Hokuriku Arch Pass user guide. Clarify valid trains, coverage area and compare single fare and pass

Kanazawa castleRail pass for visitors
2015.12.26
Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Osaka are covered by this deal. (C) ©Sue Ann Simon (upper left), Osaka Government Tourism Bureau (lower left), Yasufumi Nish (upper right), Kanazawa City (lower right) and JNTO (all photos)
Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Osaka are covered by this deal. (C) ©Sue Ann Simon (upper left), Osaka Government Tourism Bureau (lower left), Yasufumi Nish (upper right), Kanazawa City (lower right) and JNTO (all photos)

This pass covers Narita airport, Tokyo, Nagano, Toyama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe and Kansai airport. It suits the one way trip from Tokyo to Osaka via Hokuriku area, such as Kanazawa. This pass does not cover Tokyo – Osaka/Kyoto direct route by the Shinkansen. It is valid for 7 consecutive days. The valid period is same as JR Pass 7-day. The price is cheaper than JR Pass 7 days but coverage area is much smaller.

In this post, I would like to share the information of Hokuriku Arch Pass with you. And I show you some sample rate and compare the pass value and single fares. I also compare Hokuriku Arch Pass and JR Pass. You may find this suits your plan or not.

Prices and valid period

Tokyo-Osaka Hokuriku Arch Pass 7-day

 Purchase outside Japan or onlinePurchase inside Japan
Adult25,500 yen25,500 yen
Child
(6-11 years old)		12,750 yen12,750 yen

*Any child who is 5 years old and/or younger is free but you have to share the seat with child. If you want to have a seat for your child too, you have to purchase a child pass for even younger than 5 years old.

This pass is valid for 7 days only. There is no Green pass choices.

One day means midnight to midnight, technically 0:00 to 23:59. Even if you start using the pass at 23:00. you will spend one full day for just one hour. So try to start in the morning. It does not make sense to start to use in the evening.

Coverage area

Coverage map of Tokyo-Osaka Hokuriku Arch Pass (Click to view large)
Coverage map of Tokyo-Osaka Hokuriku Arch Pass (Click to view large)

This pass covers the trip between Narita airport and Kansai airport via Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hokuriku area. This pass covers the following major spots in the area.

  • Tokyo
  • Kyoto
  • Osaka
  • Kanazawa
  • Toyama
  • Nagano
  • Karuizawa
  • Nara
  • Kobe

The following places surrounding Tokyo, Osaka and Kanazawa are not located in the coverage area. You CANNOT use this pass to access these following places.

It seems to cover whole part of the trip between Tokyo side and Osaka side via Kanazawa and Toyama. But there are some restrictions. Please see next chapter about valid trains.

Valid trains and lines

The following JR trains are covered by this pass.

  • Narita Express between Narita airport and Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro
    You cannot get Yokohama because it is outside coverage area.
  • The Hokuriku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kanazawa
  • The limited express Thunderbird between Wakura Onsen, Kanazawa and Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Osaka
  • The limited express Haruka between Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Tennoji and Kansai airport
    But only non reserved seat is covered by this pass.
  • Local and Rapid train in downtown Tokyo area, and between Tokyo and Narita airport
  • Local, Rapid and Special Rapid train in Kansai area (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara)
  • Etsumi-Hoku line between Fukui and Kuzuryuko
  • Nanao line between Tsubata and Nanao
  • Himi line between Takaoka and Himi
  • Johana line between Takaoka and Johana
  • Takayama line between Toyama and Inotani
  • Oito line between Itoigawa and Minami-Otari
  • Rapid Airport Narita between Narita airport and Kinshicho, Tokyo, Shinagawa
  • The limited express Shirasagi between Kanazawa and Maibara
  • The limited express Wide View Hida between Toyama and Inotani, and between Osaka and Maibara
  • The limited express Noto-Kagaribi between Kanazawa and Wakura-Onsen
  • The limited express Hanayome-Noren between Kanazawa and Wakura-Onsen
  • The limited express Dinastar between Kanazawa and Fukui

There are some more limited express trains running in the coverage area. As long as you travel in the coverage area, you can ride these trains as well. But even though the limited express Shirasagi and the limited express Wide View Hida are covered, you cannot get Nagoya by Shirasagi and cannot get Takayama by Wide View Hida either. These places are not in coverage area.

