rail pass – Matthew Baxter

San’in-Okayama Area Pass

The JR San’in-Okayama Area Pass allows for unlimited use of JR local, rapid and express trains in the northern Chugoku area for 4 consecutive days. It includes popular tourist spots such as Okayama, Kurashiki, Tottori and Matsue, as well as access to near Izumo-Taisha. What does it cost? Bought before entering Japan: Adults 4500 yen (about $45), ChildrenContinue reading “San’in-Okayama Area Pass”

Minami Izu Unlimited Ticket

Izu Peninsula is a famous hot spring and sightseeing destination, and a popular side trip from Tokyo. While not that popular with foreign tourists, it is becoming increasing well-known, and this pass will help out budget travellers. This pass includes a round-trip ticket to Izu, with unlimited use of transportation in the area around andContinue reading “Minami Izu Unlimited Ticket”

Ito Kanko Freepass

Izu Peninsula is a popular side trip from Tokyo. While not that popular with foreign tourists, it is becoming increasing well-known, and this pass will help out budget travellers. It includes a round-trip ticket to Izu, with unlimited use of transportation in the area. Discounts are also included to various tourist destinations. What does itContinue reading “Ito Kanko Freepass”

Tokyo-Osaka Hokuriku Arch Pass

The Tokyo-Osaka Hokuriku Arch Pass is a new rail pass, introduced just after the Hokuriku Shinkansen was finished. This new line extends the Shinkansen all the way to Kanazawa from Tokyo. The pass therefore takes visitors on an arch route from Tokyo to Osaka via the northern coast. It includes tourist hotspots such as Kanazawa, Kaga Onsen, Kyoto, Kobe, and NaraContinue reading “Tokyo-Osaka Hokuriku Arch Pass”

JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass

The JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass is an interesting new pass that has opened to celebrate the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen line. It allows unlimited travel on all JR (national rail) trains from Tokyo and Yokohama in Kanto all the way up to Otaru and Sapporo in Hokkaido, via Tohoku. Highlights in between include the Kakunodate, Sendai, Hakodate andContinue reading “JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass”

Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass

The Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass allows unlimited travel on JR (national rail) trains for 5 days within Kansai and southern Chugoku, from Miyajima in the west to Nara in the east. This includes the use of trains to major cities such as Hiroshima, Himeji, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. What does it cost? 5 days: Adults 13,000 yen (about $105/€95),Continue reading “Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass”

Kansai Thru Pass

The Kansai Thru Pass is a super cheap way to explore the Kansai region. It allows unlimited travel on non-JR trains, buses and subway trains within the free area stretching from Himeji in the west to Nara, Kyoto in the east and south to Koyasan. It also comes with discounts to 350 tourist attractions, restaurants and hotels along theContinue reading “Kansai Thru Pass”

Kansai WIDE Area Pass

The Kansai WIDE Pass allows unlimited travel on all JR (national rail) trains for 5 days, within the free area stretching from Okayama in the west to beyond Nara in the east. This includes the use of Shinkansen (bullet) trains and limited express trains to major cities such as Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. The pass has a much widerContinue reading “Kansai WIDE Area Pass”

Kansai Area Pass

The Kansai Area Pass is an interesting pass for exploring the Kansai region. It allows unlimited travel on JR (national rail) trains, within the free area stretching from Himeji in the west to Nara in the east. This includes the use of trains to major cities such as Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. What does it cost? 1 day:Continue reading “Kansai Area Pass”

JR Kanto Area Pass

The JR Kanto Pass allows unlimited travel on all JR (national rail) trains in Tokyo and the surrounding Kanto area. This includes tourist hotspots such as Mount Fuji, Nikko and Yokohama. It is valid for 3 days and can be started from Narita or Haneda airport in Tokyo. What does it cost? 3 day pass: Adults 8,300 yen (about $66/€60), Children 4,200 yenContinue reading “JR Kanto Area Pass”