Updated November 2026
JR East Pass (2026):
Price, Coverage & Is It Worth It?
One pass for all of eastern Japan since March 2026 — what JR East charges, where it stops, and when the Tokyo Wide Pass or JR Pass is the better buy.
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5 days (adult)
¥35,000
10 days (adult)
¥50,000
Days
Consecutive
Kanazawa
Not covered
The JR East Pass (JR EAST PASS) costs ¥35,000 for 5 consecutive days or ¥50,000 for 10 (children ¥17,500 and ¥25,000). Since 14 March 2026 it is a single pass: the old Tohoku-area and Nagano/Niigata-area passes stopped being sold on 13 March 2026, and the 5-day flexible format went with them. It covers every JR East line in ordinary-car reserved or non-reserved seats — the Tohoku, Akita, Yamagata and Joetsu shinkansen and the Hokuriku Shinkansen as far as Joetsumyoko (so Karuizawa and Nagano, not Kanazawa) — plus the Narita Express, Tokyo Monorail and six partner railways. It does not cover the Tokaido or Hokkaido shinkansen. JR East's own example, the N'EX plus the Tohoku Shinkansen to Aomori via Sendai, costs about ¥52,000 bought separately. For Tokyo day trips only, the ¥16,000 3-day JR TOKYO Wide Pass is cheaper; for a Japan-wide trip, the ¥53,000 7-day JR Pass. Checked 3 November 2026.
How Much Is the JR East Pass?
¥35,000 for 5 consecutive days or ¥50,000 for 10. Children aged 6 to 11 pay half.
| Pass | Adult | Child (6–11) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 consecutive days | ¥35,000 | ¥17,500 | Starting on the day you choose. |
| 10 consecutive days | ¥50,000 | ¥25,000 | Only ¥15,000 more than the 5-day pass. |
| Children 0 to 5 | — | Free | Klook's listing states under-sixes ride free if they do not occupy a seat. |
| Who can buy it | Non-Japanese passport holders | — | JR East sells it only to holders of a non-Japanese passport; bring the original to collect it. |
JR East's pass page and its 28 January 2026 press release, read on 3 November 2026. The under-six rule is as Klook's listing states it.
Which JR East Pass Should I Buy, Tohoku or Nagano-Niigata?
Neither — both are gone. JR East ended sales of the two area passes on 13 March 2026 and replaced them the next day with one JR EAST PASS that covers both former areas. Older guides that compare the two are describing passes you can no longer buy.
| Pass | Status | Area | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) | ✗ Sales ended 13 March 2026 | Tohoku, Akita, Yamagata shinkansen and JR East's northern lines | Covered by the single JR EAST PASS |
| JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area) | ✗ Sales ended 13 March 2026 | Joetsu Shinkansen, Hokuriku Shinkansen to Joetsumyoko, Nagano and Niigata lines | Covered by the single JR EAST PASS |
| JR EAST PASS (current) | ✓ On sale since 14 March 2026 | Every JR East line, both former areas, plus the partner railways below | ¥35,000 for 5 days or ¥50,000 for 10, consecutive |
So the real choice is 5 or 10 days. Take the 5-day pass for one region (a Tohoku loop, or Niigata and Nagano). Take the 10-day pass if you want both, or a slower trip — it is only ¥15,000 more.
What Does the JR East Pass Cover?
| Service | On the pass? | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| Tohoku, Akita, Yamagata and Joetsu shinkansen | ✓ Included | Reserved or non-reserved ordinary-car seats on JR East's shinkansen, so Sendai, Morioka, Aomori, Akita, Yamagata and Niigata are all on the pass. |
| Hokuriku Shinkansen, Tokyo – Joetsumyoko | ✓ JR East section only | Karuizawa and Nagano are covered. Beyond Joetsumyoko the line is operated by JR West, so Toyama and Kanazawa are not. |
| JR East limited express, express, rapid and local trains (including BRT) | ✓ Included | Including the Narita Express from Narita Airport. |
| Tokyo Monorail, Aoimori, IGR Iwate Galaxy, Sendai Airport Transit, Sanriku, Hokuetsu Express, Echigo Tokimeki (Naoetsu–Arai) | ✓ Included | The partner railways JR East lists for this pass. |
| Hokkaido Shinkansen (Shin-Aomori – Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto) | ✗ Not covered | Operated by JR Hokkaido. JR East sells a separate JR East–South Hokkaido Rail Pass for that. |
| Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo – Kyoto – Osaka) | ✗ Not covered | Operated by JR Central. No JR East pass covers it. |
| Green Car and GranClass | ✗ Extra charge | The pass covers ordinary cars only. |
| Tokyo Metro, Toei subway, city buses | ✗ Not covered | Use an IC card for city travel. |
Lines and partner railways as JR East lists them, read on 3 November 2026. Check the boundary stations on JR East's official map if your trip goes near the edge.
Does the JR East Pass Cover the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa?
Only part of the way. JR East operates the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Joetsumyoko, and that is the section on the pass — enough for Karuizawa and Nagano. From Joetsumyoko on to Toyama and Kanazawa the line belongs to JR West and is not covered.
For Kanazawa, the Hokuriku Arch Pass (¥35,000, read 26 October 2026) covers Tokyo–Kanazawa–Osaka. Our Tokyo to Kanazawa guide compares it with single tickets.
Is the JR East Pass Worth It?
