JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass user guide. Perfect deal for the travelers who visit Tokyo and Sapporo by train.

hakodate churchHokkaido Area
2016.02.06
Night view form Mt.Hakodate ©Hokkaido Tourism Organization/© JNTO
Night view form Mt.Hakodate. Hakodate is one of the popular places in Hokkaido. ©Hokkaido Tourism Organization/© JNTO

This pass covers Narita airport, Greater Tokyo, Gala Yuzawa, Nikko, whole part of Tohoku region, Hakodate, Otaru, Noboribetsu, Lake Toya and Sapporo. You also may use this pass to get Lake Kawaguchi and Hakone even though this pass covers these trips partially. You cannot use this pass to get central, northern and eastern Hokkaido, such as Furano, Asahikawa, Shiretoko, Kushiro. JR Pass is better choice if you intend to visit these places.

In this post, I would like to share the information of this pass with you. And I will show you some sample rate and compare the pass value and single fares. You may find that JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass suits your plan or not.

Prices and valid period

JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass Flex 6-day

 Purchase outside Japan
or online		Purchase inside Japan
Adult27,000 yen27,000 yen
Child
(6-11 years old)		13,500 yen13,500 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.
*If you want to purchase this pass in advance at the authorized agent, you may see the list of JR Pass travel agent. You can purchase it at same travel agents as JR Pass.

JR Pass official site

This pass is valid for a consecutive 6-days only. There is no Green pass choice.

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

Coverage area

This pass covers eastern part of mainland of Japan, such as Tokyo, Kanto region, Tohoku region, and southern part of Hokkaido. Please see the coverage map in the link below:

Official site of JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass

This pass covers the following major spots in the area.

  • Tokyo
  • Yokohama
  • Nikko
  • Kamakura
  • Gala Yuzawa
  • Otsuki (gateway to Lake Kawaguchi)
  • Odawara (gateway to Hakone)
  • Izu peninsula (Atami, Ito, Shimoda)
  • Kusatsu
  • Karuizawa
  • Sendai, Matsushima
  • Akita, Kakunodate
  • Aomori, Hirosaki
  • Gono line (the route of Resort Shirakami)
  • Hakodate
  • Toya, Date-Monbetsu (gateway to Lake Toya)
  • Noboribetsu
  • Otaru
  • Sapporo

The following places are not located in the coverage area. You CANNOT use this pass to access these following places.

Of course western part of mainland, like Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Shikoku and Kyushu are not covered either.

Valid trains and lines

H5 series will run on Hokkaido Shinkansen as Hayabusa and Hayate. This fleet is same series as Tohoku Shinkansen E5 series. (C) By Sukhoi37 (Own work), JR Hokkaido H5 series shinkansen set H1 approaching Sendai Station on a test run,CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Hokkaido Shinkansen is covered by this pass. (C) By Sukhoi37 (Own work), JR Hokkaido H5 series shinkansen set H1 approaching Sendai Station on a test run,CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

All JR trains that run in the coverage area are covered by this pass except Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Atami. But I would like to show you major trains.

I have checked the press release several times. I could not find any other express trains in coverage trains list. But in my understanding, the following express and rapid trains are covered.

JR deals covers basically JR trains only. But Tokyo-Osaka Hokuriku ArchPass covers some “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 Railway (Ito – Izukyu-Shimoda)
  • Limited Express Nikko and Kinugawa between Shinjuku and Tobu-Nikko, Kinugawa-Onsen
    *The trains from Asakusa station are not covered at all.
  • Aoimoi Railway
  • IGR Iwate Galaxy Railway
  • Sendai Airport Trains

If you arrive in or depart from Haneda airport, trip by Monorail is fully covered by this pass. You can exchange your pass at JR East Travel Service Center Haneda.

You may not be able to exchange or purchase your pass at Haneda from early arrival and late departure. As of February 2016, the window at Haneda is open between 7:45 and 18:30 only.

In Tokyo, subway is not covered by this pass. You have to add single fare or city deal. Please see the coverage in Tokyo at the link below:

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

Compare single fare and JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass

When you think about purchasing this deal, you must know that you can get the worth or not. I show you some sample rates.
*All rates are approximate and it is based on the base fare and the reserved seat limited express supplement in regular season. The fare may be varied by the season.

Trip from Tokyo to Sendai

Total fare is 11,500 yen for one way. You need to have some more trips if you want to use this pass.

Trip from Tokyo to Sapporo

Total fare is 32,000 yen for one way. One way trip is enough to be paid off.
*Single ticket may be cheaper because JR East and Hokkaido will sell some discount ticekt. But I believe this trip is still enough to use this pass.

Trip from Narita airport to Tokyo

The fare is around 4,000 yen.

