Shoryudo Bus Pass

Available exclusively to non-Japanese passport holders, the Shoryudo Bus Pass provides unlimited use of designated buses in the Chubu Region as well as airport access. There are two versions: a 3-day pass (to be used within a 4-day period) and a 5-day pass (to be used within a 7-day period) with differing coverage areas.

Purchase the Shoryudo Bus Pass

Shoryudo Bus Pass
	April to November	December to March
3 days	14,000 yen	16,000 yen
5 days	20,000 yen	22,000 yen

Validity

The map below shows the bus lines covered by the Shoryudo Bus Pass:

1. Unlimited use of highway and local buses shown on the map above.
2. Two tickets good for airport transfer to/from Central Japan Airport (by Meitetsu Railway), Toyama Airport (by bus to/from Toyama Station), and/or Komatsu Airport (by bus to/from Kanazawa Station).
3. The 3-day pass is valid on 3 days of your choice within a 4-day period, while the 5-day pass is valid on 5 days of your choice within a 7-day period, providing you with a little bit of extra flexibility over other passes that need to be used on consecutive days. Days are defined as calendar days (midnight to midnight) as opposed to 24-hour periods.
4. The Shoryudo Bus Pass can be used only by holders of a non-Japanese passport.
5. The pass can be used only by a single person. It cannot be transferred between multiple persons.

Additional notes

Advance reservations are required to ride many of the buses. Reservations can be made at the ticket windows of bus terminals (such as the Meitetsu Bus Center in Nagoya, the Takayama Nohi Bus Center or the Hokutetsu bus terminal at Kanazawa Station) until a few minutes before departure.

Points of sale

The Shoryudo Bus Pass can be purchased through various websites, such as Klook, or through travel agents outside of Japan. You will initially receive a voucher that can be used to get the actual pass at a designated exchange location in Japan, such as Central Japan Airport, Nagoya, Kanazawa or Takayama.

Purchase the Shoryudo Bus Pass

Assessment

The Shoryudo Bus Pass can be a good deal for travelers interested in visiting the region covered, especially if starting and ending in Nagoya. However, due to a price increase in 2024, it does not pays off as easily as it used to in the past. As a very rough rule of thumb, about 4-5 bus rides are needed for the 3-day pass to pay off, while 6-7 rides are needed for the 5-day pass to pay off.

Alternative tickets

The Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass is more expensive but also includes travel between Kanazawa and Kyoto/Osaka over a total of five consecutive days. Other passes of interest to travelers to the region include the JR Hokuriku Area Pass and JR Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass.