Is the Hokuriku Arch Pass Worth It? JR East and Hakone Free Pass 2026

The Hokuriku Arch Pass is usually worth it in 2026 for Singapore travellers who loop from Tokyo to Hokuriku and back within seven days, so pick your pass, then book through ShopBack before you pay, where ShopBack Cashback works like a discount, only easier than a promo code. JR East lists it at 35,000 yen for adults and says a Narita, Kanazawa, Nagano and Narita trip costs about 38,000 yen at regular fares. It is only for visitors on Temporary Visitor status, and it does not cover the Tokaido Shinkansen.

New to ShopBack? ShopBack Singapore is a free website and app. You start on ShopBack, tap through to a store such as Trip.com, Klook or KKday, book as usual, and part of what you paid comes back to your ShopBack account as cash once the booking is confirmed. Create a free ShopBack Singapore account before you book your Japan passes.

Is the Hokuriku Arch Pass worth it for a Japan trip?

The Hokuriku Arch Pass is worth it when your route runs from Tokyo out to Toyama, Kanazawa or Fukui and back, because one round of those journeys already costs more than the pass at regular fares, according to JR East. Here is what JR East publishes on its Hokuriku Arch Pass page at the time of writing:

Hokuriku Arch Pass	What JR East says
Adult price (12 and over)	35,000 yen
Child price (6 to 11)	17,500 yen
Validity	Seven consecutive days from the day you choose
Who can use it	Foreign visitors with the entry status of Temporary Visitor only
Recommended for	Travel to Hokuriku (Toyama, Kanazawa and Fukui)
Lines covered	JR East lines, JR West lines, the Tokyo Monorail and set sections of IR Ishikawa Railway, Ainokaze Toyama Railway, Noto Railway and HAPI-LINE FUKUI
Not covered	The Tokaido Shinkansen
Savings example	Narita Airport to Kanazawa, Kanazawa to Nagano and Nagano to Narita Airport costs about 38,000 yen at regular fares

On JR East's own example, the pass saves about 3,000 yen on a single loop, and you can get on and off at any station along the way. Every extra trip you add, such as a day out to Toyama or a side trip in Nagano, adds to the saving.

When it usually pays off:

• You fly into Tokyo and want to see Kanazawa or Toyama and come back to Tokyo by a different route.
• You plan several long rides in a week, such as Tokyo to Nagano, Nagano to Kanazawa, and a day trip on the Noto Railway.
• You want flexibility to hop off at stations along the way without buying new tickets.

When it may not:

• You only travel one way between Tokyo and Hokuriku.
• Your trip is mostly Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, because the Tokaido Shinkansen is not covered.
• You live in Japan or are not on Temporary Visitor status, because JR East says the pass is only for those visitors.

Check the area map on JR East's page for exactly which sections the pass covers before you plan your route, since some partner lines are only included between set stations.

Hokuriku Arch Pass in Singapore in 2026: how to buy it

From Singapore, you can buy the Hokuriku Arch Pass online before you fly and collect it in Japan with your passport, according to JR East's purchase page. JR East sells its passes on the JR-EAST Train Reservation website. You then pick the pass up in Japan, for example at a reserved seat ticket machine with a passport reader at designated stations, and JR East says a copy of your passport is not enough.

Some booking sites, such as Klook, KKday and Trip.com, also list Japan rail passes. If the pass you want is listed, compare the final price with the official 35,000 yen and check how and where you collect it.

Hokuriku Arch Pass best deals in 2026

The best deal on the Hokuriku Arch Pass comes from using all seven days well, not from finding a lower sticker price. The official price is set by JR East, so the real saving is in how much travel you fit in. A few ways to get more from it:

1. Start the pass on your first long ride day, not the day you land, if your first days are in Tokyo.
2. Plan the loop so you do not backtrack, for example Tokyo to Kanazawa, Kanazawa to Nagano, then back to Tokyo.
3. Use the pass holder offers. JR East lists benefits for pass holders in a document linked from its pass page.
4. Compare booking sites with the official price, and go through ShopBack Singapore before you pay on whichever you choose.

