JR-EAST Passes
About
There are 2 passes to choose from: the JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) and the JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area). Both passes are sold as an e-ticket exchange voucher and can be used on JR East Lines, including Shinkansen “Bullet” trains, other limited express and local trains within their respective JR-EAST area, including the Tokyo Metropolitan area.
Both the passes will be sold with validities of 5 Consecutive days of travel.
Destinations
JR East Pass (Tohoku area):
Lines available to use under this pass:
All JR East lines within the covered area (Shinkansen, limited express, local trains and BRT)
(1) Shinkansen:
- Tohoku Shinkansen (Tokyo Station ~ Shin-Aomori Station)
- Akita Shinkansen (Tokyo Station ~ Akita Station)
- Yamagata Shinkansen (Tokyo Station ~ Shinjo Station)
- Joetsu Shinkansen (Tokyo Station ~ Echigo-Yuzawa Station, GALA Yuzawa Station)
- Hokuriku Shinkansen (Tokyo Station ~ Sakudaira Station)
(2) Limited Express Trains
- Azusa, Fuji Excursion (the pass can be used only in certain section)
- Kaiji, Hachioji, Ome
- Shonan-Odoriko
- Narita Express
- Hitachi/Tokiwa
- Wakashio/Sazanami/Shiosai
- Tsugara
- Inaho
(3) Local Train and BRT
- Yamanote Line
- Izu Kyuko, Tokyo Monorail, Aoimori Railway Iwate Galaxy Railway, Sendai Airport Transit – All Lines
- Refer to the link for detailed information on covered region, map and other information on JR local bus: Bus Info
Lines partially available to use under the pass:
- Limited express trains: Nikko, Kinugawa
*Pass holders can take Tobu Railway lines only if the train either departs from or terminates at a JR station. Trains arriving/departing Asakusa station cannot be used.
- Local and express trains (Imaichi Station ~ Tobu Nikko Station and Kinugawa·Onsen Station)
JR East Pass (Nagano, Niigata area):
Lines available to use under this pass:
All JR East lines within the covered area (Shinkansen, limited express, local trains and BRT).
(1) Shinkansen:
- Joetsu Shinkansen (Tokyo Station ~ Niigata Station, GALA Yuzawa Station)
- Hokuriku Shinkansen (Tokyo Station ~ Joetsumyoko Station)
- Tohoku Shinkansen (Tokyo Station ~ Nasushiobara Station)
(2) Limited Express Trains
- Azusa, Kaiji, Hachioji, Ome
- Shinano (the pass can be used only in certain sections)
- Shonan-Odoriko
- Narita Express
- Hitachi (the pass can be used only in certain sections)
- Wakashio/Sazanami/Shiosa
- Swallow Akagi, Akagi, Kusatsu
- Inaho (the pass can be used only in certain sections)
(3) Local Train and BRT
- Yamanote Line
- Izu Kyuko, Tokyo Monorail, Hokuetsu Express – All Lines
- Refer to the link for detailed information on covered region, map and other information on JR local bus: Bus Info
Lines partially available to use under the pass:
- Limited express trains: Nikko, Kinugawa, SPACIA Kinugawa
*Pass holders can take Tobu Railway lines only if the train either departs from or terminates at a JR station. Trains arriving/departing Asakusa station cannot be used.
- Local and express trains (Imaichi Station ~ Tobu Nikko Station and Kinugawa·Onsen Station)
- Echigo TOKImeki Railway Line (Naoetsu Station-Arai Station)
Notes
- The pass cannot be used on lines other than those listed above under “Lines available” and “Lines partially available”.
- Pass holders using Gran Class, Green cars, and sleeper trains are requested to purchase Super (Limited) Express Reserved Seat Tickets in advance for each ride as JR East pass only covers the basic fare part of the ticket.
- GALA Yuzawa Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen line can only be used when Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort is open.
Map
- JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area): View the map
- JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area): View the map
©JR EAST
JR East Passes are available as follows:
- Standalone 9B/450
Standalone sales (ticketed on 9B plate) are possible in these BSP/ARC markets:
- ARC USA
- BSP Australia
- BSP Austria
- BSP Belgium/Netherlands/Luxembourg
- BSP Canada
- BSP Czech Republic
- BSP Finland
- BSP France
- BSP Germany
- BSP Hong Kong
- BSP India
- BSP Indonesia
- BSP Ireland
- BSP Italy
- BSP Macao
- BSP Malaysia
- BSP Mexico
- BSP Norway
- BSP Scandinavia – Open in Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
- BSP Singapore
- BSP South Korea
- BSP Spain
- BSP Switzerland/Liechtenstein
- BSP Taiwan
- BSP Thailand
- BSP UK
- BSP Vietnam
GDS Participation
- Abacus
- Amadeus
- Apollo
- Axess
- Galileo
- Sabre
- Worldspan
Eligibility
- Anyone who possesses a passport issued by a country other than Japan. Note: Type of visa will be checked.
