To attract tourists, JR Group, Kyoto City and Kyoto City Tourism Association are conducting Kyoto Winter Travel Campaign from December 1, 2011 to March 20, 2012. Featuring Taira no Kiyomori of NHK period drama and dragon of 2012's Oriental Zodiac, selected 13 secret cultural properties will be specially opened to the public.

In tune with this campaign, JR West is selling a ticket package including Shinkansen to Kyoto and local transportation in the city.

Overview of Nozomi and Kyoto Kanko Free Ticket

• Name of the ticket: Nozomi and Kyoto Kanko Free Ticket (のぞみ＆京都観光フリーきっぷ meaning Nozomi and Kyoto sightseeing trip ticket)
• Travel dates: Fri, December 9, 2011 - Thu, March 22, 2012
  # The final departure date is March 20.
• Period of selling: Fri, November 25, 2011 - Mon, March 19, 2012
  # The ticket is available 25 - 1 day(s) before departure.
• Maximum period of travel: three days
• Effects of the ticket:
  • This ticket allows round trip to Kyoto by Nozomi and unlimited ride on JR lines in Kyoto area for three days.
  • A voucher for two-day unlimited pass of six rails and eight bus companies in Kyoto is included.
• Major available sectors and prices (e.g.)
  • from Okayama, 16,000 JPY
  • from Fukuyama, 18,000 JPY
  • from Hiroshima, 23,000 JPY
  • from Shin-Yamaguchi, 28,000 JPY
  • from Kita-Kyushu (Kokura), 28,500 JPY
• Purchasable at: major stations of JR West and travel vendors around departure area
• Remarks:
  • The trains and seats of both-way must be assigned at the time of purchase. Changes are not permitted.
  • This ticket's availability is limited on a train-to-train basis.
  • Tourists can enjoy benefits and discounts wish showing the pass or bringing bound-in coupons.

JR Central and JR West announced that EX-IC Hayatoku (EX-IC早特), the discount offer for early purchasing EX-IC members, will be good until March 31, 2012. Its available sectors and prices are the same as going.

Overview of EX-IC Hayatoku

• Name of the deal: EX-IC Hayatoku (EX-IC早特 meaning EX-IC Early Booking Discount, shortly called "IC Hayatoku")
• Travel dates: until Sat, March 31, 2012
• Period of selling: from 10:00 of a month before up to 23:30 of three days prior to the travel date
• Tickets are availabe from 10:00 on the day of a month to 23:30 of three days before departure.
• Effects of the ticket: This deals allows one-way travel on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen.
• Available sectors:
  1. for long-distance travel striding over Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen; from/to Tokyo and Shinagawa to/from Okayama, Hiroshima, Kokura and Hakata, from/to Shizuoka to/from Hiroshima, Kokura and Hakata, from/to Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and Shin-Kobe to/from Kokura and Hakata, etc.
  2. for travel by Nozomi trains on Tokaido Shinkansen (including Shin-Kobe) departing by 6:59 or all Hikari trains; from/to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama to/from Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and Shin-Kobe, etc.
  3. for travel by Kodama train's Green Car between stations on Tokaido Shinkansen separated at least 100 km and excluding from/to Tokyo to/from Atami; from/to Tokyo and Shinagawa to/from Shizuoka, Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka, etc.
• Prices (e.g.):
  [for second class]
  • Tokyo, Shinagawa - Shin-Osaka [one way] JPY 12,000, saving about 14%
  • Tokyo, Shinagawa - Hakata [one way] JPY 19,300, saving about 13%
  • Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kobe - Kokura, Hakata [one way] JPY 11,450, saving about 16-23%
  [for Green Car]
  • Tokyo, Shinagawa - Shin-Osaka [one way] JPY 14,000, saving about 25%
  • Tokyo, Shinagawa - Hakata [one way] JPY 29,250, saving about 14%
  • Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kobe - Kokura and Hakata [one way] JPY 14,950, saving about 18-27%
• Terms of use: Only members of EX-IC Service can buy and use tickets with this deal.
• Purchasable at: Available only online. Access the site of Express Reservation through a PC or mobile, including smartphones.
• Remarks:
  • EX-IC Hayatoku will not be good for Mizuho and Sakura for through service to Kyushu Shinkansen.
  • Travels by up to three connecting trains are allowed within the sectors (1) shown above, except from/to Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and Shin-Kobe to/from Kokura and Hakata.
  • Travels within the sectors of (1)'s from/to Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and Shin-Kobe to/from Kokura and Hakata, (2) and (3) are for direct service only. No connections are permitted.
  • Changes are permitted before the departure time of the train, if the passenger don't enter the gate with EX-IC card and not receive a boarding bill.
  • This discount's availability is limited on a train-to-train basis.

JR West extended the selling period and travel dates of Tokyo Oufuku Super Hayatoku Ticket (東京往復スーパー早特きっぷ). That will be good until the end of next March. The set of valid legs and prices have no changes.

Overview of Tokyo Oufuku Super Hayatoku Ticket

• Name of the ticket: Tokyo Oufuku Super Hayatoku Ticket (東京往復スーパー早特きっぷ meaning Ultra Early Booking Discount Round Ticket to Tokyo)
• Travel dates: Fri, December 30, 2011 - Sat, March 31, 2012 (Final departure date is March 29.)
• Period of selling: Fri, December 2, 2011 - Wed, March 7, 2012 (Tickets are available 28 - 22 days before the departure.)
• Maximum period of travel: three days
• Effects of the ticket: This ticket allows roundtrip by Nozomi train's assigned seats in second class cars. Tickets for Green-car travelers are also available.
• Major available sectors and prices (e.g.):
  [for Second Class]
  • from Okayama to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama [RT]: 24,000 JPY, saving about 24%
  • from Hiroshima to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama [RT]: 26,000 JPY, saving about 25%
  [for Green-car]
  • from Okayama to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama [RT]: 32,000 JPY, saving about 26%
  • from Hiroshima to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama [RT]: 35,000 JPY, saving about 28%
  # Shown discount rates are against regular season's fare and calculated with assuming "Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama" is Tokyo.
  # Local stations in the cities are included in the available sectors, like stations in Hiroshima city are described as "Hiroshima" and Tokyo's 23 wards as "Tokyo, Shinagawa" above.
  # The price for a child is half of the fare for an adult.
  # See the web site of JR Odekake Net (by JR West) for other sectors and prices.
• Purchasable at: a major JR station and a major travel vendor around the departing area
• Remarks:
  • The trains and seats of both-way must be assigned at the time of purchase. Changes are not permitted.
  • If Nozomi trains don't stop at the destination or home station, second class non-reservation seats on Hikari, Sakura or Kodama trains are available.
  • This ticket's availability is limited on a train-to-train basis.

JR Central and JR West extended the the selling period and travel dates of Nozomi Hayatoku Oufuku Ticket (のぞみ早特往復きっぷ). That will be good until April 6, 2012. The set of valid legs has no changes, but ticket price for some leg is increased.

Overview of Nozomi Hayatoku Oufuku Ticket

• Name of the ticket: Nozomi Hayatoku Oufuku Ticket (のぞみ早特往復きっぷ meaning Nozomi Early Booking Discount Round Trip Ticket)
• Travel dates: Sun, Jan 1, 2012 - Fri, Apr 6 (Final departure date is March 31.)
• Period of selling: Sun, Dec 11, 2011 - Sat, Mar 24, 2012 (Tickets are available 21 - 7 days before the departure.)
• Maximum period of travel: seven days
• Effects of the ticket: This ticket allows roundtrip by Nozomi train's assigned seats.
• Major available sectors and prices (e.g.)
  • from/to Naoya to/from Kokura and Hakata [RT]: 28,000 JPY, saving about 17% (increased by 2,000 JPY)
  • from Okayama to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama [RT]: 28,000 JPY, saving about 12%
  • from Hiroshima to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama [RT]: 31,000 JPY, saving about 11%
  • from Hakata and Kokura to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama [RT]: 33,000 JPY, saving about 21%
  • from Yonago, Matsue, Izumoshi to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama [RT]: 30,000 JPY, saving about 17-19%
  # Shown discount rates are against regular season's fare and calculated with assuming "Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama" is Tokyo and "Hakata and Kokura" is Hakata.
  # Local stations in the cities are included in the available sectors, like stations in Nagoya city are described as "Nagoya" and Fukuoka city as "Hakata" above.
• Purchasable at: a major JR station, travel center and a major travel vendor around the departing area
• Remarks:
  • Fares for a child are not available.
  • The trains and seats of both-way must be assigned at the time of purchase. Changes are not permitted.
  • If Nozomi trains don't stop at the destination or home station, second class non-reservation seats on Hikari or Kodama trains are available.
  • Tickets from Sanin area allow traveling by limited express train's reservation seats between home station and Okayama.
  • This ticket's availability is limited on a train-to-train basis.

