Enjoy the coastal plains and volcanic plateaus with a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass
What is the JR Hokkaido Rail Pass?
The JR Hokkaido Rail Pass is a special discounted pass available only to travellers visiting Japan and holding a non-Japanese passport.
The passes allow unlimited travel on JR Hokkaido trains (including limited express trains) and most JR bus lines in Hokkaido on 5 or 7 consecutive days.
Explore the second largest island in Japan in style and comfort with your choice of Hokkaido Rail Pass.
Types and Prices of JR Hokkaido Rail Pass
JR Hokkaido offers two different pass types. You can choose from a consecutive 5 or 7 day pass. All passes are available in Ordinary class only.
| Type | Ordinary | |
| Duration | Adult (12+) | Child (6-11) |
| 5 days consecutive | $222 | $111 |
| 7 days consecutive | $292 | $146 |
Prices are subject to exchange rate fluctuations.
* No credit card charges for Visa, MasterCard or AMEX. 2% credit card surcharge for JCB and Diner’s Club
* Reissue fees apply
Note –
The 5 and 7 day passes allow you to choose the starting day, and can be used for either 5 or 7 consecutive days from the start date.
Delivery Methods
Local pick-up from our office in Melbourne is available. We’ll contact you once your JR Hokkaido Rail Pass is ready.
Priority post with tracking is available for $3 extra (delivery estimated between 1 – 3 days).
Express Post is available for $7 extra.
Registered Post (person to person) is available for an additional $11.30.
*We are not liable for lost or misplaced passes.
How to buy a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass
You can purchase a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass Exchange Order before you go to Japan.
Upon arrival in Japan, you need to turn in the JR Hokkaido Rail Pass Exchange Order to receive your JR Hokkaido Rail Pass at a JR train station that has an exchange office.
At the exchange office, you will be asked to fill in a short application form and to show your passport with the ‘Temporary Visitor’ stamp/sticker you received on entry into Japan.
Your Exchange Order must be turned in for a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass within three months of the date the Order was issued.
After turning in your Exchange Order for a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass, you can make seat reservations at a “Midori-no-madoguchi” Reservation Office.
Who is eligible for a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass?
The JR Hokkaido Rail Pass is available exclusively to travellers visiting Japan from abroad on a non-Japanese passport for sightseeing, under the entry status of ‘Temporary Visitor.’
Australian residents travelling on a Japanese passport are not allowed to purchase the JR Hokkaido Rail Pass. If you have both a Japanese passport and a passport from another country, you must enter Japan using the non-Japanese passport on a “Temporary Visitor” status to be eligible for this pass.
Where can I use the JR Hokkaido Rail Pass?
The JR Hokkaido Rail Pass is valid for:
- Unlimited travel on all JR Hokkaido lines of Hokkaido Railway Co, including unreserved and reserved seating on all local, limited express and express trains. The Hokkaido Shinkansen is not available for travel with this pass.
*Separate charges apply to the Green car, Sleeper car and Carpet car.
- Unlimited travel on JR Hokkaido Bus lines, except the lines from Sapporo-Asahikawa; Sapporo-Mombetsu; Sapporo- Obihiro; Sapporo-Kiroro; Sapporo-Erimo; Sapporo-Hiro’o; Shin-Sapporo–Atsubetsu Stadium; JR Shiroishi Station– Sapporo Dome and irregular lines. Express buses between Sapporo and Otaru can be boarded if the bus is a JR Hokkaido Bus. Chuo Buses are not included.
*You should ensure that you take a boarding ticket when using the buses. When exiting the bus, show the driver your JR Hokkaido Rail Pass.
There is an extra charge to board the Twinkle Bus (reservations necessary).
Should I buy a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass?
If you are wondering whether a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass is worth it, we’d recommend you have a look at your itinerary and do a quick search on the costs of each train journey you intend to take when you travel to Japan.
There are two sites that you can use to search for both JR and non-JR train timetables and the prices of your journeys.
The first is Hyperdia and the second is Jorudan. Use both sites to ensure that you get the most accurate information to help you to determine if a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass is right for you, or whether you should just buy your train tickets when you need to use them.
When you organise your package tour of Japan through us, we include the best Japan rail pass or area pass to match your itinerary.
Important information
For further information including refund policies, please read the Rail Pass Terms and Conditions
