About this experience
The JR Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass is exclusively offered to international visitors of Japan, providing you with unlimited travel on local JR trains and buses in designated areas in the Kansai and Hokuriku region such as Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, Okayama, Toyama and Kanazawa.
Why you'll love it
What's included
What's included
Not included
Meeting point
Osaka, Japan (and other major JR stations in the covered area)
- 1Present your passport and booking voucher at a JR ticket office or designated exchange point to collect your physical pass. Before boarding trains with reserved seating, use the green ticket-vending machines to collect a physical reserved seat ticket at no extra cost.
Know before you go
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible to use this pass?
The pass is exclusively for non-Japanese citizens visiting Japan. You must present a valid foreign passport when collecting your pass at the exchange point.
Do I need to reserve seats in advance, or can I just board?
For unreserved carriages you can board freely. If you want a reserved seat on an express train, visit a green ticket-vending machine beforehand to collect a free reserved seat ticket using your area pass.
Can I use this pass to travel to Tokyo?
No. The Hokuriku Shinkansen (Joetsu-Myoko to Tokyo), Tokaido Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka to Tokyo) and Sanyo Shinkansen (Okayama to Hakata) are all excluded from this pass.
Are there any lines near Kanazawa or Toyama where the pass has restrictions?
The pass is not valid on the IR Ishikawa Railway or Ainokaze Toyama Railway standard services. As a special exception, it can be used on the Himi, Johana or Nanao lines provided you do not alight at IR Ishikawa Railway or Ainokaze Toyama Railway stations. Limited express trains are permitted on the IR Ishikawa Railway between Kanazawa and Tsubata.
My child is three years old — do I need to pay for them?
Children under five travel free. Each paying adult may bring up to two children under five at no extra charge.
Do I need to print my voucher?
A digital voucher on your phone is sufficient to present at the exchange point, though carrying a printed copy is always a safe backup when travelling in areas with limited connectivity.
Good to know
JR West (West Japan Railway Company)
JR West operates the rail network across western Japan and issues this area pass specifically for international visitors travelling through the Kansai and Hokuriku regions.