JR East Kanto Area Pass. Perfect choice for tourist who want to go to Fuji, Izu, Nikko from Tokyo.

kawaguchiko fujiRail pass for visitors
Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi) can be accessed bvy this pass ©Akira Okada/©JNTO
2012.02.07
Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi) can be accessed bvy this pass ©Akira Okada/©JNTO

Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi) can be accessed bvy this pass ©Akira Okada/©JNTO

Are you going to stay in Tokyo for several days? Do you have any plans to go outside of Tokyo, like Mt. Fuji, Izu peninsula, or Nikko when you stay in Tokyo? If so, this newest rail pass, Kanto Area Pass should be suitable for you!
This brand new pass has been started to sell from JR East in December, 2011. The price is only 8,000 yen for unlimited train trip in 3 consecutive days. I will show where you can go by this pass and compare this Kanto Area Pass, JR Pass and JR East Pass.

*As of December 1, 2015, Kanto Area Pass will be sold as Tokyo Wide Pass. Price, coverage and valid trains will be changed. Please find the detailed information of newer version, Tokyo Wide Pass at the post, Tokyo Wide Pass is newer version of Kanto Area Pass. Nikko, Fuji, Gala Yuzawa and Odaiba are covered by this pass.

Area

This pass cover 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.

I compare Kanto Area Pass, JR East Pass, and Japan Rail Pass. Please see the table below.

AreaKanto Area PassJR East PassJapan Rail Pass
TokyoYYY
YokohamaYYY
NikkoYYY
KamakuraYYY
Kawaguchiko (Mt. Fuji)YNN
Atami (Izu peninsula)YYY
Shimoda (Izu peninsula)YYN
SendaiNYY
NiigataNYY
NaganoNYY
HokkaidoNNY
KyotoNNY
OsakaNNY
HiroshimaNNY
KyushuNNY

The Kanto Are Pass is only pass that cover Kawaguchiko in Mt. Fuji. This is the biggest advantage of this pass.

Find your hotels in 500 cities throughout Japan!!!

Hotels in Kawaguchiko
Hotels in Atami
Hotels in Karuizawa

Prices and valid period

Kanto Area Pass is sold at 8,300 yen for adult and 4,200 yen for child (6-12yrs). The pass is valid for 3 consecutive days. So this pass is obviously for the tourist who stay for the short time or using this pass with other long term passes, such as Japan Rail Pass.

ex) Stay in Japan for 10 days:
Spend first (or last) 3 days in Tokyo. Use 7 days Japan Rail Pass for travelling in all Japan, such as Hokkaido, Kyoto, Kyushu. Use this pass to travel to Mt. Fuji, Nikko or Izu when you stay in Tokyo.

Please refer JR East Kanto Area Pass page. It says the round trip to Kawaguchiko in Mt. Fuji from Narita Airport is 14,240 yen. The round trip to Nikko from Haneda airport is 11,800 yen. So if you have multiple travel, like Nikko and Mt. Fuji from Tokyo, this pass gives you a great deal. And this page show you where you can purchase this pass.

Validity

I think this chapter is very important too. You need to know which train you can take by pass before you purchase. I compare Kanto Area Pass, Japan Rail Pass and JR East Pass again.

TrainsKanto Area PassJR East PassJapan Rail Pass
Local trainsYYY
Green classNY (Green pass)Y (Green pass)
Limited expressYYY
Tohoku ShinkansenTokyo-KuroisoYY
Tohoku Shinkansen HayabusaAdd fareAdd fareY
Tohoku Shinkansen Hayabusa Gran classAdd fareAdd fareAdd fare
Joetsu ShinkansenTokyo-Jomo KogenYY
Nagano ShinkansenTokyo-SakudairaYY
Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo-Kyoto/Osaka)NNY
Sanyo Shinkansen (Shin Osaka-Hakata)NNY
Kyushu Shinkansen (Shin Osaka-Hakata)NNY
Tokyo Monorail (Haneda-Hamamatsucho)YYY
Izu Kyuko line (Ito-Shimoda)YYN
Tobu line (to Nikko)NYN
Fuji Kyuko line (to Kawaguchiko)YNN
Hokuetsu Kyuko line (Echigo Yuzawa-Naoetsu)NYN

Both Kanto Area Pass and JR East Pass do not cover Tokaido Shinkansen. Even if you want to use this Shinkansen in JR East area, like to Atami, you still need to pay full fare because Tokaido Shinkansen is not operated by JR East but JR Central.
When you go to Nikko, JR East Pass cover limited express train Nikko that is operated between Shinjuku and Nikko directly. But both Japan Rail Pass and Kanto Area Pass do not cover this train. You need to take Tohoku Shinkansen to Utsunomiya and take local train to Nikko.
Refer this post: How to access to Nikko. Learn about how to get Nikko by Japan Rail Pass with no extra charge.
When you go to Kawaguchiko, Kanto Area Pass cover local train only on Fuji Kyuko line. Fuji Kyuko operate some express trains. But you need to pay additional charge to take these trains.

