One Pass for Fuji, Nikkō, and Karuizawa! The Ultimate Guide to JR Tokyo Wide Pass (2025 Edition)

If you travel from Tokyo to destinations like Mount Fuji, Nikko, or Karuizawa by purchasing individual Shinkansen or limited express tickets, it can be expensive and require queuing for tickets each time. However, with the JR Tokyo Wide Pass, you can enjoy unlimited rides on covered Shinkansen, limited express, and JR trains for three consecutive days. This not only saves significantly on transportation costs but also offers the freedom to design your own flexible itinerary — allowing you to travel whenever and wherever you wish.

1. Pass Basics

Price:

Adult: 15,000 yen

Child (6–11 years old): 7,500 yen

Validity Period: 3 consecutive days (calculated by calendar day).

Purchase Conditions:

Travelers holding a foreign passport (including long-term residents of Japan).
Must present the original passport (copies are invalid) both when purchasing and exchanging for the pass.

Seat Reservation: Free reservation of reserved seats in ordinary cars for Shinkansen and limited express trains is available.

2. Area of Validity & Popular Tourist Destinations

[In Tokyo]

① From Narita Airport to the city center, take the NEX Narita Express to Chiba Station, Tokyo Station, and on to Yokohama Station, Ofuna Station, and other destinations.

② From Haneda Airport to the city center, take the Tokyo Monorail.

③ To Odaiba: Access the entire Tokyo Rinkai Rapid Railway Line.

④ To Disneyland: Access the JR Maihama Line.

⑤ To Yokohama and Kamakura: Access the Yokosuka Line.

⑥ All JR lines in the areas shown on the Tokyo Suburban Map (above) are valid. For example, almost all popular locations in the city, including Tokyo Station, Ueno Station, Shinjuku Station, Ikebukuro Station, Asakusa, Akihabara, and Ginza, offer free JR trains. Navigation maps may display lines as JA, JB, JC, JO, JW, JU, JJ, JK, JY, etc., indicating JR lines.

[Attractions Near Tokyo]

① Karuizawa Round Trip

Tokyo Station → Hokuriku Shinkansen (approximately 60 minutes) → Karuizawa Station.

② Mount Fuji Round Trip

Tokyo Shinjuku Station → Take the Fujikyuko Line (Fuji Express) → Shimoyoshida/Kawaguchiko.

③ Nikko Round Trip

Tokyo Ueno Station → Take the Tohoku Shinkansen or Yamagata Shinkansen (approximately 40 minutes) → Utsunomiya, then the Nikko Line (40 minutes) → Nikko Station.

④ Nasu Plateau: From Tokyo Station, take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Nasu-Shiogen Station (approximately 70 minutes).

⑤ Izu

From Tokyo to Ito Station, take the Limited Express Odoriko (approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes).

⑥ Atami

From Tokyo to Atami Station, take the Izu Kyuko Line.

⑦ Ibaraki

From Tokyo Station to Ibaraki-Mito Station, take the Limited Express Hitachi or Tokiwa for approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.

⑧ GALA Yuzawa

Take the Joetsu Shinkansen (Tokyo Station to Gala Yuzawa Station / Gala Yuzawa Station to Omiya Station) and the Limited Express Nikko (Omiya Station to Tobu Nikko Station / Tobu Nikko Station to Shinjuku Station) with reserved seats.

⑨Other destinations: Yamanashi, Gunma (Kusatsu), Chiba, etc.

(Private railways such as Tokyo Metro, Keisei, and Keikyu Electric Railways are not valid!)

3. The pass is valid on the following railway companies and routes:

#JR East Lines #All Tokyo Monorail Lines #All Izu Kyuko Lines #All Fujikyuko Lines #All Joshin Electric Railway Lines #Saitama New Urban Transit (Omiya - Railway Museum) #All Tokyo Rinkai Rapid Railway Lines #Ordinary car reserved seats on the limited express trains "Nikko," "Kinugawa," and "SPACIA Kinugawa" connecting JR East and Tobu Railways.

#Tobu Railways: Valid on ordinary trains (including rapid trains) between Shimo-imaichi and Tobu Nikko or Kinugawa Onsen. (Note: The "Kuribashi - Shimo-imaichi" section is limited to limited express trains connecting to Tobu Railways.)