Train Range
- JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) is Flight 9984
- JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area) is Flight 9985
Booking Classes
- Y – Standard Class / ‘Ordinary Class’
Discounts
- Children 6-11 pay a reduced rate. Children under 6 ride free if no seat is required.
How to book it
Enter “9B” as the carrier code, “XZJ” for the departure, and “XZP” for the arrival.
| JR East Pass | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pass | Fare | Type | Train | Dep. | Arr. | |
| JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) | Adult | 5 Consecutive days | 9984 | XZJ | XZP | |
| JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) | Child | 5 Consecutive days | 9984 | XZJ | XZP | |
| JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area) | Adult | 5 Consecutive days | 9985 | XZJ | XZP | |
| JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area) | Child | 5 Consecutive days | 9985 | XZJ | XZP | |
The rail passes are filed as pseudo trains/flights between XZJ (Rail) and XZP (Pass). When the availability request is made for travel between these two points at any chosen date, the display will show the number of available “rail pass trains”. Each train represents a rail pass type as per the table above. The date of travel indicates the date when the pass validity starts. The booking class Y represents the standard (coach) class.
From the availability display the pass can be booked and put into a PNR. Once in the PNR the Pass can be auto priced as any other flight or train. Each rail pass train has a corresponding fare basis code and a fare (rail pass price) associated with it. Each rail pass requires only 1 booking. A rail pass segment cannot be ticketed with any other segment. The ticket issued must be exchanged for an actual JR EAST PASS at an exchange office in Japan within three months of purchase.
Tickets are sold the same way as any regular airline: availability display, booking, attaching the fare record and finally ticketing – all are based on the regular PNR.
GDS Availability Display
The image below identifies available train flights bookable with the JR EAST PASS:
PNR Booking
The image below is a PNR booked on the GDS by a travel agent.
SSR CTCE
When issuing on 9B/450 plate please use “ SSR CTCE” format at the booking time in order to communicate PAX email address to 9B so that 9B could send an email 72 hours to departure reminding passenger about compulsory check-in on accesrail.com.
Refunds:
- Please check tariff rules for details and contact point of sale for refunds.
- Refunds can be applied to e-vouchers that have not been exchanged, with a 15% penalty applied.
- Exchanged electronic vouchers are 100% non-refundable.
- Once usage begins, the validity period cannot be extended, and no refunds will be issued for suspended or delayed services.
- JR East is not responsible for additional costs due to route changes or alternate transportation needs.
Groups
- No group bookings allowed. Up to 99 passengers with unique names can be issued on the same PNR.
Check-in
Earliest 72 hours before train departure, the passenger will have to check-in at www.accesrail.com to retrieve the EJR voucher. A paper copy of the ticket or mobile version must be present for the exchange. When the voucher is redeemed for the actual JR EAST PASS, the passenger will need to select a start date no further than 1 month from the date of Exchange in Japan. The pass can then be used for 5 days continuously from the selected start date. Date changes are not permitted.
Precautions Before Exchange:
Ensure the name used during booking matches the name on your passport. If they do not match, the JR EAST PASS cannot be exchanged in Japan.
Point of Exchange:
- Refer to the link for more information on the locations to exchange your voucher for the pass: Point of exchange
- The JR EAST Ticket Office at Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station and Narita Airport Terminal 2·3 Station is available only when the JR EAST Travel Service Centers at those stations are closed.
- “Michinoku Tour Information” at Sendai Airport and “Travel Service Center (View Plaza)” at Hachinohe Station are closed and no longer in operation.
- JR EAST PASS cannot be exchanged at Sendai Airport. If the customer is using the Sendai Airport Line before redeeming the “JR EAST PASS”, please purchase a separate ticket to the destination.
Precautions for Exchange:
- Present both the voucher and your passport when collecting the JR EAST PASS in Japan. A passport copy is not acceptable.
- Specify the starting date when exchanging the pass; it must be within one month of the exchange date. This starting date cannot be changed once the pass is issued.
- You cannot issue the same type of pass if validity periods overlap. Choose a starting date that avoids overlap. Different types of passes (e.g., Tohoku area, Nagano/Niigata area) can be exchanged even if their validity periods overlap.
- If you do not meet the eligibility requirements, you cannot exchange passes even with an e-voucher. Contact the travel agency for refunds.
Precautions After Exchange:
- Use the automatic ticket gates.
- If the pass is lost, it cannot be reissued, even with a record or copy of the e-voucher.
- Traveling outside the designated area or using non-covered facilities will incur additional charges.
Period of Validity
- 5-consecutive travel day: Any 5 consecutive days. The date of issue refers to the date of pick-up for the passes purchased overseas and the date of purchase for the passes purchased in Japan. Changes to dates of travel for the pass are not permitted.
Seat reservations
This pass does not guarantee the bearer a seat. Seat reservations may be made at JR East Travel Service Center or at the kiosk (Reserved seat ticket machine).