Trip between Karuizawa and Tokyo by Shinkansen

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

Trip to Nikko or Kinugawa-Onsen from Shinjuku or Ikebukuro by the limited express train, Nikko or Kinugawa

Total fare is 4,500 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 the Shinkansen and a 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 around 6,000 yen for one way.

Trip to Gala Yuzawa from Tokyo by the Shinkansen

Total fare is about 7,000 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 the 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.
*Shinkansen runs from Tokyo to Odawara and Atami. But this Shinkansen line, “Tokaido Shinkanse” is not covered by this pass because Tokaido Shinkansen does not belong to JR East but JR Central that is different company.

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

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

Trip between Haneda Airport and Hamamatsucho by Tokyo Monorail

Single fare is 490 yen for one way.

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 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

If you travel from Tokyo to southern Hokkaido, like Hakodate, Otaru and Sapporo by train, this is a good deal. You may add trip to Nikko, Izu, Fuji and Hakone , Gala Yuzawa, any places in Tohoku region. If you use this pass, you must be sure that you do not visit outside coverage area, such as, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Hiroshima, Kyushu, Takayama, Kanazawa and Nagoya. This pass does not cover eastern and northern part of Hokkaido either, such as Furano, Asahikawa, Kushiro, Shiretoko, Abashiri and Wakkanai.

You may be wondering which one is better, this deal or Japan Rail Pass (a.k.a. JR Pass). JR Pass 7 days is sold at 29,100 yen. But you have to use this pass in 7 consecutive days.

On the other hand, JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass Flex 6 days is sold at 26,000 yen. Price is a bit cheaper and you can pick any 6 days in 14 days valid period. But the coverage area is much smaller than JR Pass. JR Pass covers throughout Japan.

If you want to visit Kansai area, such as Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and/or Kobe, this deal does not suit your trip plan. If you visit both Kansai area and Hokkaido from Tokyo, even 14 days JR pass is way cheaper than single fare.

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

Comments

  1. Nawee says:
    December 29, 2016 at 6:54 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I am now in Niseko and plan to use the JR East South Hokkaido to travel from Hirafu to Hakodate on Jan 2, 2017.

    Most of the web resources states that I should find my way to Kutchan station S23, while Google map is telling me to go to Hirafu JR station S24 which is closer to my hotel.

    The timetable at http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ttable/06.pdf don’t show Hirafu station at all, but google and Hyperdia does.

    The hotel front desk don’t even know there is a Hirafu station close by.

    Could you please recommend?

  2. Hon Li Chueng says:
    December 26, 2016 at 7:51 pm

    I m planning a trip to Hokkaido & tokyo for Dec 2017 during Christmas season, pls advise whether i should buy JR rail Pass or JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass . My itinenary as below :
    Day 1 – Arrive Sapporo Chitose airport
    Day 2 – Sapporo
    Day 3 – Day trip to Otaru
    Day 4 – Sapporo to Hakodate
    Day 5 – Day trip to Lake Toya from Hakodate
    Day 6 – Hakodate
    Day 7 – Hakodate to Tokyo

    Can you please advise is all the route as above all covered by the pass ?
    Is the pass can use within Sapporo/Hakodate/Tokyo city ?
    Please also advise which train we should take for the above route.

    For JR pass, is there any possibilities it will be sold out or it is unlimited supply. When is the date we need to purchase our pass if we travel on Dec.

    Many thanks

  3. Steven says:
    December 13, 2016 at 11:03 pm

    Hi Takeshi San,

    Want to ask if the JR East-South pass includes the Tokyo Metro rides? http://www.tokyometro.jp/index.html

    Domo Arigato

  4. Joanne says:
    November 29, 2016 at 8:52 pm

    Hi Takeshi San
    Does this pass includes express train from new-chitose airport to Sapporo station?
    We are coming to Sapporo at first week of Jan. Stays at sopporo 3days then Hoshino Tomamu 3 days – lake toya 2days – Hakodate 2days – Tokyo (appx 10days in total) Do you think this pass is suitable for us?

    Cheers
    Joanne

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      November 29, 2016 at 11:04 pm

      Hi Joanne san,

      You can take the train from New Chitose to Sapporo by this pass. But all trains are rapid train and not express. This rapid train is a sort of commute train.
      You can use this pass for your trip. But it’s valid for 7 days only. And Tomamu is just outside coverage area. So you can start using it when you leave Tomamu but you have to pay for Tomamu to Minami-Chitose. Minami-Chitose is one station away from New Chitose. And this statin is the nearest station from Tomamu in coverage area.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  5. Steven says:
    November 20, 2016 at 6:55 am

    Hi Taheshi San,

    would like to know if I’m getting the JR East South Hokkaido 7 day pass. It says that it covers the Shinkaisen to Tokyo also. Can I know if it more than once? As we are going to Chitose then Hakodate and Sappporo. Planning for a day trip to Tokyo if the pass valid for a back and forth Shinkaisen to Tokyo. As it doesn’t mentioned how many trips for the Shinkaisen.

