Kansai–Hokuriku Area Pass: seven-day routes and reservations
Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass
Seven consecutive days across the covered Kansai and Hokuriku routes. It includes the Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Okayama and the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tsuruga to Joetsu-Myoko, but not the route to Tokyo.
Places in this guide: Osaka (大阪) · Kyoto (京都) · Kanazawa (金沢) · Toyama (富山) · Fukui (福井) · Tsuruga (敦賀) · Shin-Osaka (新大阪) · Okayama (岡山) · Joetsu-Myoko (上越妙高) · Nanao (七尾) · Wakura-Onsen (和倉温泉) · Wakayama (和歌山) · Kishi (貴志) · Kamigori (上郡) · Tottori (鳥取) · Tsubata (津幡) · Takaoka (高岡) · Echizen-Hanando (越前花堂)
Source: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku official English guideSource: JR West official coverage map — Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass
Kansai to Kanazawa or Toyama, not through to Tokyo
Compare this seven-day pass for eligible journeys between Kansai and Hokuriku. If continuing to Tokyo or west of Okayama towards Hiroshima or Hakata, add the excluded tickets or compare a pass with the required boundary.
Source: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku official English guideSource: JR West official coverage map — Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass
Scroll the table sideways if it does not fit your screen.
| Validity | Adult (JPY) | Child aged 6–11 (JPY) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 consecutive days | 19,000 | 9,500 |
Source checked:
Source: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku official English guideSource: JR West official coverage map — Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass
Original passport, entry status and child age
You need a passport issued by a government other than Japan and Temporary Visitor entry status. Japanese nationals are not eligible, including those with overseas permanent residence. Bring your original passport for collection and carry it while travelling. A pass is personal, and overlapping purchases of the same pass for the same person are not allowed.
Source: JR West official transport conditions (Japanese) — Kansai-Hokuriku Area PassSource: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku official English guide
The current Japanese conditions assess the 6–11 child band when payment is made. One adult or child pass holder may accompany up to two children aged 1–5 free. A third child, a younger child occupying their own reserved seat, or a child travelling alone needs a child pass. Infants under one travel free. Check the seller’s age option as well.
Source: JR West official transport conditions (Japanese) — Kansai-Hokuriku Area PassSource: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku official English guide
Consecutive calendar days, not rolling hours
Validity runs from 00:00 on the chosen first day to 24:00 on day 7, Japan time. Collecting or boarding late on day one does not move the expiry time. After exchange, the start date and pass type cannot be changed.
Source: JR West official transport conditions (Japanese) — Kansai-Hokuriku Area PassSource: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku official English guide
If already travelling across midnight on the final day, the fare element continues until leaving the station and the train-charge element until leaving that train. This does not give a new day of unrestricted travel.
Source: JR West official transport conditions (Japanese) — Kansai-Hokuriku Area PassSource: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku official English guide
Agency exchange orders and direct-JR collection are different
An agency MCO or E-MCO is an exchange order, not the gate ticket. Exchange it within three months of issue and no later than the travel date at a location accepting this pass and purchase channel. Paper MCOs go to a counter; E-MCOs can use a supported counter or passport-reading machine. A passport-reader symbol alone does not establish support for your order.
Source: JR West official transport conditions (Japanese) — Kansai-Hokuriku Area PassSource: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku official English guide
Direct JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION (WEST-TR) collection requires the reservation number, your chosen four-digit identification number, the physical payment card and original passport. Machine collection needs an IC-chip passport; otherwise use a counter. Virtual and numberless cards are not accepted for the direct-JR purchase procedure. These requirements must not be substituted for an agency order’s documents.
Source: JR West official transport conditions (Japanese) — Kansai-Hokuriku Area PassSource: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku official English guide
Unlimited seats versus six machine bookings
Eligible Ordinary Car reservations have no overall use-count limit. Reserve before boarding at a supported machine or JR counter. After six machine bookings, use a counter for the seventh and subsequent reservations. This is not a six-journey limit.
Source: JR West official transport conditions (Japanese) — Kansai-Hokuriku Area PassSource: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku official English guide
Only direct WEST-TR purchase supports its pre-collection reservation procedure, for up to six trains. Agency MCO/E-MCO customers exchange first, then reserve locally. Do not apply direct-JR online functions to a seller’s voucher.
Source: JR West official transport conditions (Japanese) — Kansai-Hokuriku Area PassSource: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku official English guide
Missed trains, seat-only services and extra accommodation charges
All-reserved trains have no non-reserved cars. If you miss a booked service, reserve a seat on a later train. Standing is only available on services that offer that arrangement and are full when the reservation is requested; it is not permission to board every full train.
Source: JR West official transport conditions (Japanese) — Kansai-Hokuriku Area PassSource: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku official English guide
Green Cars, private compartments and Special Rapid A-seat need the applicable separate charge tickets. Sanyo Shinkansen S Work cars and Sunrise Seto/Izumo, including Nobi Nobi seats, are excluded. Check the specific accommodation before boarding, not just whether the station lies inside the map. Lost or stolen passes are not reissued.
Source: JR West official transport conditions (Japanese) — Kansai-Hokuriku Area PassSource: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku official English guide
Two Shinkansen sections with different endpoints
Sanyo Shinkansen coverage is Shin-Osaka–Okayama. Hokuriku Shinkansen coverage is Tsuruga–Joetsu-Myoko. Joetsu-Myoko–Tokyo, Okayama–Hakata and the Tokaido Shinkansen are excluded.
Source: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku official English guideSource: JR West official coverage map — Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass
Eligible conventional JR, Noto Railway Nanao–Wakura-Onsen, mapped Kyoto Tango Railway and Wakayama Electric Railway Wakayama–Kishi sections are included. Super Hakuto/Super Inaba through the Chizu Express route between Kamigori and Tottori require separate fares; do not confuse this with covered Sanin Main Line travel.