Refer this post: Japan Railways is the best way to access Mt. Fuji? How much can we use Japan Rail Pass to go to Mt. Fuji?

Conclusion

In my opinion, JR East pass is not useful so much. But Kanto Area Pass is very convenient because of great addition, such as Fuji Kyuko and Izu Kyuko.

Comments

  1. txh says:
    June 29, 2013 at 7:25 am

    Hi,

    I’m planning to go to Odawara. Is it possible to use the JR Kanto Area Pass for shinkansen Hikari from Shinagawa to Odawara?

    Regards
    txh

    • JPRail says:
      June 29, 2013 at 12:17 pm

      Hi txh,
      Actually no. Because Tokaido Shinkansen is not under JR East.
      Cheers,
      Takeshi / JP Rail

      • txh says:
        June 29, 2013 at 7:52 pm

        Hi, then how about the LTD. EXP ODORIKO 105?
        I checked through hyperdia, and from Shinagawa, there’s the LTD. EXP ODORIKO 105 to Odawara.
        Would it be possible with the usage of the JR Kanto Pass?

        Thanks
        txh

  2. LKY says:
    May 15, 2013 at 9:58 pm

    Hi, I would like to travel from Tokyo to Katsuta (Ibaraki prefecture) to visit Hitachi Seaside Park. Does Kanto pass cover this area? Thank you!

  3. An Qi says:
    May 5, 2013 at 10:48 pm

    Hi Takeshi/JP Rail,

    From Tokyo to Sakaiminato (Shigeru Mizuki – Gegege no Kitaro creator is born) I can take the Ltd Express Sunrise Izumo. According to Hyperdia, I’ll arrive the next morning. If I want to return to Tokyo the same day around 4pm. The journey takes longer. It goes from Sakaiminato to Yonago to Okayama then Tokyo. From Okayama to Tokyo, it be the Shinkasen Nozomi. May I know if I can use the JR Pass for Shinkasen Nozomi?

    Or can I can the Ltd Express Sunrise Izumo back to Tokyo? If so, what time is it?

    Thanks.

    An Qi

  4. An Qi says:
    April 27, 2013 at 9:21 pm

    Hi Takesahi/JP Rail,

    Thanks for your prompt reply.

    I plan to stay in Japan for about 10 days. Upon arrival by air, I’ll go to Mt Fuji. Stay overnight at Mt. Fuji and go to Nikko. From there, I’ll follow your sample itineray – 7 Day Tohoku JP Rail. Nikko to Zao, Yamadera, Sendai/Matsushima, Oirase – last stop and back to Tokyo.

    From Tokyo to Tottori for Shigeru Mizuki’s Yokai 🙂 sightseeing for a day.

    Back to Tokyo and stay for 3 days.

    If I buy the JP Rail 7 days or 14 days, then I don’t have to buy the 3 day Kanto Pass, right? Is that what you’re saying? Or should I buy both because of Mt Fuji (Kawaguchi)?

    Thanks for your advise & travel tips.

    An Qi

    • JPRail says:
      April 27, 2013 at 11:20 pm

      Hi An Qi,

      I think JR Pass 14 days is the best choice for you. Of course if you have JR Pass, you don’t need to buy Kanto Area Pass. You have to pay extra fro Fuji Kyuko from Otuski to Kawaguchiko. But it does not make sense to purchase Kanto Area Pass for access to Kawaguchiko at 7000 yen. Basic fare is 1100 yen for one way.

      As long as you have 14 days pass, all part of your trip will be covered.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  5. An Qi says:
    April 26, 2013 at 12:09 am

    Hi Takeshi/JP Rail,

    I’m planning to go to Tokyo. I like to visit Nikko, Fuji, Sendai (from Sendai go to Zao Hotspring, Matsushima and Oirase) and Tottori.

    After reading your website, I know I can buy a JR Kanto Pass (3 day pass – 8000 Yen) to cover Nikko & Fuji.

    Plus the JR Rail 7 day pass (or 5 day) can cover Sendai and Nikko too. What about from Tokyo to Tottori? Can I use the same JR Rail from Tokyo to Tottori? By overnight Izumo train.

    Please advise. Thanks.

    An Qi

  6. Goh says:
    April 6, 2013 at 5:36 am

    Hi,

    Both of us plan to take the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line from ikebukuro to Ginza.

    Does kanto area pass includeTokyo Metro Marunouchi Line?
    Or we need to pay the fare separately?

    Thank you.

