Besides the well known Japan Rail Pass , there exists a large variety of regional rail passes that provide unlimited travel in a certain area of the country. The interactive map below indicates which regions are covered by what passes (click on a pass to see its coverage area or click on a location on the map to see which passes are valid there). It is followed by a more detailed list of some of the best rail passes available in Japan:
Hokkaido Rail Pass
Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Pass
Sapporo-Furano Area Pass
Tohoku South Hokkaido Rail Pass
JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass
JR East Tohoku Area Pass
JR East Nagano Niigata Area Pass
Tokyo Wide Pass
Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Area Tourist Pass Mini
Hokuriku Arch Pass
Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass
Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Tourist Pass
Hokuriku Area Pass
Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass
Ise-Kumano-Wakayama Area Tourist Pass
Kansai Railway Pass
Kansai Mini Pass
Kansai Area Pass
Kansai Wide Area Pass
Kintetsu Rail Pass
JR West All Area Pass
Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass
Setouchi Area Pass
Sanyo Sanin Area Pass
Sanyo Sanin Northern Kyushu Pass
Kansai Sanin Area Pass
Tottori Matsue Pass
Hiroshima Yamaguchi Area Pass
Okayama Hiroshima Yamaguchi Area Pass
All Shikoku Rail Pass
Kyushu Rail Pass
Nationwide
Japan Rail Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on almost all JR trains nationwide, including bullet trains, limited express trains, local trains, some JR buses and the JR ferry to Miyajima.
Duration:
7, 14 or 21 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
7 days
50,000 yen
14 days
80,000 yen
21 days
100,000 yen
More details...
JR Seishun 18 Kippu
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Type:
Unlimited travel on local and rapid (kaisoku) JR trains nationwide.
Duration:
3 or 5 consecutive days
Conditions:
Available only seasonally.
Price:
3 days
10,000 yen
5 days
12,050 yen
More details...
Hokkaido
JR Hokkaido Rail Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on all trains, including limited express trains and most buses, operated by JR Hokkaido and JR Hokkaido Bus.
Duration:
5 or 7 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
5 days
20,000 yen
7 days
26,000 yen
More details...
JR Hokkaido Free Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on all trains, including limited express trains and most buses, operated by JR Hokkaido and JR Hokkaido Bus.
Duration:
7 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available during peak travel seasons.
Price:
More details...
JR Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on JR trains in the area around Sapporo and Noboribetsu.
Duration:
4 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
Outside Japan
9,000 yen
Inside Japan
10,000 yen
More details...
JR Sapporo-Furano Area Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on JR trains in the area around Sapporo and Furano.
Duration:
4 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
Outside Japan
10,000 yen
Inside Japan
11,000 yen
More details...
Kanto / Tohoku
JR East Tohoku Area Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on trains operated by JR East in the Kanto and Tohoku regions, including shinkansen, limited express trains and local trains.
Duration:
5 consecutive days
Conditions:
Available only to holders of non-Japanese passports.
Price:
30,000 yen
More details...
JR East South Hokkaido Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on trains operated by JR East and JR Hokkaido in the Kanto Region , the Tohoku Region and southern Hokkaido , including shinkansen, limited express trains and local trains.
Duration:
6 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
35,000 yen
More details...
JR Tohoku South Hokkaido Rail Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on JR trains in the Tohoku Region and southern Hokkaido , including shinkansen, limited express trains and local trains.
Duration:
6 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
30,000 yen
More details...
Kanto
JR Tokyo Wide Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on JR trains and selected non-JR lines in the Kanto Region.
Duration:
3 consecutive calendar days
Conditions:
Available only to holders of non-Japanese passports.
Price:
15,000 yen
More details...
Nikko Pass
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Type:
Tobu offers two types of passes for Nikko. They consist of 1) a round trip to Nikko by Tobu train and 2) unlimited travel on selected transportation in the Nikko region.
Duration:
2 or 4 days
Conditions:
Available only to holders of non-Japanese passports.
Price:
Nikko World Heritage Area Pass
2,120 yen
Nikko All Area Pass
4,780 yen
More details...
Odakyu Enoshima Kamakura Free Pass
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Type:
1) Round trip to Fujisawa by Odakyu Railway and 2) unlimited travel on the Enoden train between Fujisawa and Kamakura and the Odakyu Line between Fujisawa and Enoshima.
Duration:
1 day
Price:
More details...
Hakone Kamakura Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on Odakyu trains and the Enoden, as well as Odakyu-affiliated trains, buses, cablecars, ropeways and boats in the Hakone area.
Duration:
3 days
Price:
7,520 yen
More details...
Hakone / Izu / Mt.Fuji
Hakone Free Pass
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Type:
1) Round trip to Hakone by the Odakyu Line and 2) unlimited use of most trains, cablecars, ropeways, boats and buses in the Hakone area.
Duration:
2 or 3 days
Price:
2 days (from Shinjuku)
6,100 yen
3 days (from Shinjuku)
6,500 yen
More details...
Fuji Hakone Pass
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Type:
1) A round trip between Tokyo and Hakone by Odakyu Railway and 2) unlimited use of designated trains, cablecars, ropeways, boats and buses in Hakone and the Fuji Five Lakes region.
Duration:
3 days
Conditions:
Available only to holders of non-Japanese passports.
Price:
10,100 yen
More details...
Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Area Tourist Pass Mini
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Type:
Unlimited travel on designated trains in Shizuoka Prefecture, as well as on selected bus and ferry lines, especially around Mount Fuji.
Duration:
3 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
6,500 yen
More details...
Chubu
JR East Nagano Niigata Area Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on trains operated by JR East in the Kanto Region and the Koshinetsu Region (Yamanashi , Nagano and Niigata Prefectures), including shinkansen, limited express trains and local trains.
