Setouchi Area Pass: costs, coverage and a seven-day route
Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu in a single week — what the pass actually covers, where it stops being worth the money, and the route I rode in August.
The short answer
You cross Kansai → Kyushu and stop three or more times.
Osaka–Hiroshima and back. Two point-to-point tickets are cheaper.
¥53,500 (≈ €332 / $361) including food and baths.
Is it cheaper than buying tickets?
Only past a certain number of legs. Here is the same week, priced three ways.
| Option | Cost | Covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setouchi Area Pass 7 days, three islands | ¥22,000 (≈ €137 / $148) | Hikari, Sakura, local lines | Three or more stops |
| Point-to-point Four legs | ¥18,400 (≈ €114 / $124) | Only what you book | One long hop, back again |
| Nationwide pass, 7 days | ¥50,000 (≈ €311 / $337) | The whole country | Tokyo in the same week |
Hikari, Sakura, local lines. Best for three or more stops.
7 days, three islands
Only what you book. Best for one long hop, back again.
Four legs
The whole country. Best for tokyo in the same week.
The arithmetic turns at three long legs. Below that, buying tickets as you go wins and no amount of convenience makes up the difference.
Day one — Osaka to Onomichi
Take the early Sanyo Shinkansen out of Shin-Osaka and you are eating ramen in Onomichi before noon. The transfer at Fukuyama is across the platform, which matters when the connection is eight minutes and you are carrying a week of luggage.
From the station it is ten minutes on foot to the ropeway, and the hill behind town is where the day actually starts. Most people do this as a day trip from Hiroshima; staying the night is the better call, because the town empties out after five.
What the pass will not do
It will not put you on the fastest train, and it will not cover the island ferries that make the middle of this route worth riding. Budget ¥5,600 (≈ €35 / $38) in cash for boats and buses over the week, and do not plan a tight connection around a service the pass does not include.
Questions people ask
Can I use it on the Nozomi?
No. Sanyo Shinkansen services are covered except the fastest ones, so plan around Hikari and Sakura departures.
Do I have to start on the day I collect it?
You pick the start date when you exchange the voucher, and the seven days run consecutively from there.
Does it cover the ferries?
One route only. The island hops most people want are paid separately, in cash, at the terminal.
Prices are in Japanese yen. Conversions are approximate, at ¥161.00 to the euro and ¥148.19 to the US dollar as of 26 Sept 2026. Rates come from the European Central Bank, which publishes on working days only. Fares verified Aug 2026 — check the operator before you travel.