Sanyo-San'in Area Pass: price, coverage and is it worth it

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

• The Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hakata, including reserved seats.
• Limited express trains in the pass area, such as the Haruka, Yakumo and Konotori, including reserved seats.
• Special Rapid, Rapid and local trains on JR-WEST lines in the pass area.
• The JR West Miyajima Ferry between Miyajimaguchi and Miyajima.
• The Kyoto Tango Railway, the Chizu Express and JR Bus Chugoku buses inside the pass area.
• West JR Bus local route buses inside the pass area.

Not covered

• The Tokaido Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Tokyo.
• The Kyushu Shinkansen.
• Green Car and sleeper seats need their own ticket and a separate limited express ticket.
• The paid A-Seat on Special Rapid trains costs extra.
• Expressway buses are not covered.

Nozomi and Mizuho trains

The Nozomi and Mizuho are included on the Sanyo Shinkansen inside the pass area.

Does the Sanyo-San'in Area Pass pay off?

Add the journeys you plan to see whether the pass pays off. Below the tool are the normal one-way and round-trip fares for every journey in our City to City data that this pass covers, from the same JR and railway searches.

Fares are one adult, reserved seat where trains have them, from the City to City pages (searched for 14 October 2026). A round trip is twice the one-way fare. The share compares the round trip with 23,000 yen for 7 days, on the official website.

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 from one month before the first day and pay by credit card when booking.
• 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

Ordinary-car reserved seats can be used any number of times; reserve each seat before boarding.

• 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.
• The Miyajima visitor tax of 100 yen is paid when you board the Miyajima Ferry.
• From April 1, 2026, the pass can also be picked up in Takamatsu, at JR Shikoku's Takamatsu Station or the JR Shikoku Tour Takamatsu branch.
• On the Sanyo Shinkansen, bags over 160 cm in total size need a reserved seat with an oversized baggage area.
• Adult pass holders can also use the Ekirin-kun rental bicycles.

Related items

• JR-WEST All Area Pass
• Sanyo-San’in Northern Kyushu Pass
• Hokuriku Arch Pass
• Setouchi Area Pass
• Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass
• Japan Rail Pass