JR Hokkaido Rail Pass is a pass available only to foreign tourists. It allows unlimited rides on JR trains (including limited express trains) and certain JR Hokkaido Bus routes in the Hokkaido region. There are currently three types available: one that covers the whole of Hokkaido, and two others that cover only the area around Sapporo. It is ideal for travelers planning to visit multiple cities in Hokkaido, not just Sapporo, making trips more economical and convenient since there is no need to buy a ticket every time you board a train.
There are currently 3 main types of pass
1) Hokkaido Rail Pass (covers almost the entire island of Hokkaido)
2) Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Pass (a sub-pass covering the Sapporo-Otaru-Noboribetsu zone)
3) Sapporo-Furano Area Pass (a sub-pass covering the Sapporo-Otaru-Asahikawa-Furano-Biei zone)
1) Prices (New prices "effective from April 1, 2025")
Note
- Children aged 6-11 = Half price (Child)
[Hokkaido Rail Pass]
- 5 days (consecutive)
- Pre-purchase: Adult ¥22,000 / Child ¥11,000
- Purchased at station: Adult ¥23,000 / Child ¥11,500
- 7 days (consecutive)
- Pre-purchase: Adult ¥28,000 / Child ¥14,000
- Purchased at station: Adult ¥29,000 / Child ¥14,500
- 10 days (consecutive)
- Pre-purchase: Adult ¥37,000 / Child ¥18,500
- Purchased at station: Adult ¥38,000 / Child ¥19,000
[Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Pass] (valid for 4 consecutive days)
- Pre-purchase: Adult ¥10,000 / Child ¥5,000
- Purchased at station: Adult ¥11,000 / Child ¥5,500
[Sapporo-Furano Area Pass] (valid for 4 consecutive days)
- Pre-purchase: Adult ¥11,000 / Child ¥5,500
- Purchased at station: Adult ¥12,000 / Child ¥6,000
2) Where to Buy/Exchange the Pass (the correct method according to JR Hokkaido)
There are 3 main methods
(1) Purchase via JR-EAST Train Reservation
- Buy the pass and (if needed) reserve seats in advance online
- Pick up the physical pass at a "designated counter" by showing your passport and membership number/confirmation email
- *You cannot collect the pass from a reserved-seat ticket vending machine
(2) Buy an Exchange Order from an agency outside Japan / e-ticket (QR)
- Make sure the name on the Exchange Order matches your passport exactly, character by character
- The Exchange Order is valid for 3 months (e-ticket exchange orders are valid for 90 days)
- Prices may fluctuate with the exchange rate
(3) Purchase in Hokkaido at a designated counter
- You must show your original passport (Residence cards / passport copies are not accepted)
- Payment can be made in "cash (yen)" or by "credit card"
- *Apple Pay and similar methods are not accepted
- Important: The purchase/exchange location differs depending on the pass type
- Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Pass: purchase/exchange at New Chitose Airport, Sapporo, or Noboribetsu
- Sapporo-Furano Area Pass: purchase/exchange at New Chitose Airport, Sapporo, or Asahikawa
- Hokkaido Rail Pass: purchase/exchange at several main station counters
3) Counter Hours for Purchase/Exchange (Pass Pickup Hours)
*Hours are subject to change; always check the latest official information before you travel
New Chitose Airport Station: 08:30-19:00
Sapporo Station: 08:30-19:00
Noboribetsu Station: 07:00-16:15
Asahikawa Station: 09:30-17:30
Obihiro Station: 09:00-19:30
Kushiro Station: 10:00-18:00
Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto: 09:00-19:00
Hakodate Station: 10:00-18:00
[Abashiri Station (hours change announced)]
- Until January 30, 2026: 07:35-13:10 / 14:10-16:30
- From January 31, 2026: 07:35-12:50 / 13:50-16:30
4) What the Pass Covers / Important Restrictions
[Hokkaido Rail Pass]
✅ Valid on all JR Hokkaido train lines during the pass period (except the Hokkaido Shinkansen)