On a long trip north, clearly yes. JR East's own worked example — the Narita Express plus the Tohoku Shinkansen to Aomori via Sendai, in reserved seats — costs about ¥52,000 bought separately against ¥35,000 for the 5-day pass. Single fares for Tokyo–Sendai, Tokyo–Nagano and Tokyo–Echigo-Yuzawa are not printed here, because JR East publishes no readable English fare table for them.
| Journey | Normal fare | Source | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| JR East's own example: Narita Express + Tohoku Shinkansen to Aomori via Sendai, reserved | About ¥52,000 | JR East, checked 3 November 2026 | Against ¥35,000 for the 5-day pass — about ¥17,000 saved. |
| Narita Airport → Tokyo, N'EX single | ¥3,140 | JR East, read 30 October 2026 | On the pass if the airport run falls inside your pass days. |
| Tokyo ⇄ Sendai, Nagano or Echigo-Yuzawa singles | Not printed | — | JR East publishes no readable English fare table for these routes, so they are left out rather than guessed. Check them on JR East's route search for your own dates. |
| Your trip | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo → Sendai → Aomori and back over 5 days | ✓ Buy it | JR East's own example prices the northbound half alone at about ¥52,000 against ¥35,000. |
| Tokyo plus a Tohoku loop and a Niigata or Nagano leg in 10 days | ✓ Buy the 10-day | ¥50,000 covers both former areas; before March 2026 this needed two separate passes. |
| Tokyo with day trips to Nikko, Karuizawa or GALA Yuzawa only | ✗ Wrong pass | The ¥16,000 3-day JR TOKYO Wide Pass covers those day trips for less than half the price. |
| Tokyo to Kanazawa | ✗ Wrong pass | The pass stops at Joetsumyoko. The Hokuriku Arch Pass (¥35,000) covers Tokyo–Kanazawa–Osaka. |
| Tokyo plus Kyoto and Osaka | ✗ Wrong pass | The Tokaido Shinkansen is not on it. Price the nationwide JR Pass or buy that leg separately. |
Two things to check on the listing before you pay: the cancellation terms, and which station exchanges the voucher. Ski-season shinkansen and autumn-foliage weekends in Tohoku fill early, so reserve seats as soon as you have the pass.
JR East Pass vs Tokyo Wide Pass vs the JR Pass
| Pass | Price (adult) | What it covers | When to pick it |
|---|---|---|---|
| JR EAST PASS | ¥35,000 (5 days) / ¥50,000 (10 days) | All JR East lines incl. Tohoku, Joetsu, Akita, Yamagata shinkansen and Hokuriku to Joetsumyoko | Tohoku, Niigata or Nagano beyond a day trip from Tokyo |
| JR TOKYO Wide Pass | ¥16,000 (3 days) | JR East around Kanto, plus Fujikyu to Kawaguchiko, Karuizawa and GALA Yuzawa | A Tokyo base with two or three day trips |
| Hokuriku Arch Pass | ¥35,000 (7 days) | Tokyo–Kanazawa–Osaka via the Hokuriku Shinkansen | Tokyo to Kanazawa and on to Kansai |
| JAPAN RAIL PASS (nationwide) | ¥53,000 / ¥84,000 / ¥105,000 (7 / 14 / 21 days) | JR nationwide incl. Tokaido and Hokkaido shinkansen (not Nozomi/Mizuho without supplement) | A trip that covers both eastern and western Japan |
JR EAST PASS read 3 November 2026; Tokyo Wide Pass from our Tokyo Wide Pass guide (30 October 2026); JAPAN RAIL PASS overseas-agency prices since 1 October 2026 from our JR Pass guide.
Where Do I Buy and Pick Up the JR East Pass?
Buy online before you fly
Through JR East's JR-EAST Train Reservation site or a reseller such as Klook, whose voucher is exchanged at a major JR East station. Checked 3 November 2026.
Collect it with your original passport
At a JR East Travel Service Center or a reserved-seat ticket machine with a passport reader. A photocopy is not accepted.
Pick consecutive days
The 5 or 10 days run back to back from the start date. There is no flexible version any more — the old area passes' 'any 5 days in 14' option ended with them.
Reserve seats before boarding
Reserved ordinary-car seats are included. Get the seat ticket at a machine or JR ticket office before you board, especially for all-reserved trains such as the Hayabusa.
Seat reservations and the voucher are on your phone, so working data from landing matters. See our best eSIM for Japan comparison.
Can I Reserve Seats With the JR East Pass?
Yes. Reserved seats in ordinary cars are part of the pass at no extra charge. Get the seat ticket at a reserved-seat ticket machine or a JR ticket office before boarding. Green Car and GranClass need a separate fee.
Pass or Tour for GALA Yuzawa and Karuizawa?
Both are on the JR East Pass, but if they are your only trips out of Tokyo, the ¥16,000 Tokyo Wide Pass or a booked day tour costs less. Our GALA Yuzawa ski day trip, Karuizawa day trip and Nikko day trip guides compare the options.
Common Questions
1. How much is the JR East Pass?
2. Which JR East Pass should I buy, Tohoku or Nagano-Niigata?
3. Is the JR East Pass worth it?
4. Does the JR East Pass cover the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa?
5. Can I reserve seats with the JR East Pass?
6. Is the JR East Pass consecutive or flexible?
7. What is the difference between the JR East Pass and the Tokyo Wide Pass?
8. Does the JR East Pass cover the Narita Express and the Tokyo Monorail?
9. Does the JR East Pass get me to Hokkaido?
One pass for Tohoku, Niigata and Nagano
¥35,000 for 5 days or ¥50,000 for 10, shinkansen seats included. Only doing day trips from Tokyo? The Tokyo Wide Pass is less than half the price.