Updated November 2026

Hokuriku Arch Pass (2026):
Price, Route & Is It Worth It?

Seven days of JR trains between Tokyo and Osaka by way of Kanazawa. Here is what it costs, where it stops, and the sums that show when it beats single tickets.

✓ Prices checked 4 November 2026✓ Official JR West figures✓ Break-even arithmetic

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Quick Answer

Adult

¥35,000

Child (6–11)

¥17,500

Valid for

7 consecutive days

Tokaido Shinkansen

Not covered

The Hokuriku Arch Pass is a 7-day JR pass that links Tokyo, Kanazawa and Osaka on the Hokuriku Shinkansen and the Thunderbird, and it costs ¥35,000 for an adult or ¥17,500 for a child aged 6 to 11, at one price with no separate advance and station rate on JR West's page. It also covers the Haruka to Kansai Airport, the Tokyo Monorail to Haneda and the Narita Express, but not the Tokaido or Sanyo Shinkansen. It is ¥15,000 to ¥18,000 cheaper than a 7-day JR Pass (¥50,000 or ¥53,000 after the October 2026 change), but on a single run from Narita through Kanazawa to Kansai Airport, confirmed single fares total about ¥25,940, so it only pays if you add long side trips. Read off JR West's pages on 4 November 2026.

Hokuriku Arch Pass on Klook →Just Tokyo–Kanazawa Tickets →

Pricing

How Much Is the Hokuriku Arch Pass?

¥35,000 for an adult and ¥17,500 for a child, for seven consecutive days. There is one length and one price on JR West's page. JR West's conditions say the price follows the date you buy, so it is worth buying once your dates are firm rather than expecting a cheaper rate at the station.

What	Figure	The condition attached
Adult (12 and over)	¥35,000	Seven-day pass. JR West and JR East both print this figure. A page quoting ¥30,000 or ¥25,500 is out of date. Checked 4 November 2026.
Child (6 to 11)	¥17,500	Exactly half. Age is taken on the day the exchange order is issued or the pass is bought.
Children 1 to 5	Free, up to two	Per adult or child pass holder. A third child needs a child pass, and so does any child using a reserved seat alone or travelling alone.
Bought in advance vs in Japan	One price	JR West prints a single price with no separate advance and in-Japan rate. It sets the price by the date you buy, not the date you exchange or travel.
Validity	7 consecutive days	Calendar days, 00:00 on the first day to 24:00 on the last, Japan time. The only length sold. Delays do not extend it.
Who can use it	Temporary Visitors	A foreign-government passport and Temporary Visitor entry status. Japanese nationals cannot use it, including those with permanent residence abroad.

Read off JR West's pass page on 4 November 2026. JR East's 28 January 2026 press release, read through a search index, gives the same ¥35,000 and ¥17,500.

What it covers

What Does the Hokuriku Arch Pass Cover?

Think of it as an arch over the top of Honshu: Tokyo at one foot, Kanazawa at the crown, Osaka and Kansai Airport at the other foot. The Tokaido Shinkansen runs under the arch, and it is excluded.

Service	On the pass?	What that means
Hokuriku Shinkansen, Tokyo ⇄ Tsuruga	✓ Included	The spine of the pass, through Karuizawa, Nagano, Toyama and Kanazawa. Book seats before boarding. The Kagayaki is all-reserved, so it has no non-reserved car.
Limited Express Thunderbird	✓ Included	Named by JR West. It carries you from Tsuruga into Kyoto and Osaka, and reserved seats must be booked before boarding.
Limited Express Haruka (Kansai Airport)	✓ Included	Also named by JR West. This is what makes Kansai Airport the natural exit from the pass.
Narita Express	✓ Included	JR East's conditions address pass holders boarding the N'EX, and Klook's listing names it. JR West's page does not mention it. Without a reservation, take any empty seat.
Tokyo Monorail	✓ Included	Named by JR West, and the pass's link to Haneda.
JR West and JR East Special Rapid, Rapid and Local trains	✓ Inside the map area	JR West lists Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Shiga, Kyoto and Nara as destinations, and the exact limits are on its map image. Check the map for anywhere else, including Kobe and Himeji.
IR Ishikawa, Ainokaze Toyama and Hapi-Line Fukui	◐ Named segments only	Kanazawa–Tsubata (IR Ishikawa), Toyama–Takaoka (Ainokaze) and Echizen-Hanando–Fukui (Hapi-Line), end to end. Getting off anywhere else is not covered.
Tokaido Shinkansen, Tokyo ⇄ Shin-Osaka	✗ Never	The exclusion that decides the pass. The obvious Tokyo–Osaka train is the one you cannot take.
Sanyo Shinkansen, Shin-Osaka ⇄ Hakata	✗ Never	So Hiroshima and Fukuoka are out, and a pass from JR West's wider range or the JR Pass is the route there.
Hayabusa and Komachi	✗ Extra ticket	On the Tohoku and Yamagata Shinkansen inside the area, a separate limited express ticket is required.
Green Car, GranClass and sleepers	✗ Extra charge	Green and GranClass need separate tickets, and sleeper cars cannot be used at all.

