On three popular train lines in western Japan, JR West is offering overseas tourists discounted one-way tickets, which are typically about 15-30 percent cheaper than regular tickets. Specifically, the one-way tickets are offered on the Haruka Limited Express to/from Osaka's Kansai Airport, along the Sanyo Shinkansen, which connects Osaka with Hiroshima and Fukuoka, and along the Thunderbird Limited Express trains and Hokuriku Shinkansen between Osaka, Kyoto and Kanazawa.
Reduced rates (50% off) apply for children aged 6-11.
⬤ Sanyo Shinkansen One-way Ticket
Shin-Osaka ↔ Okayama/Kurashiki
5,100 yen
Shin-Osaka ↔ Fukuyama/Onomichi
6,800 yen
Shin-Osaka ↔ Hiroshima
7,900 yen
Shin-Osaka ↔ Shin-Yamaguchi
9,400 yen
Shin-Osaka ↔ Kokura/Hakata
10,900 yen
Kokura/Hakata ↔ Okayama
8,900 yen
Kokura/Hakata ↔ Fukuyama/Onomichi
8,300 yen
Kokura ↔ Hiroshima
5,300 yen
Kokura ↔ Shin-Yamaguchi
2,600 yen
Hakata ↔ Hiroshima
6,300 yen
Hakata ↔ Shin-Yamaguchi
3,600 yen
Reduced rates (50% off) apply for children aged 6-11.
⬤ Hokuriku One-way Ticket
Osaka ↔ Fukui
6,000 yen
Osaka ↔ Kanazawa
8,000 yen
Osaka ↔ Toyama
8,500 yen
Kyoto ↔ Fukui
5,000 yen
Kyoto ↔ Kanazawa
6,500 yen
Kyoto ↔ Toyama
7,500 yen
Reduced rates (50% off) apply for children aged 6-11.
Validity
Tickets are valid for a one-way journey on non-reserved or reserved seats. Seat reservations can be made at selected ticket machines (or online if you purchase your ticket through the official JR West website; but note that only the Haruka One-way ticket is currently sold on the official website).
Haruka One-way Ticket:
Travelers to/from Kobe need to transfer trains at Osaka Station
Travelers to/from Nara need to transfer trains at Tennoji Station
Tickets to/from Tennoji, Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe can be used to end/start the journey also at other JR stations in the respective city areas by transferring to a local train, e.g. a ticket to/from Kyoto can be used to get off/on at Saga-Arashiyama Station.
Sanyo Shinkansen One-way Ticket:
Travelers to/from Onomichi must transfer trains at Fukuyama Station and use Onomichi Station. They cannot use Shin-Onomichi Station.
Travelers to/from Kurashiki must transfer trains at Okayama Station and use Kurashiki Station. They cannot use Shin-Kurashiki Station.
Tickets to/from Hiroshima can be used to end/start the journey also at other JR stations in Hiroshima City by transferring to a local train.
Hokuriku One-way Ticket:
A transfer between the Thunderbird Limited Express and the Hokuriku Shinkansen is required at Tsuruga Station.
It is possible to end/start the journey also at other JR stations in the cities of Osaka or Kyoto by transferring to a local train.
Eligibility
The one-way tickets can be used only by foreign temporary visitors to Japan. A passport has to be presented at the time of exchange. They cannot be used by residents of Japan.
Points of sale
The one-way tickets can be purchased online through various websites and at selected travel agents outside of Japan.
Only the Haruka One-way Ticket can currently be purchased also via the official JR West website, in which case ticket holders have the possibility of making online seat reservations before arriving in Japan (but note that advance reservations are not recommended for trains departing the airport, because it is unknown how much time is needed to get through immigration and customs, and trains rarely book out). Those not purchasing their ticket on the official website can make seat reservations after retrieving their actual tickets in Japan.
If purchasing the ticket through the official website, a travel date within a 1-month period needs to be specified at the time of purchase. If purchasing through other channels, you will receive a QR code, with which the actual pass can be picked up in Japan within a 3-month period of purchase. At the time of the pick-up, you then select your travel date, which can be any date within a 1-month period.
The one-way tickets are a great deal for overseas travelers making journeys along the sections covered, as they offer an easy discount not available to residents of Japan.
Purchase the Haruka One-way Ticket