JR West announced that they will sell a discount tickets for travels on New Year's Day. This "Ganjitsu JR West Norihodai Ticket" (「元日・JR西日本乗り放題きっぷ」) allows unlimited ride of trains on JR West and Chizu Express lines. This ticket has two types according to the seating class and the prices of both types are 1,000 JPY higher than before.

Overview of Ganjitsu JR West Norihodai Ticket

• Name of the ticket: Ganjitsu JR West Norihodai Ticket (「元日・JR西日本乗り放題きっぷ」 meaning Unlimited Ride Ticket for JR West Lines on New Year's Day)
• Travel date: Sun, January 1, 2012
• Period of selling: Sun, December 11, 2011 - Fri, 30
• Maximum period of travel: one day
• Effects of the ticket:
  • [for second class] This ticket allows unlimited ride of all express and local trains, including Shinkansen trains, on whole of JR West and Chizu Express lines and JR West's Miyajima Ferry service. During the travel, second class seat reservation is available up to four times.
  • [for Green Cars] This ticket allows unlimited ride of all express and local trains, including Shinkansen trains, on whole of JR West and Chizu Express lines and JR West's Miyajima Ferry service. During the travel, second class or Green car seat reservation is available up to four times.
• Prices:
  • [for second class] JPY 15,000 for an adult, JPY 7,500 for a child
  • [for Green Cars] JPY 17,000 for an adult, JPY 8,500 for a child
• Purchasable at: JR West's major stations and shops of travel vendors

JR Central announced that they will sell two discount tickets for travels on New Year's Day. One is "Shinshun Kodama and Wide-View Free Ticket" for unlimited riding of Kodama and local express trains, and the other is "Shinshun Nozomi Green Hayatoku Higaeri Ticket" for return trip by Nozomi trains.

The features of "Shinshun Kodama and Wide-View Free Ticket" are same as those for the New Year's Day in 2011. But passengers going for Minobu and Kofu area be aware that Wide-View Fujikawa trains are fully suspended because of Minobu Line's partial closure due to the damage from 2011's typhoon No. 15.

"Shinshun Nozomi Green Hayatoku Higaeri Ticket" for the next New Year has newly available sections of Tokyo/Shinagawa/Shin-Yokohama - Nagoya and miss sections from Himeji. Tickets for Shin-Kobe is cut the price by 1,000 JPY and tickets between Tokyo/Shinagawa/Shin-Yokohama - Kyoto/Shin-Osaka/Shin-Kobe are priced uniformly 20,000 JPY.

Overview of Shinshun Kodama and Wide-View Free Ticket

• Name of the ticket: Shinshun Kodama and Wide-View Free Ticket (「新春こだま＆ワイドビューフリーきっぷ」 meaning Kodama and Wide-View Unlimited Ride Ticket on New Year's Day)
• Travel date: Sun, January 1, 2012
• Period of selling: Thu, December 1, 2011 - Sun, January 1, 2012
• Maximum period of travel: one day
• Effects of the ticket:
  • [Second Class Free Seating] This ticket allows unlimited ride of Kodama's second class non reservation seats between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, Hikari's ones between Nagoya and Shin-Osaka, and limited express trains and local ones on JR Central's conventional lines.
  • [Four Green Car Seating] This ticket allows unlimited ride of Kodama's second class non reservation seats between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, Hikari's ones between Nagoya and Shin-Osaka, and limited express trains and local ones on JR Central's conventional lines. During the travel, seating in Green Car is available up to four times, except in Hikari trains.
• Prices:
  • [Second Class Free Seating] 13,000 JPY for an adult, 3,000 JPY for a child
  • [Four Green Car Seating] 15,000 JPY for an adult, 5,000 JPY for a child
• Purchasable at: major stations of JR Central, shops of JR Tokai Tours and travel vendors in Shizuoka and Nagoya area
• Remarks:
  • This ticket is NOT valid for Nozomi, Hikari between Tokyo and Nagoya, and sleeper trains.

