Japan Travel Pass Japan Travel Pass

Regional JR pass resource

JR West Sanyo–San’in Area Pass Guide

Planning trains in Japan can be confusing. Blog posts give rough rules of thumb, but whether a JR Pass actually saves money always depends on your exact route, trip length, and side trips.

Use Quick Plan Plan Multi-City Routes
Coverage notes and sample routes tailored to this region
Call out private rail gaps so you know when a pass will not work
Pair with our calculators to confirm value using your exact travel dates

What this page helps you do

Use the tools below whenever you want to test real numbers instead of guessing from generic rules. You’ll see how to think about costs, which passes are usually relevant, and how to double-check everything with live calculations.

How to really check the numbers

  1. Open Quick Plan if you mainly stay in one region or hub city.
  2. Use Smart Plan when you have a multi-city route, open-jaw flights, or several side trips.

Both tools compare JR passes, regional passes, and point-to-point tickets, and highlight where a pass pays off — and where normal tickets are cheaper.

Tips before you buy anything

  • Always check your real dates and cities instead of copying someone else’s itinerary.
  • Remember airport transfers and local JR lines — they sometimes push a pass over the break-even point.
  • Prices and pass rules change, so treat any old screenshots you find online as outdated.

Japan Travel Pass Advisor is not a booking site and does not sell tickets. It’s a free planner to help you decide whether a JR Pass or regular tickets make more sense for your trip.