JR Tohoku South Hokkaido Rail Pass

The JR Tohoku South Hokkaido Rail Pass is a rail pass for exclusive use by foreign tourists, providing unlimited travel on JR trains (including shinkansen and limited express trains) in the Tohoku region and southern Hokkaido on six consecutive days.

Purchase the Tohoku South Hokkaido Rail Pass

Below is a simplified map of major train lines that can be used with the pass:

Validity

1. Unlimited use of trains operated by JR in the Tohoku Region (Fukushima, Miyagi, Yamagata, Akita, Iwate and Aomori Prefectures) and southern Hokkaido (as far as Sapporo), including shinkansen, limited express trains and local trains. The BRT buses along the Sanriku Coast are also covered.
2. There are a small number of JR trains, which partially run on the tracks of different railway companies. When riding along a non-JR owned section, pass holders will have to pay the fare for the non-JR section on board of the train or at the station. Only the following non-JR train lines can also be used with the JR Tohoku South Hokkaido Rail Pass:
   • All trains by Iwate Ginga Railway and Aoimori Railway between Morioka and Aomori
   • All trains between Sendai and Sendai Airport
3. Seat reservations can be made for free (see details below).
4. The pass is valid on six consecutive calendar days (midnight to midnight).
5. Only foreign visitors to Japan (on temporary visitor status) can use the pass. It cannot be used by residents of Japan.

Points of sale

The JR Tohoku South Hokkaido Rail Pass can be purchased online through various websites, through selected travel agents outside of Japan and at major railway stations and airports in the area covered. If purchasing the pass outside of Japan or via the internet, the actual pass has to be picked up at a ticket office of a major station in the area covered before use.

Note that the pass is also sold at the official JR East website. An advantage of purchasing through the official website is that you can pick up your pass also at ticket machines that are equipped with passport readers. Purchasing passes inside Japan is also possible at these passport reader-equipped ticket machines.

Purchase the Tohoku South Hokkaido Rail Pass

Seat reservations

Free seat reservations can be made at seat reservation ticket machines and at JR ticket offices. It is also possible to make online seat reservations on the JR East Train Reservation website; however, physical seat reservation tickets have to be picked up at a selected ticket machine or office before use.

Assessment

The JR Tohoku South Hokkaido Rail Pass can be a good value for those making several long-distance trips around southern Hokkaido and Tohoku. Note, however, that it is more expensive than, for example, a regular one way ticket between Sendai and Sapporo, so considerable use of trains is needed for it to pay off. Travelers starting and/or ending their trip in Tokyo could consider the similar JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass which additionally covers the Kanto Region around Tokyo.