Klook vs KKday for the Hokuriku Arch Pass: price comparison

If Klook or KKday lists the Hokuriku Arch Pass, which one is cheaper changes with promotions, so compare both against the official price on the same day. A booking site that looks a little dearer can work out cheaper once ShopBack's money back is counted. Here is a quick way to compare:

1. Note the official price on JR East's page: 35,000 yen for an adult at the time of writing.
2. Check the same pass on Klook through ShopBack and on KKday through ShopBack, in Singapore dollars.
3. Check the collection steps for each, so you know what you will exchange or show in Japan.
4. Subtract what you expect back at the rate shown on each store's ShopBack page. The lowest effective price wins.

Is the JR East Pass worth it, and where should I buy it?

The JR EAST PASS is usually worth it for long rides north of Tokyo to Sendai and Aomori, or out to Nagano and Niigata; buy it on JR East's own reservation site or compare a booking site that lists it. JR East's page describes a new JR EAST PASS covering the Aomori, Sendai, Nagano and Niigata areas. Here is what it publishes at the time of writing:

JR EAST PASS	Adult (12 and over)	Child (6 to 11)
5 consecutive days	35,000 yen	17,500 yen
10 consecutive days	50,000 yen	25,000 yen

JR East's savings example: Narita Airport to Tokyo on the Narita Express, then the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Sendai and Sendai to Shin-Aomori, with reserved seats, costs 52,000 yen at regular fares. The 5-day pass covers that for 35,000 yen, a saving of 17,000 yen on that trip alone, and you can keep riding in the Tokyo, Sendai and Aomori areas.

Other things JR East says about the pass:

• Lines covered include JR East lines, the Tokyo Monorail and some partner railways, plus Tobu trains to Nikko and Kinugawa on through services, with conditions.
• Not covered: the Tokaido Shinkansen, the Izu Kyuko Line and the Fujikyu Railway Line.
• Who can buy it: foreign nationals with a passport issued outside Japan. JR East's purchase page says the Temporary Visitor requirement that applies to some passes does not apply to the JR EAST PASS.
• Green Car and GranClass cost extra.

JR East Pass in Singapore in 2026: where to buy

From Singapore, the official route is to buy the JR EAST PASS on the JR-EAST Train Reservation website and collect it in Japan with your passport, according to JR East. You can also check booking sites such as Klook, KKday and Trip.com in case they list the pass, and compare their final price with the official one. Whichever you use, go through ShopBack Singapore before you pay on a booking site.

JR East Pass best deals in 2026

The best value on the JR EAST PASS comes from matching the 5-day or 10-day version to your long-distance travel days. A few tips:

• Group your long rides. If your Tohoku travel fits in five days, the 5-day pass at 35,000 yen is the better buy.
• Use the 10-day pass for slow trips. At 50,000 yen, it suits trips that cover Tohoku and Nagano or Niigata.
• Check the rental car offer. JR East lists a discount on JR Rent-A-Car base prices for JR EAST PASS holders at selected locations.
• Do not double up. JR East says you can only use one JR EAST PASS at a time.

Klook vs KKday for the JR East Pass: price comparison

Compare the JR EAST PASS on Klook, KKday and Trip.com, if they list it, against the official price, and judge each on the effective price after ShopBack. Check the same version (5 or 10 days), the price in Singapore dollars, and how you collect it in Japan. Then subtract what you expect back at the rate shown on the Klook, KKday or Trip.com page on ShopBack Singapore.

Is the Hakone Free Pass worth it for a day trip from Tokyo?

The Hakone Freepass is usually worth it for a day trip from Tokyo if you ride the classic Hakone loop; Odakyu, which sells it, says it is worth it even for a day trip. Odakyu lists the 2-day Hakone Freepass from Shinjuku at 7,100 yen for adults at the time of writing, with unlimited rides on eight kinds of transport around Hakone, including the Hakone Tozan Train, the cable car, the ropeway, the Lake Ashi sightseeing cruise and buses.

