Hokuriku Arch Pass user guide. Clarify valid trains, coverage area and compare single fare and pass

Kanazawa castleRail pass for visitors
Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Osaka are covered by this deal. (C) ©Sue Ann Simon (upper left), Osaka Government Tourism Bureau (lower left), Yasufumi Nish (upper right), Kanazawa City (lower right) and JNTO (all photos)
Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Osaka are covered by this deal. (C) ©Sue Ann Simon (upper left), Osaka Government Tourism Bureau (lower left), Yasufumi Nish (upper right), Kanazawa City (lower right) and JNTO (all photos)

This pass covers Narita airport, Tokyo, Nagano, Toyama, Kanazawa, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe and Kansai airport. It suits the one way trip from Tokyo to Osaka via Hokuriku area, such as Kanazawa. This pass does not cover Tokyo – Osaka/Kyoto direct route by the Shinkansen. It is valid for 7 consecutive days. The valid period is same as JR Pass 7-day. The price is cheaper than JR Pass 7 days but coverage area is much smaller.

In this post, I would like to share the information of Hokuriku Arch Pass with you. And I show you some sample rate and compare the pass value and single fares. I also compare Hokuriku Arch Pass and JR Pass. You may find this suits your plan or not.

Prices and valid period

Tokyo-Osaka Hokuriku Arch Pass 7-day

 Purchase outside Japan or onlinePurchase inside Japan
Adult25,500 yen25,500 yen
Child
(6-11 years old)
12,750 yen12,750 yen

*Any child who is 5 years old and/or younger is free but you have to share the seat with child. If you want to have a seat for your child too, you have to purchase a child pass for even younger than 5 years old.

This pass is valid for 7 days only. There is no Green pass choices.

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

Coverage area

Coverage map of Tokyo-Osaka Hokuriku Arch Pass (Click to view large)
Coverage map of Tokyo-Osaka Hokuriku Arch Pass (Click to view large)

This pass covers the trip between Narita airport and Kansai airport via Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hokuriku area. This pass covers the following major spots in the area.

  • Tokyo
  • Kyoto
  • Osaka
  • Kanazawa
  • Toyama
  • Nagano
  • Karuizawa
  • Nara
  • Kobe

The following places surrounding Tokyo, Osaka and Kanazawa are not located in the coverage area. You CANNOT use this pass to access these following places.

It seems to cover whole part of the trip between Tokyo side and Osaka side via Kanazawa and Toyama. But there are some restrictions. Please see next chapter about valid trains.

Valid trains and lines

The following JR trains are covered by this pass.

  • Narita Express between Narita airport and Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro
    You cannot get Yokohama because it is outside coverage area.
  • The Hokuriku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kanazawa
  • The limited express Thunderbird between Wakura Onsen, Kanazawa and Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Osaka
  • The limited express Haruka between Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Tennoji and Kansai airport
    But only non reserved seat is covered by this pass.
  • Local and Rapid train in downtown Tokyo area, and between Tokyo and Narita airport
  • Local, Rapid and Special Rapid train in Kansai area (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara)
  • Etsumi-Hoku line between Fukui and Kuzuryuko
  • Nanao line between Tsubata and Nanao
  • Himi line between Takaoka and Himi
  • Johana line between Takaoka and Johana
  • Takayama line between Toyama and Inotani
  • Oito line between Itoigawa and Minami-Otari
  • Rapid Airport Narita between Narita airport and Kinshicho, Tokyo, Shinagawa
  • The limited express Shirasagi between Kanazawa and Maibara
  • The limited express Wide View Hida between Toyama and Inotani, and between Osaka and Maibara
  • The limited express Noto-Kagaribi between Kanazawa and Wakura-Onsen
  • The limited express Hanayome-Noren between Kanazawa and Wakura-Onsen
  • The limited express Dinastar between Kanazawa and Fukui

There are some more limited express trains running in the coverage area. As long as you travel in the coverage area, you can ride these trains as well. But even though the limited express Shirasagi and the limited express Wide View Hida are covered, you cannot get Nagoya by Shirasagi and cannot get Takayama by Wide View Hida either. These places are not in coverage area.

JR deals covers basically JR trains only. But Hokuriku Arch Pass covers some “NON JR” railway trains. The following railways are NON JR companies but those are covered by this Pass.

  • Tokyo Monorail (Haneda airport – Hamamatsucho)
  • IR Ishikawa Railway between Kanazawa and Tsubata
  • Ainokaze-Toyama Railway between Toyama and Takaoka
  • Noto Railway between Nanao and Wakura-Onsen

If you arrive in or depart from Haneda airport, trip by Monorail is fully covered by this pass. But JR East Travel Service Center which is the exchange place of this pass does not open in early morning and late night. Please check the operation hours before you travel.

JR East Travel Service Center Haneda

You cannot make any stopover when you take IR Ishikawa Railway and Ainokaze-Toyama Railway. These coverage are connecting to Himi line, Johana line and Nanao line from Toyama and Kanazawa for your convenience.

In Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, subway and non JR railways are not covered by this pass. You have to add an extra fare or other city deal. Please find some more information in the following posts:

Compare single fare and Tokyo-Osaka Hokuriku Arch 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 from Narita airport to Kansai airport with stopover at Tokyo, Kanazawa, Shin-Osaka

Actually if you purchase single fare ticket and limited express surcharge ticket for Narita Express (Narita airport to Tokyo), the Hokuriku Shinkansen (Tokyo to Kanazawa), the limited express Thunderbird (Kanazawa to Shin-Osaka) and the limited express Haruka (Shin-Osaka to Kansai airport), total fare is around 23,000 yen. In this case, you have to purchase surcharge ticket for each segments. But you can use one base fare ticket and make stopovers. The ticket is valid for 6 days.

If you use the pass, you can use JR trains when you are in Tokyo and Osaka. So even though single fare and express surcharge combination is cheaper, you may expect to get the worth of this pass by this trip plan. But this pass does not give you a big saving for this itinerary.

Trip between Kanazawa and Tokyo by Hokuriku Shinkansen

Total fares is around 14,000 yen for one way. If you have a round trip between Tokyo and Kanazawa, you can get the worth.

Trip between Nagano and Tokyo by the Shinkansen

Total fare is around 8,500 yen for one way. You need to have some more trips if you want to use this pass.

Trip between Karuizawa and Tokyo by Shinkansen

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

Trip between Kanazawa and Osaka/Shin-Osaka by the limited express Thunderbird

Total fare is around 8,000 yen for one way. If you have a round trip to Kanazawa from Osaka and do not visit Tokyo, Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass is better choice.

You may think about using Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass if you intend to visit Shirakawago and Takayama too.

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

The fare is around 3,000 to 3,500 yen.

Trip between Haneda Airport and Hamamatsucho by Tokyo Monorail

Single fare is around 500 yen for one way.

Trip between Kyoto and Osaka/Shin-Osaka by Special Rapid, Rapid or Local

Single fare is around 600 yen for one way.

Trip between Kyoto and Nara by Rapid or Local

Single fare is around 700 yen for one way.

Trip between Nara and Osaka/Shin-Osaka by Rapid or Local

Single fare is around 800 yen for one way.

Trip between Sannomiya (Kobe) and Osaka/Shin-Osaka by Special Rapid, Rapid or Local

Single fare is around 500 yen for one way.

Trip between Kyoto and Kansai airport by the limited express Haruka

Single fare is around 3,000 yen for one way. This fare is based on non reserved seat. Because this pass covers only non reserved seat on this train.

Trip between Shin-Osaka and Kansai airport by the limited express Haruka

Single fare is around 2,500 yen for one way. This fare is based on non reserved seat. Because this pass covers only non reserved seat on this train.

Fares in downtown Osaka and Kyoto

You can take any local trains, like Osaka Kanjo line (to Tennoji, Osakajo, JR-Namba), Yumesaki line (USJ), Sagano line (to Arashiyama) by this pass. The fare is varied by the distance. The fare range is 200 to 300 yen. The train ride in Osaka and Kyoto does help you to get the worth of the pass much.

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 around 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.

Compare Hokuriku Arch Pass and JR Pass ordinary 7-day

If you have a round trip between Osaka and Tokyo, you may think to use Hokuriku Arch Pass. Because this pass covers both and the price is cheaper than JR Pass 7-day.

Hokuriku Arch PassJR Pass ordinary 7-day
Price24,400 yen (online)29,650 yen

Hokuriku Arch Pass is about 5,000 yen cheaper. This seems to be very attractive. But on the other hand, the trip time between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka is so different too.

Hokuriku Arch PassJR Pass ordinary 7-day
Travel time5.5 to 6 hours3 hours
TrainThe limited express Thunderbird
The Hokuriku Shinkansen (Kagayaki)
The Tokaido Shinkansen (Hikari)
TransferOnce at KanazawaDirect

If you drop by Kanazawa, Hokuriku Arch Pass is a good choice. But if you are looking for the deal of Tokyo – Osaka round trip, JR pass is better in my opinion. But the choice is yours. You can use either one.

Assessment

This deal suits the following plan.

  • Narita airport (or Haneda airport) – Tokyo – Kanazawa/Toyama – Tokyo – Narita airport (or Haneda airport)
  • Round trip between Tokyo and Kanazawa
  • Narita airport (or Haneda airport) – Tokyo – Kanazawa/Toyama – Osaka/Kyoto/Nara/Kobe – Kansai airport
  • Narita airport (or Haneda airport) – Tokyo – Kanazawa – Toyama – (Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route) – Nagano – Tokyo
    *Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route and bus from Shinano-Omachi to Nagano are not covered by this pass. You have to add Tateyama Kurobe option ticket.
  • Kansai airport – Osaka/Kyoto/Nara/Kobe – Kanazawa/Toyama – Nagano – Osaka/Kyoto/Kobe/Nara – Kansai airport

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

Comments

  1. Chuchu says:

    Hi Takeshi
    I would buy a Hokuriku Arch Pass from Tokyo to Kanazawa in Jan. Would like to take a day trip to Shirakawa go. Does Hokuriku Arch Pass covers bus to Shirakawa go or I need to buy a separate bus ticket?
    Thanks!
    Chuchu

  2. Juan says:

    Hello,
    Planning to go on 10/3/18-18/3/18
    Will be arriving in haneda. Planning to visit tokyo-shirakawago-kyoto
    Is it worth to take this pass or jr pass?
    Can this pass be used to got to disneyland from tokyo?
    Please advise
    Thank you!

