Japan Rail Pass

JR HOKKAIDO RAIL PASS

* Prices are subject to change without notice
* Child 5 years of age and under not requiring a seat is free of charge.

Contact: If you have questions, please contact your local JTB branch or call the phone number below.

Phone: (800) 223-6104
Email: reservation@jtbusa.com
Office hour : Mon-Fri 9:00 - 17:30 (PST)
<<JR Official Website>>

What is the JR Hokkaido Rail Pass? Who can buy?

The JR Hokkaido Pass is the most convenient, efficient, and economical way to travel in Hokkaido. Travelers visiting Japan from foreign countries for sightseeing can purchase.

What is the JR Hokkaido Rail Pass?
If you have a Hokkaido Pass, you can ride all JR Trains and some designated JR Buses within Hokkaido. This allows you to ride trains and buses without having to buy tickets each time. and you don’t have to worry about language barriers.

*There is an extra charge for the sleeping car and carpet car.
*The JR Hokkaido bus routes available to pass holders are limited.
*There is an extra charge for boarding the Twinkle Bus.
Who can buy the JR Hokkaido Rail Pass?

The JR Hokkaido Pass is a special pass, only available to travelers visiting Japan from foreign countries for sightseeing. You must hold a passport issued by a foreign government and enter Japan as a “Temporary Visitor”, which is a status of residence defined under Japanese immigration law.

"Temporary visitor" entry status, according to Japanese Immigration Law, allows a stay in Japan of 15 days or 90 days for "sight-seeing, etc.". If you apply for a "stay for sight-seeing" when you enter Japan, entry personnel will stamp your passport "temporary visitor". Only persons who have a passport bearing this stamp can use a JR Hokkaido Pass.

* Japanese citizens living abroad can not use this pass.
* If you hold both a Japanese passport and a passport of another country (Dual Citizenship), please be sure to enter Japan with the non-Japanese passport and obtain the "temporary visitor" stamp to be eligible to exchange.

Caution:
Even if you visit Japan with an Exchange Order, to be turned in for a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass, the exchange cannot be made unless you have "temporary visitor" status; if you enter Japan under any other official status, such as "trainee" or "entertainer", you can not change the Exchange Order for a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass.
Please note that according to strict interpretation of the Japanese Immigration Law, "temporary visitor" status differs even from other types of stays that are also for only short time periods.
When you exchange to JR Hokkaido Rail Pass, you must submit the original Exchange Order. A copy is not acceptable.


How to obtain? How to use?

Purchase an Exchange Order before you leave for Japan and exchange the voucher in Japan. You are able to purchase the voucher through the JTB USA website.

1. Purchase an Exchange Order before you come to Japan
You need to purchase a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass Exchange Order from an authorized sales agent in the US prior to your arrival in Japan. JTB USA is one of a few authorized sales agents for Japan's National Railway Group and offers a full selection of rail pass options.

2. Present your Exchange Order and obtain your JR Hokkaido Rail Pass after you arrive in Japan
Upon arrival in Japan, you need to turn in the Exchange Order to receive your JR Hokkaido Rail Pass at an applicable JAPAN RAIL station that has a JR Hokkaido Rail Pass exchange office.

JR Hokkaido Pass Validity

Transportation Services & Accommodations & Valid Period

Transportation Services

The JR Hokkaido Pass is valid for all the train lines offered by Hokkaido Railway Co. and bus lines of JR Hokkaido Bus (excluding Sapporo - Asahikawa / Sapporo - Monbetsu / Sapporo - Obihiro / Sapporo - Kiroro lines and irregular lines).


With an Ordinary-type JR Hokkaido Pass, you can use reserved ordinary car seats of trains operated by Hokkaido Railway Co. If you use a sleeping car, you must pay the limited express charge and berth charge.


Accommodations

Many JR HOKKAIDO trains have Green cars (First class); all have ordinary cars. You can use ordinary cars with an PASS, without paying additional charges.Refer to the following table for details:


Valid Period

You must exchange your Exchange Order for JR Hokkaido Pass within three months from the date of issue. At that time, you must specify the date that you want to start using the PASS. It can be any date within one month from the date the PASS is received.


Once the PASS has a starting date written on it, the date connot be changed.


After commencing travel with the PASS beyond the valid period, it can be used until the day following its expiration date if no stops are made. If the trains you board on that day have accommodations requiring limited express or express charges, you must pay the applicable charges.

* Flexible 4-Day Pass
The date of use cannot be selected with the Flexible 4-Day Ticket. It is effective the day you exchange it, that being day one, and continues to be effective for ten days in which it can be used any four days either consecutive or not? EX: If you purchase or exchange a Flexible 4-Day ticket the 1st of July, it is effective until July 10th, and can be used any four days within the ten day period.


How to make a reservatioin

Seat reservations can be made without additional payment.

Seat reservations can be made without additional payment. To make a reservation, apply at any major station or Travel Service Center (Twinkle Plaza) or a reservation office (midori-no-madoguchi) at a JR HOKKAIDO station. There, present your PASS, and obtain your reserved-seat ticket before boarding.


A non-reserved seat can be used simply by presenting your JR Hokkaido Pass.


Seat reservations cannot be made before you receive the PASS in Japan.

Note:
When seats are fully reserved, you should use a non-reserved seat. In this case, no refund can be made of the price difference between a reserved seat and a non-reserved seat.

Midori no Madoguchi


Other Usage conditions

A JR Hokkaido Pass is strictly limited to the designated individual.

A JR Hokkaido Pass is strictly limited to the designated individual; it is not transferable from one person to another.


You should carry your passport during travel, and be prepared to present it if requested.


You can reserve seats in advance before you boarding with no extra charge at JR ticket offices.

The information on the voucher is not allowed be changed.

Refunds for vouchers can be obtained at the place of issue within one year of the date of issue. The specified service fee and communication charges will be deducted from the refund amount.
Refunds for rail passes can be obtained at the place of exchange prior to the starting date. A service fee corresponding to 20% of the price in Japanese yen stated on the rail pass concerned will be charged per rail pass. No refund is made for rail passes on or after the starting date.

If you lose your voucher it can not be reissued.

Neither an Exchange Order nor a JR Hokkaido Pass can be reissued if lost or stolen.


These and other usage conditions follow the Hokkaido Railway Group passenger transportation regulations and Japanese laws. The validity of an Exchange Order during the period before it is submitted for a HOKKAIDO RAIL PASS, however, shall follow the stipulations and regulations of the company that issued the Exchange Order.


Please take a number ticket upon boarding bus.


Other conditions are in compliance with the Hokkaido Railway Co. Rules and Japanese laws. For rules concerning the exchange vouchers they will depend on the rules and regulations of the travel agency at which you purchased the voucher.

Note:
A JR Hokkaido Pass cannot be used in an automatic ticket-reading gate. Please present the PASS at a manned gate.


More Information about the JR Pass

If you have questions, please contact your local JTB branch or call the phone number below.

Phone: (800) 223-6104
Email : reservation@jtbusa.com
Office hour : Mon-Fri 9:00 - 17:30 (PST)

* Prices are subject to change without notice
* Child 5 years of age and under not requiring a seat is free of charge.