What is the East Japan Relaxing Travel Pass?
The East Japan Relaxing Travel Pass offers three consecutive days of unlimited rides on ordinary and rapid trains across all JR East lines.
This includes trains on all JR East lines, as well as BRT buses and transfers between select stations using the Aoimori Railway.
How much does it cost?
The pass is priced at 9,000 yen for both adults and children.
Where can it be used?
Unlimited travel on all JR East lines.
Only valid on local and rapid trains.
The following lines are included:
JR EAST (including BRT*)
Aoimori Railway Line (between Aomori and Hachinohe, only when transfering between JR East lines)
*BRT refers to the Bus Rapid Transit system along the Sanriku Coast.
Important information
The pass will only be sold between Wednesday, June 18th, 2025 and Wednesday, December 24th, 2025.
Cannot be used on Shinkansen, limited express or express trains.
The only exception to this is when travelling between Shin-Aomori and Aomori on the Ou Main Line.
Unreserved seats in ordinary cars on limited express trains can be used on this route. However, if you travel outside of the area between Shin-Aomori and Aomori stations, you will need a valid ticket and a limited express ticket for the entire travel section.
The pass does not allow the use of reserved seats on any train.
On the last day of the validity period, the pass can be used up to the last train.
The start date of use can be changed once only if the pass is unused and before the end of the validity period.
Valid for three consecutive calendar days (midnight to midnight) from the date of your choice.
A separate fee is applicable if you wish to use the Green Car.
Youth fares (including student discount) are not offered for this pass.
Tickets will only be refunded if the pass is unused and before the expiration date. Refunds will be less a handling fee of 220 yen per ticket.
You can only use one East Japan Relaxing Travel Pass at a time while travelling in Japan. (You cannot purchase two of the same type of pass if their validity periods overlap)
Valid Period
The pass can be used for a three-day consecutive period between July 1st, 2025, and December 26th, 2025.
Due to the Obon holidays, it cannot be used on any dates between August 10th and August 19th.
Where to buy
Exclusively available for purchase on the official JR East website.
Pickup options include QR code reader-equipped ticket machines, JR EAST Travel Service Center or station ticket office.
For a full list of JR East Travel Service Centers, or for ticket machines locations for collection of passes booked via the official JR East website, the JR East website has a full list of locations and facilities.
JR East Travel Service Center
How to use
Insert only your rail pass into the automatic ticket gate.
Make sure to pick up your rail pass after passing through the gate. The rail pass cannot be reissued even if it is lost or stolen etc.
How to use your JR Pass
Value
The pass offers value for those making multiple long-distance journeys within the Tohoku region.
It is not good value for those seeking to make one or two short journeys within the pass area, however, it can be cost saving if you plan to make multiple journeys within the timeframe or travel long distances.
Combining multiple long distance journeys with daily use on local lines and buses would likely give good value for the ticket price and in many cases exceed the cost of the pass.
As an example, traveling from Tokyo Station to Fukushima Station via local/express trains will cost approximately 4,840 yen.
Turning this into a round trip and returning to Tokyo would cost 9,680 yen so the pass would offer a saving of 680 yen.
Continuing past Fukushima with onwards travel towards Aomori would likely exceed the 9,000 yen cost of the pass and offer greater savings.
This pass can provide significant savings for travelers who need to cover long distances on JR East lines and are able to accommodate the longer travel times that will come from using local/express trains rather than limited express or Shinkansen trains.
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This post may contain affiliate links, and Essential Japan may earn a commission if you purchase through them.
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