Lesson 40

JR Passes – Hokuriku Arch Pass

Course Complete

Let's explore the Hokuriku Arch Pass, perfect for connecting Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, and Osaka. In this video, you'll discover how this seven-day pass offers savings on multi-city travel along the Hokuriku Shinkansen and several JR lines.

helpful links

Buy a JR Hokuriku Arch Pass

More Information about Tokyo

Things To Do in Tokyo
Tokyo 2-day itinerary
Where To Stay In Tokyo
Ryokans in Tokyo

More Information about Kyoto

Kyoto 2-day Itinerary
Things To Do In Kyoto
Where To Stay in Kyoto
Ryokans in Kyoto

More Information about Osaka

Things To Do In Osaka
Where To Stay In Osaka

More Information about Kanazawa

Kanazawa itinerary for 2 days
Ryokans in Kanazawa

video transcript

The Hokuriku Arch Pass is another particularly interesting pass because it covers three popular touristy cities Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. We already briefly mentioned this pass in our video with the budget example itineraries and here we will cover it in more detail. In Tokyo, you can use the pass to travel on the local JR lines and you can also use it to go to both airports, both Narita and Haneda.

You can also make short day trips like for example to Kawaguchiko but longer day trips like for example, Nikko that you could do with a Tokyo Wide Pass are not covered with this pass. From Tokyo, you can then take your Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano and Kanazawa.

Especially Kanazawa is worth a visit, we were truly impressed by this city during our first trip and I recommend spending a night there and visiting the Higashi Chaya the old district and the Kenrokuen Garden and then, from Kanazawa you can continue onwards to Kyoto and Osaka. The first part of this trip is still on the Hokuriku Shinkansen but about half way in Tsuruga you continue on the Thunderbird Limited Express Train. And in both Kyoto as well as Osaka, you can also use the pass to travel on the JR lines.

Although in Kyoto, like I already said, there are not that many JR lines so there the pass is of limited use. The Hokuriku Arch Pass cost ¥30,000 and is valid for 7 days. A one way trip from Tokyo to Osaka cost ¥19,560.

So if you're planning a 7-day trip to the country and want to visit these three cities or four if you want to stop in Kanazawa, then you will definitely save money with the pass, but also, if you're planning on a multi-day visit or just a day trip to Kanazawa from Tokyo, you already save with the pass. Seat reservations are included with this pass except for the Hayabusa and Komachi Trains. You'll get a pass with a QR code that you can use for seat reservations on the vending machines or you can stop by at one of the ticket offices and they will do the seat reservations for you.

JR Passes