Justin and I are huge fans of using Japan Railway (JR) Regional train passes during our 20+ visits to Japan. We recently traveled to Kyushu Island to revisit Kumamoto, Fukuoka, Oita, and Beppu, and continued northeast towards Osaka.
So, which JR Regional train pass is recommended? We decided to use the JR Sanyo-Sanin Northern Kyushu Pass for 7 days.
The pass is only available for international tourists. It covers local, limited express, and Shinkansen (high speed bullet trains) from Northern Kyushu all the way to Shin-Osaka and Kansai International Airport. You could visit iconic places such as Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, and more.
Many travelers like yourself want to visit as many places as possible in one week, so this pass is worth it to travel to different cities.
We’ve used the 5 day Northern Kyushu JR Pass previously. But the Sanyo-Sanin Northern Kyushu Pass’s extra 2 days and wider area coverage were a huge plus for us.
We’re here to help you understand more about the Sanyo-Sanin Northern Kyushu Pass. We have pros and cons for using this pass and helpful tips such as where to buy the pass, so continue reading to learn more.
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Quick Pros/Cons of JR Sanyo-Sanin Northern Kyushu Pass
Don’t have time to read the post? Here is a quick snapshot of the top reasons and things to consider about the train pass.
Pros
- Super easy and convenient to use.
- The pass includes JR local, special rapid services, rapid services, limited express, and Shinkansen.
- You can reserve seats for Limited Express and Shinkansen seats in advance.
Cons
- Planning your itinerary is required.
- Pass needs to be used in 7 consecutive days.
- It can be tiring to travel to a new place for a week.
Benefits of the Pass (Pros)
Note: We’ve used the JR Northern Kyushu Pass for 5 Days. This is an ideal option if you want to stay on Northern Kyushu Island only, such as Kumamoto, Fukuoka, and Nagasaki. Read our blog post for our review of the Northern Kyushu Pass.
The pass covers a huge area, so you can visit many cities in 7 days.
You can travel through Northern Kyushu and all the way northeast to the Kansai International Airport.
In Northern Kyushu, you can visit popular spots such as Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Beppu. Unfortunately, you cannot go south of Kumamoto, such as to Miyazaki or Kagoshima.
Then you can visit other cities such as Hiroshima, Okayama, Himeji, Tottori, Matsue, Kobe, Osaka, and Wakayama.
With the pass, you can pick and choose places of interest to spend over 7 consecutive days. The opportunities are endless with the different sights you can potentially see.
I’m jumping next to the Aburaya Kumahachi Statue in front of Beppu Station
Many Japan Railways (JR) train lines and buses are covered with the pass.
As mentioned earlier, you can use this pass for the JR local trains, special rapid services, rapid services, limited express, and Shinkansen.
Here are other noteworthy trains, ferries, and buses included in the pass:
- Sanyo-Kyushu Shinkansen (Hakata to Shin Osaka), including the One Piece Shinkansen and Hello Kitty Sankansen
- Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen (Takeo Onsen to Nagasaki)
- Chizu Express (Train line in Hyogo, Okayama, Tottori areas)
- Hitahikosan Line BRT (Train line in Fukuoka area)
- Kyoto Tango Railway (A sightseeing train operated by Willer)
- West JR Bus (ie: Around Kyoto)
- Chugoku JR Bus (ie: Hiroshima Sightseeing Loop Bus)
- JR West Miyajima Ferry (Hiroshima’s Miyajimaguchi to Miyajima)
- “EKIRIN” rental bikes within the mentioned service areas
- Limited Express Trains (ie: Haruka (to Kansai International Airport), Yufuin no Mori, Yakumo, Konotori, and more)
This is the Yufuin no Mori train that you can take to Yufuin
Can reserve seats in advance for Shinkansen and Limited Express trains for free.
If you already have plans on where to go, you can reserve Shinkansen seats for specific times and destinations in advance.
There is an unlimited number of times to make seat reservations. You’ll need to have your 7-day Sanyo-San’n Northern Kyushu Pass for the reservation.
There are two ways to reserve seats.
- The easiest way: Visit the JR Ticket Counter and tell the ticket agent where you’re going and the time of departure. If you need a seat immediately, then look on the screen for the next available train going to your destination. You can also reserve for the next day.
- The independent way: Use the Reservation ticket machines. Read this PDF with instructions on how to reserve the seats.
We prefer to use the in person ticket office as it’s easier to talk to someone. But if the Ticket Office is closed or not available, then we’ll use the Reservation Ticket Machines.
Note: If you’re at Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka, there are two JR ticket offices – JR Central and JR West. For this pass, you’ll need to use the JR West ticket office for seat reservations.
Save money with the pass!
The pass is 26,000 yen for adults and 13,000 yen for children (6 to 11 years old).
An adult would need to spend 3,715 yen per day to break even for the pass value. It is doable if you plan to travel a long distance and use the Shinkansen as the main mode of transportation.
TIP: We recommend creating a schedule of the places you want to visit. Then, use the JR West Timetable and Route Finder to calculate the cost between the starting and ending stations. You can also find the train schedule. Then, calculate if this pass is worth it.
Here are examples of places that we went to and the pricing:
- Travel from Kumamoto to Beppu Station (Time required: 2 hours 21 minutes) – Cost with reserved seating: 12,920 yen
- Travel from Hiroshima to Himeji (Time required: 59 minutes) – Cost with reserved seating: 8,440 yen
- Travel from Shin Osaka to Okayama (Time required: 49 minutes) – Cost with reserved seating: 6,140 yen
Final verdict: We calculated that we spent 66,800 yen in 7 days, which exceeded the pass’s value by 40,800 yen. The pass was a fantastic way to save money!
