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Regional rail passes in Japan

Buy a rail pass*

* By clicking this button, you will be taken to the website of our official partner, 12Go.

Pick the right regional rail pass for your trip to Japan – rather than opting for the nationwide Japan Rail Pass – and you could save a good amount of money (enough for a few extra bowls of delicious ramen, at least!). Wondering how to find the right region for your trip? We’ve got it all mapped out for you below, so you can find the pass that works best for you and see how much you could save.

Find what you need

General

Regions

Japan Rail regions map

Check out our handy map for an overview of the main Japan Rail (JR) regions in Japan. The main 6 regions are JR West, JR Central, JR East, JR Shikoku, JR Kyushu and JR Hokkaido. These regions are split further with cheaper pass options that cover even smaller areas within each section. You can find all of these below the map.

Buying a national Japan Rail Pass will allow you to use JR services across the whole of Japan, but if your trip is limited to just one of these regions, you could save a lot of money by picking the right regional pass. 

These passes are often valid for shorter periods, from 2 to 7 days generally, so they're great if most of your travelling will be done within a short amount of time.

Please bear in mind that:

  • There are more than 20 types of Shinkansen (high-speed trains), but only some of them are covered by regional rail passes (find out about these below).
  • Regional passes can cover JR and private services; check the details of the pass you’re interested in for more info.
  • Trains in Japan are renowned for being punctual, so make sure you're always at your platform ready to board your train in good time!

Which rail pass do I need?

Have a look at our guide to regional rail passes below and see which attractions and popular destinations are reachable with each pass. We’ve split these out by JR region. Not all passes are covered here. 

While the national Japan Rail Pass covers travel across the whole country, regional passes may be a better option if you’re only planning to see the sights in a region or two.

JR West

JR East

JR Central

JR Kyushu

JR Shikoku

JR Hokkaido

If hot springs and skiing are your sort of thing, then the Hokkaido Rail Pass is the one for you! The whole of the island is yours to explore with Japan Rail (except Shinkansen), and major highlights include the unmissable Sapporo, Shikotsu-Tōya National Park and Rusutsu Ski Resort.

Valid for 5, 7 or 10 days’ travel