Summer and spring signal the beginning of semester breaks – a great time for relaxation. Luckily, Japan is full of interesting spots where you can spend time with friends, enjoy picturesque views of cities and nature, eat delicious food and regional cuisine, visit beautiful fields of flowers, and much more. However, these spots can sometimes be very far away from each other, and transportation can be costly. Moreover, as a student, saving enough money to travel to so many different places can be a challenge. Therefore, in this article, I would like to introduce a much cheaper way to travel around Japan and enjoy your break: the all-you-can-ride local train pass, “Seishun 18 Kippu”.
What is the Seishun 18 Kippu?
The Seishun 18 Kippu is a ticket (“kippu”) that allows unlimited travel on all local JR trains, and even some ferries! Until August 2024, the ticket could be used for 5 days, and unlike other train passes, it could be used on non-consecutive dates as long as it was still valid. You could even share a ticket with your friend to be used together. Unfortunately, the rules changed in December 2024. Now, only one person can use the ticket, and only on consecutive dates. However, there is a new 3-day Seishun 18 Kippu, and now it can be used with automatic ticket gates, making it more convenient.
The ticket is sold and can be used only during specific times each year. In 2024, for example:
- Spring: on sale February 20 to March 31; valid from March 1 to April 10
- Summer: on sale July 1 to August 31; valid from July 20 to September 10
- Winter: on sale November 26 to January 8; valid from December 10 to January 10.
How to use the train pass
First, you need to obtain the ticket. The ticket can be bought at any large JR station with a Midori-no-Madoguchi (JR Ticket Office) or reserved seat ticket vending machine. According to the new rules, you will need to specify when you will use the ticket when you purchase it. After you finish the payment, you will receive a paper ticket, along with some instructions, that looks like this:
On the old version of the ticket, there were 5 passes, one of which were consumed for each day it was used, or per person who used it, when you entered the first ticket gate of the day. After that, you can enter or leave any JR station that same day at no additional cost. The new tickets will specify the consecutive dates when the pass can be used. If the ticket goes unused and before or the during the usage period, you can change the usage dates or get a refund at the Midori-no-Madoguchi for a 220 yen handling fee.
The pass can only be used with JR trains, so please be careful when planning your trip. When searching for routes, I recommend using an app called Japan Transit Planner, as it has “local train only” and “Japan Rail Pass” options.
Is it really worth the price?
At this point, you might wonder how much the ticket costs. In 2024, it cost 12,050 yen for a 5-day ticket and 10,000 yen for a 3-day ticket. This means that the 5-day ticket only costs 2,410 yen per day! It is still more expensive than typical daily commuting costs, so to make the most of it, it is best to use the ticket for traveling long distances or for stopping at many different stations.
To make the ticket worthwhile, the shortest distance you should travel is around 150 km – roughly the distance from Tokyo Station to Fuji Station, which is a 3-hour trip on local trains.
But what about the longest distance you can travel with one pass? It turns out, this ticket can take you from Tokyo to as far as Yamaguchi City in a single day. The total distance covered will be over 1,000 km! The normal fare for this route is 12,870 yen, which means that this pass could potentially save you over 10,000 yen! However, this also comes with a 19-hour-long train ride with 13 transfers, so practically, I don’t really recommend doing that. Still, it is a good choice for traveling and vacations, considering that it can take you to almost every large city in Japan in a single day.
Recommended spots
Here are my recommendations if you are searching for a vacation spot when the pass is on sale:
Winter: Nagano prefecture – home to the largest ski resort in Japan
The most popular winter activity in Japan couldn’t be anything other than skiing or snowboarding, and one of the most famous places to enjoy it is Shiga Kogen, the largest ski resort in Japan, located in Nagano prefecture.
However, going straight to the resort from Tokyo using the pass alone could be a tedious task, as it will take you over eight hours to get there. Therefore, I recommend making stops along the way and enjoying what the prefecture has to offer. Nagano is not only well-known for its large ski resort, but also for its many historical sites and sightseeing spots, such as the Nakasendo trail, Matsumoto Castle, Daio Wasabi Farm, and the snow monkey park.
Also, don’t forget to try famous delicacies, such as miso ramen and Shinano apple pies.
Spring: Kyoto – cherry blossoms and the best temples in Japan
The ticket sales period in spring lies up perfectly with sakura (cherry blossom) viewing season, so why not visit one of the most famous travel destinations in Japan? From Tokyo, it will take around 8 hours on local trains to reach the old capital of Kyoto, but given that it will only cost you 2,410 yen instead of 14,000 yen when going by shinkansen bullet train, I think it is worth the wait. In Kyoto, you can find many historical temples and shrines considered the most beautiful in the country, which will be covered in pink blossoms in early spring.
Since the ticket could be used for several days, you might as well also visit nearby cities and make the most of the trip.
Summer: The three most scenic spots of Japan
Did you know that The three most scenic spots of Japan can all be easily accessed using this ticket? You can directly visit two of them, Matsushima and Miyajima, and the third, Amanohashidate, only requires an extra hour’s detour. These three places feature some of Japan’s most unique and stunning coastlines, making them the perfect spot to spend your summer.
For the full experience, all three places offer sightseeing cruises where you can get a view of the entire coast. And since you’re already near the ocean, don’t forget to end your trip with some fresh seafood!
Bon voyage! “Yoi tabi o!”
All in all, this ticket offers a cheaper means of long-distance travel at the cost of time. However, you don’t have to worry that the time on the train will be wasted. Many trains in Japan pass through beautiful coasts and valleys, so you can take your time while enjoying nature. Not only that, some local trains are specially decorated too, so the trains themselves can be interesting. As a last resort, you can also bring any unfinished work with you and do it on the train. Most of the time, local trains connecting cities far away from Tokyo are quieter and much less crowded, so it is a good chance to focus on yourself. Many people also use this time to reflect, so it could also be a good opportunity to get to know yourself better, too! Lastly, since the only consideration is time, this ticket allows you to explore many regions without excess travel fees, so I think it is well worth the cost.
Those are all the tips I have about making the most of this special ticket. I hope this blog sparks some vacation ideas or helps when planning to go somewhere during the upcoming break. I wish you a wonderful vacation!