Okayama Castle is lovely to view from the south side.
Save time with the pass.
With the pass, you do not need to buy individual tickets for each leg of the train or bus. So, you don’t need to worry about using cash or credit cards for any purchases. You just need to insert the pass into the turnstiles for entering and exiting the station.
This pass will save you time, as Japanese trains are typically on time!
Things to Consider About the Pass (Cons)
Some Shinkansens and buses are not included with the pass.
You’re not able to take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo, Kyushu Shinkansen from Hakata to Kagoshima-Chuo, or JR Expressway buses.
If you plan to go to Tokyo from Osaka, you may consider buying the All Japan JR Pass. Then you can take the Shinkansen between the two areas. Click here to see pricing for the All Japan JR Pass on Klook.
As with the Hakata to Kagoshima route, you can buy the JR All Kyushu Pass, which covers the entire region. Click here to learn more about the All Kyushu Pass.
Calculate if the pass is worth the price.
This task will be important for the trip planners.
As mentioned above, you’ll need to create an itinerary of where to go. Then, you’ll need to look up the cost between the start and the end JR stations. Afterward, calculate the total train cost and compare it with the cost of the pass.
If you prefer to take a more relaxing approach and not schedule things ahead of time, then it’s better to not buy the pass. You can use your IC card (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA) or buy individual tickets or Shinkansen tickets to travel around. You won’t be restricted with the scheduling.
You need to use the pass for 7 days consecutively.
Unfortunately, breaks are not allowed with the pass. If you won’t use the pass for one day, then you either forfeit the day, change the schedule to utilize a JR train line, or not buy the pass.
For example, if you start the 7 day pass on May 1, then you have till 11:59pm May 7 to use the pass.
You may be exhausted from the long travel.
Visiting new places every day can be an exhausting way to travel. Not everyone has the stamina or willingness to go full speed to travel from place to place and utilize the 7-day pass.
If this doesn’t sound like your preferred travel method, then you should not buy this pass.
Cost
26,000 yen Adults
13,000 yen Children (6-12 years old)
This is the JR Sanyo Sanin Northern Kyushu 7 day pass that we used to explore the area
Where to Buy the Pass
Buy the pass directly from the JR Pass website or an approved third-party vendor, such as Klook.
We bought the pass one month before we departed from Klook. The process was very easy. Klook sent the paper voucher to our apartment in Vietnam, and then we exchanged the paper voucher at a JR Kumamoto Station.
You can exchange at any major JR stations such as Hakata (Fukuoka), Namba (Osaka), Uji (Kyoto), Nara, Wakayama, Kansai Airport, etc.
We’ve used Klook for all of our Japan train passes and attractions. We haven’t had any issues with ordering or redemption. Sometimes, the rail pass is an e-voucher, but this time it was a physical voucher.
How to Get Your Pass
Step 1: Buy the pass online. You can buy on the JR Pass website or a third-party vendor, such as Klook. We bought this exact pass on Klook.
Step 2: Wait for your physical voucher to be sent to your home if using Klook. It only took a few days for the voucher to arrive at our apartment in Vietnam.
Step 3: Redeem your physical voucher at a JR ticket office, such as Kansai Airport Station, Fukuoka Hakata Station, Okayama Station, etc. You have 90 days from purchase to redeem the voucher. Show your passport.
Step 4: Receive a light green train ticket with the start and end date and insert it at the turnstiles. Do not lose the ticket.
During this time, you may reserve tickets with the Ticket Agent for any upcoming travels.
Where We Traveled With the Pass
Here is where we went with the pass. We started in Kumamoto and ended in Osaka.
For the non-JR lines or buses, we used our ICOCA card (or any IC card will work) or a credit card (if accepted).
Day 1 – Activated the pass. Took the Shinkansen and Limited Express trains from Kumamoto to Beppu. Took the local train to Oita to pick up some manhole cover cards. Stayed overnight in Beppu.
Day 2 – Visited Umitamago (Oita Marine Palace Aquarium), so we took the local JR trains and walked to the aquarium. Stayed overnight in Beppu.
Day 3 – Took the Limited Express train from Beppu to Fukuoka Hakata Station. We took the local trains to the Dazaifu area. Stayed overnight in Fukuoka.
Day 4 – Took the Limited Express train from Fukuoka Hakata to Saga. We spent the day in Arita and Saga. Stayed overnight in Fukuoka.
Day 5 – Took the Shinkansen from Fukuoka Hakata to Hiroshima. Visited Hiroshima for a few hours and ate okonomiyaki. We also went from Hiroshima to Himeji for a quick stop before going to Osaka. We stayed overnight in Osaka Namba area.
Day 6 – Took the Shinkansen from Shin Osaka to Okayama. Stopped by Kurashiki Historical Area for the day. Stayed overnight in Osaka Namba area.
Day 7 – For our final day, we took the local train to Sango (Nara) and Kashiwara (Osaka). We picked up a few manhole cover cards. We also went to the Osaka Expo 2025 in the late afternoon till the evening. Returned to our hotel in Osaka Namba.
Myaku Myaku, the adorable Osaka Expo mascot, was adorable to see at the Expo
Final Thoughts
We loved using the 7-day Sanyo Sanin Northern Kyushu Pass. It’s definitely worth using!
We had a fantastic time revisiting places that we’ve been to before and also explore new areas such as Oita and Saga. Plus, it was easy to use the trains and Shinkansen to travel long distances as we didn’t need to worry about buying tickets.
The pass saved us a lot of money on transportation, and we easily exceeded the value of the pass. We would recommend it if you’re visiting Northern Kyushu and Osaka/Kyoto area.
If you have any questions about this pass, please ask a question in the comment section below.
Check out our other tourist train passes that we’ve written about:
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