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
- Coverage area
- Valid trains and lines
- Compare single fare and JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
- Trip from Tokyo to Sendai
- Trip from Tokyo to Sapporo
- Trip from Narita airport to Tokyo
- Trip between Karuizawa and Tokyo by Shinkansen
- Trip to Nikko or Kinugawa-Onsen from Shinjuku or Ikebukuro by the limited express train, Nikko or Kinugawa
- Trip to Nikko from Tokyo by the Shinkansen and a local train
- Trip to Gala Yuzawa from Tokyo by the Shinkansen
- Trip to Odawara, Atami or Izukyu-Shimoda from Tokyo by the limited express train, Odoriko or Super View Odoriko
- Trip between Narita Airport and Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shinjuku or Yokohama by Narita Express
- Trip between Haneda Airport and Hamamatsucho by Tokyo Monorail
- Fares in downtown Tokyo
- Assessment
Prices and valid period
JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass Flex 6-day
Purchase outside Japan or online | Purchase inside Japan | |
---|---|---|
Adult | 27,000 yen | 27,000 yen |
Child (6-11 years old) | 13,500 yen | 13,500 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.
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
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.
- Narita Exress between Narita airport and Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Yokohama
- Hokuriku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Saku-Daira
- Joetsu Shinkansen between Tokyo and Gala-Yuzawa
*Gala-Yuzawa is open for winter time only. You can get only Echigo-Yuzawa when Gala-Yuzawa is closed. - All segments of Tohoku, Hokkaido, Akita and Yamagata Shinkansen
- Limited Express Super Azusa, Azura and Kaiji between Tokyo, Shinjuku and Kofu, Kobuchizawa
- Limited Express Super View Odoriko and Odoriko between Tokyo, Shinjuku and Atami, Ito, Izukyu-Shimoda
- Limited Express Hitachi, Tokiwa between Shinagawa, Tokyo, Ueno and Katsuta, Iwaki
- Limited Express Tsugaru between Aomori and Akita
- Limited Express Super Hokuto and Hokuto between Hakodate and Sapporo
- Limited Express Suzuran between Muroran and Sapppro
- Local and Rapid train in downtown Tokyo area
- Rapid Resort Shirakami between Akita and Aomori via Gono line
- Hakodate Liner between Hakodate and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto
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:
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
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?
Hi Nawee san,
Timetable in the link that you gave me is actually shows only major stations. All trains stop at Hirafu station and you can catch it at Hirafu.
And also all trains are local trains and you cannot reserve your seat.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you very much Takeshi-san
Cheers,
Nawee
No worries, Nawee san.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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
Hi Hon,
You can use this pass, JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass. It covers all trips in your trip plan. But this pass covers JR trains only. It does not cover city bus, tram, streetcar and subway. You may need to add single fare to take these transportation.
You can find all train schedule in the link below. But these timetables may be changed. JR usually revise timetable in March and October. It will not be a big change so you can use this schedule to build your trip plan now.
http://www2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/ttable/index.html
Please find the info about trip in busy season in the link below.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/2017-busiest-period-to-travel-by-train-tips-to-book-your-seat-in-even-busy-period.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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
Hi Steven san,
Unfortunately not. Any JR deals do not cover subway ride.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Hi Steven san,
You have picked up the right train connections.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi San,
Can you advice if the JR pass is 27,000yen including tax? No other charges right?
Thanks
Hi Steven san,
It’s all included.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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
Hi Apple san,
Technically you can book a ticket for some trains before you exchange the pass. Please see the link belowL
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/how-to-reserve-seat.html
Especially trains in JR East area can be reserved online in advance.
https://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/English/wb/common/Menu/Menu.aspx?_ga=1.241208002.1325107855.1421419524
But you have to collect the ticket by 21:00 on the day before. So you cannot book a train for arrival day.
After you exchange the pass, you can book any trains if you want.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi san
I have listed the trains to take below, can you pls go through and let me know if any of them is not included in this JR East South Hokkaido pass?
1. Sapporo to Noboribetsu – Ltd Exp Hokuto 6
2. Noboribetsu to Toya (JR Muroran) – Ltd Exp Super Hokuto 16
3. Toya (JR Muroran) to Hakodate – Ltd Exp Super Hokuto 14
4. Hakodate to Shin Hakodate Hokuto – Hakodate Liner (This one probably not included?)
5. Shin Hakodate Hokuto to Tokyo – Shinkansen Hayabusa 12
6. Tokyo to Ito – Ltd Exp Super View Odoriko 7
7. Ito to Tokyo – Ltd Exp Super View Odoriko 8
8. Tokyo to Narita Airport Terminal 2 – Ltd Exp Narita Express
Thank you very much for your time!
Hi Apple san,
All trains are covered. Hakodate Liner is covered too.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi san
Thank you very much once again for your help!
Regards
Apple
No worries, Apple san.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi san
Based on my train rides, is it correct that I can only make online reservation for number 6, 7 and 8?
Regards
Apple
Hi Apple san,
That’s right.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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.
Hi Melissa san,
Your route is the following:
Narita airport (Narita Express) Tokyo (Joetsu Shinkansen) Gala Yuzawa
Please see the link below to find the timetable:
http://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/english/wb/common/timetable/index.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello Takeshi san,
If I use this pass, can I use the Narita express to travel from Narita to Tokyo station for free?
Hi Nawee san,
Yes, you can. It’s covered by this pass fully.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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?
Hi Avis,
Yes. Even if you take one local train, it start to count. If you want to save your days of pass, don’t use it for taking the trains in downtown Tokyo.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Takeshi, Hai wakari masu, arigatou!
No worries, Avis.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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.
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
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.
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
THANKS Takeshi san. You just save me from a missed flight bcause i was intending to take the early trip to Rankoshin. Now I know better.
Thanks once again.
Cheers Melissa.
No worries, Melissa.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com