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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 visit Shinji, Koge, and Sakaiminato.
(Whenever I buy a JR Pass, my bargain-loving Taiwanese side kicks in. I have to get my money’s worth because I worked hard for it, and I want to see everything!)
The place that left the biggest 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 figured Shinji Station must be the closest station to the lake, right? I thought I could just get off there〜
But while the train was still moving, an incredibly beautiful sunset appeared outside the window. I couldn’t stop staring.
(I’m the kind of person who goes crazy for sunrises, sunsets, and the ocean.
I was also getting hungry, haha. At one point, I even considered heading straight to Izumo Taisha, thinking it might still be lively at night. Sadly, I couldn’t quite work up the courage...
And then!!!
That’s when the real adventure began.
After getting off at Shinji Station, I looked around and realized... there was absolutely nothing nearby, and the station was unmanned!
There were only three students on the entire platform—four people total, including me.
I started getting nervous. Was I in trouble? Should I have gotten off at Matsue instead? I rushed to buy a ticket back, but I kept having trouble with the machine 😭
Then the three students boarded a train, and a large group of students got off. I felt a little relieved, but within minutes, they scattered and disappeared. It felt like the sky went completely dark at that exact moment.
I was the only person left on the platform.
(I was seriously panicking.
I quickly called a friend and asked them to keep me company. I even started thinking about urban legends like Kisaragi Station...
Thankfully, my friend didn’t laugh at me or make things worse. If it had been my family, they probably would’ve worried while lecturing me for always wandering around alone... especially my grandma, haha.
But honestly, I was genuinely scared.
I kept waiting on the platform for an express train. I didn’t want to take a local because it was way too slow, and that decision got me into this situation.
(I’m such a genius.
I was even too scared to look behind me because I couldn’t decide whether it would be scarier if someone was there or if no one was there 😖😭
Even now, it still feels scary when I think back on it.
Still, it gave me another memorable story from this trip, and I think I was really brave!
Thankfully, I made it back to Tottori Station safely and immediately ate at MOS Burger to calm my nerves.
(It tasted especially good.
That’s the story of my brave solo adventure.
(Pretty impressive, right? I don’t know why I always end up in these situations, but I guess that’s why I have so many stories 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.
