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
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.

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. aini says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I would like to ask about the Tokyo Wide Pass.
    If im travelling from Nerima ku to Tokyo Disneyland, is the tickets are covered by the Tokyo Wide Pass? Because I didn’t saw the Maihama station in the Tokyo Wide Pass map. Thank you.

    • Hi Aini,

      As long as you take JR trains, it will cover. But I don’t think there is JR stations in Nerimaku. I’m not very familiar with Nerimaku but I think only Seibu railway and Tobu railway run in Nerimaku. These trains are not JR and not covered by this pass. I think you have to pay for these trains to get Shinjuku or Ikebukuro.

      The map shows you only major stations. Maihama is in coverage area and it’s covered.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. amyyen says:

    Hi, Takesih,
    I’ll be arriving haneda thn straight to shinjuku where i stay
    1st day -tour around tokyo
    2nd day- going to yokohama thn back to shinjuku
    3rd day – mount fuji
    4th day – going to osaka where i will stay
    5th day – usj
    6th day – kyoto
    7th day – nara
    last day -kix depart home.
    Do you think JR Kanto Area Pass recommend for a family(4 included my 2 children 18 & 11) of us. Thank in advance.

  3. Celine Hao says:

    Hello! We are planning to go to Japan on Feb with the following itinerary in mind, is this plan doable and practical/cost effective?
    Day 1: ARRIVAL JR Tokyo Wide Pass Day 1
    Narita to Tokyo to Jomo-Kogen
    Day 2: JR Tokyo Wide Pass Day 2
    Jomo Kogen to Tokyo, city tour in Tokyo
    Day 3: JR Tokyo Wide Pass Day 3
    City tour in Tokyo
    Day 4: DEPARTURE Buy individual/per trip tickets
    Tokyo to Narita
    Can the Tokyo Wide Pass be used for Narita airport transfer to Tokyo? Can it be used for going around Tokyo (Akihabara, Tsukiji, Shibuya) Thank you!

  4. CT says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    My family (2 adults and 2 boys aged 6&7) will be heading staying 3 nights in tokyo before heading to Myoko. If i purchase the JR Kanto pass, which obviosly will not bring me all the way to Nagano, how much do i need to top up for the additional route?

    Or do you think I will be better off getting the train tickets piece meal?

    cheers

  5. yap lai cheng says:

    Hi, I intend to travel straight to Karuizawa once I arrive in Narita airport on 23 Nov and plan to stay in Karuizawa for 3 nights. So I will be leaving Karuizawa for Tokyo on 26 Nov. Can I still buy the Kanto pass?

  6. Sandi says:

    Hi Takeshi, great website you have here! I have some questions:
    1. Can I use Kanto Area Pass to go to Hitachi Seaside Park from Ueno?
    2. I arrive at Narita Nov 10, then I want to go to Ueno. Nov 11, I will go to DisneySea. Nov 12, I will go to Hitachi Seaside Park and return to Ueno. By my calculation, using Kanto Area Pass will save me money, is it true?

    Thank You for your help!

  7. Naomi says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    I was browsing in hyperdia, looking for train timetables for kawaguchiko-otsuki. And i only got kaiji/azusa on my preferred timetables. I’m wondering if those trains are covered by Kanto Pass?
    I’ve been looking for information but haven’t found one yet (or maybe it’s just me being too lazy to read everything hehehe)
    Thank you in advance 🙂

  8. Jakapong says:

    HI there,
    i have some questions about Kanto pass
    1. Kanto pass is valid for 3 days, it mean If i start to use it 1st Oct, it will valid on 3rd mid night? OR start from the time I stamp, and valid in next 72 Hours(3 days)?
    2. Can I use Kanto pass to take NEX from Narita to Tokyo station?
    3. I plan travel to Kawakuchiko and kamakura, I do have to reserve the seat OR i can take any train without reserve the seat?
    Thank you
    Jakapong

    • Hi Jakapong,

      1. It’s expired on 3rd Oct. It’s valid for midnight to midnight, not 72 hours.
      2. Yes
      3. You don’t need to book for both. But when you go to Kawaguchiko, you will take Limited Express train from Shinjuku to Otsuki. Reservation is not required but recommended. Kanto Area Pass includes reserved seat fee. Just book and secure your seat.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  9. nora says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    I’m planning to use Kanto pass for day trip from Tokyo to Kawaguchiko on the 1st day, Karuizawa Ski Resort on the 2nd day and to explore Tokyo on the last day of the pass. I wish to visit Showa Kinen Park from Shinjuku station using Kanto pass. Is it fully cover?

  10. HO LF says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    My family will be travelling to Tokyo in mid Jul for 6 days. Our plan:

    day 1 & 2 : Kawaguchiko

    day 3 to 6 : Tokyo / Asakusa

    My questions:

    1) Narita airport to Shinjuku: buy N’EX TOKYO Round Trip Tickett (4000 yen)

    2) Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko: buy Fujigoko Enjoy Ticket (4350 yen)

    Is above ticket is the best choice during our stay?

    Please advise.

    Thank you.

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