  3. KT says:

    Hi JPRail

    I’m planning for a trip to Japan. I will be departing on 18th Dec night and will be landing at Narita Airport on 19th Dec morning. Here’s my plan:

    19-21 : Narita Airport to Tokyo (Akihabara and stay there about 2 nights)
    21-22: Akihabara to Shirakawago (staying for 1 day)
    22-27: Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe
    27: Return flight from Kansai Airport in the afternoon

    Total is a 9 Days 8 nights trip.

    I would like to check, if I were to buy the Tokyo-Osaka Hokuriku Arch Pass 7 days and also JR West Kansai Area Pass 2 Days for all my 9 Days, will this be good enough?

    Many thanks for any advise given.

  4. JH says:

    I have plan
    Day 1 : Narita Airport to shin osaka ( stay there about 3 days)
    Day 4: shin osaka to Kyoto (staying at Kyoto 3 days)
    Day 5: kyoto to kobe
    Day 6: Kyoto to kobe
    Day 7: Kyoto to Tokyo
    Isn’ t good that we buy the JR pass instead of Hokuriku Arch Pass?

    • Hi JH,

      JR pass is better choice than Hokuriku Arch Pass. Hokuriku Arch Pass does not cover Tokyo-Shin Osaka/Kyoto direct route. You have to take the route via Kanazawa. You need to change trains once and trip time is 2 to 2.5 hours longer than direct route.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  5. Rodney says:

    I am looking at different passes for my upcoming trip to Kanazawa. The first option was the JR East Pass. However, from Joetsu-Myoko to Kanazawa is JR West territory and not covered by the JR East pass. So if I take the Shinkansen from Ueno to Kanazawa, I would have to pay for the Joetsu-Myoko to Kanazawa segment because it’s not part of JR East pass?

    If so, it’s interesting how the Arch pass is about 10000 yen more expensive than the JR East pass, about the same amount as a Joetsu-Myoko to Kanazawa round trip?

    • Hi Rodney,

      If you take a reserved seat, it costs about 6,000 yen for Joetsu-Myoko to Kanazawa. JR East Pass Nagano Niigata is 17,000 yen. So the total cost is 29,000 yen. Hokuriku arch pass at 24,000 yen is cheaper. But if you use JR East pass to visit other places, such as Matsumoto, Nikko, Hokuriku arch pass does not cover many areas and JR East Pass + extra is better choice.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  6. Med Tan says:

    Hi Takeshi san,
    Can you advice which JR pass to buy? Arrive at narita airport travel to tokyo, stay in tokyo for 5days, travel to osaka, stay 3 days, leave to kansai airport. I will be staying total 8days.what will be the best pass i should buy? And I understand the Hokuriku Arch pass takes longer travelling time to osaka which I am noy so keen. Appreciate your wise advice. Thank you.

  7. Zetty Ezhard says:

    Hi! Can i use this pass to go to Arashiyama? Will it cover the whole sagano line?
    And for tokyo, just JR lines will be covered or whole tokyo metro?
    Please advise. Thanks!!

  8. Shelwyn Tan says:

    Dear Takeshi,

    Can I use this pass and travel to Ueda station, Shiojiri station, Inashi station, and Matsumoto station?

    Thanks
    Wyn

  9. Tan says:

    Hi Takeshi san,
    We will be travelling to Osaka in May 2018 for 15 days.
    Our itinerary is Osaka to Tateyama to Hakodate and Osaka. Should we buy the 7 dayTateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route pass + 7D JR pass, or what is your best advice on ouritinerary?

    Thank you
    Tan

    • Hi Tan san,

      You need JR pass. 14 days JR pass + Tateyama Kurobe option ticket seems to be the best choice but I’m not 100% sure at this point. Please show me the detailed plan. I need departure and arrival airport, and I also want to know where you stay and how many days you will spend at each place.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Tan says:

        Takeshi san,

        Thank you so much for your reply.
        Could we know can we start to visit from Kansai airport to Alphine route by using the Hokuriku arch pass ? Then from Toyoma to Shinano Omachi (total 7 days spent) then from here to Hokkaido by using 7D JR pass and back to Osaka?
        We still having our itinerary planning, therefore no details of where to stay yet. We intend to visit Hakodate, Otaru, Sapporo, Furano, Arashikawa and Kamiyubetsu Park. Could we able to visit those places by JR pass within 7D?

        Thank you for your attention.

        Tan

  10. PERA says:

    Dear Takeshi,
    i’ve got a plan to go to tokyo-osaka for 7 days and think that should buy Hokuriku arch pass. my plan as below :
    Day 1-2 : kaga onsen station
    Day 3 -5 : osaka station – universal
    Day 6 : Tokyo (still pending for reservation) stay for 1 night and will back in haneda airport for tomorrow.
    Pls, recommend
    Thank you

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