Hokuriku Arch Pass: seven days between Tokyo and Kansai
Hokuriku Arch Pass
A seven-day route between Tokyo and Kyoto or Osaka via Hokuriku. The Hokuriku Shinkansen is covered between Tokyo and Tsuruga; the direct Tokaido Shinkansen and the Sanyo Shinkansen are not.
Places in this guide: Tokyo (東京) · Kanazawa (金沢) · Tsuruga (敦賀) · Kyoto (京都) · Osaka (大阪) · Nanao (七尾) · Wakura Onsen (和倉温泉) · Tsubata (津幡) · Toyama (富山) · Takaoka (高岡) · Fukui (福井) · Echizen-Hanando (越前花堂)
Source: JR East and JR West official transport conditions — Hokuriku Arch Pass
Travel via Hokuriku, not the direct Tokaido route
If you want to visit Hokuriku between Tokyo and Kyoto or Osaka, compare the covered fares for that itinerary with the seven-day pass. For a direct Tokyo–Shin-Osaka journey on the Tokaido Shinkansen, this is the wrong product: that line is excluded.
Source: JR East and JR West official transport conditions — Hokuriku Arch PassSource: JR East and JR West official coverage map — Hokuriku Arch Pass
The covered Hokuriku Shinkansen section runs from Tokyo to Tsuruga. Use the English map to plan the remaining covered connections towards Kansai. The Sanyo Shinkansen is also excluded; coverage on one Shinkansen line does not mean coverage on every connecting line.
Source: JR East and JR West official transport conditions — Hokuriku Arch PassSource: JR East and JR West official coverage map — Hokuriku Arch Pass
Official fares and seven consecutive days
The official fare is JPY 35,000 for adults aged 12 or over and JPY 17,500 for children aged 6–11. JR East determines a child’s age on the purchase date. For an agency exchange order, also check the issuing channel’s age-assessment date before purchase. Prices here are operator yen fares, not an AUD conversion.
Source: JR East and JR West official conditions and FAQ — Hokuriku Arch PassSource: JR East and JR West official conditions and FAQ — Hokuriku Arch Pass
Validity is seven consecutive days from the selected start date. Days without travel still count; you cannot pick seven separate dates.
Source: JR East and JR West official conditions and FAQ — Hokuriku Arch PassSource: JR East and JR West official conditions and FAQ — Hokuriku Arch Pass
Scroll the table sideways if it does not fit your screen.
| Validity | Adult (JPY) | Child aged 6–11 (JPY) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 consecutive days | 35,000 | 17,500 |
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Source: JR East and JR West official conditions and FAQ — Hokuriku Arch PassSource: JR East and JR West official conditions and FAQ — Hokuriku Arch Pass
Original passport and Temporary Visitor status
You need a non-Japanese passport and Temporary Visitor status. Bring the original passport when purchasing or collecting the pass and carry it during use. It must remain valid throughout the travel period. A photocopy is not accepted and the pass cannot be transferred to another person.
Source: JR East and JR West official transport conditions — Hokuriku Arch Pass
Covered trains and limited through-travel exceptions
Within the designated area, eligible JR East and JR West Ordinary Car reserved and non-reserved travel is covered, along with Tokyo Monorail and Noto Railway between Nanao and Wakura Onsen. Read the map for boundary stations rather than assuming every line around a covered city is included.
Source: JR East and JR West official transport conditions — Hokuriku Arch PassSource: JR East and JR West official coverage map — Hokuriku Arch PassSource: JR East and JR West official conditions and FAQ — Hokuriku Arch Pass
IR Ishikawa Railway Kanazawa–Tsubata, Ainokaze Toyama Railway Toyama–Takaoka and HAPI-LINE FUKUI Fukui–Echizen-Hanando have limited through-travel exceptions for connections to the specified JR lines. They are not general hop-on, hop-off coverage: stopping within or travelling beyond those sections requires separate fares under the conditions. Ainokaze Liner rapid services require a separate liner fee.
