TOKYO—On 20 February 2025, the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) announced that they will be releasing a new 10-day version of the JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area). This is double the validity of the existing 5-day version of the ever-popular JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area),which is a discounted travel pass that allows overseas visitors to travel around the eastern regions of Japan, particularly the Tohoku and Kanto regions.
JR East offers a variety of rail passes and discounted tickets for foreign visitors to Japan in designated areas of East Japan. Apart from unlimited rides on JR lines and a handful of non-JR lines within the specified area, these regional rail passes are well-known for being wallet-friendly and its accessibility to all foreign passport holders—including long-term foreign residents of Japan (non-Japanese).
This new 10-day version has been announced in response to customer demand for longer trips around the area, and is in line with their ongoing efforts to revitalise the Tohoku Region by attracting more overseas tourists and visitors.
Summary of the announcement
With the exception of the validity period and price, all of the original terms and conditions of the previous JR EAST PASS will carry on to this new version. Much like its counterpart, only non-Japanese passport holders will be able to purchase this pass. However, as the pass usage will be valid for 10 consecutive days. So for example, if you activate the pass for use on 1 June, it will be active all the way until 11:59pm on 10 June. A big step up for everyone looking to fully explore Tohoku to their heart’s content!
When will the new JR EAST PASS be available?
The 10-Day JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) will be made available from 15 May 2025. However, anyone interested in using it for their upcoming trip will be able to purchase the pass up to one month in advance starting from 15 April 2025 via the JR-EAST Train Reservation Website, JR East Travel Service Centers within the coverage area and at participating overseas travel agencies.
Until then, need to get your hands on the 5-Day JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area)? You can do so from JAPAN RAIL CLUB! Simply click here and follow the steps to get your rail pass!
Where can I go with the new 10-day JR EAST PASS?
With a longer validity and usage period, the 10-day JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) is perfect for those who wish to frolic a little longer under hidden sakura spots in April, or conquer all of Tohoku’s exciting summer festivals in a single trip in August!
JR East offers a variety of rail passes and discounted tickets for foreign visitors to Japan in designated areas of East Japan. Apart from unlimited rides on JR lines and a handful of non-JR lines within the specified area, these regional rail passes are well-known for being wallet-friendly and its accessibility to all foreign passport holders—including long-term foreign residents of Japan (non-Japanese).
The possibilities are endless in Tohoku. To find out more information about the JR EAST Pass (Tohoku area) and how to use it for your next trip, check out our handy all-in-one guide for it here!
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