Touring Japan? These 3 Train Passes Cover Major Landmarks, UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Japan is dotted with famous landmarks and historical UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There are temples and shrines built hundreds, even thousands of years ago that are still standing, and old townscapes that remain in their original form. All these make up the uniqueness of Japan and Japanese culture.
On the other hand, there are lots of spots that you and your children will like, spots where you can interact with animals, or marvel at the breathtaking scenery of the season. There are also facilities related to samurai and ninja!
If you would like to tour the best places to see in various parts of Japan, we recommend using a transportation pass.
A pass that allows you to admire Mt. Fuji, as well as other UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Hida Takayama, zoos, and Tokyo Tower!
Japan is blessed with many natural wonders, like Mt. Fuji, which is said to be the symbol of Japan, and Kurobe Dam, the country’s tallest dam at 186 meters.There are also UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Shirakawa-go, which is known for its gassho-zukuri architecture (houses with a steeply pitched thatched roof, built by combining wood beams in an arc shape), and Nikko Toshogu, a shrine that serves as a memorial to Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Additionally, Tokyo has animal spots such as Ueno Zoo, which is famous for its pandas; the Nagano Prefecture, home to snow monkeys; and Zao Fox Village in the Miyagi Prefecture.
Japan is brimming with charm, including famous sightseeing spots such as Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Skytree ®.
Here are three transportation passes. Use them wisely, and you’ll not only get to see these famous sights, you’ll save on travel costs and time.
Enjoy Landmarks and Animal Spots with these Recommended Passes
1）JR TOKYO Wide Pass
Adults: ¥10,180 Children: ¥5,090 (age 6-11)
Features and highlights
This pass is for those who want to use Tokyo as a base for visiting famous sightseeing spots nearby such as Kawaguchiko, Mt. Fuji, or Nikko. Travelers can also use this pass to visit hot spring areas such as Karuizawa, Kusatsu, and Izu. With the pass, you can travel on the trains in the valid areas in Tokyo and surrounding Kanto region, including Shinkansen (bullet train), for three consecutive days from the day you start using it. You can also use it to go to inner city areas in Tokyo such as Shinjuku and Akihabara.
And if you present the pass at GALA Yuzawa Snow Resort, you can get the Gondola Ticket Package for ¥3,500, which includes a one-day gondola ticket and ski equipment rental. Take note that this is available only during winter, usually from December to March, depending on the weather.
※The usual gondola free ride tickets (1 day) from December to March are ¥2,000 for adults and ¥1,000 for elementary school students. Ski board, boot, and pole set rental is ¥5,000 for adults and ¥3,000 for children. Prices subject to change.
2）JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area)
Adults: ¥20,000 Children: ¥10,000 (age 6-11)
Prices are subject to change.
Features and highlights
With this pass, you can have unlimited train rides on JR East lines, including Shinkansen, within the valid area. It's a 5-day flexible pass and you can choose any five days within a 14-day period for your travel, and the five days need not be consecutive.
You can use it to travel in the Tohoku region by Shinkansen and visit tourist spots such as Mt. Zao (Yamagata Prefecture), Shirakami-Sanchi (Akita/ Aomori prefectures), and Oirase Keiryu (Aomori Prefecture). You can also visit Kamakura, Nikko, and other nearby areas as a day trip from Tokyo.
Additionally, you can use the pass to get to Haneda International Airport and Narita International Airport, and ride on Joyful Trains such as Resort Shirakami and Resort Asunaro Toreiyu Tsubasa.
For more details on the pass, visit the link below:
https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/pass/eastpass_t.html
※There is also the JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area) for exploring Nagano and Niigata.
Valid areas to use JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area)
Resort Shirakami is a Joyful Train by JR East that travels between JR Akita Station in Akita Prefecture and JR Aomori Station in Aomori Prefecture.
3）Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Tourist Pass
Purchase at stations in Japan or online:
Adults ¥19,600 Children ¥9,800
Purchase at travel agencies outside Japan:
Adults ¥18,600 Children ¥9,300
Features and highlights
This pass is recommended for those who would like to tour Gifu, Nagano, and Toyama areas starting from Nagoya, focusing on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. For five days in a row, the JR Line special express train / ordinary express train or rapid / ordinary train non-reserved seats on the designated route, and the Alpine route (between Dentetsu Toyama and Shinano Omachi) can be utilized as much as you like. Not only Takayama, Matsumoto, and Alpine routes, but also Gero Onsen, Enakyo, Kisoji, etc. are within the area of use, so do visit them as well.
The Alpine Route is closed from December to mid-April due to snow, so if you visit Japan in winter, be sure to check the business hours before purchasing your pass.
Places to go or eat with your transport passes
1） Use the JR TOKYO Wide Pass to Enjoy Local Cuisine, Skiing & Sightseeing just 1 Hour & 30 Minutes from Tokyo
GALA Yuzawa Ski Resort can be reached by taking the Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo Station for 1 hour and 20 minutes to Echigo-Yuzawa Station, and then taking the shuttle bus from there for about 10 minutes. There are 16 slow and fast courses in three areas and a 2.5-kilometer downhill course. Sledding can also be enjoyed at Yukiasobi Park. Sleds, boots, and clothing can be rented for a fee, so you can travel light when you come skiing and sightseeing. There is also a daycare center in the rest houses on the slopes (for children aged 2 - 6, priority is given to those who make telephone reservations in advance). Also, you can enjoy tasting sake at Echigo Yuzawa Station and eating the famous Uonuma Koshihikari rice balls.
2）Enjoy Skiing & Hot Springs with the JR EAST PASS
From Tokyo Station, take the Yamagata Shinkansen to Yamagata Station in about 2 hours and 30 minutes. Then, take a bus from Yamagata Station to Zao Onsen Ski Resort, which takes about 40 minutes. Besides skiing, hot springs can be experienced here, as can admiring the silver rime on trees as well as the 360-degree panoramic view on a ropeway. Enjoy these activities with your family.
3）Have a Fulfilling Time at Hida Takayama with the Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Tourist Pass
Sanmachi-dori in Hida Takayama is an old town that has retained much of its traditional architecture. There are lots of wooden merchant houses, and you can spend a few hours eating local delicacies and looking for souvenirs. At Hida Folk Village (Hida no Sato), about 15 minutes by bus from Takayama Station, you can see authentic gassho-style thatched roof houses. For families with kids, we recommend the Okuhida Bear Park, which takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes by bus from the Takayama Bus Centre in front of JR Takayama Station to Shinhotaka Onsen. In this area, Takayama ramen, a soup with Hida beef and soy sauce base with other simple ingredients, is a must-try.
Refer to the following for more information on the facilities mentioned in this article.
Tohoku region
https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/tohoku/
Kanto Region
https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/kanto/
Tokai Region
https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/tokai/
Hokuriku Shinetsu region
https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/hokuriku-shinetsu/
Click here for more articles on transport passes
https://www.japan.travel/en/my/enjoy-smart-trip-travel-passes/
JR TOKYO Wide Pass
https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/pass/tokyowidepass.html
JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area)
https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass_t/
Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Tourist Pass
https://touristpass.jp/en/alpine/
Online reservation website:
https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/reservation_form/index.php?p=alpine-takayama-matsumoto-areapass