Source: JR East and JR West official transport conditions — Hokuriku Arch PassSource: JR East and JR West official coverage map — Hokuriku Arch PassSource: JR East and JR West official conditions and FAQ — Hokuriku Arch Pass
Collect through the channel you used
For a direct JR-EAST Train Reservation booking, follow the supported collection-centre or passport-reader machine instructions. For an agency voucher, take the exchange order and original passport to a location that accepts that voucher. Do not assume a direct-JR collection machine accepts an agency order.
Source: JR East and JR West official purchase and collection guide — Hokuriku Arch PassSource: JR East and JR West official conditions and FAQ — Hokuriku Arch Pass
A direct JR-WEST booking has its own collection procedure. Check the booking’s documents, accepting location and opening hours before choosing your first reserved train. Collection queues and any airport arrival formalities are separate from train journey time.
Source: JR East and JR West official purchase and collection guide — Hokuriku Arch PassSource: JR East and JR West official conditions and FAQ — Hokuriku Arch Pass
Reserve a seat, then use the paper pass
Obtain a reserved-seat ticket before boarding and check the train, carriage and seat. The pass does not guarantee a seat. Green Car and GranClass travel require the applicable additional charges; do not treat them as included Ordinary Car seats.
Source: JR East and JR West official transport conditions — Hokuriku Arch Pass
Insert the paper pass at a supported automatic gate and retrieve it afterwards. Show it to staff where automatic gates are not available. Keep the seat ticket with the pass, but do not mistake the voucher for an issued travel pass.
Source: JR East and JR West official transport conditions — Hokuriku Arch Pass
Issued-pass changes and seller cancellation
An issued pass cannot have its validity changed and is not replaced if lost or stolen. Eligible unused-pass refunds within validity have a 10% handling fee under JR’s transport conditions. Once a seat ticket has been issued, refund restrictions apply after that train’s scheduled departure, even if unused.
Source: JR East and JR West official transport conditions — Hokuriku Arch PassSource: JR East and JR West official purchase and collection guide — Hokuriku Arch Pass
After use begins, service suspension or delay does not give a right to extend or refund the pass. Before an agency voucher is exchanged, cancellation is handled under the seller’s voucher conditions, not by applying issued-pass rules to an unissued pass.
Source: JR East and JR West official transport conditions — Hokuriku Arch PassSource: JR East and JR West official purchase and collection guide — Hokuriku Arch Pass
Using your ticket
Plan the covered route through Hokuriku and check every connecting section on the official map. Do not substitute the Tokaido Shinkansen route.
Select seven consecutive days. Bring the original passport, Temporary Visitor evidence and the booking or exchange documents required by your purchase channel.
Collect the physical pass at an accepting location and obtain any reserved-seat tickets before boarding.
Use the paper pass at supported gates and retrieve it. Board the carriage and seat shown on the reservation.
Questions and answers
Can I take Nozomi from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka?
No. The Tokaido Shinkansen is excluded from Hokuriku Arch Pass.
How far does the included Hokuriku Shinkansen section go?
Tokyo–Tsuruga is included. Check the covered onward connections on the official English map.
Can I spread the seven days across a longer holiday?
No. The seven days must be consecutive from the selected start date.
Where can I see the coverage map in English?
The Official sources section links the JR East and JR West English maps. Check the boundary stations and through-travel exceptions as well as the city names.
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 West official coverage map — Hokuriku Arch Pass ↗
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- JR East and JR West official coverage map — Hokuriku Arch Pass ↗
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- JR East and JR West official transport conditions — Hokuriku Arch Pass ↗
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- JR East and JR West official conditions and FAQ — Hokuriku Arch Pass ↗
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- JR East and JR West official conditions and FAQ — Hokuriku Arch Pass ↗
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- JR East and JR West official purchase and collection guide — Hokuriku Arch Pass ↗
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