✅ Valid on Limited Express / Rapid / Local trains within the JR Hokkaido network
✅ Valid on limited express trains that are all-reserved-seat (but you must have a reserved-seat ticket)
✅ Seasonal and special trains within the JR Hokkaido network: valid (note: an extra reserved-seat fee applies if you ride the SL Fuyu-no-Shitsugen Train)
✅ Buses: valid on "certain routes" of JR Hokkaido Bus (see the bus section below)
❌ Not valid on:
- Hokkaido Shinkansen
- South Hokkaido Railway
- Trams/subways
[Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Pass]
✅ Valid within the New Chitose Airport - Sapporo - Otaru - Noboribetsu zone (both reserved and non-reserved Ordinary car seats, depending on the train)
❌ Toya is "not included"
❌ Not valid on JR Hokkaido Bus / trams / the Sapporo subway
⚠️ The Limited Express Hokuto and Limited Express Suzuran are all-reserved-seat trains; you must get a reserved-seat ticket before boarding (seats cannot be reserved on board)
[Sapporo-Furano Area Pass]
✅ Valid within the New Chitose Airport - Sapporo - Otaru - Asahikawa - Furano - Biei zone
❌ Tomamu is "not included"
❌ Not valid on JR Hokkaido Bus / trams / the Sapporo subway
5) About "Reserved Seats" - What You Need to Know!
- All 3 pass types allow you to use reserved seats in the Ordinary car
- If you want a reserved seat, you must get a reserved-seat ticket before boarding
- Seats "cannot be reserved on board"
- On some routes/trains, the reserved-seat quota for pass holders may be limited (seats may show as available but still cannot be booked)
Ways to reserve a seat
1) Reserve online via JR-EAST Train Reservation (even more convenient if you bought your pass through this system)
2) At the station: JR Information Desk / JR Ticket Counter
3) Use a Reserved Seat Ticket Vending Machine (available once you have collected the physical pass)
6) Buses: The Hokkaido Rail Pass Covers Only Certain Routes (updated per JR documentation)
✅ Valid on some JR Hokkaido Bus routes within Sapporo
✅ Valid on the Sapporo-Otaru express bus (JR Hokkaido Bus only / not valid on Chuo Bus)
⚠️ Timetables and routes are subject to change; check the JR Hokkaido Bus website before use
❌ Bus routes "NOT included"
- Sapporo → Asahikawa / Monbetsu / Hiroo / Obihiro / Erimo
- Tomakomai → Erimo
- JR Shin-Sapporo Station → Atsubetsu Stadium
- JR Shiroishi Station → Sapporo Dome
- JR Teine Station → Teine Highland
- Temporary buses
7) Checking Regular Fares to See If the Pass Is Worth It (real example from the JR system)
Example: "Sapporo-Hakodate" (riding a Limited Express with a reserved seat)
- Basic fare: ¥6,600
- Reserved seat: ¥3,170
- Total one-way: ¥9,770
So a round trip costs approximately: ¥19,540
Compared to the 5-day Hokkaido Rail Pass (Pre-purchase ¥22,000)
- If you only make one Sapporo-Hakodate round trip, the pass isn't worth it
- But if your trip covers several cities/days (e.g. Hakodate + Asahikawa + Otaru, etc.), it usually becomes much better value
Recommended tool (official)
- JR Hokkaido's Timetable & ticket price search (use it to calculate the latest routes/fares)
8) Perks/Promotions That Come With the Pass
Examples of perks found in official announcements (document updated: December 9, 2025)
- Discounts at some shops/souvenir outlets (e.g. Hokkaido Shiki Marche, Hokkaido Shikisaikan, Ekiben MIKADO, etc.) when you show your pass at payment
- Some Furano/Biei deals: until March 13, 2026
- JR Rent-A-Car Hokkaido deal: until March 31, 2026
*Terms and exclusions apply for certain products/branches; please check the official announcement for details
Coverage Map:
Routes where the pass can be used: Wakkanai, Asahikawa, Abashiri, Nemuro, Kushiro, Furano, Sapporo, Otaru, Obihiro, Samani, Hakodate, Naka-Oguni
Coverage map of the JR Hokkaido Rail Pass