JR deals covers basically JR trains only. But Hokuriku Arch Pass covers some “NON JR” railway trains. The following railways are NON JR companies but those are covered by this Pass.

  • Tokyo Monorail (Haneda airport – Hamamatsucho)
  • IR Ishikawa Railway between Kanazawa and Tsubata
  • Ainokaze-Toyama Railway between Toyama and Takaoka
  • Noto Railway between Nanao and Wakura-Onsen

If you arrive in or depart from Haneda airport, trip by Monorail is fully covered by this pass. But JR East Travel Service Center which is the exchange place of this pass does not open in early morning and late night. Please check the operation hours before you travel.

JR East Travel Service Center Haneda

You cannot make any stopover when you take IR Ishikawa Railway and Ainokaze-Toyama Railway. These coverage are connecting to Himi line, Johana line and Nanao line from Toyama and Kanazawa for your convenience.

In Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, subway and non JR railways are not covered by this pass. You have to add an extra fare or other city deal. Please find some more information in the following posts:

Guide to take trains in Tokyo. How to choose the best deal and the best route by the train.
There are so many train lines and subway lines in downtown Tokyo. It is hard to find the route and the coverage of many deals. This guide shows you the train system, how to find the route and how to choose the deals.
jprail.com
2016.01.24
Kyoto train route guide. How to choose the best route by train to get the major spots?
There are lots of the train lines and subway lines in Kyoto. This post shows you the train network in Kyoto. You can learn how to get the major places in Kyoto.
jprail.com
2013.09.22
Osaka train route guide. How much can we use JR Pass in Osaka? How to choose the best route by train to get the major spots in Osaka?
There are lots of the train lines and subway lines in Osaka. This post shows you the train network in Osaka. You can learn how to get the major places in Osaka.
jprail.com
2013.10.30

Compare single fare and Tokyo-Osaka Hokuriku Arch Pass

When you think about purchasing this deal, you need to know this is paid off in your trip or not. I show you some sample.
*All rates are based on base fare and reserved seat limited express supplement in regular season.

Trip from Narita airport to Kansai airport with stopover at Tokyo, Kanazawa, Shin-Osaka

Actually if you purchase single fare ticket and limited express surcharge ticket for Narita Express (Narita airport to Tokyo), the Hokuriku Shinkansen (Tokyo to Kanazawa), the limited express Thunderbird (Kanazawa to Shin-Osaka) and the limited express Haruka (Shin-Osaka to Kansai airport), total fare is around 23,000 yen. In this case, you have to purchase surcharge ticket for each segments. But you can use one base fare ticket and make stopovers. The ticket is valid for 6 days.

If you use the pass, you can use JR trains when you are in Tokyo and Osaka. So even though single fare and express surcharge combination is cheaper, you may expect to get the worth of this pass by this trip plan. But this pass does not give you a big saving for this itinerary.

Trip between Kanazawa and Tokyo by Hokuriku Shinkansen

Total fares is around 14,000 yen for one way. If you have a round trip between Tokyo and Kanazawa, you can get the worth.

Trip between Nagano and Tokyo by the Shinkansen

Total fare is around 8,500 yen for one way. You need to have some more trips if you want to use this pass.

Trip between Karuizawa and Tokyo by Shinkansen

Total fare is 6,000 yen for one way. This is not enough to use this pass by only this trip.

Trip between Kanazawa and Osaka/Shin-Osaka by the limited express Thunderbird

Total fare is around 8,000 yen for one way. If you have a round trip to Kanazawa from Osaka and do not visit Tokyo, Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass is better choice.

Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass user guide. Perfect deal for the traveler who wants travel to Kansai, Kanazawa and Toyama.
If you travel Kansai area and Hokuriku region, this deal, Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass may suit your trip plan. Please find more information about this deal in this post.
jprail.com
2015.02.08

You may think about using Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass if you intend to visit Shirakawago and Takayama too.

Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass user guide. Perfect deal to travel Takayama, Kanazawa, Toyama, Shirakawago from Nagoya or Osaka
Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass is very popular and convenient to travel Kanazawa, Takayama and Shirakawago. This post explains you how to use this pass.
jprail.com
2015.05.31

Trip between Narita Airport and Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shinjuku or Yokohama by Narita Express

The fare is around 3,000 to 3,500 yen.

Trip between Haneda Airport and Hamamatsucho by Tokyo Monorail

Single fare is around 500 yen for one way.

Trip between Kyoto and Osaka/Shin-Osaka by Special Rapid, Rapid or Local

Single fare is around 600 yen for one way.

Trip between Kyoto and Nara by Rapid or Local

Single fare is around 700 yen for one way.

Trip between Nara and Osaka/Shin-Osaka by Rapid or Local

Single fare is around 800 yen for one way.

Trip between Sannomiya (Kobe) and Osaka/Shin-Osaka by Special Rapid, Rapid or Local

Single fare is around 500 yen for one way.

Trip between Kyoto and Kansai airport by the limited express Haruka

Single fare is around 3,000 yen for one way. This fare is based on non reserved seat. Because this pass covers only non reserved seat on this train.

Trip between Shin-Osaka and Kansai airport by the limited express Haruka

Single fare is around 2,500 yen for one way. This fare is based on non reserved seat. Because this pass covers only non reserved seat on this train.

Fares in downtown Osaka and Kyoto

You can take any local trains, like Osaka Kanjo line (to Tennoji, Osakajo, JR-Namba), Yumesaki line (USJ), Sagano line (to Arashiyama) by this pass. The fare is varied by the distance. The fare range is 200 to 300 yen. The train ride in Osaka and Kyoto does help you to get the worth of the pass much.

Fares in downtown Tokyo

You can take any local trains, like Yamanote line, Chuo line by this pass. But the fares in downtown Tokyo is quite reasonable. If you take a local train from Tokyo to Shinjuku, the fare is around 200 yen. When you calculate the fares and compare this pass and single fare, you can ignore the fares in downtown Tokyo. It does not help to get worth very much.

Compare Hokuriku Arch Pass and JR Pass ordinary 7-day

If you have a round trip between Osaka and Tokyo, you may think to use Hokuriku Arch Pass. Because this pass covers both and the price is cheaper than JR Pass 7-day.

Hokuriku Arch PassJR Pass ordinary 7-day
Price24,400 yen (online)29,650 yen

Hokuriku Arch Pass is about 5,000 yen cheaper. This seems to be very attractive. But on the other hand, the trip time between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka is so different too.

Hokuriku Arch PassJR Pass ordinary 7-day
Travel time5.5 to 6 hours3 hours
TrainThe limited express Thunderbird
The Hokuriku Shinkansen (Kagayaki)		The Tokaido Shinkansen (Hikari)
TransferOnce at KanazawaDirect

If you drop by Kanazawa, Hokuriku Arch Pass is a good choice. But if you are looking for the deal of Tokyo – Osaka round trip, JR pass is better in my opinion. But the choice is yours. You can use either one.

Assessment

This deal suits the following plan.

  • Narita airport (or Haneda airport) – Tokyo – Kanazawa/Toyama – Tokyo – Narita airport (or Haneda airport)
  • Round trip between Tokyo and Kanazawa
  • Narita airport (or Haneda airport) – Tokyo – Kanazawa/Toyama – Osaka/Kyoto/Nara/Kobe – Kansai airport
  • Narita airport (or Haneda airport) – Tokyo – Kanazawa – Toyama – (Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route) – Nagano – Tokyo
    *Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route and bus from Shinano-Omachi to Nagano are not covered by this pass. You have to add Tateyama Kurobe option ticket.
  • Kansai airport – Osaka/Kyoto/Nara/Kobe – Kanazawa/Toyama – Nagano – Osaka/Kyoto/Kobe/Nara – Kansai airport

I hope this post will help you to pick up the right deal for your trip!

