Winter is here and as a traveller, there’s nowhere better to be at this time of the year than in the northern regions of Japan. Lovers of the cold and the snow can find no shortage of mesmerising sights and fun activities in the Tohoku Region (東北地方) as well as the southern area of Hokkaido (北海道), and there are not one, but TWO nicely calibrated rail passes which you could use to plan a winter-wonderful trip across the land! The two passes in question are the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass and the JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass.
As the two passes appear very similar at first, it may be confusing as to which one you should be getting for your trip. However, once you learn the key difference between the two it will become very clear which pass would suit the type of itinerary you want to go for.
The difference between the two
The JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass is designed for travellers who want to begin their pass journey from an airport in Tokyo (東京) and gradually make their way north to their final destination of New Chitose Airport (CTS) (新千歳空港) in Sapporo (札幌), or vice versa. The sticker price of ¥35,000 is roughly about the same amount it costs to buy a single shinkansen ticket from Tokyo Station (東京駅) to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station (新函館北斗駅) in Hokkaido.
The JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass, however, is catered towards those who intend to both start and end their trip in Sapporo or Tohoku’s largest city Sendai (仙台), circling around various locales in Tohoku along the way. This pass does not reach all the way to Tokyo, so think of it as a round-trip pass you can use to visit Tohoku as you start off in Hokkaido. With that, let’s begin our 6-day trip with the JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass!
Day 1: New Chitose Airport → Hakodate
Upon arrival at New Chitose Airport (CTS), you’d want to first head over to the JR Information Desk at the New Chitose Airport Station (新千歳空港駅). At this desk, you will be able to exchange or purchase your JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass. To cut down on the quantity of train transfers we’ll be making during this hectic itinerary, we’ll immediately be heading to Hakodate (函館) as our first stop of the trip, from where we’ll easily be able to enter Tohoku for our next leg of the journey. Take a 3-minute rapid airport train from New Chitose Airport Station to Minami-Chitose Station (南千歳駅). From there, transfer for the Limited Express Hokuto and catch a few winks as you make a three-hour ride for Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station.
Hakodate is a beautiful city in the south of Hokkaido, rich in history and architecture from its establishment as an international port city. Many examples of picturesque western-style buildings can be found spread throughout the city, such as the Star Fort Goryokaku (五稜郭) and the churches and consulates of Motomachi (元町). The nighttime view from the top of Mount Hakodate (函館山) is said to be worth a million dollars, and is definitely not to be missed!
Day 2: Hakodate → Sendai
After stuffing yourself silly with delicious seafood from Hakodate’s famous Morning market (函館朝市), return to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station to take a shinkansen ride to Sendai Station (仙台駅). The trip between the two stations takes about 2.5 hours and passes through the Seikan Tunnel, one of the longest underwater tunnels in the world.
Sendai (仙台市), the largest city in the Tohoku region, is also the capital of the Miyagi Prefecture (宮城県). Amongst the rich natural landscapes of the prefecture, one of the most popular and convenient for tourists to visit is Matsushima Bay (松島湾), one of the three most scenic spots in Japan. Blessed with mountains and the sea, Miyagi is also a treasure trove of fresh food, including the local specialities of gyutan (牛タン) and zunda (ずんだ).
Day 3: Sendai → Yamagata
I recommend finding your accommodations around Sendai Station, as it serves as an incredibly convenient travel hub to the rest of the Tohoku Region. For the next few days of this itinerary we will be making use of our JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass to make day trips to the different parts of Tohoku, starting with Yamagata.
Yamagata Prefecture (山形県) is rich in mountain ranges and beautiful nature, and is famous for agricultural products such as rice and cherries (さくらんぼ). Hot springs are distributed far and wide in this prefecture, with virtually every town or village hosting its own hot springs. Amongst these, one of the most famous is Ginzan Onsen (銀山温泉), where you can enjoy the atmosphere of a retro hot spring town plucked straight out of the Taisho Era.
Day 4: Sendai → Akita
Our next daytrip will be to Akita Prefecture (秋田県), which is popular with people seeking unexplored hot springs, sake, and Akita culture. The Hachimantai (八幡平) area offers a range of outdoor activities, while the fascinating and well-preserved samurai district in the town of Kakunodate (角館) offers a glimpse into Japan’s feudal past.
Akita is also home to the southern side of the Shirakami Sanchi (白神山地), a world heritage site popular with nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts. The majesty of these mountain ranges can be enjoyed from a train seat in the Resort Shirakami Joyful Train, which could also be used to head straight to our next destination of Aomori, if you’d prefer to split your stay there for your trip.
Day 5: Sendai → Aomori
We’ll end off the Tohoku leg of our trip with a stop at Aomori Prefecture (青森市), known far and wide for high snowfall and delicious apples. Right across the street from Aomori Station is A-Factory, a factory-shopping center hybrid building which showcases and sells a variety of products produced from Aomori apples, such as cidre, sweets, and of course, apple pie.
Not too far from A-Factory is the Nebuta Museum WA-RASSE (ねぶたの家 ワラッセ), a place exhibiting the history of Aomori’s Nebuta Festival (青森ねぶた祭り), in which a procession of building-sized paper lantern floats are paraded by festival-goers every year.
Day 6: Aomori → Sapporo
We’ll be completing our circuit back to Hokkaido on our last day of the trip. You could make use of this last day of validity of your pass to visit one more location on your way back to Sapporo. Popular spots include the picturesque Lake Toya (洞爺湖), Noboribetsu (登別) hot springs, or the harbour city of Otaru (小樽).
How much do you save?
Total cost: ¥74,560
– JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass price: ¥35,000
= Savings: ¥39,560!
As the majority of your train rides during this time period will be on the various shinkansen of Tohoku, you stand to save a stupendous amount of money when you fully utilise either of these JR East-Hokkaido rail passes. The Tohoku Region is a large area with comprehensive train and shinkansen coverage, so this rail pass is a must-get for anyone planning to book a trip to this area.
