trains) in the Chugoku Region and parts of the Kansai Region.

Purchase the JR Sanyo Sanin Area Pass

Validity

1. Unlimited use of local, rapid and limited express JR trains in the coverage area shown on the map above, including trains along the Chizukyu Express Line between Kamigori and Chizu, a non-JR line that provides the fastest train access to Tottori.
2. Unlimited use of the Sanyo Shinkansen (including Nozomi and Mizuho) between Shin-Osaka and Fukuoka's Hakata Station. However, the Tokaido Shinkansen between Kyoto and Osaka is not covered.
3. Seat reservations can be made for free (see details below).
4. Unlimited use of the Kyoto Tango Railway, which provides access to Amanohashidate.
5. Unlimited use of JR ferry to Miyajima.
6. Unlimited use of local JR buses around Kyoto, Hiroshima and Yamaguchi, including buses between Kyoto Station, Takao and Shuzan, and between Yamaguchi, Hagi and Akiyoshidai.
7. Free use of rental bicycles at designated Ekirin Kun outlets within the covered area.
8. The pass is valid on seven consecutive calendar days (midnight to midnight).
9. Only foreign visitors to Japan (with temporary visitor status) can use the pass. It cannot be used by residents of Japan.
10. The pass can be used only by a single person. It cannot be transferred between multiple persons. The pass holder has to carry his/her passport at all times.

Points of sale

The JR Sanyo Sanin Area Pass can be purchased online through various websites, including the official JR West website, and at selected travel agents outside of Japan. The actual pass has to be picked up at a major station in the area covered before use. An advantage of purchasing the pass through the official website is that you can make seat reservations online, while others can make seat reservations only at ticket machines and ticket offices.

Purchase the JR Sanyo Sanin Area Pass

Seat reservations

Seat reservations can be made at no additional cost at ticket offices. The first six reservations can alternatively be made at ticket machines, but subsequent reservations can be made only at ticket offices. Furthermore, those who purchased their pass through the official JR West website can also use the JR West website to make seat reservations, but the website is not very easy to use.

Assessment

The JR Sanyo Sanin Area Pass can be a very good value for exploring the Sanyo and Sanin coasts of the Chugoku Region, especially if using the Sanyo Shinkansen. For example, it will already almost pay off for a single shinkansen round trip between Osaka and Hiroshima.

Alternative tickets

For travelers who explore only a limited part of the Chugoku Region there exist a variety of cheaper rail passes with more restricted coverage areas, including the Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass, the Hiroshima Yamaguchi Area Pass, the Okayama Hiroshima Yamaguchi Area Pass, the Sanin Okayama Area Pass and the Kansai Wide Area Pass. The Sanyo Sanin Northern Kyushu Pass, on the other hand, is worth considering by those who additionally visit Kyushu.