Hokkaido Rail Pass
The Hokkaido Rail Pass is a rail pass for exclusive use by foreign visitors to Japan, providing unlimited travel on JR trains (except the Hokkaido Shinkansen) and most JR buses in Hokkaido on five, seven or ten consecutive days.
 Purchase the Hokkaido Rail Pass |
| If purchased outside Japan | If puchased inside Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| 5-day Pass | 20,000 yen | 21,000 yen |
| 7-day Pass | 26,000 yen | 27,000 yen |
| 10-day Pass | 32,000 yen | 33,000 yen |
Below is a map of major train lines that can be used with the Hokkaido Rail Pass:
Validity
- Unlimited use of JR trains in Hokkaido except the Hokkaido Shinkansen.
- Unlimited use of local JR Hokkaido Bus lines, except the lines from Sapporo to Asahikawa, Monbetsu, Obihiro, Hiroo and Erimo, the line from Tomakomai to Erimo, and buses between Shin-Sapporo and Atsubetsu Stadium and between Shiroishi and Sapporo Dome.
- Seat reservations can be made for free (see details below).
- The passes are valid on consecutive calendar days (midnight to midnight).
- Only foreign visitors to Japan (temporary visitors) can use the Hokkaido Rail Pass. It cannot be used by residents of Japan.
Points of sale
The Hokkaido Rail Pass can be purchased through various websites on the internet, through travel agencies outside of Japan and at major JR railway stations in Hokkaido, including Sapporo, New Chitose Airport and Hakodate stations. When purchasing the pass outside of Japan or online, the actual pass has to be picked up at a major station in Hokkaido before use.
| Purchase the Hokkaido Rail Pass |
Seat reservations
Free seat reservations can be made at seat reservation ticket machines in Hokkaido and at JR ticket offices. It is also possible to make online seat reservations on the JR East Train Reservation website; however, physical seat reservation tickets have to be picked up at a selected ticket office in Hokkaido before use. Note that seat reservations are mandatory on several limited express trains on Hokkaido.
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 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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| Sapporo |
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| Asahikawa |
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| Hakodate |
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| Wakkanai |
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Alternative tickets
The Hokkaido Free Pass has the same coverage area as the Hokkaido Rail Pass, but it is also available to residents of Japan. It is a little bit more expensive, is only available as a 7-day version and cannot be used during peak travel seasons.
Questions? Ask in our forum.
Links and Resources
