Hokuriku Area Pass: price, days and what it covers

Price

Valid on consecutive days, from 0:00 on the first day to 24:00 on the last day (Japan time).

Children aged 6 to 11 pay the child price; the age counts on the day the exchange order is issued or the pass is bought.

What the pass covers

• Non-reserved seats on the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Tsuruga and Kurobe-Unazukionsen.
• Non-reserved seats on limited express trains in the pass area.
• Rapid and local trains on JR-WEST lines in the pass area.
• The Toyama Chihou Railway (including its city trams), the Manyo Line, the Noto Railway, the Echizen Railway and West JR Bus.
• The IR Ishikawa Railway between Kanazawa and Tsubata, only when you ride through the whole section without getting off on the way.
• The Ainokaze Toyama Railway between Toyama and Takaoka, only on local trains riding through the whole section.
• The Hapi-Line Fukui between Echizen-Hanandō and Fukui, only on local trains between those two stations.
• West JR Bus local route buses inside the pass area.

Not covered

• The Hokuriku Shinkansen between Kurobe-Unazukionsen and Tokyo.
• The Kagayaki on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, because all its seats are reserved.
• Trains with only reserved seats.
• Expressway buses are not covered.

Where to buy it

• Travel agents outside Japan sell an exchange order (MCO or E-TICKET), which must be exchanged for the pass within 3 months.
• Book on JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION and pay by credit card when booking, or in cash or by card at a JR-West station.
• Travel agencies in Japan also sell the pass.

Who can buy it

Only for travelers with a passport issued by a foreign government who enter Japan as a Temporary Visitor; Japanese nationals cannot use it, even with permanent residency abroad.

Seats and using the pass

Seats

Only non-reserved seats are covered.

• In Japan, show your passport and the MCO or E-TICKET at an exchange location to get the pass.
• A ticket machine can issue the pass only for a passport with an IC chip; otherwise pick it up at a ticket office.
• Keep your passport with the pass and show it when JR staff ask.

Refunds

An unused pass can be refunded for a 10% fee (at least 220 yen per pass); there is no refund once the pass starts or expires.

Good to know

• Each pass holder can bring up to two children aged 1 to 5 for free.
• Pass holders can also use the Ekirin-kun rental bicycles.
• Showing the pass or your passport gives benefits at partner facilities.
• Lost or stolen passes are not reissued.

Related items

• Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Tourist Pass
• Mt. Fuji-Shizuoka Area Tourist Pass Mini
• Kanazawa City ONE-DAY PASS
• Nagoya City Bus & Subway 1-Day Ticket
• Japan Rail Pass