JR Hokkaido and JR East will start selling the winter “Hokkaido & East Japan Pass” from today. The sales period is from November 28 to January 6, 2026, and the applicable usage period is from December 12 to January 12, 2026. It will be available at major stations, reserved-seat ticket vending machines, and major travel agencies.
This ticket allows unlimited rides for seven consecutive days on non-reserved seats of ordinary trains (including rapid trains) on JR Hokkaido, JR East, Aoimori Railway, Iwate Ginga Railway, and Hokuetsu Kyuko Railway lines, as well as on BRT. The fare is the same as in summer, 11,530 yen for adults and 5,760 yen for children.
Limited express trains including the Shinkansen are not available, and a fare is required in addition to the fare when using this service. However, only when there are reciprocal departures and arrivals within the Hokkaido Shinkansen line between Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Shin-Aomori, it is possible to use available seats (standing seats) by purchasing a separate limited express ticket.
In addition, limited express trains are available in the following sections as a special exception. If you wish to use the train across the section, you must have a boarding ticket, limited express ticket, etc. for the entire section you boarded.
Ou Main Line: Shin-Aomori Station – Aomori Station (unreserved seats in ordinary car)
Ishikatsu Line: Within Shin-Yubari Station – Shintoku Station (Vacant seats in regular car reserved seats)
Muroran Main Line: Within Higashi-Muroran Station – Muroran Station (Vacant seats in regular car reserved seats)
© Source travel watch