Source: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku official English guideSource: JR West official coverage map — Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass
Third-party railway exceptions are through connections only
IR Ishikawa Kanazawa–Tsubata, Ainokaze Toyama Takaoka–Toyama and Hapi-Line Fukui Echizen-Hanando–Fukui are conditional through sections for JR connections. Stopping at intermediate stations or travelling beyond the permitted section requires separate fares. The Ainokaze and Hapi-Line exceptions apply to local trains only.
Included local buses and the numbered ticket
Eligible West Japan JR local route buses within this map are included; highway buses are not. Take one numbered ticket per person when boarding, show the pass to the driver when leaving and put only the numbered ticket in the fare box.
Source: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku official English guideSource: JR West official transport conditions (Japanese) — Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass
Collect E-MCOs using the supported machine or counter
Check the pass-specific collection table and the purchase-channel column. For a supported E-MCO machine, select the language, collect reserved tickets, then EXCHANGE ORDER (E-TICKET). Scan the order QR or enter its number, select the start date and confirm the conditions and privacy information before scanning the passport photo page.
Source: JR West pass-specific collection table (Japanese)Source: JR West English E-MCO machine instructionsSource: JR West direct-online collection instructions (Korean)
If the IC passport cannot be read, use a counter. For direct WEST-TR purchase, bring the reservation number, chosen four-digit number, physical payment card and original passport; a non-IC passport also requires counter collection.
Source: JR West pass-specific collection table (Japanese)Source: JR West English E-MCO machine instructionsSource: JR West direct-online collection instructions (Korean)
Online processing and missed reserved services
Direct WEST-TR pre-collection reservations are limited to six trains, with reservation/change/cancellation processing counted towards a total of 28 actions. Check the relevant deadline, including the first reserved train’s departure. Agency orders do not use this pre-collection system.
Source: JR West official transport conditions (Japanese) — Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass
Green Car, GranClass and A-seat need separate charges. Sunrise Seto/Izumo are excluded even for Nobi Nobi seats. If an all-reserved service is missed, reserve the later train rather than assuming a non-reserved car exists.
Source: JR West official transport conditions (Japanese) — Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass
Unexchanged orders, unused issued passes and refunds
For an unexchanged agency order, contact the original seller. The operator refers order refunds within one year of issue to the issuing agency, but the seller’s actual deadline and fee are package-specific.
Source: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku refund conditions (Japanese)
An unused pass exchanged from an agency order can be refunded at a designated exchange counter before validity starts or within the unexpired valid period. The fee is 10% of the JPY selling price, rounding down amounts below JPY 10, with a JPY 220 minimum. Direct WEST-TR purchase has separate conditions, including a JPY 560 fee; check its processing location and first booked-train deadline.
Source: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku refund conditions (Japanese)
Once used, the pass is not refundable. Its conditions do not provide pass-price refunds for suspensions or delays. An agency-order cancellation is a separate contract, not an operator promise.
Source: JR West Kansai–Hokuriku refund conditions (Japanese)
Using your ticket
Match each journey to this pass’s official map, then choose the consecutive start date and correct adult or child option.
Identify the purchase channel. An agency MCO/E-MCO is an exchange order, not a boarding QR; direct WEST-TR collection uses different documents.
Take every traveller’s original passport and the channel-specific collection documents to a location accepting this pass. Check its counter hours.
After collection, check the physical pass’s start date and reserve eligible Ordinary Car seats before boarding. Use a counter after six machine bookings.
Use the issued physical pass at a supported ticket gate and retrieve it. Show it at staffed gates on JR Shikoku sections. Carry your passport and seat ticket.
Questions and answers
Can I take the Hokuriku Shinkansen all the way to Tokyo?
No. Coverage is Tsuruga–Joetsu-Myoko. Joetsu-Myoko–Tokyo and the Tokaido Shinkansen are excluded.
Can I take the Shinkansen to Hiroshima?
Sanyo coverage stops at Okayama. Continuing towards Hiroshima or Hakata needs separate tickets.
Is the whole Super Hakuto journey to Tottori included?
No. The Kamigori–Tottori Chizu Express route needs separate fares. Do not confuse it with a mapped Sanin Main Line route.
Does the six-booking rule limit me to six train journeys?
No. Eligible Ordinary Car seat reservations are unlimited. After six machine bookings, make further reservations at a JR counter.
Can I reserve online before exchanging an agency E-MCO?
Not through the direct WEST-TR pre-collection procedure. Exchange the agency order first, then reserve at a supported machine or JR counter.
Can I use the exchange-order QR at the gates?
No. Exchange it for the issued physical pass. WEST QR boarding products are different tickets.
Can any passport-reading station exchange this pass?
Check the pass-specific purchase-channel column. A passport reader alone does not establish that the station accepts your order.
Are unused-pass refund fees the same for every seller?
No. After exchange, agency-order passes have a 10% fee with a JPY 220 minimum; direct WEST-TR has a JPY 560 fee and different deadlines and counters. Unexchanged orders follow their seller’s conditions.
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 West official coverage map — Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass ↗
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- JR West Kansai–Hokuriku official English guide ↗
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- JR West Kansai–Hokuriku official guide (Korean) ↗
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- JR West pass-specific collection table (Japanese) ↗
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- JR West official transport conditions (Japanese) — Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass ↗
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- JR West direct-online collection instructions (Korean) ↗
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- JR West physical-ticket gate instructions ↗
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- JR West English E-MCO machine instructions ↗
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- JR West Kansai–Hokuriku refund conditions (Japanese) ↗
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