Can I still buy the JR East Pass (Tohoku area)?

No. Sales ended on 13 March 2026. The JR EAST PASS, sold from 14 March 2026, replaced it and covers Tohoku as well as Nagano and Niigata.

How much is the JR EAST PASS?

Adults pay ¥35,000 for 5 consecutive days and ¥50,000 for 10 consecutive days. Children aged 6 to 11 pay ¥17,500 and ¥25,000. Children under 6 ride free when they do not need their own reserved seat.

Does the JR EAST PASS cover the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Hakodate?

No. It stops at Shin-Aomori. For Hakodate, use the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass from Tokyo (¥40,000 for 6 days) or the JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass (¥32,000 for 6 days).

Does the pass cover the Narita Express?

Yes. The Narita Express and the Tokyo Monorail from Haneda are both covered, so you can use the pass from the airport on the day you land.

Can foreign residents of Japan use the JR EAST PASS?

Yes. It needs a passport issued outside Japan but does not require Temporary Visitor status. Japanese nationals cannot use it.

JR East Pass (Tohoku Area) in 2026: What Replaced It and How to Use It

10/04/202510/10/2026

A Tohoku Shinkansen train used with the JR East Pass

Quick answer

The JR East Pass (Tohoku area) stopped selling on 13 March 2026 and was replaced by a single JR EAST PASS.
The new pass costs ¥35,000 for 5 days or ¥50,000 for 10 days (children ¥17,500 and ¥25,000), and covers all JR East lines including the Shinkansen.
One trip from Tokyo to Sendai and Aomori and back usually covers the 5-day price on its own.

Contents

What Happened to the JR East Pass (Tohoku Area)?

The JR East Pass (Tohoku area) no longer exists. JR East stopped selling it, together with the Nagano and Niigata version, on 13 March 2026, and from 14 March 2026 replaced both with one product called the JR EAST PASS.

If you were planning a Tohoku trip around the old pass, this new pass is the one to look at now.

The new pass covers a wider area than the old Tohoku one, with every JR East line from Tokyo to Aomori plus the Nagano and Niigata side of eastern Japan, for 5 or 10 consecutive days. It also costs more.

The old 5-day Tohoku pass was ¥30,000, and the new 5-day pass is ¥35,000.

Below is how the pass works on a Tohoku trip, and how to buy, collect and use it. If your trip is to Karuizawa, Nagano or Niigata instead, read our JR East Pass for Nagano and Niigata.

For every regional pass side by side, see regional rail passes in Japan.

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JR EAST PASS Prices and Validity

The JR EAST PASS costs ¥35,000 for 5 days and ¥50,000 for 10 days for adults, with children aged 6 to 11 paying half.

Pass	Adult (12 and over)	Child (6 to 11)	Valid
5 days	¥35,000	¥17,500	5 consecutive days
10 days	¥50,000	¥25,000	10 consecutive days

Children under 6 do not need a pass if they do not need their own reserved seat.
A child's age is the age on the date of purchase, and you need a passport to prove it.
The days are consecutive from the start date you choose. You cannot skip days.
The pass covers ordinary cars. Green Car and GranClass need a separate charge.
You can hold only one JR EAST PASS at a time, so two 5-day passes cannot overlap.

Who Can Buy the JR EAST PASS?

Any foreign national with a passport issued outside Japan can buy it. Unlike many JR passes, the JR EAST PASS does not require "Temporary Visitor" entry status, so foreign residents of Japan can use it too. Japanese nationals cannot.

Each traveller must show their own original passport when the pass is bought or collected. A family member cannot pick up a pass for someone else.

What the Pass Covers in Tohoku

The pass covers all JR East lines, including the Tohoku, Akita and Yamagata Shinkansen, limited express trains and local trains, plus several partner railways that matter for a Tohoku trip.

Covered.

JR East, including the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori, the Akita Shinkansen (Komachi) and the Yamagata Shinkansen (Tsubasa), and BRT bus lines on the coast
Aoimori Railway and Iwate Galaxy Railway (IGR), the old main line north of Morioka
Sendai Airport Transit and Sanriku Railway
Tokyo Monorail from Haneda Airport, and the Narita Express from Narita
The Tobu through trains Nikko, Kinugawa and SPACIA Kinugawa from JR stations, and Tobu local trains from Shimo-imaichi to Tobu-Nikko and Kinugawa-Onsen
JR buses in the area, except highway buses and some routes

Not covered.

The Hokkaido Shinkansen beyond Shin-Aomori, which belongs to JR Hokkaido
The Tokaido Shinkansen to Kyoto and Osaka, run by JR Central
Tokyo Metro, Toei subway and private bus lines, such as the buses to Ginzan Onsen or the Zao ropeway

Two Shinkansen trains side by side at a platform in Tokyo — JR East's Shinkansen lines from Tokyo are all covered by the pass

Is the JR EAST PASS Worth It for Tohoku?

Yes, for almost any Tohoku trip that starts in Tokyo and goes as far as Morioka, Akita or Aomori. In JR East's own example, Narita Airport to Tokyo on the Narita Express, then the Tohoku Shinkansen to Sendai and on to Shin-Aomori, costs ¥52,000 in reserved seats.

