Mar–MayOne pass from Tokyo to Osaka via Kanazawa and the Sea of Japan coast. The cheapest way to combine Hokuriku and Kansai in a single trip.
Instead of the direct Tōkaidō Shinkansen, the Arch Pass routes you up over Nagano, down the Sea of Japan coast, and into Kansai via Tsuruga. ~6 hours end-to-end if you ride it straight; most people break it over 5–7 days.
The pass is jointly issued by JR East and JR West. Coverage spans the full Hokuriku corridor and the Kansai region, but excludes the direct Tōkaidō Shinkansen, that's the trade-off.
You must hold a foreign government-issued passport and enter Japan as a Temporary Visitor, the 90-day visa-free tourist stamp. Japanese nationals are not eligible, even with permanent residency abroad. Your passport must be presented both when exchanging the Order and when using the pass.
Buy an Exchange Order online, receive the voucher within 3 months. On arrival, exchange for the physical pass at a major JR station (Tokyo, Shin-Ōsaka, Kanazawa, Toyama, Kyoto). ~¥1,000 cheaper than purchasing in Japan.
Book via Klook ↗Reserve directly on the JR-West online reservation portal. Requires credit card payment and passport upload at pickup. Same final price as Klook but slower service.
JR-West portal ↗Available at authorised agents in Japan up to one month in advance of the start date. Slightly more expensive than the overseas/online route, useful only as a backup.
Find an agent ↗Three things matter most: pick your start date carefully, exchange the Order before that date, and reserve seats early on Kagayaki services (some are reserved-only).
You receive a voucher (the Exchange Order) by email. The voucher is valid for 3 months from purchase, you can buy it before flights are booked.
Bring the voucher + passport to a JR ticket office at Tokyo, Shin-Ōsaka, Kanazawa, Toyama, Kyoto, etc. Specify your start date, must be within 1 month of exchange.
The pass is valid for 7 calendar days from your chosen start date, not 7 days of use. Plan your route so the heavy rail days fall inside the window.
For reserved seats, use a JR ticket machine or Midori no Madoguchi counter before boarding. Some Kagayaki services are reserved-only; reserving is recommended on weekends and holidays.
Three 7-day routes that pay back the ¥35,000 with room to spare. All start and end in Tokyo and ride the Sea of Japan corridor.
Tokyo days 1–2, Shinkansen to Toyama (Tateyama Alpine Route), night in Kanazawa (Kenrokuen, Higashi Chaya), Thunderbird to Kyoto for two nights, then Osaka, returning to Tokyo direct.
Add Itoigawa as the first stopover for the UNESCO Geopark and jade coast. Every Hakutaka stops at Itoigawa, so it costs no time on the pass, then continue south-west.
Use the Ōito Line scenic detour from Minami-Otari down to Matsumoto / Hakuba. Combine winter skiing in Hakuba with coastal Hokuriku, all on one pass, no extra fares.
Compared to walk-up fares for the same Tokyo–Hokuriku–Kansai route, the pass saves about ¥7,000, and unlocks the Sea of Japan stops as side-trips for free.
Buy the Exchange Order before your flights are booked, it's valid for 3 months. Pick up the physical pass at any major JR station on arrival. ~¥1,000 cheaper than buying in Japan.
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