Tokyo Wide Pass user guide. Perfect choice for trip to Nikko, Fuji, Gala Yuzawa and Odaiba

Tokyo springRail pass for visitors
The view of Rainbow Bridge from Odaiba (C) Mike Luk / JNTO
The view of Rainbow Bridge from Odaiba (C) Mike Luk / JNTO

Tokyo Wide Pass is currently sold as Kanto Area Pass. This pass will be remodeled and will be sold as Tokyo Wide Pass on December 1, 2015. It covers Tokyo and surrounding area, such as Mt. Fuji, Izu peninsula, or Nikko. Echigo-Yuzawa will be covered by Tokyo Wide Pass but it is not by Kanto Area Pass.

Tokyo Wide Pass will be sold at the higher price on December 1st, 2015 but the coverage ares will be bigger. I would like to show you about this pass and also I talk about the difference between Tokyo Wide Pass and Kanto Area Pass.

Prices and valid period

Validity periodAdult
12 years and older
Child
6 to 11 years old
3 consecutive
days
10,180 yen5,090 yen

*Child who is 5 years old and younger is free but you have to share the seat with child. If you want to have a seat for child too, you have to purchase child pass for even younger than 5 years old.
*This pass will be available from December 1st, 2015. But you can order this pass online in advance at JR East official site.

Tokyo Wide Pass is sold at 10,000 yen. Previous version of this pass, Kanto Area Pass is sold at 8,300 yen. The validity period is 3 consecutive days that is same as Kanto Area Pass. So the price higher than Kanto Area Pass but the coverage area is a bit bigger and more trains are covered by Tokyo Wide Pass.

Coverage Area

Toshogu is the highlight in Nikko. (C) Yasufumi Nishi /  JNTO
Toshogu is the highlight in Nikko. (C) Yasufumi Nishi / JNTO

This pass covers all JR lines in Kanto area, such as Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Yamanashi, Gumma, Ibaragi and Tochigi. And the pass also cover some places in Shizuoka and Nagano prefectures, such as Izu peninsula and Karuizawa. Please check this map to see the details.

Mostly the coverage area is not much different from Kanto Area Pass coverage area. This pass covers the following major spots in the area.

  • Nikko
  • Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi), Fuji-Q Land
  • Odawara (Gate station to Hakone)
  • Izu peninsula (Atami, Ito, Shimoda)
  • Katsuta (Gate station to Hitachi Seaside Park)
  • Karuizawa
  • Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi (Gate station to Kusatsu)
  • Kamakura
  • Kawagoe
  • Yokohama

And also two more great addition in the coverage of Tokyo Wide Pass.

  • Echigo-Yuzawa, Gala Yuzawa
  • Odaiba, Tokyo Waterfront Area

JR East official site – Tokyo Wide Pass

I will tell you the coverage railways at next chapter.

Valid trains and lines

JR deals covers basically JR trains only. Non JR railway’s train and subway are not covered. But Tokyo Wide Pass covers many “NON JR” railway trains. The following railways are NON JR companies but those are covered by Tokyo Wide Pass.

  • Tokyo Monorail (Haneda-Airport – Hamamatsucho)
  • Izu Kyuko Line (Ito – Izukyu-Shimoda)
  • Fuji Kyuko Railway (Otsuki – Kawaguchiko)
  • Joshin Dentetsu Line (Takasaki – Shimonita)
  • Saitama New Urban Transit Line (Omiya – the Railway Museum)
  • Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit Rinkai Line (Osaki – Shin-Kiba)
  • Limited Express Nikko, Spacia Nikko, Kinugawa, and Spacia Kinugawa (Shinjuku – Tobu-Nikko / Kinugawa-Onsen)
  • Tobu Railway local trains and rapid trains (Shimo-imaichi – Tobu-Nikko/Kinugawa-Onsen)

Those covered trains are huge benefit of this deal. Japan Rail Pass (a.k.a. JR Pass) covers only Tokyo Monorail. JR East Pass covers many railways on this list but JR East Pass does not cover Fujikyu Railway, Joshin Dentetsu Line and Saitama New Urban Transite Line. Especially Fujikyu Railway is a big benefit. You can get Lake Kawaguchi without any extra by this pass.