Here is Odakyu's price list at the time of writing:

Hakone Freepass (Odakyu)	2 days, adult	2 days, child	3 days, adult	3 days, child
From Shinjuku	7,100 yen	1,600 yen	7,500 yen	1,850 yen
From Odawara (Hakone area only)	6,000 yen	1,500 yen	6,400 yen	1,750 yen

What else Odakyu says:

• The pass from Shinjuku includes a round trip on the Odakyu Line between Shinjuku and Hakone.
• The Romancecar limited express costs extra. A reserved seat from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto is 1,200 yen more each way for adults. Odakyu says the Romancecar takes about 80 minutes from Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto.
• Odakyu's own day-trip maths: the pass from Shinjuku at 7,100 yen plus a Romancecar round trip at 2,400 yen comes to 9,500 yen.
• Discounts at about 70 facilities, such as hot springs, museums and restaurants, when you show the pass.
• Validity: the purchase day is day one, and a 2-day pass ends after the last train or bus on the next day, so it is not 48 hours.
• More than 10 million tickets sold in the past 20 years, according to Odakyu.

A pass is the better buy when you will ride most of the loop: train up to Gora, cable car and ropeway past Owakudani, the cruise across Lake Ashi, and the bus back. If you only plan to visit one spot, such as a single onsen, compare the pass with buying tickets for just those rides.

Hakone Free Pass in Singapore in 2026: where to buy

Odakyu sells the Hakone Freepass online through its EMot Online Tickets service as a mobile ticket, and as a paper ticket in Japan, according to its pass page. Booking sites such as Klook, KKday and Trip.com may list it too. If they do, compare the final price in Singapore dollars with Odakyu's yen price, check what you need to exchange or show, and go through ShopBack Singapore before you pay.

Hakone Free Pass best deals in 2026

The best Hakone deal is the pass that matches where you start and how long you stay. If you are already in Odawara, the Hakone-area-only pass at 6,000 yen is cheaper than the Shinjuku version. If you stay overnight, the 2-day pass covers both days, and the 3-day version costs only a little more for a slower trip.

Klook vs KKday for the Hakone Free Pass: price comparison

If Klook and KKday both list the Hakone Freepass, compare them on the same day against Odakyu's own price, and count what comes back through ShopBack. Check which departure point the pass covers (Shinjuku or Odawara), whether the Romancecar is included, and how you redeem it. Then compare the effective price after the rate shown on each store's ShopBack page.

Which Japan pass should I buy?

Your trip	Pass to look at	Official adult price
Tokyo, Nagano and Kanazawa or Toyama within a week	Hokuriku Arch Pass (7 days)	35,000 yen
Sendai, Aomori or Tohoku within five days	JR EAST PASS (5 days)	35,000 yen
Tohoku plus Nagano or Niigata on a slower trip	JR EAST PASS (10 days)	50,000 yen
A day or overnight trip to Hakone from Shinjuku	Hakone Freepass (2 days)	7,100 yen

Prices are from JR East and Odakyu at the time of writing. Other regional passes, such as the JR TOKYO Wide Pass and the Fuji Hakone Pass, may suit other routes, so check them too.

Why ShopBack is a step before you book

Going through ShopBack gets you a cash rebate on the same order, at the same store. Booking a trip online: pick your dates, compare flights and hotels, go through ShopBack to the booking site, then pay with a travel card. The same step applies when you buy a rail pass or a Hakone ticket on Trip.com, Klook or KKday.

Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. That is why a store that looks a little dearer can work out cheaper once ShopBack's money back is counted. Your effective price is what you pay at checkout minus the cash ShopBack returns. Check the live rate on the Trip.com page, the Klook page or the KKday page on ShopBack Singapore on the day you book, and check whether rail passes qualify on each store page.

Card rewards and ShopBack on the same booking

Card rewards usually apply alongside ShopBack, because your bank and ShopBack pay separately. Card promotions can depend on a minimum spend or payment method, so check your card's terms too.

