If you love traveling by train, you’ve probably heard of the “Seishun 18 Ticket” at least once. But in the East Japan area, there are many other area-limited passes that let you enjoy unlimited rides at a great value.
Some people may want to spend a long holiday crossing Japan on local lines, others might prefer a quick 1–2 night loop trip from the Tokyo metropolitan area, and some may want to take their time exploring a set destination like Hakone or Chiba. This article summarizes the “unlimited-ride passes in Eastern Japan” that you can choose according to your travel style, including where you can buy each one.
Sales periods, prices, and conditions of use are subject to change, so be sure to check each company’s official website for the latest information.
1. For crossing Japan on local lines: Seishun 18 Ticket and Hokkaido & East Japan Pass
◯ Seishun 18 Ticket
Let’s start with the classic “Seishun 18 Ticket.” This seasonal free pass allows unlimited rides, on a per-day basis, on unreserved ordinary-class cars of JR local and rapid trains nationwide, plus some BRT lines and the JR-West Miyajima Ferry. There is no age limit; anyone can purchase and use it.
The ticket is sold as a set of “X number of uses,” and one use corresponds to one person for one day. You can use all five travel days by yourself, or share the ticket among five friends for just one day. Although it is valid all over Japan, not only in Eastern Japan, it’s especially well-suited for slow journeys that gradually visit areas like Tohoku, Shinshu, and northern Kanto by local train. Rather than moving quickly, this pass is perfect for travelers who want to make “stopping off at each small station and enjoying detours” the main focus of their trip.
You can buy the Seishun 18 Ticket at reserved-seat ticket machines and Midori-no-Madoguchi ticket offices at major JR stations nationwide, as well as at major travel agencies. For detailed conditions and the latest information, check JR East’s official page.
https://www.jreast.co.jp/tickets/info.aspx?GoodsCd=2982
◯ Hokkaido & East Japan Pass (local trains only)
For a similarly relaxed style of travel but with a stronger focus on northern Japan, there is the “Hokkaido & East Japan Pass (local trains only).” It covers JR Hokkaido lines, JR East lines, and also lines such as Aoimori Railway, Iwate Galaxy Railway, and Hokuetsu Express. Unreserved ordinary-class cars on local and rapid trains on these lines are unlimited-ride for seven consecutive days.
It’s ideal for trips such as riding from Hakodate through Tohoku down to the Tokyo metropolitan area, or spending a full week touring the Tohoku region by local train—journeys that are all about “taking time to savor northern Japan.” Some Shinkansen sections can also be used if you purchase special limited express tickets in addition.
You can purchase this pass at reserved-seat ticket machines and Midori-no-Madoguchi ticket offices at major JR Hokkaido and JR East stations, as well as at major travel agencies. For detailed conditions and free-area maps, the safest way is to check the official pages of JR East and JR Hokkaido.
“Reference information”
https://www.jreast.co.jp/tickets/info.aspx?GoodsCd=2962
https://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/CM/Otoku/007165/
2. Area free passes for 1–2 night trips from the Tokyo metropolitan area
◯ Tokiwaji Pass (Ibaraki area)
For trips toward Ibaraki, the “Tokiwaji Pass” is very easy to use. In addition to JR lines within Ibaraki Prefecture and the eastern part of Tochigi Prefecture, it offers one day of unlimited rides on lines such as Kanto Railway, Kashima Rinkai Railway, Hitachinaka Seaside Railway, and Moka Railway (unreserved ordinary-class cars on local and rapid trains are covered).
One of its main attractions is that a single ticket lets you cover a fairly wide area—from seaside spots like Mito, Kairakuen Garden, Oarai, and Hitachi Seaside Park to inland towns along local railways. It works well not only for day trips from the Tokyo area but also for more relaxed 1-night/2-day itineraries.
The Tokiwaji Pass is available in both paper and digital versions. You can purchase the paper ticket at Midori-no-Madoguchi ticket offices and reserved-seat ticket machines at major JR East stations within the free area, while the digital version can be bought via the smartphone site “Hitachi no Kuni Kiko” (membership registration and Mobile Suica setup are required).
“Reference information”
https://www.jreast.co.jp/tickets/info.aspx?GoodsCd=2960
https://www.jreast.co.jp/tickets/info.aspx?GoodsCd=2961
https://maas-portal.com/hitachinokunikiko/
◯ Echigo Two-Day Pass (Niigata area)
If you want to travel all around Niigata Prefecture, the “Echigo Two-Day Pass” is a great choice. In addition to JR lines within Niigata Prefecture, it also covers lines such as Echigo Tokimeki Railway and Hokuetsu Express (Hokuhoku Line), giving you two days of unlimited rides over a wide area.
You can, for example, trace the Sea of Japan coast from Niigata City through Nagaoka, Kashiwazaki, and Joetsu, or hop between inland hot spring resorts and towns along local lines—an ideal volume for a compact 1-night/2-day round trip. Since it covers unreserved ordinary-class cars on local and rapid trains, it’s perfect for those who want to take their time and enjoy the atmosphere of local railways.
The pass can be purchased at reserved-seat ticket machines and Midori-no-Madoguchi ticket offices within the free area and at Joetsu-Myoko Station, as well as at Eki-tabi Concierge counters, major travel agencies, and some Echigo Tokimeki Railway stations. JR East Niigata Branch’s special page provides details on the free-area boundaries and available lines.