Coverage read off JR West's pass page on 4 November 2026, with the Narita Express row from JR East's transportation conditions and Klook's listing. The limits of the valid area are drawn on JR West's map image rather than listed in text, so open it if your plan sits near an edge.

Break-even

Is the Hokuriku Arch Pass Worth It?

Only with more riding than a single run gives you. The table adds the fares for the classic route, using only figures an operator prints. Two of them are visitor discount tickets, because those are the published figures we could read, so a full-fare version of the sum would run a little higher. Kyoto to Osaka is left out, and so are peak-season shinkansen prices.

Journey (one adult, one way)	Fare	Source	Detail
Narita Airport → Tokyo, N'EX	¥3,140	JR East, read 30 October 2026	¥5,200 for the N'EX round-trip ticket.
Haneda ⇄ Hamamatsucho, Tokyo Monorail	¥520	Tokyo Monorail, read 25 October 2026	The cheaper way into the route.
Tokyo → Kanazawa, reserved Ordinary	¥14,400	JR West e5489 Shinkansen e-Ticket, 4 November 2026	Normal season, for purchases from 14 March 2026. JR West states that peak, busy and off-peak prices differ.
Kanazawa ⇄ Nagano, reserved Ordinary	¥8,970	JR West e5489 Shinkansen e-Ticket, 4 November 2026	Normal season. Used only in the side-trip row below.
Kanazawa → Kyoto, HOKURIKU One-way Ticket	¥6,500	JR West, 4 November 2026	A visitor discount ticket covering the shinkansen to Tsuruga and the Thunderbird. ¥8,000 to Osaka. JR West's page dates its prices to February 2025. The regular fare could not be read.
Osaka → Kansai Airport, HARUKA One-way Ticket	¥1,900	JR West, 4 November 2026	A visitor discount ticket, ¥2,700 from Kyoto. JR West warns of a change for tickets sold from 1 November 2026 and still printed this figure on the page we read.
Kyoto → Osaka	Not counted	No operator figure read	Left out of the sums. It is a short local hop on either side of the calculation.

Trip	The sum	Single tickets	Against ¥35,000
Narita in, Tokyo → Kanazawa → Kyoto → Osaka, Kansai Airport out	¥3,140 + ¥14,400 + ¥6,500 + ¥1,900	¥25,940	✗ ¥9,060 short
The same route, Haneda in	¥520 + ¥14,400 + ¥6,500 + ¥1,900	¥23,320	✗ ¥11,680 short
Narita in, Tokyo → Kanazawa and back, Narita out	¥5,200 + ¥14,400 + ¥14,400	¥34,000	✗ ¥1,000 short
The Narita-to-Kansai route plus a Kanazawa ⇄ Nagano day	¥25,940 + ¥8,970 + ¥8,970	¥43,880	✓ ¥8,880 saved

Your trip	Verdict	Why
A straight run from Tokyo through Kanazawa to Kansai	✗ Buy tickets	On every fare we could confirm, single tickets come to about ¥26,000 against ¥35,000. The missing Kyoto–Osaka hop and the regular Kanazawa–Kyoto fare do not plausibly bridge ¥9,060.
That run with side trips on the Hokuriku Shinkansen	✓ Can pay	Long extra legs are what close the gap. One Kanazawa ⇄ Nagano return turns a ¥9,060 shortfall into an ¥8,880 saving.
Tokyo ⇄ Kanazawa and back, arriving at Narita	◐ Close	¥34,000 at normal-season prices. One more ride would tip it, and so could a busier season, since JR West prices those dates differently. We could not read the peak figures.
You want not to think about each leg	◐ Your call	The extra money buys one ticket for the week, seat reservations from a single pass, and freedom to change trains. That is a fair reason to pay, as long as you know it is the reason.
Tokyo to Osaka the quick way	✗ Wrong pass	The Tokaido Shinkansen is excluded. A single reserved Nozomi is ¥14,720 at the window, far below the pass.
You also want Hiroshima, Hakone or Fukuoka by JR	✗ Too narrow	The Sanyo Shinkansen is out, so anything west of Shin-Osaka by bullet train means a separate ticket or the nationwide pass.

