A post-pandemic surge of international travelers, combined with weak exchange rates, may have indirectly ended one of Japan’s most beloved travel deals: the Japan Rail Pass.
The prices for the JR pass, as it is known, increased by approximately 65%-75%, in October 2023.
But there are still rail deals to be found – especially for those going beyond the usual hot spots of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
East Japan Railway Company, better known as JR East, announced a new Kyun Pass in December.
It allows visitors to board trains to Aomori, Japan’s apple capital in the north. the ski slopes Nagano in the northwest. and Matsumoto to the west, where one of Japan’s oldest castles still stands.
The Kyun Pass named after the Japanese word meaning overcome with emotion is a one-day pass that covers everywhere JR East operatesincluding Japan’s Kanto region — which includes Tokyo and Yokohama — and the Shinetsu region, which refers to Niigata and Nagano prefectures, two of the country’s most popular winter sports destinations.
Kyun passes by on sale from January 14th to February 29th at Eki-Net, JR East’s booking website. Passes are valid from February 14th to March 14th. However, there are two important caveats. The first is that travelers must wait at least two weeks to use the pass after purchasing it, and it can only be used on weekdays, including February 23, the Emperor’s birthday and public holidays.
However, there are no limits on how many tickets travelers can buy, according to the The JR East website.
Kyun Pass prices
The cost for the one-day, all-you-can-ride Kyun Pass is 10,000 yen ($70). This means travelers who explore more of JR East’s territory will benefit from the pass more than those staying in the Tokyo metro area.
Here’s a comparison of round-trip bullet train tickets, with and without the Kyun Pass.
What does the Kyun Pass cover?
Japan Railways Group, or JR Group, is the largest operator of passenger rail services in Japan, operating the country’s bullet or shinkansen trains, as well as many regional and local rail lines, and even some buses.
The company includes six independent passenger railway companies covering six regions: JR Central, JR East, JR Hokkaido, JR Kyushu, JR Shikoku and JR West.
JR East is the largest of the six companies. The Kyun Pass will allow you to travel on the following lines:
- All local and fast JR East lines
- Tohoku shinkansen (which runs from Tokyo to Shin Aomori, in Aomori Prefecture)
- Yamagata shinkansen (Tokyo to Shinjo, in Yamagata Prefecture)
- Akita shinkansen (Tokyo to Akita, in Akita Prefecture)
- Joetsu shinkansen (Tokyo to Niigata, in Niigata Prefecture)
- Hokuriku shinkansen (only the section from Tokyo to Itoigawa, Niigata Prefecture)
- JR BRT (bus rapid transit) to and from Kesennuma
In addition, the Kyun Pass can be used on five non-JR lines:
- Aomori Railway (from Shin-Aomori to Metoki, Aomori Prefecture)
- Iwate Ginga Railway (from Morioka in Iwate Prefecture to Metoki in Aomori Prefecture)
- Sanriku Railway (from Sakari to Kuji, Iwate Prefecture)
- Hokuetsu Kyuko Line (from Mukaimachi to Naoetsu, Niigata Prefecture)
- Echigo Tokimeki Railway (from Arai to Naoetsu, Niigata Prefecture)
Kyun cards allow buyers to reserve seats on two train journeys. Some bullet trains and non-local lines require a seat reservation, while others strongly recommend it. Train reservations can be made on JR East’s Eki-Net website, at a train station ticket machine, or at a ticket office.
Bullet trains and many limited express trains, called tokkyu, have two types of seats: regular class and the more spacious green class. Kyun Pass only offers ordinary seats, but Users can pay to upgrade to green class.
As an added bonus, the Kyun Pass can be used for same-day discounts at New Days Convenience Storesa hallmark of many JR train stations, as well as select car rental offices and restaurants.