Hokkaido Rail Pass: price, days and what it covers

Price

5, 7 or 10 consecutive days from the starting date you choose.

Children aged 6 to 11 pay the child price.

What the pass covers

• All JR Hokkaido lines except the Hokkaido Shinkansen.
• Reserved and non-reserved seats in ordinary cars on limited express, rapid and local trains.
• JR Hokkaido buses, except intercity and temporary buses; between Sapporo and Otaru only the JR Hokkaido Bus express.
• JR Hokkaido Bus routes in Sapporo.

Not covered

• The Hokkaido Shinkansen, the South Hokkaido Railway, streetcars and subways.
• Buses and subways run by other companies.
• Some JR Hokkaido Bus routes, such as Sapporo to Asahikawa, Obihiro and Erimo, and temporary buses.
• Green Cars: you pay the limited express charge and the Green Car charge.
• The SL Fuyu-no-Shitsugen train needs an extra reserved seat charge.

The Hokkaido Rail Pass on our City to City routes

These journeys in our City to City data are only partly covered by the pass; the rest of each journey is paid separately.

• Tokyo to Sapporo by Hayabusa + Hokuto: Covers the Limited Express Hokuto from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto to Sapporo; the Tohoku Shinkansen and the Hokkaido Shinkansen need separate tickets.
• Tokyo to Hakodate by Hayabusa + Hakodate Liner: Covers the Hakodate Liner from Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto to Hakodate (a JR Hokkaido line); the Tohoku Shinkansen and the Hokkaido Shinkansen need separate tickets.

Where to buy it

• Online on JR-EAST Train Reservation, where you can also reserve seats.
• From a travel agent outside Japan as an Exchange Order, which you swap for the pass at a designated counter.
• In Hokkaido at the designated counters, paying in cash (yen only) or by credit card.
• From October 20, 2026, also at ticket machines with passport readers at Sapporo Station and New Chitose Airport Station.

Who can buy it

Anyone with a non-Japanese passport can use the pass; you show your valid passport when you get it.

Seats and using the pass

Seats

Reserved seats in ordinary cars are included; all JR Hokkaido limited express seats are reserved, so get a seat ticket before boarding.

• Put only the rail pass through the automatic ticket gate and take it back after passing.
• If the limited express is full, you may stand (not in the Green Car) on trains such as the Hokuto and Kamui with just the pass.
• Carry your passport while traveling and show it with the pass if staff ask.

Refunds

An unused pass can be refunded before or during its validity at the pass counters, minus a 10% fee (560 yen if bought on JR-EAST Train Reservation); no refund after the start date.

Good to know

• The pass cannot be reissued if it is lost or stolen.
• You cannot buy or use two passes of the same type for overlapping dates.
• After you get the pass, you cannot change its type or its start date.
• An Exchange Order is valid for 3 months from issue (90 days for an e-ticket Exchange Order).
• Sold throughout the year.

Related items

• Sapporo-Furano Area Pass
• Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Pass
• Sapporo One-Day Ticket for Subway Use
• Japan Rail Pass