Fuji Kyuko Railway

Joshin Dentesu is not very well known. But it gives you access to one of World Heritaga Site, Tomioka Silk Mill from Takasaki.
How to access to the newest World Heritage Tomioka Silk Mill

When you go to Nikko, Tokyo Wide Pass covers limited express train to Nikko from Shinjuku directly. JR East Pass covers this train trip but Japan Rail Pass does not. This is one of the benefits of this rail pass too.
How to access to Nikko from Tokyo. There are three ways from Tokyo, Shinjuku and Asakusa.

Most of trains on this list has been covered by Kanto Area Pass. But at this time, Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit Rinkai Line is added on Tokyo Wide Pass. This line is not JR company but trains run through JR Saikyo line. It connects Kawagoe, Omiya, Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tokyo-Teleport (Odaiba) and Shin-Kiba. You can access to Odaiba from Ikebukuro, Shinjuku and Shibuya directly. Shin-Kiba is only two stations away from Maihama that is the gateway station of Tokyo Disney Resort. Please find more information about Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit Rinkai Line at the official site.

Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit Rinkai Line

Both Tokyo Wide Pass does not cover Tokaido Shinkansen. Even if you want to use this Shinkansen in JR East area, like Tokyo to Atami or Odawara, this pass does not cover at all because Tokaido Shinkansen is not operated by JR East but JR Central. When you want to get Odawara (Hakone) or Atami, your choice is rapid train or Limited Express Odoriko. These trains are covered by Tokyo Wide Pass.
No express surcharge! Fast, economical and convenient! Rapid service network in Greater Tokyo
Access to Izu and Atami from Tokyo/Yokohama. Limited Express Odoriko / Super View Odoriko

Compare single fare and Tokyo Wide 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 to Nikko or Kinugawa-Onsen from Shinjuku or Ikebukuro by direct limited express train, Nikko or Kinugawa

Total fare is 4,000 yen for one way to either Nikko or Kinugawa-Onsen. You have to use the pass more to get the worth of this deal.

Trip to Nikko from Tokyo by Shinkansen and local train

If you stay at east side of Tokyo, like Shinagawa, Tokyo, Ueno, this route may be faster than direct express from Shinjuku.
Total fare is 5,580 yen for one way. Tokyo Wide Pass is cheaper than only this round trip cost.

Trip to Lake Kawaguchi from Tokyo or Shinjuku by Limited Epxress to Otsuki and Fuji Kyuko railway

Total fares are 4,080 yen from Tokyo and 3,910 yen from Shinjuku for one way. It is not enough to get the worth by only this round trip.

Trip to Gala Yuzawa from Tokyo by Shinkansen

Total fare is 6,870 yen for one way. You can get the worth of this deal easily by only this trip.

Trip to Odawara, Atami or Izukyu-Shimoda from Tokyo by limited express train, Odoriko or Super View Odoriko

Total fare is 2,940 yen to Odawara for one way by Odoriko and 3,190 yen for one way by Super View Odoriko.
Total fare is 3,800 yen to Atami for one way by Odoriko and 4,180 yen for one way by Super View Odoriko.
Total fare is 6,260 yen to Izukyu-Shimoda for one way by Odoriko and 6,640 yen for one way by Super View Odoriko.
If you visit Shimoda, this pass is cheaper.

Trip to Karuizawa from Tokyo by Shinkansen

Total fare is 5,910 yen for one way. You can get the worth of this deal easily by only this trip.

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

Total fares are 3,020 yen for Tokyo, 3,190 yen for Shinagawa or Shinjuku, and 4,290 yen for Yokohama.

Trip between Haneda Airport and Hamamatsucho by Tokyo Monorail

Single fare is 490 yen for one way.

Trip to Tokyo-Teleport (Odaiba) from Shinjuku

Single fare is 500 yen for one way.

Fares in downtown Tokyo

You can take any local trains, like Yamanote line, Chuo line, Keiyo 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 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.

Assessment

This deal will be sold at 10,000 yen that is 1,700 yen higher than previous version, Kanto Area Pass. But it can take you Gala Yuzawa and Odaiba. In my opinion, it is a great addition. It gives you a great deal. I still recommend you this deal. You can use this pass for access to/from airport and visit two places, you can get more than 10,000 yen value easily.

