JR East–South Hokkaido Rail Pass: six-day coverage and collection
JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
Six consecutive days on the covered routes from Tokyo through Tohoku to Hakodate, Sapporo and Otaru, in Ordinary Car reserved or non-reserved seats. This is not an all-Hokkaido pass.
Places in this guide: Tokyo (東京) · Hakodate (函館) · Sapporo (札幌) · Otaru (小樽) · Asahikawa (旭川) · Furano (富良野) · Biei (美瑛)
Source: JR East and JR Hokkaido official conditions and FAQ — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail PassSource: JR East and JR Hokkaido official transport conditions — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
Compare a Tokyo–Tohoku–southern Hokkaido itinerary
If your train journeys run from Tokyo through Tohoku towards Hakodate, Sapporo and Otaru within six consecutive days, compare the covered separate fares with this pass. If you start within Tohoku rather than Tokyo, compare the smaller JR Tohoku–South Hokkaido Rail Pass as well.
Source: JR East and JR Hokkaido official conditions and FAQ — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail PassSource: JR East and JR Hokkaido official coverage map — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
This is not coverage of all Hokkaido. Asahikawa, Furano and Biei are outside the area. Read the linked English map for the actual boundary stations, not simply the city labels surrounding it.
Source: JR East and JR Hokkaido official conditions and FAQ — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail PassSource: JR East and JR Hokkaido official coverage map — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
Official fare and six consecutive days
The official fare is JPY 40,000 for adults aged 12 or over and JPY 20,000 for children aged 6–11 on the purchase date. A child under six does not need a pass if a reserved seat is not required. These are operator JPY fares, not an AUD conversion or a seller’s package price.
Source: JR East and JR Hokkaido official conditions and FAQ — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
Choose six consecutive days from the start date. You cannot skip unused days and resume the same pass later.
Source: JR East and JR Hokkaido official conditions and FAQ — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
Scroll the table sideways if it does not fit your screen.
| Validity | Adult (JPY) | Child aged 6–11 (JPY) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 consecutive days | 40,000 | 20,000 |
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Source: JR East and JR Hokkaido official conditions and FAQ — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
Covered trains and other railway operators
Within the designated area, eligible JR East and JR Hokkaido Shinkansen and limited express Ordinary Car travel is included. Tokyo Monorail, Aoimori Railway, IGR Iwate Galaxy Railway, Sendai Airport Transit and JR East BRT are also covered. Check that both your train and section are eligible.
Source: JR East and JR Hokkaido official conditions and FAQ — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail PassSource: JR East and JR Hokkaido official transport conditions — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail PassSource: JR East and JR Hokkaido official coverage map — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
For a covered JR–Tobu through limited express, one endpoint must be on a JR line. A limited express journey with both endpoints on Tobu is not included. The Tokaido Shinkansen, JR buses and South Hokkaido Railway are excluded. Do not confuse the covered Hokkaido Shinkansen with the excluded South Hokkaido Railway.
Source: JR East and JR Hokkaido official conditions and FAQ — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail PassSource: JR East and JR Hokkaido official transport conditions — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail PassSource: JR East and JR Hokkaido official coverage map — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
Original passport and eligibility
The operator requires a valid non-Japanese passport and does not state a Temporary Visitor-only restriction for this pass. Present the original passport when buying or collecting it, keep it valid for the travel period and carry it during use. A photocopy is not accepted, and the pass cannot be given or lent to another traveller.
Source: JR East and JR Hokkaido official transport conditions — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
Collect according to the purchase channel
For a direct JR-EAST Train Reservation purchase, follow the supported travel service centre or IC-passport-reader machine procedure in that booking’s collection guide. For a seller purchase, bring the exchange order and original passport to a location that accepts that order. A direct-JR collection machine is not automatically an agency-voucher exchange machine.
Confirm the collection location and its opening hours before choosing a train. Allow time for immigration, luggage collection, walking and the collection queue separately from the train’s travelling time.
Seat tickets and ticket gates
Obtain a seat ticket before using a reserved seat. Owning the pass does not guarantee availability: check the train, carriage and seat on each reservation. Green Car and GranClass require the applicable additional charges.
Source: JR East and JR Hokkaido official transport conditions — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
Use the physical paper pass at supported automatic gates and collect it after passing through. At a gate that does not support it, show the pass to staff. The exchange order or seat reservation is not a substitute for the actual pass.
Source: JR East and JR Hokkaido official transport conditions — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
Changes, lost passes and operator refunds
An issued pass cannot have its validity period changed. Lost or stolen passes are not replaced. The official transport conditions specify a 10% handling fee for an eligible unused-pass refund. Apply at a location selling this pass; a pass bought by credit card in Japan must be refunded through the company that sold it.
Source: JR East and JR Hokkaido official transport conditions — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
After a seat ticket has been issued, an unused pass cannot be refunded once that train’s scheduled departure has passed. Once use begins, cancellations or delays do not entitle you to an extension or refund of the pass. These operator conditions are distinct from a seller’s cancellation policy for an unexchanged voucher.
Source: JR East and JR Hokkaido official transport conditions — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
Cancel an unexchanged voucher through the seller
If your exchange order has not yet been turned into the physical pass, contact the seller that issued it. JR does not refund the travel agency’s exchange order. Check that package’s cancellation conditions rather than applying issued-pass rules to the voucher.
Using your ticket
Check your departure and arrival stations on this product’s English coverage map and choose six consecutive days. Non-travel days still count.
Follow the collection instructions for your purchase channel. Bring your original passport and, for an agency purchase, the exchange order to an accepting location.
Obtain the seat tickets for your reserved journeys before boarding and check the train, carriage and seat.
Insert the paper pass at a supported gate and collect it afterwards. Show it to staff where required, then use the seat specified on your reservation.
Questions and answers
Does the pass cover Furano or Biei?
No. Asahikawa, Furano and Biei are outside this pass’s area. Compare a separate ticket or a different Hokkaido pass for those journeys.
Can I split the six days across a longer holiday?
No. The pass is valid for six consecutive days from the chosen start date.
Can JR cancel a voucher I bought from a travel seller?
Before the physical pass is issued, ask the seller to cancel the exchange order. The seller’s voucher conditions and JR’s issued-pass conditions are separate.
Can I refund an unused pass after my reserved train has left?
No. Once a seat ticket has been issued, the pass cannot be refunded after that train’s scheduled departure, even if unused. Eligible unused-pass refunds before that limit have a 10% handling fee.
Does it cover the Tokaido Shinkansen?
No. The Tokaido Shinkansen is excluded. Covered JR East and Hokkaido Shinkansen sections do not establish coverage towards Kyoto or Osaka on that line.
Official sources and coverage maps
Open the operator’s coverage map and conditions before choosing your journeys. Official maps are linked rather than republished. The coverage and exclusions are also explained above.
- JR East and JR Hokkaido official coverage map — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass ↗
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- JR East and JR Hokkaido official conditions and FAQ — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass ↗
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- JR East and JR Hokkaido official transport conditions — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass ↗
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- JR East and JR Hokkaido official purchase and collection guide — JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass ↗
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