#The JR Tokyo Wide Pass is valid on limited express trains connecting to JR lines and Tobu Railways. You cannot ride limited express trains that depart from or terminate at Tobu Railway stations.

※Notes:

1. The JR TOKYO Wide Pass does not cover the Tokaido Shinkansen. (This varies depending on the Tokaido Shinkansen operating company.)

2. To ride the Fujikyuko Line's "Fujisan Express" observation car, you must have a reserved seat ticket (paid separately). To ride the "Fuji Tozan Railway," you must purchase a separate seat ticket (paid separately).

3. GALA Yuzawa Station is open from winter to spring.

4. Where can I buy tickets?

There are three common ways to purchase tickets: online, in advance, at a local JR ticket office, or at the JR online booking system or ticket vending machine.

1. Third-party purchase

You can purchase tickets in advance from many third-party websites before your trip to Japan. Simply present the QR code on your purchased ticket and your passport to pick up your ticket at a ticket machine in Terminal 1 or 2 at Narita Airport on or before the date of use.

If you don't want to waste precious travel time buying tickets after arriving in Japan, or are worried about language barriers with ticket agents, it's recommended to purchase tickets in advance through a third-party website for maximum convenience!

2. Purchase at a local JR ticket counter in Japan

If you haven't booked tickets in advance, you can still purchase tickets at a local JR ticket counter after arriving in Japan by presenting your passport.

3. JR Online Booking & Ticket Vending Machine Purchases

In addition to the above ticketing methods, JR East also offers rail passes through its online booking system. Furthermore, starting in April 2021, some ticket vending machines equipped with passport readers will also offer in-person ticket purchases.

5. How do I reserve a seat using the JR TOKYO Wide Pass?

5.1 Manually reserve a seat by presenting your ticket at a JR ticket counter

With your JR TOKYO Wide Pass, you can reserve a seat at a JR EAST Travel Service Center or a JR ticket office (green window) at major JR East stations within the valid area. Simply present your JR TOKYO Wide Pass and inform the staff of your desired train number and time.

5.2 Reserved Seat Ticket Machines

JR East's major stations have reserved seat ticket machines, all with Chinese user interfaces. To use the machine, first change the interface to Chinese and select "Reserved Seat." Follow the on-screen instructions, including clicking buttons and inserting your JR TOKYO Wide Pass, to reserve a seat.

5.3 Online Seat Reservations

The JR East online ticketing system offers an online seat reservation service. Whether you have already purchased the JR Tokyo Wide Pass or plan to use it for JR trains but haven't yet purchased your ticket, you can reserve your seat in advance through the JR East online ticketing system.

However, please note that if you reserve a seat online, you must collect your ticket by 21:00 PM on the night before departure. Otherwise, your ticket will be cancelled and a 320 yen cancellation fee will be charged.

[Notes on Online Seat Reservations]

・To reserve a seat online using the JR East online ticketing system, you must register as a member and provide your email address and credit card information.

・Route and station names are all in English.

・After booking, you must collect your ticket at the ticket counter by 21:00 PM on the night before departure.

・You must specify the pick-up window and date when reserving your seat.

・You must collect your ticket within the pass's valid area. Otherwise, a reserved seat fee will be charged.

There is no fee for online seat reservations. You must present the pass when you pick up your ticket.

6. FAQ

Q: Can the JR Tokyo Wide Pass be used over three separate days?

A: No. It is valid for three consecutive days, calculated on a calendar day basis (the first day is considered the first day), and cannot be split.

Q: I hold a long-term visa for Japan. Can I purchase this pass?

A: Yes. Anyone holding a foreign passport, whether for short-term or long-term travel, can purchase it. However, you must present your original passport (photocopies are not valid).

Q: Can I use it on all Shinkansen lines?

A: No. It is only valid on JR East Shinkansen lines, including the Hokuriku, Joetsu, Yamagata, Akita, and Tohoku Shinkansen lines. It is not valid on the Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo-Nagoya-Shin-Osaka).

Q: Do I need to reserve a seat in advance?

A: Ordinary car non-reserved seats allow direct boarding without reservation. Reserved seats are recommended to be reserved in advance at a ticket machine or counter (free of charge), especially during weekends, during autumn foliage season, and during ski season.

Q: What should I do on non-JR lines?

A: The pass does not cover subways, private railways, and other lines.

7. Recommended routes for classic itineraries