The Hokuriku Arch Pass is an all-inclusive travel pass for routes from Osaka or Tokyo heading north to areas such as Shirakawa-go (a UNESCO World Heritage village of traditional thatched-roof houses), Takayama, and Jigokudani Monkey Park, as well as popular cities like Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe. It offers unlimited rides on JR East and JR West lines, starting from Narita Airport in Tokyo or Kansai Airport in Osaka.
The new JR Pass format, introduced after the pandemic, is no longer a booklet you hand to staff. Instead, it looks like a regular train ticket that you insert into the automatic ticket gates.
Hokuriku Arch Pass Prices (Valid for 7 Consecutive Days)
| Hokuriku Arch Pass (7 Days) | Adult (age 12 and up) | ￥25,500 |
|---|---|---|
| Child (age 6-11) | ￥12,750 |
- The pass can be purchased both inside and outside Japan. Buying it outside Japan before your trip can be cheaper than buying it in Japan, so if you've already planned your trip, you can buy the pass in advance and use it once you arrive in Japan.
- For the child fare, the child must be between 6 and 11 years old (based on passport) on the day of purchase. Children under 6 do not need to buy a pass, but they will not be able to reserve seats. If seat reservation is needed, a pass must be purchased for them.
- While traveling in Japan with the pass, you cannot purchase a new pass if your current one has not yet expired. Each person may hold only one pass at a time.
How to Use
Once purchased, the pass is valid for 7 consecutive days starting from the first day of use. Validity begins at 12:00 noon on the first day and ends at 12:00 noon on the last day. However, if you are still traveling past 12:00 noon on the last day, you may continue your journey as long as you have not yet exited the station. The pass covers the following routes:
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- Narita Express (limited to area)
- Kansai-Airport Express “HARUKA” (non-reserved seat)
- Limited Express “THUNDERBIRD”
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- Tokyo Monorail
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- Limited express, express, special rapid service, rapid service, and local service trains
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- You can ride the Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Kanazawa.
- You can ride limited express and local rapid service trains, the non-reserved seat "HARUKA" service, and Tokyo Monorail lines.
Restrictions
- The pass cannot be used on the Tokaido or Sanyo Shinkansen.
- You can ride the IR Ishikawa Railway, including its limited express trains, between Kanazawa Station and Tsubata Station, but you cannot board or alight at stations in between.
- You can ride the Ainokaze Toyama Railway between Takaoka Station and Toyama Station, but you cannot board or alight at stations in between.
- If you ride the rapid service "Ainokaze Liner" on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway, an additional fare is required.
Destinations Covered
- Tokyo
- Osaka
- Kyoto
- Nara
- Kobe
- Fukui
- Kanazawa
- Toyama
- Nagano
- Karuizawa
- And more
Map
Hokuriku Arch Pass (click image to enlarge)
JR Hokuriku Arch Pass Route Map
Other Passes Similar to the JR Hokuriku Arch Pass
There are five main rail passes that use Tokyo as a base for exploring nearby areas or as a starting or ending point for your journey:
- JR TOKYO WIDE PASS covers the smallest area but includes many major attractions around Tokyo, and it's the cheapest option.
- JR EAST NAGANO, NIIGATA covers a slightly larger area, including Nagano and Niigata, as well as Matsumoto and Karuizawa.
- JR EAST TOHOKU covers an even larger area, reaching Aomori and Sendai, as well as Yamagata and Aizu.
- JR East-South Hokkaido covers the largest area, reaching as far as southern Hokkaido, including Hakodate and Sapporo, as well as New Chitose Airport and Hakodate Airport, but it's the most expensive option.
- JR Hokuriku Arch Pass has a route opposite to the four passes above. It loops north and west from Tokyo, passing through World Heritage areas, and ends in Osaka, forming a half-circle shape as suggested by its name (Arch).
How to Purchase the Pass
You can purchase the pass both inside and outside Japan. Outside Japan, it can be purchased through various Japan travel agencies, where you will receive an Exchange Order. Once you arrive in Japan, bring the Exchange Order along with your passport to exchange it for the actual pass at JR EAST or JR WEST. Alternatively, you can order online — after payment, print the Exchange Order and keep it to exchange for the actual pass in Japan.
If purchasing within Japan, you can buy the pass directly at JR EAST and JR WEST counters at various JR stations.
Where to Purchase and Exchange the Pass
You can purchase the pass or exchange your Exchange Order at JR EAST and JR WEST counters at various JR stations, including Tokyo Station, Shinjuku Station, Haneda Airport International Terminal, Narita Airport Terminal 1, Narita Airport Terminal 2·3, Kansai Airport, Osaka Station, Shin-Osaka Station, Kyoto Station, Kanazawa Station, and Toyama Station.