Step by step: buying a Japan regional pass from Singapore

1. Map your route and count your long-distance rides.
2. Pick the pass that covers those rides for the fewest days.
3. Check eligibility, such as Temporary Visitor status for the Hokuriku Arch Pass.
4. Compare the official price with Trip.com, Klook and KKday if they list it.
5. Go through ShopBack Singapore to the booking site you choose and pay.
6. Bring your passport to collect or use the pass in Japan.

FAQ

Is the Hokuriku Arch Pass worth it for a Japan trip?

It is usually worth it if your trip loops from Tokyo to Hokuriku (Toyama, Kanazawa or Fukui) and back within seven days. JR East lists the pass at 35,000 yen for adults and says a Narita Airport to Kanazawa, Kanazawa to Nagano and Nagano to Narita Airport trip costs about 38,000 yen at regular fares. If you only go one way, it may not pay off.

Who can buy the Hokuriku Arch Pass?

According to JR East at the time of writing, the Hokuriku Arch Pass is only for foreign visitors with the entry status of Temporary Visitor. Children aged 6 to 11 pay the child price of 17,500 yen, and you need your passport to collect the pass in Japan.

Is the JR East Pass worth it?

It is usually worth it for long trips north of Tokyo, such as Sendai and Aomori, or to Nagano and Niigata. JR East lists the JR EAST PASS at 35,000 yen for 5 days or 50,000 yen for 10 days for adults, and says a Narita Airport to Sendai and Shin-Aomori trip with reserved seats costs 52,000 yen at regular fares.

Where should I buy the JR East Pass?

JR East sells its passes on the JR-EAST Train Reservation website, and you collect the pass in Japan with your passport. Booking sites such as Klook, KKday and Trip.com may also list Japan rail passes. If the pass you want is listed, compare the final price with the official one, then go through ShopBack Singapore before you pay.

Is the Hakone Free Pass worth it for a day trip from Tokyo?

Usually yes, if you ride the classic Hakone loop of train, cable car, ropeway, Lake Ashi cruise and bus. Odakyu lists the 2-day Hakone Freepass from Shinjuku at 7,100 yen for adults at the time of writing, and says it is worth it even for a day trip. The Romancecar limited express needs a separate 1,200 yen ticket each way.

How long is the Hakone Freepass valid?

Odakyu sells 2-day and 3-day versions. The day you buy counts as day one, and a 2-day pass runs until the last train or bus the next day, so 2 days does not mean 48 hours, according to Odakyu.

Can I use the Hokuriku Arch Pass or JR East Pass on the Tokaido Shinkansen?

No. JR East says neither pass can be used on the Tokaido Shinkansen, because another company runs it. Plan Tokyo to Osaka or Kyoto legs separately if your trip needs them.

Hokuriku Arch Pass or JR East Pass: which should I buy?

Choose by route. The Hokuriku Arch Pass suits a Tokyo, Nagano and Kanazawa or Toyama loop over seven days. The JR EAST PASS suits Tohoku (Sendai, Aomori) or Nagano and Niigata over five or ten days. Both are 35,000 yen for adults at their shortest length, according to JR East at the time of writing.

Is Klook or KKday cheaper for Japan rail passes?

It changes by pass and by promotion, so compare both on the same day with the official price. A booking site that looks a little dearer can work out cheaper once ShopBack's money back is counted, so compare the effective price after the rate shown on each store's ShopBack page.

How does ShopBack help when I book a Japan rail pass?

Going through ShopBack gets you a cash rebate on the same order, at the same store. Open ShopBack Singapore, tap through to Trip.com, Klook or KKday, and book. The cash comes back once the booking is confirmed, and the live rate for each store is shown on its ShopBack page.

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Disclaimer

The information in this article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute travel or purchase advice. Pass prices, coverage, eligibility and validity are set by JR East and Odakyu, are quoted from their own pages at the time of writing, and can change without notice. Always check the current details on the official pass page, the booking site and the relevant ShopBack store page before you book. Brand mentions are for editorial reference only and do not imply endorsement by those brands.