Is This the Best Pass for Exploring Japan’s Inland Sea?

Is This the Best Pass for Exploring Japan’s Inland Sea?

Looking to explore Japan outside of the 
usual tourist trail without blowing your budget? In this video, we’ll introduce 
the Setouchi Area Pass: who it’s for, why YOU might want it, and an example itinerary 
showing how you can recoup the cost in full. But what exactly is the Setouchi 
Area? Located west of Japan, it means the area surrounding Japan’s inland 
sea – known for its spectacular sea views, remote islands, unique cities and 
fascinating cultural treasures. With easy access from Kyoto and Osaka, it’s a region packed with hidden gems just 
waiting to be explored. Let’s get started… First: coverage The pass gives you unlimited use of the Japan 
Railways network surrounding the Inland Sea, including local, rapid and limited 
express, and even shinkansen trains from Hakata Station in Kyushu all the way to 
Shin-Osaka. One thing to keep in mind though: it doesn’t cover the shinkansen 
between Shin-Osaka and Kyoto, although other JR trains between the two 
cities are included. It’s also accepted on the JR group-operated Maple Loop tourist buses 
in Hiroshima and the JR ferry to Miyajima. What sets this pass apart from other 
rail passes is that it also covers a few other ferries in the Seto Inland 
Sea: the Hiroshima-Kure-Matsuyama line, which offers a useful and efficient alternative 
route to travel between Honshu and Shikoku, and the ferries connecting the island 
of Shodoshima to Okayama and Takamatsu. Additionally, the pass covers the trams in 
Okayama and the bus to Shin-Okayama Port. So, how long can you actually use it? The pass is valid for 7 consecutive 
calendar days. For example, if you start using it on July 1, you’ve 
got it until the end of July 7 at midnight. To use the pass, you’ll need to be a foreign 
passport holder in Japan as a temporary visitor. That means it’s not available to Japanese 
citizens or foreign residents living in Japan. What about the price? The Setouchi Area Pass is 
22,000 yen for adults and 11,000 yen for children. And how easy is it to recoup 
that? Very. It only takes a regular roundtrip ticket from Osaka 
to Matsuyama to make it worthwhile. Let’s see what it actually looks like 
in practice with a 7-day roundtrip starting and ending in Osaka, with all 
transportation fully covered by the pass. After spending day 1 in Osaka, on 
day 2 we hop on a shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Hiroshima. If 
we like, we can even take a local train to Miyajimaguchi and take the ferry to 
nearby Miyajima Island – it’s all included. On day 3, we take the high speed ferry 
to Matsuyama, just 70 minutes across the water. After exploring Matsuyama, on day 4 
we’ll take a Limited Express to Takamatsu. From there on day 5, we’ll take the ferry 
out to Shodoshima – one of the largest islands in the Seto Inland Sea. On day 6, 
we’ll take another ferry on to Okayama, and on day 7 our trip comes full circle with 
a final shinkansen ride back to Shin-Osaka. As you can see from our running total on screen, it’s pretty straightforward 
to make full use of your pass, recoup the cost and enjoy a fun, well-rounded 
few days exploring the Inland Sea Region. There are two ways to purchase the pass: First, you can buy it online through the 
JR West website. Once you arrive in Japan, drop by any major JR West Station to 
pick it up – just remember to bring your reservation number, passport, and 
the credit card you used when booking. Second, you can go through an authorized travel 
agent, online or offline. Once purchased, you’ll receive an exchange voucher or an exchange 
QR code—just bring it and your passport once you’re in Japan and exchange it for the actual 
pass within 90 days at a ticket machine or office. Alright, you’ve got your pass, now let’s talk about how you can use 
it to make free seat reservations: Shinkansen and limited express trains can 
get very crowded – especially during busy periods – so it’s a great idea to 
make seat reservations in advance. There are three ways to do this: Option 1: If you bought your pass 
online through the JR West website, you can use their dedicated 
online seat reservation system, but you’ll still need to pick up the physical 
seat reservation tickets at a ticket machine or office before boarding. Remember, this is only 
if you bought your pass via the JR West website. Option 2: Use a seat reservation ticket machine 
at any major station. Tap “reservations”, then search for your train, 
and print out your seat ticket. Finally, option 3: Visit a JR 
ticket office in person. Note that options 1 and 2 can be used to 
make a maximum of six reservations, and that the ticket office is your only 
option if you want to make more than six. By the way, a quick note on luggage: As space 
is limited on trains, trams and local buses, we strongly recommend using Japan’s excellent 
luggage forwarding system known as takuhaibin. This lets you send any bulky bags on to your 
next destination, allowing you to travel light. The system is straightforward to use, 
with counters at airports and major stations like Osaka, Hiroshima 
and Okayama. You can even drop off or pick up your bags at most hotel 
front desks and many convenience stores. Another handy service is Crosta, by the JR West 
Group. Offered at major stations, Crosta provides short and long-term storage options, as well as 
same-day delivery to selected hotels nearby. That means you could, for example, drop your bags 
at Hiroshima station in the morning, enjoy a day of hands-free sightseeing and have your bags 
waiting for you when you get back to your hotel. Crosta also offers a same-day delivery service 
for your luggage by shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hakata stations. We’ve added a link in 
the description below for more information. Also, if you’re heading out for some 
sightseeing but still have bags with you, you’re almost certainly better 
off using storage lockers, available in different sizes 
at all major train stations. And that’s it for the Setouchi Area Pass: an easy 
way to see more, spend less, and explore deeper. Want more ideas? Check out Raina’s video here, 
it’s full of great spots to add to your trip!

From Hiroshima to Shikoku and beyond! Discover Japan’s stunning Inland Sea with one affordable rail pass: the Setouchi Area Pass.

Official website: https://www.westjr.co.jp/travel-information/en/tickets-passes/other/setouchi/

Crosta luggage storage and same-day delivery service: https://handsfree-japan.com/en/

Read more: https://www.japan-guide.com/ad/setouchi-area-pass/

In this video, we explain what the Setouchi Area Pass covers, how much it costs, who can use it, and how to make the most of it, including a sample 7-day itinerary that easily pays for the pass itself. Whether you’re planning to visit Hiroshima, Miyajima, Matsuyama, Takamatsu, or Shodoshima, this pass helps you explore more of western Japan for less.

This video was made in collaboration with JR West.

*Video Credits*
Narrator: Matt Evans
Videographer: Charles Sabas
Produced by: Stefan Schauwecker
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*Chapters*
00:00 Intro
00:40 Pass coverage
01:40 Validity
01:54 Who can use it?
02:06 Price
02:26 Example itinerary
03:29 How to buy?
04:04 Seat reservations
05:02 Luggage delivery
06:18 Outro