There has been quite a buzz about the JR EAST Welcome Rail Pass 2020, which went on sale on October 16. While most JR rail passes can only be bought and used by visitors to Japan, this new pass is available to all foreign passport holders, regardless of visa status.
The pass allows holders three consecutive days of unlimited travel on the Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Joetsu and Hokuriku shinkansen, along with JR East train lines and a number of local railways… for just ¥12,000 (or ¥6,000 for children 6~11).
With the hiking season in full swing and the snow season approaching, this is great news for those looking to explore from the northernmost reaches of Aomori to the hot spring resorts of Shizuoka. Here are just a few ideas to make the most of the pass and get the most bang for your hard-earned yen.
Those missing the fall pursuits of apple picking (and tasty apple cider) can head up to the very northern tip of Honshu to revel in the fall flavors of Aomori. Hirosaki Apple Park offers reasonably priced apple picking until November 23, and the nearby Kimori Cider Brewery has both adult and kid-friendly beverages to warm you up. A single shinkansen ride from Tokyo to Aomori Station would usually set you back ¥17,920 so using the pass saves ¥23,840 on the roundtrip alone.
Can’t make the trip in November? There are a few farms in the pass area that offer apple picking until early December, such as Matsui Farm in Nagano or Harada Farm in Gunma.
Zao Onsen is a good option for a weekend of late-season hiking, skiing/snowboarding and soaking in onsen. After a day on the trails or slopes, be sure to stop by the Yamagata Sake Museum, where you can sample brews from all 49 of Yamagata’s sake makers. A one-way ticket to Yamagata Station (from where you can catch a 30-minute bus ride to Zao) usually costs ¥11,550.
With the drop in tourists, there is likely no better time to experience popular sightseeing spots minus the usual crowds. Why not head to Ginzan Onsen to wander around the retro hot springs town and enjoy the view of the snow falling over the photogenic streets and bridges lit up by gas lights? Alternatively, get your fill of old-school Japan in the Karuizawa/Matsumoto/Nagano triangle with a few days of castles, temples, charming shopping streets and bowls of towari soba, made with 100% buckwheat.
Foodies can just hop off the shinkansen at Sendai to eat their way through the gyutan (grilled beef tongue) and imoni (taro and pork hot pot) of Miyagi’s capital before heading to nearby Matsushima to take in views of the bay and chow down on fresh winter oysters. Don’t miss Shiogama just next door, home to Japan’s highest number of sushi restaurants per capita and the 296-year-old Urakasumi Brewery, which offers marvelous sake tasting sets.
However, the options are endless: a craft beer tour around Shizuoka, Nagano and Niigata? A weekend of powder skiing and warming nabe at Akita Hachimantai or Myoko? Hiking along the Jogasaki Coast and communing with capybaras in Ito?
Don’t miss your chance to benefit from the massive discount, as this pass will only be sold until February 26!*
*The passes are available for purchase at designated JR stations with presentation of non-Japanese passport, and are valid until February 28. Visit jreast.co.jp for more details.