7 JR rail passes that are available to foreign residents in Japan

Ongoing

How much: ¥10,180 (children ¥5,090)

What it includes: Three consecutive days of unlimited rides on shinkansen and limited express trains in the Kanto region. You can even hop on selected Joyful Trains (novelty and sightseeing trains) such as the steam locomotive SL Gunma. For detailed lines covered by the pass, visit here.

Where you can travel with the pass: Head north to Nikko, Utsunomiya or the picturesque Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki. For views of Mt Fuji, you can head inland to Karuizawa or to Lake Kawaguchiko. You can even hit the ski slopes at Gala Yuzawa in Niigata, go hot spring bathing in Gunma’s Kusatsu Onsen town, or travel down the Izu Peninsula for a beachside getaway.

Ongoing

How much: ¥18,000 (children ¥9,000)

What it includes: Five consecutive days of unlimited travel on trains, shinkansen and JR buses across Nagano and Niigata prefectures. For detailed lines covered by the pass, visit here.

Where you can travel with the pass: This pass will get you to Nagano and Niigata prefectures’ top destinations including Matsumoto, Karuizawa and Tokamachi. You’ll also be able to visit popular ski resorts like Hakuba, Echigo-Yuzawa and Gala Yuzawa.

Ongoing

How much: ¥20,000 (children ¥10,000)

What it includes: Unlimited rides for five consecutive days on local, rapid and limited-express trains as well as shinkansen across the Tohoku region. Selected JR East bus services and Joyful Trains (including the Pokemon with You train) are also included in the pass. For detailed lines covered by the pass, visit here.

Where you can travel with the pass: It allows for travel within Greater Tokyo and the Tohoku region: Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Fukushima, Yamagata, Akita, Iwate and Aomori prefectures.

Ongoing

How much: ￥8,500 (children ￥4,250); ￥8,000 if purchased outside Japan (children ￥4,000)

What it includes: Four consecutive days of unlimited rides between Sapporo New Chitose Airport, Sapporo, Otaru and Noboribetsu. However, it does not cover the JR Hokkaido buses, the streetcars and the Sapporo subway lines. More details here.

Where you can travel with the pass: Tour Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, as well as the retro harbour town of Otaru and the hot springs in Noboribetsu.

Ongoing

How much: ￥9,500 (children ￥4,750); ￥9,000 if purchased outside Japan (children ￥4,500)

What it includes: Four consecutive days of unlimited travel between Sapporo New Chitose Airport, Sapporo, Otaru, Furano, Biei and Ashikawa. However, it does not cover the JR Hokkaido buses, the streetcars and the Sapporo subway lines. More details here.

Where you can travel with the pass: See more of Hokkaido with this travel pass, which includes access to Furano's and Biei's famous farmlands and flower fields, as well as Sapporo, Otaru and Noboribetsu.

Available through March 2023

How much: ¥11,000 (children ¥5,500)

What it includes: Three consecutive days of unlimited travel around Shikoku island. You can use it for rides on limited express and local trains, with unreserved seats on the entire JR Shikoku Line and Tosa Kuroshio Line. It can also be used on fixed-route JR Shikoku buses (Otochi and Kumakogen routes), but not expressway buses. More details here.

Where you can travel with the pass: Visit Takamatsu, known for its art and participation in the Setouchi Triennale, the gorgeous beaches around Kochi, and Tokushima, home to Japan’s largest Awa Odori dance festival.

Available through March 2023

How much: ¥10,000 (children ¥5,000)

What it includes: Three consecutive days of unlimited rides including shinkansen and limited express trains in the Kansai region. The pass is valid for shinkansen trips between Shin-Osaka and Okayama, plus the JR West lines across Kansai as well as the Chizu Express. It can also be used on local JR West buses and the adorably pink Hello Kitty shinkansen that runs on the Kodama line from Shin-Osaka. For more detailed information, visit here.

Where you can travel with the pass: Explore Western Japan including Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hyogo, Wakayama, Kobe and more.