The same journeys on a 5-day pass cost ¥35,000.

It is less clear for Sendai alone. A return trip from Tokyo to Sendai costs well under ¥35,000, so the pass only pays if you add more, such as Matsushima, Yamadera, Hiraizumi or a second city.

Trip from Tokyo	Pass that fits
Sendai and back, nothing else	Single tickets
Sendai, Hiraizumi and Aomori	JR EAST PASS, 5 days
Tohoku plus Nagano or Niigata	JR EAST PASS, 10 days
Tohoku and Hakodate from Tokyo	JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass, 6 days, ¥40,000
Starting in Sendai, to Aomori and Hakodate	JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass, 6 days, ¥32,000
Tohoku plus Kyoto and Osaka	National Japan Rail Pass

5 Days or 10 Days?

Choose 5 days if your Tohoku trip is one line north and back, for example Tokyo, Sendai, Hiraizumi, Morioka and Aomori. Choose 10 days if you will cross between the Shinkansen lines, for example Akita and Kakunodate on the Komachi, then Yamagata on the Tsubasa, or combine Tohoku with Nagano or Niigata.

With children, the 10-day pass is the gentler choice. It costs ¥15,000 more per adult than the 5-day pass, but it lets you stay two nights in a place instead of moving every day, and still use the train for day trips from your base.

Where to Go in Tohoku with the Pass

The pass reaches the main Tohoku sights by JR, but several need a local bus at the end.

1. Sendai and Matsushima

Sendai is the nearest Tohoku city to Tokyo by Hayabusa Shinkansen. Matsushima Bay is a short JR ride away on the Senseki Line, and Yamadera's mountain temple is on the JR Senzan Line.

2. Hiraizumi and Morioka

Hiraizumi's temples, Chuson-ji and Motsu-ji, are a short trip from Ichinoseki on the Tohoku Main Line. Morioka is the junction where the Akita Shinkansen splits off.

3. Akita and Kakunodate

Kakunodate, the old samurai district known for its spring cherry blossom, is a stop on the Akita Shinkansen. The Resort Shirakami sightseeing train runs along the Sea of Japan coast between Akita and Aomori.

Check the operating days before you plan around it.

4. Aomori and Hirosaki

Hirosaki Castle's cherry blossom in late April and Aomori's Nebuta festival in early August are the two big seasonal draws. Book seats early for both.

5. Nikko on the way

Nikko is not in Tohoku, but it is on the pass. The direct JR-Tobu trains from Shinjuku are covered. See our Nikko travel guide.

ONO

Yes, I recommend Tohoku.

How to Buy, Collect and Use the Pass

You can buy the JR EAST PASS online on JR-EAST Train Reservation, at a travel agency outside Japan, or at a ticket office in Japan.

Buy. Online is the most convenient. You can reserve Shinkansen seats at the same time, up to a month ahead.
Collect. Pick up the pass at a major JR East station, at a staffed counter or a reserved-seat ticket machine with a passport reader. Every traveller's passport is needed, children's included.
Ride. Put the pass through the automatic gates. Reserve seats online, at a ticket machine, or at a ticket office. Our Midori no Madoguchi guide explains the counter.

Reserve on the Hayabusa. The Hayabusa and the Komachi are all-reserved trains, so a seat ticket is required even with the pass. Reservations with the pass are free.

Refunds. A pass bought online can be cancelled free on the website until 23:50 Japan time the day before it starts. After that a fee applies.

An unused pass collected at a station can be refunded at the place of purchase within its validity, for a fee. Once you have reserved a seat, you cannot get a refund after that train leaves, so cancel reservations you will not use.

Starting from Tokyo with Children

Tohoku works well as a second week after Tokyo. The Shinkansen leaves from Tokyo or Ueno station, so pick a hotel near one of them for the night before, and keep the start date of the pass for the day you head north.

If you land at Narita, the pass covers the Narita Express into Tokyo. From Haneda, it covers the Tokyo Monorail. Start the pass on arrival day only if you will use all five days on long trips.

For the Tokyo days, our Tokyo private tour with kids plans a walking day around strollers, naps and food allergies, and our Japan travel tips cover the rest of the decisions before a first trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still buy the JR East Pass (Tohoku area)?: No. Sales ended on 13 March 2026. The JR EAST PASS, sold from 14 March 2026, replaced it and covers Tohoku as well as Nagano and Niigata.
How much is the JR EAST PASS?: Adults pay ¥35,000 for 5 consecutive days and ¥50,000 for 10 consecutive days. Children aged 6 to 11 pay ¥17,500 and ¥25,000. Children under 6 ride free when they do not need their own reserved seat.
Does the JR EAST PASS cover the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Hakodate?: No. It stops at Shin-Aomori. For Hakodate, use the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass from Tokyo (¥40,000 for 6 days) or the JR Tohoku-South Hokkaido Rail Pass (¥32,000 for 6 days).
Does the pass cover the Narita Express?: Yes. The Narita Express and the Tokyo Monorail from Haneda are both covered, so you can use the pass from the airport on the day you land.
Can foreign residents of Japan use the JR EAST PASS?: Yes. It needs a passport issued outside Japan but does not require Temporary Visitor status. Japanese nationals cannot use it.

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