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A 3-day unlimited travel pass for trains and local buses-perfect for a journey filled with nature and history.
The Tottori and Shimane area harmoniously blends natural beauty with cultural heritage, featuring scenic coastlines, majestic mountains, and historic towns. In addition to famous landmarks such as the Tottori Sand Dunes, Matsue Castle, and Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine, the region is also known for its hot springs and local cuisine, making it an appealing destination for a relaxing trip. Because the sightseeing spots are spread out across a wide area, using trains and buses is the recommended way to explore.
Ideal for this kind of trip is the Tottori–Matsue Pass, available exclusively to short-term international visitors to Japan. This pass offers unlimited travel for three consecutive days on designated JR lines in the Tottori, Kurayoshi, Yonago, Matsue, and Izumo areas, as well as on local buses such as the Loop Kirinjishi Bus and the Gurutto Matsue Lake Line Bus. With access to both trains and local buses, it provides convenient transportation even to attractions located far from the nearest station, greatly enhancing the flexibility of your trip.
For travelers who want to enjoy a compact yet fulfilling trip around the San’in region’s major destinations, this pass offers excellent value for money. Transferring between trains and buses is smooth and seamless, making travel itself a stress-free and comfortable part of the overall experience.
The pass can be purchased from overseas travel agencies. After arriving in Japan, it can be exchanged at JR Ticket Office (Midori-no-madoguchi) or ticket vending machines at stations such as Tottori Station and Yonago Station.
For details, please refer to the official website.
Explore the highlights of the San’in region, from Tottori to Izumo, with just this one pass.
Frequently Asked Questions have been vetted and answered directly by each listing.
Q
Are brochures available in foreign languages? (If yes, which languages?)
Brochures are available in English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, and Thai. Please refer to the official website for details.
Q
Do I need to make a reservation to use the pass?
No reservation is required for local buses or local trains. You may board them directly.
Q
Who is eligible to purchase and use the pass?
The pass is available exclusively to customers holding a passport issued by a foreign government and possessing a Temporary Visitor visa. After entering Japan, you must present your passport when exchanging the pass at designated JR-West stations.
Some reviews are AI-translated.
I used this pass to go to Shinji, Koge, and Sakaiminato.
(Whenever I buy a JR PASS, my bargain-loving Taiwanese side comes out. I have to ride enough to get my money's worth so I don't waste the money I worked so hard for, and I want to see everywhere.)
The place that left the deepest impression on me was Shinji!
I'd always wanted to see the famous sunset over Lake Shinji. But I hadn't done my research and thought, the closest station to Lake Shinji must be Shinji Station, right? I can just get off there〜
To my surprise, as the train kept going, an incredibly beautiful sunset appeared outside the window, so I just kept staring out the window.
(I'm the kind of person who goes crazy for sunrises, sunsets, and the ocean
I was also starting to get hungry haha. At one point, I even thought about just heading straight to Izumo Taisha, thinking it would probably still be lively at night, right? Unfortunately, I couldn't work up the courage in the end⋯
And then!!!
This was where the real adventure began.
After getting off at Shinji Station, I looked around the area a bit and realized⋯ there was literally nothing there, and the station was unmanned!
There were only three students on the entire platform, plus me, so just four people.
I started getting a little nervous. Was I screwed? Should I have gotten off at Matsue instead? I hurried to buy a ticket to go back, and I kept having trouble using the machine😭
Then the three students boarded a train, and a large group of students got off, so I felt a little relieved. But within a few minutes, they all scattered like birds and animals and disappeared. It also felt like it suddenly became completely dark at that moment.
I was the only person left on the entire platform
(I was seriously panicking
I quickly called a friend and asked him to keep me company, and my mind even started wandering to urban legends like Kisaragi Station⋯
Luckily, my friend didn't laugh at me or kick me while I was down. If it had been my family, they probably would have worried while nagging me, saying that's what you get for always running around everywhere by yourself⋯ especially my grandma haha.
But honestly, I was really scared at the time.
I kept standing at the front of the platform waiting for the express train because I didn't want to take a local train—it was way too slow—and that's how I got myself into this situation.
(I'm such a genius
I didn't even dare look behind me because I didn't know whether it would be scarier if someone was there or if no one was there😖😭
Even now, looking back on it, it still feels terrifying.
But because of this, the trip gave me one more memory, and I think I was really brave!
And thankfully, I made it safely back to Tottori Station in the end and quickly ate MOS Burger to calm my nerves
(It tasted especially good
This is the story of one person's brave adventure.
(Pretty impressive, right? I don't know why I always manage to run into all kinds of situations, but that's also why I have so many experiences to write about
If you're coming in from Okayama or Yonago and making your way to Tottori, this pass will save you a ton on transportation.
