Coverage
1 countries
From
¥7,500
E-Pass
📄
Refundable
✅
💰 Price Table
| Type | 2nd Class | 1st Class |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days flexi | ¥15,000 | — |
✅ Pros
- Only ¥15,000 for 3 days — one of the best-value JR passes, far cheaper than the ¥50,000 national pass
- Shinkansen to Karuizawa included (¥6,000 one-way) — one round trip at ¥12,000 nearly pays for the pass
- Joetsu Shinkansen to GALA Yuzawa included — direct ski resort access in winter
- Fujikyu Railway to Kawaguchiko covered — Mt. Fuji lake views without extra tickets
- Izu Kyuko Railway included — Izu Peninsula onsen trips are covered
- Even Japanese residents with foreign passports can buy this — one of very few JR passes with no visa restriction
- Free seat reservations — guaranteed seats on crowded Shinkansen
- Covers Nikko, Mito (Kairakuen Garden), and many other day-trip destinations
❌ Cons
- Does NOT include Tokaido Shinkansen (toward Kyoto/Osaka) — the most common misconception
- Only 3 consecutive days — no flexi option
- Limited to Greater Tokyo area — cannot reach Tohoku, Kansai, or other distant regions
- Tokyo city subway and private railways NOT included — need separate tickets for city transit
- GALA Yuzawa only operates in winter (~Dec–May) — pointless to go in summer
- Nikko requires transfers via JR lines (not the faster direct Tobu limited express) — Tobu express is quicker but not covered
- Overlaps with JR East Tohoku Pass (¥30,000/5 days) — picking the wrong one wastes money
- Peak season (cherry blossom, autumn leaves) Karuizawa Shinkansen is packed — reserve seats early
👍 Best For
- Intensive Tokyo day trips: Karuizawa, Nikko, Kawaguchiko — one direction each day for 3 days
- Winter skiing: GALA Yuzawa day trip, Shinkansen goes directly to the ski resort
- Karuizawa shopping + getaway — outlet mall + Old Karuizawa strolling
- Kawaguchiko for Mt. Fuji views — Fujikyu Railway goes direct
- Family weekend trips — Nikko World Heritage site + onsen
👎 Not For
- Need to reach Kyoto/Osaka — Tokaido Shinkansen is NOT covered, completely wrong direction
- Staying within Tokyo's 23 wards — a ¥600-900 subway day pass is far better than ¥15,000
- Heading deep into Tohoku (Sendai/Aomori etc.) — JR East Tohoku Pass is more appropriate
- Trips longer than 3 days — the pass is too short
- Itineraries relying on private railways (Odakyu, Keikyu, etc.)
💡 Pro Tips
- 回本神器：第1天轻井泽来回¥12,000+第2天日光来回¥5,000+第3天河口湖=远超¥15,000票价
- 日本居住的外国人也能买——在日留学生/工作者周末出游首选
- 富士急行线到河口湖也包含——不需要单独购买富士急的票
- 冬季GALA汤泽是东京最近的滑雪场——新干线75分钟直达，当日往返轻松
- 和全国版JR Pass对比：只做东京周边日归行程的话，这个¥15,000比¥50,000划算太多
- 提前在网上或到达东京后在JR东日本旅行服务中心购买均可
- 伊豆急行线也包含——可以去伊豆半岛泡温泉看海
- 水户偕乐园2-3月梅花季也在范围内——用通票去赏梅很划算
⚠️ Common Pitfalls
- Assuming the Tokaido Shinkansen to Kyoto/Osaka is included — this is the most common mistake, it is NOT covered at all
- Only riding JR within central Tokyo — city transit is cheaper with Suica/subway; the pass's value is in the Shinkansen trips
- Not knowing GALA Yuzawa only operates in winter — buying the pass for a summer trip only to find it closed
- Taking the direct Tobu limited express to Nikko — the Tobu line is NOT included, you need to go via JR lines with a transfer
- Not reserving Shinkansen seats in advance during peak season — Karuizawa-bound trains are packed on weekends and holidays
- Confusing this with the JR East Tohoku Pass — the two passes cover different areas, picking the wrong one wastes money
- Spending all 3 days in the same place — you should head in a different direction each day to maximize the pass's value
🎫 Activation
• Window: 3 months from purchase
• App: No app needed
🔄 Refund Policy
• Fee: ¥220 handling fee
• Deadline: Before first use
• N/A
Last updated: 2026-03-16