“Reference information”
https://www.jreast.co.jp/tickets/info.aspx?GoodsCd=2957
https://www.jreast.co.jp/niigata/echigo-1day2daypass/
◯ Thank You ❤ Chiba Free Pass / Thank You ❤ Chiba Free Ticket (Chiba)
For travelers who want to enjoy Chiba Prefecture as a whole, the limited-period “Thank You ❤ Chiba” series is very convenient. There are two types—the “Thank You ❤ Chiba Free Pass” and the “Thank You ❤ Chiba Free Ticket.” Their exact contents differ slightly, but both are free passes dedicated to touring around Chiba.
Within the free area, in addition to JR lines, you get unlimited rides on many private railways such as Kominato Railway, Isumi Railway, Choshi Electric Railway, Ryutetsu, Hokuso Railway, Keisei Electric Railway, and Shibayama Railway. On top of that, certain routes of Kominato Railway Bus, Kujukuri Railway Bus, JR Bus Kanto, Nitto Kotsu, Keisei Bus Chiba East, and Keisei Taxi East are covered, as well as the Tokyo-Wan Ferry (Kanaya–Kurihama). (The eligible routes may change depending on the sales period.)
These passes are designed so you can “enjoy Chiba widely and deeply”—for example, circling the outer and inner Boso coasts, venturing to Inubosaki by Choshi Electric Railway, or taking a slow ride through satoyama countryside scenery on Kominato Railway.
The Thank You ❤ Chiba Free Pass is sold at reserved-seat ticket machines in major JR East stations within Chiba Prefecture and at Kurihama Station. The Thank You ❤ Chiba Free Ticket, which includes round-trip transportation from central Tokyo, can be purchased at reserved-seat ticket machines in major stations within the Tokyo metropolitan area.
“Reference information”
https://www.jreast.co.jp/tickets/info.aspx?GoodsCd=2977
https://www.jreast.co.jp/tickets/info.aspx?GoodsCd=2978
3. Private railway passes for “deep dives” into local areas around Tokyo and Hakone
Not only JR but also private railway companies offer free passes that support travel around Eastern Japan. When your destination is more or less fixed, private railway unlimited-ride tickets can often be more convenient because they also cover local buses and ropeways used at the destination.
◯ Tokyu Line One-Day Pass
For days spent strolling around neighborhoods or visiting cafés in Tokyo and Yokohama, the “Tokyu Line One-Day Pass” is very handy. This ticket gives you unlimited rides for one day on all Tokyu lines (including the Kodomonokuni Line), so you can hop from one Tokyu-line neighborhood to another—Shibuya, Nakameguro, Jiyugaoka, Futako-Tamagawa, Yokohama, and more.
It tends to be a better deal than buying individual tickets or using an IC card when you have a plan that involves traveling short sections repeatedly—for example, “shopping for knickknacks in Jiyugaoka in the morning, strolling along the Tama River in Futako-Tamagawa in the afternoon, and enjoying night views and dinner in Yokohama in the evening.”
You can buy the Tokyu Line One-Day Pass at ticket machines at Tokyu stations (excluding the Setagaya Line and some other stations). It can also be issued onto PASMO or purchased as a smartphone ticket via the digital ticket service “Q SKIP.”
“Reference information”
https://www.tokyu.co.jp/railway/ticket/value-ticket/oneday-pass/
https://www.tokyu.co.jp/global/railway/ticket/value_ticket/onedayopen_ticket/
◯ Hakone Freepass
If you want to fully enjoy the popular hot spring area of Hakone, the Odakyu “Hakone Freepass” is the standard choice. It gives you unlimited rides on almost all major modes of transportation used in Hakone sightseeing: the Hakone Tozan Railway, cable cars, ropeway, sightseeing cruise ships on Lake Ashi, Hakone Tozan Buses and some other bus routes, and more.
If you choose a type that departs from the Odakyu Line, it can also include round-trip transportation between Shinjuku and Odawara/Hakone-Yumoto, making it very convenient for 1-night/2-day or 2-night/3-day trips from Tokyo. It’s ideal for following the classic route from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora, Owakudani, and Lake Ashi, and also works perfectly for more relaxed, adult-oriented trips focusing on museums, cafés, and hot springs.
The Hakone Freepass can be purchased at ticket machines and counters at Odakyu Line stations, Odakyu Travel branches, major travel agencies, stations and information centers in the Hakone area, and also via the “EMot” smartphone app or online ticket services.
“Reference information”
https://www.odakyu-freepass.jp/hakone/
https://www.odakyu-freepass.jp/hakone/buy.html
4. How should you choose an unlimited-ride pass in Eastern Japan?
Looking over all of these, you can see that there are quite a few types of passes just within Eastern Japan. The key to choosing one is simple: first decide “where you want to go” and “how many days you have.”
If you want to spend a long holiday crossing Japan via local lines, wide-area passes like the Seishun 18 Ticket or the Hokkaido & East Japan Pass are strong candidates. On the other hand, if you want to pack an area tightly into a weekend 1–2 night trip, area-limited passes such as the Tokiwaji Pass, Echigo Two-Day Pass, or Thank You ❤ Chiba Free Pass are convenient.
If your main goal is strolling around neighborhoods and visiting cafés in Tokyo and Yokohama, the Tokyu Line One-Day Pass will give you more freedom. And if you want to “enjoy Hakone’s hot springs and sightseeing spots with transportation included,” the Hakone Freepass is almost the only choice you need to consider.
After that, all you have to do is open the official pages of the passes you’re interested in, check the free-area maps and conditions of use, and compare them with your travel plans. Even for the same destination, your travel style can change dramatically depending on which pass you use. Make smart use of the various unlimited-ride passes in Eastern Japan and find your own personal “go-to standard” for train trips.