Japan’s latest train pass offers unlimited rides around Tokyo and beyond for a bargain price
Last Updated on June 10, 2025
JR East has announced the launch of a new, highly flexible travel pass that covers their entire network.
Aimed at promoting leisurely exploration across eastern Japan, the new “East Japan Relaxing Travel Pass” offers three consecutive days of unlimited rides on ordinary and rapid trains on all JR East lines.
This new pass provides an economical option for travelers seeking freedom in their itineraries.
JR East is one of the seven constituent companies of the Japan Railways Group. It operates passenger railway services in the Kanto and Tohoku regions, including the Greater Tokyo Area.
Its vast network covers a significant portion of eastern Japan, connecting major cities, historical sites, and scenic natural areas.
Travel passes are a common and popular offering from Japanese railway companies, designed to encourage tourism and provide cost-effective solutions for extensive travel within specific regions or across multiple lines.
These passes often cater to different demographics, from international tourists to domestic travelers.
The “East Japan Relaxing Travel Pass” is designed for convenience and flexibility, allowing passengers to spontaneously alight at any station that catches their interest.
The pass grants unlimited use of unreserved seats on ordinary and rapid trains across all JR East lines.
This includes the Kesennuma Line and the Ofunato Line BRT (Bus Rapid Transit).
For those seeking a more comfortable journey, Green Car (first-class) unreserved seats on ordinary and rapid trains can be accessed by purchasing an additional Green ticket.
It is important for travelers to note that the pass does not permit usage of Shinkansen (bullet trains) or limited express trains, even with the purchase of additional limited express tickets.
This restriction is typical for lower-priced passes focused on local and rapid services, differentiating them from more expensive regional or national passes.
The pass is uniformly priced at 9,000 yen (approx. $62.28 USD / £46.09 GBP) for both adults and children, making it an attractive option for families or groups.
Sales information about the pass can be found on the JR East website and it will be sold exclusively through “Eki-net”, JR East’s online reservation website from June 18th.
Based on current information from JR East, the pass appears to be available for both tourists and locals.
The pass will be available to purchase between June 18th, 2025 to December 24th, 2025.
Tickets can be purchased from one month before the desired start date of use up until the day of use itself.
The pass can be used for a three-day consecutive period between July 1st, 2025 and December 26th, 2025.
There are some Blackout Dates for the pass, such as it cannot be used from August 10th to August 19th, due to the Obon holiday period when train services are typically very busy.
JR East stated that the introduction of this pass is a direct response to customers’ needs and has been designed for customers “who want the freedom to design their own travel plans, whether they are traveling alone, with family or friends, and want to have a leisurely trip where they can get off at any station as they please”.
The announcement of this new pass also comes as JR East revealed plans for a new premium overnight train that will connect Tokyo to the Tohoku region, scheduled to begin operation in 2027.
Source: JR East
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