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3 Days of Unlimited Shinkansen Travel for Just 12,000 JPY

By Rika Hoffman
Updated: June 23, 2023

Last July, JR East announced half-off shinkansen tickets along these routes until March 2021 and they're back again this month with a new travel deal for foreign residents in Japan: the JR East Welcome Rail Pass 2020.

From October 16, 2020 to February 26, 2021, foreign passport holders in Japan can purchase the new pass which may be used for unlimited travel along applicable lines for 3 consecutive days (e.g. October 16-18). 

Here's everything you need to know about the JR East Welcome Rail Pass 2020.

JR East Welcome Rail Pass 2020 Details

Sold From: October 16, 2020 - February 26, 2021

Period of Use: 3 consecutive days within the period of October 16, 2020 - February 28, 2021 

Prices:

  • Adults (12 years and older): 12,000 JPY
  • Children (6-11 years old): 6,000 JPY

Note that student discounts are not applicable when purchasing the pass.

Eligibility:

The JR East Welcome Rail Pass 2020 is only available to non-Japanese passport holders. Japanese nationals are not permitted to purchase a pass.

Inside JR East Niigata Station ticket gate

Applicable Railway Companies and Lines:

  • JR East (including Bus Rapid Transit)
  • Aoimori Railway
  • Iwate Galaxy Railway
  • Sanriku Railway
  • Echigo Tokimeki Railway (from Myoko Kogen to Naoetsu)
  • Shinano Railway

Cannot be used on Tokyo Monorail or Tokaido Shinkansen.

How to Purchase the JR East Welcome Rail Pass 2020

  1. Bring your passport to the booth. (Find the closest location here).
  2. After your eligibility has been confirmed, you may purchase the pass.
  3. Indicate the start date for pass usage (must be within one month of purchase).

Recommended Destinations and Experiences

Here are a few recommended prefectures to visit using the JR East Welcome Rail Pass, along with a few unique experiences and local tourist attractions to inspire your travels.

Niigata 

Nagano

Miyagi (Sendai, Matsushima) 

Yamagata 

Akita 

Fukushima

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We strive to be as accurate as possible and keep up with the changing landscape of Japan's food and travel industries. If you spot any inaccuracies, please send a report.
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Rika Hoffman
Rika is a sourdough enthusiast, amateur film photographer, and pun-lover, born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia. A carb-based lifeform, she is always on the lookout for tasty bakeries in Tokyo.
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