Comments

  1. Att says:
    May 31, 2017 at 5:32 pm

    Hi Takeshi,
    I’m going tokyo and Kyoto(1day trip) in August..1-3days- Tokyo 4thday- Kyoto 5th-7th- Tokyo. My flight will be from Haneda Airport and the place I’m staying is near to Asakusabashi station.. Can you suggest if I should buy the Jr pass or is there any alternative? And is going Kyoto 1 day enough?

  2. Pinky says:
    May 29, 2017 at 1:10 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I’ll be traveling to Tokyo in this December, appreciate you can advice me which pass should I be purchasing, JR Pass or Hokuriku Arch pass?

    Day 1 – 3: Tokyo
    Day 4 – 5: Kobe
    Day 6: Kanazawa
    Day 7 – 8: Takayama & Shirakawa-go
    Day 9: Nagano – Tokyo
    Day 10: Mt Fuji
    Day 11 – 15: Tokyo

    How many days should i spend at Mt Fuji? Should i visit Hakone after Mt Fuji? Hope you can share more traveling tips with me.

    Thanks! =)

  3. Sherlyn says:
    May 28, 2017 at 12:12 am

    Hello Takeshi,

    Can I trouble you to give me some advice on the passes as I am really confused.

    Here is my itinerary from 6th June to 21st june:

    Day 1; 6th: Arrive at Narita Airport, head down to Osaka
    Day 2; 7th: In Osaka: going Osaka Castle etc
    Day 3; 8th: Day trip to Kyoto then back to Osaka
    Day 4; 9th: in Osaka: Minoo park etc
    10th: Day trip to Nara then back to Osaka
    Day 5; 11th: in Osaka: Osaka Aquarium etc
    Day 6; 12th: Osaka to Tokyo
    Day 7-16; 13th to 21st: all around Tokyo from Shinjuku to Disneyland etc

    Do you think JR 7 day pass will be better as compared to Hikuriku Arch Pass? And should I be getting Osaka Amazing Pass while I’m in Osaka and Tokyo Metro Pass while I’m in Tokyo?

    Thank you for being so helpful 🙂

    Cheers,
    Sherlyn

  4. Bonnie says:
    May 22, 2017 at 12:47 am

    Hi,

    Im planning to go to Japan for 8 days in June. I and my family 4 people are travelling together.
    Day1. arrive at Narita Airport 8am in the morning – go to Osaka
    Day2. Kyoto
    Day3. Kyoto – back to Osaka around 5pm
    Day4. Osaka – Go to Tokyo around 2pm
    Day5. Tokyo
    Day6. Tokyo
    Day7. Mt Fuji – Morning to 6pm – Back to Tokyo
    Day8. Tokyo – Going to Narita Airport around 4pm.

    Firstly, Im thinking to catch the taxi to go around Osaka and Kyoto as we are 4 people. Do you think it might be cheaper?

    Secondly, JR 7 days pass might be suitable for us as we arrive Narita first then go to Osaka, Kyoto. After 4 days, back to Tokyo.
    However, when I plan to go Osaka Castle first then go to Shinsaibashi. JR pass do not cover from Osaka Castle to Shinsaibashi and Namba to Osaka.
    JR also do not cover Kyoto to Gion station (I have to buy Kyoto All Day Bus Pass).
    Then I found out Hokuriku Arch Pass which also cover Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto and Narita Airport.
    Also, for day 8, the JR pass is expire, we need to buy another ticket for day 8.

    Do you think Arch Pass is suitable for me or Do I have to buy Kansai Pass when Im in Tokyo?
    Are there any pass you recommend?

    Thank you for your help.

    Regards,
    Bonnie

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      May 22, 2017 at 10:29 am

      Hi Bonnie,

      I don’t think taxi is cheaper than bus/train. Traffic is heavy in Kyoto and Osaka. Trip time by taxi is sometimes longer than train. You can take taxi but you should use JR pass as long as it covers. When you need to take other transportation, you may thing about using taxi. Especially in Kyoto, some places cannot be accessed by train only, such as Kiyomizu-dera temple, Kinkaku-ji temple.

      I don’t recommend Hokuriku arch pass. It’s cheaper but it does not cover direct way between Osaka and Tokyo. If you use Hokuriku arch pass, you have to take train from Narita to Tokyo, Tokyo to Kanazawa and Kanazawa to Osaka. Trip time is 5.5 to 6 hours. It’s almost double of Tokyo-Osaka direct route which is covered by JR pass.

