JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area)
The Tohoku Region
Although often overlooked by travelers, the Tohoku region in the north of Honshu features chiseled coastlines and mountain ranges from Tokyo to Aomori, the main island's northernmost city. The largest city in the Tohoku region is Sendai, a cosmopolitan capital with plenty of charm. Not far from the city of Sendai is Matsushima, one of the "Three Views" of Japan, where travelers can admire the reflection of a pine tree forest in the clear crystal waters of the sea. The mountainous central region features plenty of hot springs and fantastic natural scenery.
As a day-trip from Tokyo, explore Nikko, with its temples and shrines surrounded by cedar trees, and stroll by its river and sacred bridge. In Karuizawa, there is plenty of shopping to be done while awaiting your train to Gala-Yuzawa ski resort.
There is so much to explore in the Tohoku region.
Hirosaki Castle, Aomori Prefecture, Japan
@flickr/ Ari Helminen
View of Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
@flickr/ jpellgen
Autumn in Karuizawa, Nagano, Japan
@Wikimedia
Conditions of the JR East Tohoku Pass
Delivery time
Your pass (e-voucher) will be delivered to the email address used for booking within 5 working days of purchase. Remember to check your junk mailbox!
If you need it as soon as possible, don't hesitate to contact us.
Eligibility
- Only those who do NOT have a Japanese passport are eligible: non-Japanese tourists or foreign residents in Japan.
Exchange
- The e-voucher is valid for exchange up to three months from the purchase date. Travelers must exchange the pass with a printed copy of their e-voucher within 3 months of the purchase date.
- To exchange the voucher for the pass you will need your passport.
- The start date of the pass can no longer be changed once the voucher has been exchanged.
JR Exchange Offices:
- Haneda airport Terminal 2,3
JR East travel center: 6:45-20:00 (Terminal 3) 6:00-22:00 (Terminal 2)
- Narita airport station
-JR East travel center: 8:30-19:00
※Exchange is not available in Kansai international airport (KIX)
- Tokyo station
JR EAST Travel Service Center - Tokyo Station: 07:30-20:30
- Shinjuku station
JR East travel center: 08:00-19:00
- Ueno station
JR East travel center: 08:00-18:00
- Ikebukuro station
JR East travel center: 10:00-10:00
- Yokohama station
JR East travel center: 10:00-17:00
- JR Fukushima station
JR East travel center: 10:00-17:00
- Yamagata station
JR East travel center: 10:00-17:00
- Akita station
JR East travel center: 10:00-17:00
- Aomori station
JR East travel center: 10:00-17:00
- Morioka station
JR East travel center: 10:00-17:00
- Sendai station
JR East travel center: 8:00-19:00
Click here for all list of all Exchange Offices.
Validity
What is included with the pass?
This pass covers the following trains:
- Limited express trains connecting JR East Lines and Tobu Lines (Nikko, SPACIA Nikko, Kinugawa, and SPACIA Kinugawa trains). The pass can also be used to travel on local and rapid trains between Shimo-Imaichi and Tobu-Nikko/Kinugawa-Onsen on the Tobu Lines. Between Kurihashi and Shimo-Imaichi Stations, the pass can be used ONLY on limited express trains that make a direct connection with the Tobu Lines.
- The Tohoku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Aomori, the Akita Shinkansen between Tokyo and Akita, the Yamagata Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shinjo, the Joetsu Shinkansen between Tokyo and GALA-Yuzawa, and the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Sakudaira.
- The Resort Shirakami trains between Aomori and Akita, SL Banetsu Monogatari between Niigata and Aizu-Wakamatsu, and Kira-kira Uetsu between Niigata and Sakata.
What is excluded with the pass?
- The pass is not valid on the Tokaido Shinkansen, because this line is run by a different company than JR East.
- The pass is not valid on JR buses.
Seat Reservations
- With the pass, no additional fee is required when reserving seats.
- It is possible to make reservations for Shinkansen and limited express on the JR East Website before arriving in Japan.
- Non-reserved Ordinary Class cars can be accessed freely by showing the pass.
- To access the platforms, show your pass to the JR East staff located at the platform gates.
- To reserve a seat, ask the JR East staff at the ticket office.
- It is a personal pass and cannot be shared or transferred.
- Please always carry your passport when using the pass as station and train staff may check it.
Cancellation
- An unused voucher is refundable for one year from the date of issue.
- The voucher can be refunded if it has never been exchanged in Japan.
- A cancellation fee of 15% of the value of the voucher will be retained.
- No refund is possible for a voucher received by us more than one year after the date of issue.
- No refund is possible for a ticket lost or stolen after exchange.