JR East South Hokkaido Rail Pass

This pass bridges the gap between Tokyo and Hokkaido, covering eastern Honshu and JR Hokkaido lines from Hakodate through to Sapporo and Otaru. It is the one to look at if you want to reach Hokkaido by rail rather than flying.

What it covers

Six consecutive days of unlimited travel from the start date you choose, from Tokyo all the way to Sapporo.

• Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo north to Shin-Aomori
• Hokkaido Shinkansen through the Seikan Tunnel to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto
• JR East lines across the Tohoku region
• JR Hokkaido lines from Hakodate through to Sapporo and Otaru, including the limited express between them
• Aoimori Railway and Iwate Galaxy Railway between Morioka and Aomori, and the line to Sendai Airport
• Narita Express and Tokyo Monorail for airport transfers

The Hokkaido Shinkansen, honestly

Worth being clear about what this does and does not get you. The Hokkaido Shinkansen currently terminates at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, not Sapporo. The extension to Sapporo has been delayed to around FY2038 after tunnelling problems.

That does not stop you reaching Sapporo on this pass. From Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto the limited express to Sapporo takes around three and a half hours, and that leg is covered. Tokyo to Sapporo is most of a day by rail, so many people break the trip with a night in Hakodate.

What to see

Hakodate has the night view from the mountain, a morning seafood market, and the star-shaped Goryokaku fort. Onuma Park nearby is a lake district at the foot of a volcano.

Heading south, Aomori has the Nebuta festival museum, Hirosaki has one of the twelve original castles surrounded by cherry trees, and Sendai and Matsushima Bay sit on the way back to Tokyo.

How to buy

Available through overseas agents and at JR East ticket offices and reserved seat machines at major stations. The six days run back to back from the start date you choose, so plan the long legs to fall inside that window.

Frequently asked questions

Does it reach Sapporo?

Yes. The Hokkaido Shinkansen ends at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, but the pass also covers the JR Hokkaido limited express onward to Sapporo, plus Otaru.

Is it consecutive days?

Yes. It runs for six consecutive days from the start date you choose.

Does it cover the Narita Express?

Yes, along with the Tokyo Monorail, so airport transfers at both ends are included.

Check JR East South Hokkaido Pass prices