News On Japan

JR East's 'Kyun Pass' Offers Unlimited Shinkansen Rides for 10,000 Yen

TOKYO - Starting February 14th, JR East has introduced the "Kyun Pass," allowing unlimited rides on Shinkansen and limited express trains for just Y10,000 on weekdays.

JR East's 'Kyun Pass' Offers Unlimited Shinkansen Rides for 10,000 Yen

Tokyo to Shin-Aomori Round Trip Saves Over ¥20,000

Caster Fudo Kumazaki explains that the pass is valid for one month from February 14th to March 14th, with no limit on the number of purchases, but restricted to two reserved seat bookings per day.

The pass covers JR East lines, including the Tohoku, Yamagata, Akita, Joetsu, and some parts of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, as well as five local railway lines.

Traveling from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori, which usually costs over ¥33,260 for a round trip, becomes a bargain at just ¥10,000 with the "Kyun Pass."

Various Ways to Enjoy: Luxurious Travel Close to Home

Caster Chiaki Horan notes that traveling to Shin-Aomori and back in a day would mean spending most of the time on the Shinkansen.

Kumazaki suggests that traveling further increases the value of the pass, but if you want to enjoy your destination, it's essential to choose wisely. For example, trips beyond Nasushiobara on the Tohoku Shinkansen or beyond Karuizawa on the Hokuriku Shinkansen would exceed ¥10,000 for a round trip.

One adventurous traveler, Casty, is currently on a "Dice Travel" journey with a friend, where they let dice rolls decide their destinations, starting from Tokyo and ending in Yokohama.

Travel analyst Kotaro Toriumi recommends a luxurious day trip starting with a ride on the Tohoku Shinkansen to Utsunomiya, followed by a visit to Zenkoji Temple in Nagano, shopping in Nakamise Street, and ending with a trip to Karuizawa for shopping and hot springs, all within the same day for just ¥10,000 with the "Kyun Pass," compared to the usual Shinkansen fare of ¥22,870.

Source: TBS

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Former Nissan Motor Chairman Carlos Ghosn said the automaker is in a "state of emergency" and signaled he would be willing to return as chief executive officer, arguing that only a true decision-maker in the CEO role could rescue the company.

The entire Negishi Housing Area in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, has been returned to Japan for the first time in 79 years, ending its use as a residential district for U.S. military personnel and their families.

Strong earthquakes have continued to shake parts of Japan in recent weeks, with 11 temblors measuring lower 5 or above on the Japanese seismic intensity scale recorded across the country since April 2026.

A Kintetsu Railway train derailed inside Kyoto Station on the morning of June 29, forcing partial suspensions on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line for the rest of the day and causing long delays that hit commuters, students and tourists.

A section of stone wall at Hikone Castle, one of Japan’s few surviving original Edo-period castles and a National Treasure whose main keep remains intact more than 400 years after its construction, collapsed after heavy rain caused by Typhoons No. 7 and No. 8, Hikone city officials said.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Travel NEWS

A man in his 70s was injured early on June 30 after being attacked by a bear near an elementary school in Tochigi Prefecture, as bear-related incidents continue to rise across Japan ahead of the full onset of summer heat in July.

Kyoto’s Gion Festival, one of Japan’s three major festivals, began on July 1 with the Osendo ritual at Yasaka Shrine, where the child messenger and his attendants prayed for the safe completion of their major role in the monthlong event.

A Kintetsu Railway train derailed inside Kyoto Station on the morning of June 29, forcing partial suspensions on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line for the rest of the day and causing long delays that hit commuters, students and tourists.

A section of stone wall at Hikone Castle, one of Japan’s few surviving original Edo-period castles and a National Treasure whose main keep remains intact more than 400 years after its construction, collapsed after heavy rain caused by Typhoons No. 7 and No. 8, Hikone city officials said.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said at around 2 p.m. on June 29 that the rainy season appeared to have ended in Okinawa, marking a later-than-usual start to summer after an especially wet period.

Japan’s weather agency carried out field inspections in Yamanashi Prefecture on June 28 after a powerful earthquake struck the Fuji Five Lakes area late on June 26, registering a lower 6 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale in Fujikawaguchiko and injuring six people.

According to updates on June 28, the double-typhoon system that brought record rain, flooding, landslides and fallen trees to parts of Japan has moved away, but Kanto remains under cloudy rainy-season skies, with intermittent rain still possible and saturated ground keeping the risk of landslides high in areas hit by heavy rain.

The Kanto region is experiencing an unusual June, with three typhoons approaching the area during the month and rainfall totals already reaching record levels in some locations.