Setouchi Area Pass: price, what it covers 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

• Reserved and non-reserved seats on the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hakata.
• Reserved and non-reserved seats on limited express trains in the pass area, such as the Haruka, Shiokaze and Nampu.
• Special Rapid, Rapid and local trains on JR-WEST and JR-SHIKOKU lines in the pass area.
• Okayama Electric Tramway trams and its bus between Okayama Station and Shin-Okayama Port.
• The Ryobi Ferry from Shin-Okayama Port to Tonosho Port and the Shodoshima Ferry from Tonosho Port to Takamatsu Port.
• Ishizaki Kisen and Setonaikai Kisen ships between Hiroshima Port, Kure Port and Matsuyama Kanko Port.
• The JR West Miyajima Ferry between Miyajimaguchi and Miyajima.
• Hiroshima Bus on the Hiroshima Minato Shinsen route, only between Hiroshima Station and the Hiroshima Port pier.
• JR Bus Chugoku, only the Meipuru-pu sightseeing bus.

Not covered

• The Tokaido Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Tokyo.
• The Kyushu Shinkansen.
• The high-speed boats of the Shodoshima Ferry.
• The paid A-Seat on Special Rapid trains costs extra.

Nozomi and Mizuho trains

The official fare table on JR Odekake-net marks the Nozomi and Mizuho as covered for reserved and non-reserved Ordinary Car seats.

Does the Setouchi 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 22,000 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.
• JR-WEST sets this pass jointly with JR Shikoku.
• The Miyajima visitor tax of 100 yen is paid when you board the Miyajima Ferry.
• On the Sanyo Shinkansen, bags over 160 cm in total size need a reserved seat with an oversized baggage area.
• Showing the pass or your passport gives benefits at partner facilities.

Related items

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