Duration:
5 consecutive days
Conditions:
Available only to holders of non-Japanese passports.
Price:
27,000 yen
More details...
Takayama-Hokuriku Tourist Pass
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Type:
Unlimited use of JR trains between Nagoya, Takayama and Toyama and between Osaka, Kanazawa and Toyama. Unlimited use of buses between Takayama and Kanazawa and between Takaoka and Shirakawago.
Duration:
5 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
19,800 yen
More details...
JR Hokuriku Area Pass
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Type:
Unlimited use of JR trains in the Hokuriku Region around Kanazawa.
Duration:
4 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
7,000 yen
More details...
JR Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass
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Type:
Unlimited use of JR trains in the Kansai and Hokuriku Regions and Okayama.
Duration:
7 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
19,000 yen
More details...
JR Aozora Free Pass
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Type:
Unlimited usage of local and rapid JR trains around Nagoya on a Saturday, Sunday or national holiday.
Duration:
1 day (Saturday, Sunday or national holiday)
Price:
2,620 yen
More details...
Western Japan
JR West All Area Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on JR trains in the service area of JR West, which includes the Kansai, Hokuriku and Chugoku regions.
Duration:
7 days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
26,000 yen
More details...
Kansai
See also our separate page about passes for the Kansai Region .
Kansai Railway Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on non-JR trains and subways in the Kansai region (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe). Formerly known as "Kansai Thru Pass".
Duration:
2 or 3 days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
2 days
5,600 yen
3 days
7,000 yen
More details...
JR Kansai Mini Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on local and rapid JR trains in the region around Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe.
Duration:
3 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
3,000 yen
More details...
JR Kansai Area Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on local and rapid JR trains in the region around Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe and Himeji and on the Haruka limited express to/from Kansai Airport.
Duration:
1, 2, 3 or 4 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
1 day
2,800 yen
2 days
4,800 yen
3 days
5,800 yen
4 days
7,000 yen
More details...
JR Kansai Wide Area Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on local, rapid, limited express JR trains in the Kansai Region and the Sanyo Shinkansen between Osaka and Okayama.
Duration:
5 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan. A similar 3-day pass is available also to foreign residents.
Price:
12,000 yen
More details...
Kintetsu Rail Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on trains on the Kintetsu railway network (except limited express trains). The "Plus" version additionally includes selected buses.
Duration:
5 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
Regular
4,500 yen
Plus
5,700 yen
More details...
Ise-Kumano-Wakayama Area Tourist Pass
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Type:
Unlimited use of JR trains between Nagoya, Ise, the Kumano Region, Osaka and Nara and unlimited use of selected buses in the Kumano area.
Duration:
5 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
16,500 yen
More details...
Koyasan World Heritage Ticket
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Type:
1) Round trip to Koyasan by Nankai train and cablecar and 2) unlimited usage of Nankai buses on Koyasan.
Duration:
2 days
Price:
From Namba (Osaka)
3,140 yen
More details...
Chugoku
JR Sanyo Sanin Area Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on JR trains in the Chugoku Region and parts of the Kansai Region, including shinkansen and limited express trains.
Duration:
7 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
23,000 yen
More details...
JR Sanyo Sanin Northern Kyushu Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on JR trains in the Chugoku Region, northern Kyushu and parts of the Kansai Region, including shinkansen and limited express trains.
Duration:
7 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
26,000 yen
More details...
JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on JR trains in the Kansai Region and along the Sanyo Coast as far as Hiroshima, including shinkansen and limited express trains.
Duration:
5 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
17,000 yen
More details...
JR Kansai Sanin Area Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on JR trains in the Kansai and Sanin regions.
Duration:
7 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
18,000 yen
More details...
Tottori Matsue Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on JR trains around Tottori, Matsue and Izumo.
Duration:
3 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
4,000 yen
More details...
JR Okayama Hiroshima Yamaguchi Area Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on JR trains in Okayama, Hiroshima and Yamaguchi Prefectures, including shinkansen and limited express trains.
Duration:
5 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
17,000 yen
More details...
JR Hiroshima Yamaguchi Area Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on JR trains in Hiroshima and Yamaguchi Prefectures, including shinkansen and limited express trains.
Duration:
5 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
15,000 yen
More details...
JR Setouchi Area Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on designated JR trains and selected trams, buses and ferries in the region around the Seto Inland Sea.
Duration:
7 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
22,000 yen
More details...
Shikoku
All Shikoku Rail Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on all trains in Shikoku, including local and express trains by JR and private railway companies. The pass also covers selected ferries to Shodoshima Island and buses on Shodoshima.
Duration:
3, 4, 5 or 7 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
3 days
12,000 yen
4 days
15,000 yen
5 days
17,000 yen
7 days
20,000 yen
More details...
Kyushu
Kyushu Rail Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on the trains in Kyushu, which are operated by JR Kyushu, including the Kyushu Shinkansen and limited express trains, but excluding the Sanyo Shinkansen. The "Northern Kyushu" and "Southern Kyushu" versions are limited to the respective parts of Kyushu.
Duration:
3, 5 or 7 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
All Kyushu 3 days
20,000 yen
All Kyushu 5 days
22,500 yen
All Kyushu 7 days
25,000 yen
Northern Kyushu 3 days
12,000 yen
Northern Kyushu 5 days
15,000 yen
Southern Kyushu 3 days
10,000 yen
More details...
Fukuoka Wide Pass
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Type:
Unlimited travel on JR trains around Fukuoka Prefecture.
Duration:
2 consecutive days
Conditions:
Not available to residents of Japan.
Price:
3,500 yen
More details...
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