The Hokkaido Rail Pass is a rail pass for exclusive use by foreign visitors to Japan, providing unlimited travel on JR trains (including limited express trains) and most JR buses in Hokkaido on three or five consecutive days. In April 2008, a flexible 4-day pass, valid on any four days within a 10-day period, was added to the assortment.
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Hokkaido Rail Pass
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Type
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Ordinary Cars
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Green Cars
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3 Day Pass
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15,000 Yen
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21,500 Yen
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5 Day Pass
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19,500 Yen
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27,000 Yen
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Flexible 4 Day Pass
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19,500 Yen
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27,000 Yen
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Reduced rates (50% off) apply to children aged 6-11.
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Below is a map of major JR train lines on Hokkaido, which can be used with the Hokkaido Rail Pass:
Validity
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1)
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Unlimited usage of JR trains in Hokkaido, including limited express and express trains.
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2)
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Unlimited usage of JR Hokkaido Bus lines, except the lines from Sapporo to Asahikawa, Monbetsu, Obihiro, Kiroro and Erimo.
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3)
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Seat reservations can be made for free.
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4)
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The pass does not cover the cost of couchettes on night trains. If you travel by couchette, you will have to pay the cost for the couchette and the (limited) express fee.
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5)
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The 3 Day Pass is valid on three consecutive days, while the 5 Day Pass is valid on five consecutive days. The Flexible 4 Day Pass is valid on four days of your choice within a 10-day period that starts on the day on which you exchange your voucher to the actual pass.
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6)
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Only foreign visitors to Japan (on a temporary visitor visa) can use the Hokkaido Rail Pass. It cannot be used by residents of Japan.
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Points of Sale
The Hokkaido Rail Pass can be purchased through travel agencies outside of Japan and at major JR railway stations in Hokkaido. Furthermore, it is possible to reserve a pass online. When purchasing the pass outside of Japan, you will receive an exchange order, which has to be exchanged into an actual rail pass after your arrival in Hokkaido and within three months of the purchase.
Assessment
This pass only makes sense, if you plan on traveling long distances. The table below shows approximate regular fares for one-way limited express tickets (ordinary car) between selected major cities. Use it to compare the cost of regular tickets with the cost of a Hokkaido Rail Pass:
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Asahikawa
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Hakodate
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Wakkanai
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Kushiro
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Sapporo
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4,500 Yen
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8,500 Yen
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10,000 Yen
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9,000 Yen
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Asahikawa
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12,500 Yen
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8,000 Yen
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13,000 Yen
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Hakodate
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16,500 Yen
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14,500 Yen
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Wakkanai
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16,500 Yen
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Alternative Tickets
If you travel in Hokkaido for more than five days, you can also consider the Hokkaido Free Pass, which covers the same area as the Hokkaido Rail Pass, but is valid for seven consecutive days. Unlike the Hokkaido Rail Pass, the Hokkaido Free Pass can also be used by residents of Japan.
While rail passes for exclusive use by foreign visitors generally tend to be significantly cheaper than comparable rail passes which are also available to residents of Japan, this is not the case when comparing the Hokkaido Rail Pass with the Hokkaido Free Pass, as shown in the table below:
Comparison of cost per day and person:
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7-day Hokkaido Free Pass
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3,643 Yen
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5-day Hokkaido Rail Pass
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3,900 Yen
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3-day Hokkaido Rail Pass
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5,000 Yen
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