      As long as you are not interested in Kanazawa, this is not your choice.

      I think you need to add only bus pass in Kyoto if you don’t take taxi. JR pass is not perfect. But it covers many places too.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  5. fran says:
    May 14, 2017 at 2:29 am

    Hi, can I go from Haneda to Kanazawa using this pass? I checked in hyperdia that from Haneda, I take Keikyu Airport exp to transit in Shinagawa and then take JR Yamanote to Tokyo Station before I can get on to the Shinkansen Hakutaka.

    Is my whole journey covered by this pass?

  6. Caroline says:
    May 3, 2017 at 12:59 am

    Next June, we are planning to go to Japan for about 12 days.
    Our arrival is in Osaka (KAnsai Airport) and we will be back from Tokyo (Haneda Airport). Our plan si to visit Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Takayama, Shirakawago, Tokyo and Kawaguchiko.
    Which one is better, buying JR Pass or Tokyo-Osaka Hokuriku pass?
    We’re looking forward for your advice.
    Thank you

  7. Anastasia says:
    April 24, 2017 at 1:48 am

    Hello,

    We are also travelling during the Golden Week and I was hoping to get your opinion regarding our plan and whether you think we could use the Hokuriku Arch Pass for that.

    We arrive on April 28th around 7pm so day 1 will mostly be checking into a hotel in Tokyo. Was thinking to use a bus to get from Narita to Tokyo.
    Day 2 and 3-Spend in Tokyo
    Day 4- Activate the Hokuriku Arch Pass and travel to Nagano and spend one night there (is it worth spending the time there?)
    Day 5-Travel to Kyoto
    Day 6-Kyoto
    Day 7- Travel to Osaka
    Day 8-Osaka
    Day 9- travel back to Tokyo (exchange trains in Kanazawa-maybe spend a few hours there?)
    Day 10- Flight leaving from Narita early morning.

    Is it correct that if we purchase the pass online we can only book seats once we exchange the pass in Japan?

    Thank you very much for your help in advance,

    Anastasia

  8. HC says:
    April 21, 2017 at 7:49 am

    On my first day arrival at Narita airport, i plan to go straight to Toyama using Hokuriku Arch Pass. In order to avoid transit fr Narita Express to Hokuriku Shinkansen at Tokyo Station, i wish to change train at Omiya. Does this pass cover Narita Express from Narita airport to Omiya?

    My full itinerary is

    Day 1 Narita to Toyama
    Day 2 Alpen Route using option ticket
    Day 3 Toyama back to Tokyo
    Day 4 Tokyo
    Day 5 Back home

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      April 21, 2017 at 12:47 pm

      Hi HC,

      You can take Narita Express to Omiya by JR pass. But number of trip to Omiya by Narita Express is very few. And trip time is a bit longer than Natia -Tokyo-Toyama route. If you are okay with this, you can take Omiya route.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  9. EW says:
    April 18, 2017 at 7:18 am

    Hi,

    I’ll be travelling in Japan during the Golden week and will appreciate any advice I can get.

    Should I buy single trip tickets or the Hokuriku Arch Pass? My itinerary below:
    Day 1 – Tokyo (28Apr)
    Day 3 – Nagano
    Day 5 – Kyoto
    Day 8 to 10 – Tokyo

    Are seat reservations free of charge with the Arch Pass? What about for single trip ticket?

    Which website do I go to for the online seat reservation? Able to do this prior to arriving in Japan and collecting the pass?

    Any travel tips for taking trains during this period? I’ve read online that crowds can get really bad and it may be very difficult to get train tickets.

    Thanks!

  10. Michelle says:
    April 9, 2017 at 9:00 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I’ll be travelling from 2-10 may!

    2-4: Tokyo
    4-7: Osaka/Kyoto/Nara
    7-10: Tokyo

    Is the JR Kansai pass is more recommended?

    However, may I confirm if the trip back from Osaka to Tokyo is included in it?

    Thank you so much for your help!

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