Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Tourist Pass

The Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Tourist Pass is a rail pass for exclusive use by foreign tourists available from October 2014 through June 2015. It provides pass holders with five consecutive days of unlimited travel along the popular Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen (including Nozomi trains), free use of designated local transportation and free admission to selected sightseeing spots.

Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Tourist Pass

5 Consective days pass cost only 35000 Yen.

Valadity

The map below shows the train, bus, tram and ropeway lines and selected sightseeing spots covered by the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Tourist Pass:

1) Unlimited use of the Tokaido Shinkansen and Sanyo Shinkansen, including Nozomi and Mizuho trains.
2) Unlimited use of local and rapid JR trains in the city of Osaka, including the Osaka Loop Line.
3) Unlimited use of the following additional modes of transportation:

• Fujikyu buses between Shin-Fuji and Kawaguchiko
• Shizutetsu buses between Shizuoka and Nihondaira
• Nihondaira Ropeway between Nihondaira and Kunozan Toshogu Shrine
• Trams in Okayama City

4) Free admission to the sightseeing spots shown on the map above and the following additional sights:

• Kakegawa Kachoen (15 minutes on foot from Kakegawa Station)
• Hamamatsu Castle (10 minutes by bus from Hamamatsu Station, bus not covered)
• Umekoji Steam Locomotive Museum (15 minutes on foot from Kyoto Station)
• Osaka Aqua Bus (1 minute on foot from Osakajokoen Station)
• Tennoji Zoo (5 minutes on foot from Tennoji Station)

5) Pass holders can make up to four seat reservations on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen for free.
6) The pass is valid on five consecutive days. The validity of the passes is based on calendar days (midnight to midnight) as opposed to 24-hour periods.
7) Only foreign visitors to Japan (on a temporary visitor visa) can use the pass. It cannot be used by residents of Japan.
8) The pass can only be used by a single person. It cannot be transferred between multiple persons. The pass holder has to carry his/her passport at all times.
9) The pass is available for use from October 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015.

Points of Sales

The Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Tourist Pass has to be purchased outside of Japan. When purchasing a rail pass, you will receive a voucher that has to be exchanged to the actual pass at designated stations inside Japan and within three months of purchase. At the time of exchange, you will specify a starting date for the pass which should be within one month of the current date. See the official pdf file for a list of travel agencies that sell the pass and exchange locations.

Assessment

The Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Tourist Pass is inferior in value to the Japan Rail Pass in almost all aspects (including cost, duration and coverage area) except for two points: 1) unlike the Japan Rail Pass, it is valid on Nozomi and Mizuho trains and 2) the pass provides free admission to a few selected sightseeing spots (adding up in value to a few thousand yen) and free use of selected local buses, trams and a ropeway. Among them, the bus between Shin-Fuji Station and the Fuji Five Lakes can be of particular value. So, unless you really want to use the Nozomi or your itinerary well matches the sightseeing privileges offered by the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Tourist Pass, there is little reason to select it over the Japan Rail Pass.