Before you pay for either option, settle two things. Check your travel dates against JR West's seasons, because the ¥14,400 is the normal-season price. And check the listing's cancellation terms, because the discount tickets and the pass have different refund rules, and the week you commit to is hard to change once the pass is exchanged.

Check the Hokuriku Arch Pass →Price Tokyo–Kanazawa Tickets →

Compare

Hokuriku Arch Pass vs JR Pass: Which Is Cheaper?

The Arch Pass, by ¥15,000 against the official-site JR Pass and ¥18,000 against an overseas agency. The JR Pass earns the extra only if the week uses the Tokaido or Sanyo line. For the eastern side of the same map, see our JR East Pass guide.

Pass	Price (adult)	Covers	Does not cover	Pick it for
Hokuriku Arch Pass	¥35,000 (7 days)	Tokyo–Tsuruga on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, Thunderbird, Haruka, N'EX, Tokyo Monorail and JR in the map area	Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen	Tokyo to Kansai the long way, with more riding than a single run
JAPAN RAIL PASS	¥50,000 official site, ¥53,000 overseas agency (7 days)	JR nationwide, including the Hokuriku and Tokaido Shinkansen	Nozomi and Mizuho without a supplement	A week that also needs the Tokaido or Sanyo line
JR EAST PASS	¥35,000 (5 days), ¥50,000 (10 days)	JR East lines, with the Hokuriku Shinkansen only as far as Joetsumyoko	Toyama, Kanazawa and all of Kansai	Tohoku, Niigata or Nagano rather than Kanazawa

Arch Pass read 4 November 2026. JAPAN RAIL PASS prices read off japanrailpass.net on 30 October 2026. JR EAST PASS prices from our guide, read 3 November 2026. Our JR Pass guide has a break-even calculator for the nationwide pass.

Thunderbird

Does the Hokuriku Arch Pass Cover the Thunderbird?

Yes. JR West names the Thunderbird among the reserved-seat limited expresses on the pass. Since the shinkansen now runs to Tsuruga, a Kanazawa to Kyoto or Osaka journey means a change there, from the shinkansen to the Thunderbird. Reserve both seats before you board. Green Car seats need separate tickets.

Route

Can I Use the Hokuriku Arch Pass From Tokyo to Osaka?

Yes, by the northern route only: the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Tsuruga, then the Thunderbird. The direct Tokaido Shinkansen is excluded. If getting between the cities is all you want, a single reserved seat on it is ¥14,720 by Nozomi or ¥14,400 by Hikari at the window, read 4 November 2026 in our Tokyo to Osaka shinkansen guide. The arch only makes sense with Kanazawa in the middle. See Tokyo to Kanazawa for the first half of that trip.

Buying it

Where Do I Buy the Hokuriku Arch Pass?

Pick a channel

JR West lists three: an overseas travel agency (an exchange order or E-TICKET), JR-WEST Online Train Reservation, and a travel agency in Japan. JR East sells through JR-EAST Train Reservation and agencies outside Japan. Klook sells the overseas version. Checked 4 November 2026.

Mind the two booking windows

An exchange order must be exchanged within 3 months of issue. JR-WEST Online opens one month before boarding, at 10:00 Japan time on the same date of the previous month. It takes credit cards only, and virtual or numberless cards are refused. A travel agency in Japan sells up to one month before your first day.

Collect the pass on arrival, with your original passport

Take an exchange order and your passport to an exchange location. For an online booking, use a ticket machine or ticket office with the reservation number, your 4-digit ID, the card you paid with and your passport. Machines need a passport with an IC chip. JR East's January press release lists Narita and Haneda among its tentative pick-up points, and its conditions warn that a photocopy of the passport is not accepted. Open the exchange-location list linked from JR West's page before you land.

Choose the start day carefully

Once exchanged, the start date, length and pass type cannot be changed. Seven consecutive days means the first day should be your first long train, not your landing day, unless you land and ride.

Reserve seats before each train

Use a ticket machine or a ticket office, or the website if you bought online. From the 7th booking, JR West sends pass holders to a ticket office. Do the Kagayaki first, since it has no non-reserved car at all.

View the Hokuriku Arch Pass →Check Klook eSIM prices →

The eSIM is there because seat bookings and any change of plan happen on your phone. Our best eSIM for Japan comparison ranks the alternatives.

The middle of the arch

Where Should I Stay and What Should I Book in Kanazawa?

