Everything you need to know about the JR Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Pass

What is the JR Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Pass?

The Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Pass offers unlimited travel on JR trains within the designated area around Sapporo and Noboribetsu for four consecutive days. This rail pass is exclusively for foreign visitors to Japan and provides convenient access to explore the region.

How much does it cost?

• No green car option is available.
• Children aged 6-11 receive a 50% discount.

Where can it be used?

• Unlimited travel on JR trains within the designated area, including local and limited express trains.

Important information

• Free seat reservations are available (see “How to reserve seats”).
• Valid for four consecutive calendar days (midnight to midnight).
• Exclusively for foreign visitors to Japan (on temporary visitor status).
• Not valid for residents of Japan.
• If you get off outside of the valid area, you must pay the normal basic fare and charge for the additional section.
• The rail pass cannot be used for JR Hokkaido Bus, the streetcar and the subway in Sapporo.

Where to buy

• Purchase through online or offline travel agents outside of Japan.
• Available for purchase at Sapporo Station, New Chitose Airport Station, and Noboribetsu Station.
• If purchased outside Japan or online, collect the physical pass at either Sapporo Station, New Chitose Airport Station, and Noboribetsu Station during the times below:

How to reserve seats

Free seat reservations can be made at:

• Seat reservation machines in Hokkaido.
• JR ticket offices.
• JR East Train Reservation website (collect physical tickets at a Hokkaido ticket office).
• Reservations are mandatory for limited express trains between Sapporo and Noboribetsu.
• All seats on the Ltd. Exp. Hokuto and Ltd. Exp. Suzuran are reserved. There are no non-reserved seats on the trains above. Please make sure to receive a reserved seat ticket before boarding (seat reservation cannot be made on the train).

How to use

Insert only your rail pass into the automatic ticket gate. 

Make sure to pick up your rail pass after passing through the gate. The rail pass cannot be reissued even if it is lost or stolen etc.

Value

The JR Sapporo-Noboribetsu Area Pass offers comparable value to a round-trip limited express ticket between Sapporo and Noboribetsu. Significant savings can be realized by utilizing the pass for multiple journeys, such as a side trip to Otaru.