    Thanks

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      November 20, 2016 at 8:23 am

      Hi Steven san,

      You can take Shinkansen and other express trains as many as you want. However Tokyo is quite far from Sapporo. Please see the timetable in the link below. Day trip to Tokyo from Sapporo is not realistic. Because even if you take the first train and the last train, you can stay in Tokyo for one hour only.
      http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ttable/08.pdf

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Steven says:
        November 20, 2016 at 5:05 pm

        Ohaiyo Takeshi San,

        Thanks for your prompt reply. Me and my friend decided to stay overnight over at Tokyo since it’s not realistic to do day trip. Can you recommend which train schedule can we take from Sapporo-Tokyo and back which maximise our stay over at Tokyo? Our trip is around first week of Jan 2017.

        Domo Arigato

        • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
          November 20, 2016 at 5:21 pm

          Hi Steven san,

          Have you seen the line of timetable in the previous reply? If you want to maximize your time in Tokyo, you have to take the first one from Sapporo and the last one from Tokyo. Please check the timetable again.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Steven says:
        November 20, 2016 at 5:24 pm

        Dear Takeshi San,

        Please advice if this is correct
        1) Hakodate Ltd Exp (SH2) 0600
        2) Change to Tahoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen (HB16) 0931
        3) Reach Tokyo at 1404

        Coming back to Sapporo
        1) Tahoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen (HB25) 1520
        2) Change to Sapporo Ltd Exp (SH23) 1955
        3) Reach Sapporo at 2340

        Domo Arigato

  6. Apple says:
    November 12, 2016 at 9:45 am

    Hi Takeshi san

    Is it correct that I can only reserve the trains only after I exchange for the pass when in Japan?
    Does it mean when I exchange for the pass, I can also buy all the tickets for subsequent rides instead of reserving and collect another time?

    Regards
    Apple

  7. Melissa says:
    November 12, 2016 at 1:28 am

    Hi Takeshi san,

    I have purchased the JREast-South Hokkaido pass and am wondering how to get to Gala Yuzawa from Narita airport using this pass. We will be arriving at Narita around 0830 and expect to be on train by 0930. Please advise the best way to go about this.

    Thanks.

  8. Nawee says:
    October 29, 2016 at 11:41 am

    Hello Takeshi san,

    If I use this pass, can I use the Narita express to travel from Narita to Tokyo station for free?

  9. Avis says:
    October 19, 2016 at 4:40 pm

    If we use the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass on the Yamanote Line in Tokyo, does it count as One day of the Six valid days within the 14 day period?

  10. Melissa says:
    October 16, 2016 at 8:08 pm

    Hi Takeshi san, we’ll be travelling on JRhokkaido pass to Kutchan station for skiing in December and will be returning to Haneda International airport on New Year’s eve. We need to be at Haneda by 10pm. Please advise us as how to get to Haneda with the JRHokkaido pass by 10pm on that day. What time train should we be taking. How long is the trip?
    Thank you.

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      October 16, 2016 at 10:20 pm

      Hi Melissa san,

      Please see the link below. You will find the train from Kutchan to Oshamanbe that departs at 12:42.
      http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ttable/04.pdf

      It will arrive at Osahamanbe at 14:19. And then you have to take limited express Hokuro 12. Please see the link below to find “H12”. It will connect Hokkaido Shinkansen ant you will arrive in Tokyo at 20:32.
      http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ttable/08.pdf

      And then you can take Yamanote line to Hamamatsucho and take Monorail to Haneda. Train and Monorail run very very frequently. It takes about 30 to 40 minutes. You will be there one hour earlier but there is not later train connection to get Tokyo.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Melissa says:
        October 17, 2016 at 1:40 am

        Takeshi san,
        Thanks for the timetable link. What if I were to leave earlier and take the JRHokkaido 1000am train to Rankoshi. Is Rankoshi stn close by to Oshamambe stn and is it easily accessible? I’d rather be early for my flight than miss it.
        Thanks again.

        • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
          October 17, 2016 at 6:38 am

          Hi Melissa,

          Rankoshi is way far from Oshamanbe. You cannot take this train. There is no public transportation between Rankoshi and Oshamanbe.
          If you want to get Tokyo earlier, go other direction to Sapporo via Otaru. There is a train at 8:04 from Kutchan to Otaru. You can catch one earlier train connection from Sapporo (10:44 Dep / H10) to Tokyo via Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

12345…7
Copied title and URL