The pass buys the trains but not the reason for the detour, so book the night and the day first. Kanazawa is the usual stop. Toyama is one shinkansen stop towards Tokyo. Shirakawa-go is not on the pass, which makes a guided day from Kanazawa the simple answer. Compare it with the alternatives in our Takayama and Shirakawa-go guide.

Hotels in Kanazawa →Hotels in Toyama →Shirakawa-go Day From Kanazawa →

FAQ

Common Questions

1. How much is the Hokuriku Arch Pass?

¥35,000 for an adult aged 12 or over and ¥17,500 for a child aged 6 to 11, for seven consecutive days. It is the only length sold. Up to two children aged 1 to 5 travel free with each pass holder. JR West prints one price with no separate advance and in-Japan rate, and sets it by the date you buy. Pages quoting ¥30,000 or ¥25,500 are out of date. Read off westjr.co.jp on 4 November 2026.

2. Is the Hokuriku Arch Pass worth it?

On a single run from Tokyo through Kanazawa to Kansai Airport, no. Using fares we could confirm from operators, the N'EX (¥3,140), Tokyo to Kanazawa (¥14,400), Kanazawa to Kyoto (¥6,500) and Osaka to Kansai Airport (¥1,900) come to ¥25,940, which is ¥9,060 below the ¥35,000 pass. That sum leaves out Kyoto to Osaka and uses a discounted ticket for Kanazawa to Kyoto, so the true gap is a little smaller. It pays when you add long side trips: one Kanazawa to Nagano return adds ¥17,940 and leaves you ¥8,880 ahead. Fares are normal season, read 4 November 2026.

3. Hokuriku Arch Pass vs JR Pass: which is cheaper?

The Hokuriku Arch Pass, by ¥15,000 to ¥18,000. It is ¥35,000 for seven days, against ¥50,000 on the JR Group's official site or ¥53,000 through an overseas agency for a 7-day Ordinary JAPAN RAIL PASS, read 30 October 2026. The JR Pass covers far more, including the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen, so it only makes sense if your week uses them. For a week spent between Tokyo, Kanazawa and Kansai, the Arch Pass is the better of the two, though single tickets can beat both.

4. Does the Hokuriku Arch Pass cover the Thunderbird?

Yes. JR West names the Limited Express Thunderbird among the reserved-seat trains on the pass, and it is the train that links Tsuruga with Kyoto and Osaka. Book the seat before boarding at a ticket machine or a ticket office. A Green Car seat needs a separate ticket on top.

5. Can I use the Hokuriku Arch Pass from Tokyo to Osaka?

Yes, but only the long way round. You take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Tsuruga, then change to the Thunderbird for Kyoto and Osaka. The Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, the direct route, is excluded. That is why the pass suits a trip with Kanazawa in the middle rather than one simply getting between the two cities.

6. Where do I buy the Hokuriku Arch Pass?

JR West lists overseas travel agencies, JR-WEST Online Train Reservation and travel agencies in Japan, and JR East sells it through JR-EAST Train Reservation and agencies outside Japan. Klook sells the overseas exchange-order version. You always collect the physical pass in Japan with your original passport. JR-WEST Online opens one month before boarding and an exchange order must be used within 3 months of issue.

7. Does the Hokuriku Arch Pass cover the Narita Express and Haneda?

Both airports are reachable. JR East's conditions tell pass holders they may take an empty seat on the N'EX without a reservation, and Klook's listing names the N'EX, though JR West's own page does not mention it. Haneda is reached on the Tokyo Monorail, which JR West names. The Haruka to Kansai Airport is named too.

8. Does the Hokuriku Arch Pass cover Shirakawa-go or Takayama?

Do not plan on it. JR West's pass page lists no bus, and the only Takayama and Shirakawa-go mention there belongs to a different ticket, the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass. From Kanazawa, a guided day tour or a separately booked bus is the practical way to reach Shirakawa-go.

9. Who can use the Hokuriku Arch Pass?

Holders of a passport issued by a foreign government who enter Japan with Temporary Visitor status. JR West states Japanese nationals cannot use it, including those with permanent residence abroad. You must carry your passport with the pass and show it if asked.

10. Can I get a refund on the Hokuriku Arch Pass?

Before use, yes, less a fee. JR West refunds the sale price minus 10%, with a minimum of ¥220 per pass. An unexchanged order goes back to the agency that sold it, and an exchanged pass can only be refunded at an exchange location's ticket counter in Japan. There is no refund after the pass starts, or for delays and disruption. Lost or stolen passes are not reissued. Klook's own cancellation terms are on its listing.

Same trip, same city