You are eligible to purchase a JAPAN RAIL PASS if you meet one of the following conditions:

You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing under the entry status of "temporary visitor" .

"Temporary visitor" entry status, according to Japanese Immigration Law, allows a stay in Japan of 15 days or 90 days for "sight-seeing, etc." If you apply for a "stay for sight-seeing" when you enter Japan, entry personnel will stamp your passport "temporary visitor". Only persons who have a passport bearing this stamp can use a JAPAN RAIL PASS.
* Japanese living abroad can not use this pass.

Transportation Services

The HOKKAIDO RAIL PASS is valid for all the train lines offered by Hokkaido Railway Co. and bus lines of JR Hokkaido Bus (excluding Sapporo - Asahikawa / Sapporo - Monbetsu / Sapporo - Obihiro / Sapporo - Kiroro lines and irregular lines).

With a Green-type HOKKAIDO RAIL PASS, you can use Green cars operated by Hokkaido Railway Co. With an Ordinary-type HOKKAIDO RAIL PASS, you can use reserved ordinary car seats of trains operated by Hokkaido Railway Co. If you use a sleeping car, you must pay the limited express charge and berth charge.

Accommodations

Many JR HOKKAIDO trains have Green cars (superior accommodations); all have ordinary cars. You can use Green cars or ordinary cars with a Green-type PASS, and you can use ordinary cars with an Ordinary-type PASS, without paying additional charges.

Valid Period

You must exchange your Exchange Order for a Hokkaido Rail Pass within 3 months from the date of issue. At that time, you must specify the date that you want to start using the pass. It can be any date within one month from the date the pass is received. Once the pass has a starting date written on it, the date cannot be changed. (If the passenger is traveling between stations (e.g., on a night train) when the pass expires, the pass is valid for the day following the expiration date.)　

Seat reservations can be made without additional payment. To make a reservation, apply at any major station or Travel Service Center (Twinkle Plaza) or a reservation office (midori-no-madoguchi) at a JR HOKKAIDO station. There, present your PASS, and obtain your reserved-seat ticket before boarding.

A non-reserved seat can be used simply by presenting your HOKKAIDO RAIL PASS.

Seat reservations cannot be made before you receive the PASS in Japan.