Comments

  1. Kristina says:

    Hi, takeshi
    I will buy tokyo wide pass, on my arrival haneda.
    My itinerary is
    1 day go to izu
    2 day go to gala yuzawa
    3 day go to dysne sea
    I want to go to kawaguchi
    Can I go to kawaguchi after see izu?
    Can you show me the time to go kawaguchi end how to take there? Thanks takeshi

  2. Oyy says:

    Hi,

    Would like to seek for advice.

    If I’m only planning to visit Ashikaga flower park or hitachi seaside park for a day and the other days would be traveling around Tokyo, such as Ueno park, Tokyo skytree, and eventually travelling to Haneda Airport, is it still worthwhile to get the tokyo wide pass?

    Will be staying around Sasazuka station.

  3. arsita says:

    Hallo.
    what kind railways thats cover by tokyo wide pass from narita to tokyo / shinjuku?

  4. Dita says:

    Hi there,

    I’m planning to purchase the tokyo wide pass to get to gala yuzawa. We plan to spend half a day skiing while spending the rest of the day visiting other town like nikko, kawagoe or hitachi seaside park to maximize the pass. Was wondering, do we have to go back to tokyo station in order to go to other city? Or would it be possible to visit other city directly from gala yuzawa.

    Cheers

    • Hi Dita,

      Kawagoe may be okay but other places are too far to visit from Gala. Gala is open at 8:00. If you take the earliest train, you can get there by 8:00. But on the way back, train departs from Gala at 11:25 and next one is 15:26 departure. 11:25 is a bit too early and 15:26 is too late.

      It takes 3 hours to get Nikko via Omiya from Gala. You don’t need to go back to Tokyo. If you want to visit Hitachi seaside park, you have to go back to Tokyo. It takes 2 hours to get Hitachi seaside park from Tokyo.

      Kawagoe is outside Tokyo and it’s much easier to access than other places.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  5. Melanie says:

    Hi Takeshi

    Good day to you. I am planning a trip in June and would wish to visit these places, which JR pass which i get? I know its abit of a stretch here. .. I am considering of gettting wide or NN pass. Please kindly advise.
    1. Kusatsu Onsen
    2. Ueda bessho onsen
    3. Nagano Zenkoji
    4. Mastumoto castle
    5. Hakone – fuji area / Nikko area

    (5) would HF/ Nikko be better if i get the local area’s free pass? (Wide + local area free pass)

    Otherwise, should i revise my trip locations? 🙂

    Thank you for your help

  6. Eric Siow says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    Can I take Yamanote Sen by using this Tokyo Wide Pass?
    Can I buy it on the internet before I go to Tokyo? Because my flight touches down at 4:30am, but your office open at 7:45am.

    Thanks and regards.

    • Hi Eric,

      Unfortunately you cannot buy it online. You have to wait until open.
      Some other passes are sold online but if you use these pass, you still need to exchange. You cannot get an actual pass online.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  7. Mimoi says:

    Hi,
    Do you have an itinerary for 3 day wide pass?
    we are actually want to go to Gala for 1 day
    and 1 day for Mt. fuji and the last day is undecided (maybe odaiba?shibuya?)

    If you dont mind to give me a suggestion regarding this.
    We are planning to go this Jan 7-9, because jan 9 is holiday.
    But the way we are located in yokohama, bentenbashi is the nearest train station.

    Thank you in advance

  8. Antony says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I will be arriving Tokyo in late evening. By that time, the JR travel service centers are closed already.

    May I buy the Tokyo Wide Pass at JR ticket offices (Midori-no-madoguchi) at shinjuku station?

    Thank you in advance!

    Antony

  9. Sephiria says:

    Hi Takeshi, can I check if the pass can be bought and activated at a later date? Because I would like to use it from kinosaki onsen(might be heading there via bus) and there is no sales office there. Thank you!

  10. Andre says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    I think your suggestion on the Tokyo Wide pass is probably better suited for our use. Where does one purchase this pass, would this be the same as the JR pass? over the internet, or can we purchase this once in Tokyo?
    Thank you once again.
    Andre.

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