What is a good way to spend time in your youth? With your friends! What if you have not saved enough money to travel around Japan with your friends back then and have the opportunity to do so now? The answer to this question lies with the Seishun 18 Kippu (青春１８きっぷ), or also known as the Youth 18 Ticket. The name can also be referred to as the “springtime of life” ticket and is often used by the younger generation. The true catch is: everyone can actually use it– even adults! Find out more on how you can go around Japan on a transportation budget of only ¥12,050!

Three Important W’s to Know about the Seishun 18 Kippu

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WHO can use it? Anyone, even if you are way past your youth! The purpose of the ticket is to inspire the next generation to travel to Japan and create memories while they are still young. This may be the case but everyone is young at heart, right? 

WHERE do you use it? The ticket lets you travel all around Japan as long as it’s through the JR Network. There are some cases where the ticket can be used for additional lines for a discounted price too. An example of this would be the “Seishun 18 Kippu Hokkaido Shikansen Ticket” wherein travelers would have to add 2,490 yen to ride the bullet train between Honshu and Hokkaido islands! For more information on where to use it, you can refer to this JR Map. You can use the Seishun 18 Kippu in any green line that is shown on the map!

WHEN can you use it? One more important thing to remember is that the Seishun 18 Kippu can only be used within the specified period of time allotted.The ticket is on sale for the following dates:

• Spring: Buy tickets from February 20 to March 31 and it’s available for use from March 1 to April 10.

• Summer: Tickets are available from July 1 to August 31 and can be used from July 20 to September 10

• Winter: Purchase tickets between December 1 and December 31 to use them between December 10 and January 10.

How to use the ticket: The Seishun 18 Kippu is the more economical option for travelers because it is a shareable ticket! There are a total of 5 coupons per one purchase of the ticket and up to five people can use one! For example, a group of three can use three coupons in one day but there will be two more coupons left to consume for another day. Likewise, if you are a group of 5 then you can use all five coupons within one day for a cheaper price! Upon using the Seishun 18 Kippu, you have to present the ticket to train staff before you can enter as it cannot be pass through automatic gates. 

Possible Itineraries for Seishun 18 Kippu

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Itinerary 1: From Aomori to Sendai 

Starting from 8:30 AM in Aomori Station, ride the 23 train stops in the Aomori Tetsuo Line bound for Hachinohe Station for 1 hour and 30 minutes and wait for the train to Morioka for about two hours. The trip from Hachinohe Station to Morioka Station will be for another 1 hour and 46 minutes and you will be riding the Aoimori Tetsudo line and Iwate Ginga Tetsudo line bound for Morioka. Once arrived at Morioka Station, the next train line to board will be the Tohoku Line to Kitakami Station for around 55 minutes. From Kitakami station, ride the train bound for Ichinoseki Station for 41 minutes and stay until the next Tohoku line bound for Kogota Station arrives at 5:42 PM. The last train to board will be from Kogota station to Sendai station riding the Tohoku line for 47 minutes. Finally, you will reach Sendai Station around 8:00 PM

Itinerary Summary: This itinerary will take you approximately 11 hours and 30 minutes from Aomori city to Sendai city. There are a total of six transfers between Aomori Tetsudo, Iwate Ginga Tetsudo, and Tohoku lines. For price comparison, you will have to spend ¥11,420 for a bullet train ticket and ¥8,820 through the regular ticketing system. If you use the Seishun 18 Kippu, it will only cost you ¥2,410 and still be left with additional coupons to still use!

Itinerary 2: From Tokyo to Niigata (8:00 AM)

Starting from 8:00 AM in the Tokyo station, travel to Omiya Station via the Ueno-Tokyo Line for 31 minutes. Afterwards, proceed directly to the Shonan-Shinjuku line bound for Takasaki Station and ride the train for almost 1 hour and 23 minutes. Once you are already in Takasaki, look for the train platform going to Echigo-Yuzawa Station through the Joetsu Line and ride it for approximately 1 hour and 49 minutes. Here, you can take your lunch break while waiting for the Joetsu Line train bound for Nagaoka Station. The train ride from Echigo Yuzawa to Nagaoka Station will take around 1 hour and 18 minutes. Once you’re in Nagaoka, ride the last train transfer from Nagaoka’s Shin-Etsu Line to Niigata Station for 1 hour and 17 minutes.

Itinerary Summary: This route has a total of 7 hours and 30 minutes travel time for the cost of ¥8,520 under the regular train fare system. For a bullet train ticket, it will take around ¥10,760 from Tokyo to Niigata, however, availing the Seishun 18 Kippu will only cost ¥2,410. There are more train schedules in Tokyo so time can be adjusted easily compared to the previous itinerary.

You can use these itineraries and adjust it however you like– but honestly, the possibilities are numerous!  Make sure to double check with reliable transportation schedules (a.k.a. Google Maps) when trying out this route! Try to maximize your ticket and have a youthful trip with your family and friends all over Japan! 

How to Avail the Seishun 18 Kippu

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The Seishun 18 Kippu can be bought in almost all JR stations across the country. Similar to a shinkansen ticket, it is a small green card with five spaces allotted for the five coupons that you can use. If you are not in a rush and would like to take in the scenery of Japan then traveling by local train through the Seishun 18 Kippu is your cup of tea. A fun bonus is that you can collect ink stamps for your journal in some train stations that offer them! To learn more about the Seishun 18 Kippu, you can visit their official website.

Note: the train times and prices are correct at the time of article publication. We recommend you double check the price and itinerary before you travel.

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