    • JPRail says:
      April 6, 2013 at 3:25 pm

      Hi Goh,

      Kanto Area Pass does not cover any subway line. If you want to save your money, take Yamanote line from Ikebukuro to Yurakucho. Ginza is only 5 minutes walk from Yurakucho.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  7. Liew says:
    April 4, 2013 at 1:01 pm

    Hi

    We are going to Tokyo fm 23/4-1/5 and will stay in same hotel near Disneyland. i suppose limousine bus to the hotel will be the best option us. Will spend 2 or 3 days in Disneyland.. Still exploring whether able to go to Hakone and Nikko on a 1 day trip each (between Friday to Mon) as it is a golden week in Japan as I read that it is not advisable to travel out of Tokyo during this period as all tourist attractions will be very crowded and also that we may have difficulties in getting around with the transport. Read about the romancecar and would like to try it..Do you have any advise on this ie shall we just drop the plan of going to Hakone (& Nikko) and just venture around Tokyo only?

    If in your opinion, the situation is not as bad as we thought ie can go Hakone and/or Nikko, what pass do you suggest us to buy? We are traveling with 2 kids (1.5 years old & 5.5 years old) so the furthest places we intend to go will be Hakone and Nikko only. Btw, do I need to buy child ticket for my 5.5 years old girl as she has not celebrated her 6th birthday yet. Thanks in advance.

    • JPRail says:
      April 4, 2013 at 4:07 pm

      Hi Liew,

      I have never been to Nikko and Hakone in GW. So I checked several Japanese forum. They said it is so crowded. I think you will not be able to book limited express trains for Nikko and Hakone. It is usually sold out one month before.

      If you can book it after you arrive in Japan, you can go ahead. But if you cannot make it, you have to take local train. But it is too much for your kids. My daughter is 4 years old. She always complain when she is on board more than one hour. 🙂

      Anyway the choice is yours. But in my opinion, I don’t recommend to get there. Popular spots in Tokyo will be crowded as well. But it will be better than Hakone and Nikko.

      Under 6 years old, it is free. You don’t need to purchase the ticket.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  8. Junni says:
    March 16, 2013 at 8:12 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    Thanks for your recommendation on Kanto Area Pass. I’d like to ask do you mean this pass only cover Fuji Kyuko Line from Otsuki to Kawaguchiko but not Fuji Kyuko Limited Express trains?

    And if I plan to use this pass at the end of my trip in Tokyo, does it cover JR from Hammamatsucho to Haneda airport? (Instead of airport to city?)

    Thanks alot.

    • JPRail says:
      March 16, 2013 at 2:47 pm

      Hi Junni,

      Yes. When you take Limited Express (Fujisan Tokkyu) or Rapid Fuji Tozan Densha on Fuji Kyuko line, you have to pay surcharge.

      This pass cover Tokyo Momorail too. You don’t need to pay for the monorail with this pass.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  9. yul says:
    March 3, 2013 at 11:55 pm

    Hi,

    Which train that I can ride to Kawagoe by using Kanto area pass??

    By Tobu:
    Kawagoe Station, Kawagoe-shi Station and Ikebukuro Station are connected by frequent trains along the Tobu Tojo Line

    By Seibu
    Hon-Kawagoe Station and Seibu Shinjuku Station are connected by frequent trains along the Seibu Shinjuku Line

    By JR
    Kawagoe Station and Shinjuku Station are also connected by frequent direct rapid trains via Omiya along the JR Saikyo/Kawagoe Line.

    Is it free for children under 6 to board on any JR/local subways in Japan (Tokyo,Osaka) with accompanying adult?

    Thank you,
    yul

  10. Soo says:
    December 5, 2012 at 12:43 am

    Hi,

    I’ll arrive Narita Ap on 25 Dec & would like to purchase JR Kanto Pass. How to use this pass (which lines to take):

    Day 1
    1) From Narita Ap -> Shin-Yokohama (Hotel @ Shin-Yokohama)
    2) From Shin-Yokohama -> Kawazu Seven Waterfalls -> Yokohama
    3) Yokohama -> Shin-Yokohama

    Day 2
    1) From Shin-Yokohama -> Kawaguchiko -> Shin-Yokohama

    Day3
    1) From Shin-Yokohama -> Tokyo Station -> Karuizawa -> Tokyo Station

    Would like to know any route above if I can reserve seat prior taking the trains (including secure the return tickets to final destination in a day) & any route above does not covered by the JR Kanto Pass.

    Also, my friend will meet me @ Shin-Yokohama from Tokyo area on 25 Dec before going to Kawazu with me. How he can use JR Kanto Pass to reach Shin-Yokohama from Tokyo Area? He stays near Suitengumae Station.

    Can I purchase JR Kanto Pass few days in advance before I activate it?

    Thanks.

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