JR West released Kodama and Yakumo Shiteiseki Oufuku Kippu (こだま＆やくも指定席往復きっぷ meaning Roundtrip Special Discount Ticket for Kodama and Yakumo Reservation Seats), a discount ticket for traveling from stations along Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Aioi for Yonago, Matsue and Izumo-shi area. There are two kinds of ticket; for second class and Green cars. Both of them are good for second class reservation seats of Kodama and some Hikari trains along Sanyo Shinkansen. On Yakumo trains, "for second class" ticket is good for a second class reservation seat and "for Green cars" ticket is good for a Green car.

JR West announced that this ticket will be good until December 23, 2009 and no blackout dates. The price for a child is flat fare regardless of actual travel distance. And they said the rent-a-car special discount of 2,000 yen for 24 hours is also available.

This ticket seems to be a kind of counterplot against the expressway's maximum toll of 1000 yen on weekends and holidays. On the news release, they said "Enjoy saving autumn travel with your family and your friends with this ticket of NO JAM!" Now is as good time as any to visit Sanin area.

• Name of the ticket
  • Kodama and Yakumo Shiteiseki Oufuku Kippu (こだま＆やくも指定席往復きっぷ meaning Roundtrip Special Discount Ticket for Kodama and Yakumo Reservation Seats)
• Travel dates
  • October 3, 2009 through December 23, 2009
• Period of selling
  • September 29, 2009 through December 21, 2009
    ※ Tickets are available 21 - 7 days before departure.
• Maximum period of travel
  • 2 days
• Sample sectors and prices (roundtrip)
  • Shin-Osaka (within Osaka city) → Yonago; JPY 12,000 for second class, JPY 14,000 for Green cars
  • Shin-Osaka (within Osaka city) → Matsue; JPY 13,200 for second class, JPY 15,200 for Green cars
  • Shin-Osaka (within Osaka city) → Izumo-shi; JPY 13,600 for second class, JPY 15,600 for Green cars
  • Himeji → Yonago; JPY 11,500 for second class, JPY 13,500 for Green cars
  • Himeji → Matsue; JPY 12,000 for second class, JPY 14,000 for Green cars
  • Himeji → Izumo-shi; JPY 13,200 for second class, JPY 15,200 for Green cars
    ※ The price for a child is flat fare regardless of actual travel distance. It is JPY 3,000 for second class or 4,000 for Green cars.
• Available sectors
  • Roundtrip departing at Sanyo Shinkansen stations between Shin-Osaka and Aioi and arriving at Yakumo stops along Hakubi and Sanin lines
    ※ Some specific sectors are unavailable.
• Terms of use
  • This ticket is for at least 2 persons traveling along.
• Purchasable at
  • a major station of JR West around the departing area
  • a major travel vendor
• Remarks
  • The trains and seats of both-way will be assigned at the time of purchase.
  • Stopover is not permitted except at Okayama.
  • This ticket availability is limited.
  • Changes of travel dates and trains are not permitted.