Overview of Shinshun Nozomi Green Hayatoku Higaeri Ticket

• Name of the ticket: Shinshun Nozomi Green Hayatoku Higaeri Ticket (「新春のぞみグリーン早特日帰りきっぷ」 meaning Early Booking Discount Ticket for One-day Trip by First Class Seats in Nozomi)
• Travel date: Sun, January 1, 2012
• Period of selling: Sun, December 11, 2011 - Sun, 25
• Maximum period of travel: one day
• Effects of the ticket: This ticket allows a roundtrip by Nozomi trains' first class of a specific sector.
• Available sectors: Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama - Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kobe
• Prices:
  • Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama - Nagoya [RT] 17,000 JPY
  • Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama - Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kobe [RT] 20,000 JPY
• Purchasable at: major stations around the departure area and shops of travel vendors
• Remarks:
  • The trains and seats of both-way must be assigned at the time of purchase. Changes are not permitted.
  • This ticket's availability is limited on a train-to-train basis.

JR West announced that they will finish the selling of Sanyo Shinkansen Ni-Mai Kippu (山陽新幹線2枚きっぷ) at the end of this November, because of increasing use of Express Reservation Service and decreasing use of this ticket. The bought ticket will be good until the date printed on the face.

After December, Express Reservation Service's EX-IC Hayatoku (EX-IC早特) will be still available. It costs 11,450 JPY for an adult's one-way trip between Shin-Osaka and Hakata, and require to be a member of that service.

Passengers out of Express Reservation Service's member can use Shinkansen Coupon Ticket and Shinkansen Kitakyushu Fukuoka Waribiki Kippu (新幹線北九州・福岡割引きっぷ). The coupon ticket is a set of six tickets and it costs 12,900 JPY for an adult's one-way trip between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. Shinkansen Kitakyushu Fukuoka Waribiki Kippu is a discount ticket available between Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and Shin-Kobe - Kokura and Hakata. Between Shin-Osaka and Hakata, it costs 13,100 JPY.

JR Kyushu added newly sectors to Kyushu Shinkansen Ni-Mai Kippu(九州新幹線2枚きっぷ) on October. This brought that Hakata has discount tickets to all other stations on Kyushu Shinkansen.

Overviews of Kyushu Shinkansen Ni-Mai Kippu

• Name of the ticket： Kyushu Shinkansen Ni-Mai Kippu (九州新幹線2枚きっぷ meaning Kyushu Shinkansen's Two-Ticket Set)
• Name of the deal
• Travel dates: from Sat, 1 Oct, 2011 through a whole year
• Period of selling: from Sat, 1 Oct, 2011 through a whole year
• Maximum period of travel: one month
• Effects of the ticket: This is a set for two legs of Kyushu Shinkansen travel, valid for non-reservation seats. One can make a day round trip, and two passengers can make one-way trip on the same day.
• Major available sectors and prices (e.g.):
  • Hakata - Chikugo-Funagoya 4,000 JPY / two legs, saving about 28%
  • Hakata - Shin-Omuta 5,000 JPY / two legs, saving about 27%
  • Hakata - Shin-Tamana 6,600 JPY / two legs, saving about 17%
  • Hakata - Kumamoto 7,000 JPY / two legs, saving about 30%
  • Hakata - Shin-Yatsushiro 9,920 JPY / two legs, saving about 12%
  • Hakata - # Shin-Minamata 13,000 JPY / two legs, saving about 3%
  • Hakata - # Izumi 13,800 JPY / two legs, saving about 9%
  • Hakata - # Sendai 16,400 JPY / two legs, saving about 1%
  • Hakata - Kagoshima-Chuo 18,000 JPY / two legs, saving about 12%
  # means newly released sectors on October 1, 2011.
• Purchasable at: a JR Kyushu's station, etc.

JR Kyushu said Bikkuri Tsubame Ni-Mai Kippu (ビックリつばめ2枚きっぷ) is ongoingly available until next March, due to popularity. Additionally, this ticket for Hakata - Shin-Tamana was released.

Overview of Bikkuri Tsubame Ni-mai Kippu

• Name of the ticket: Bikkuri Tsubame Ni-Mai Kippu (ビックリつばめ2枚切符 meaning Surprising Tsubame Two-Ticket Set)
• Travel dates: Sat, 1 Oct, 2011 - Sat, 31 Mar, 2012
• Period of selling: Mon, 26 Sep, 2011 - Mon, 26 Sep, 2012
  # Sold until a day before the departure.
• Maximum period of travel: one day
• Effects of the ticket: This ticket allows a roundtrip by Tsubame train's assigned seats. JPY 1,500 shopping coupons for Amu Plaza Hakata are included.
• Available sectors: Hakata - Kumamoto and Shin-Tamana
• Price: 5,500 JPY
• Purchasable at: a JR Kyushu's station, etc.
• Remarks:
  • The trains and seats of both-way must be assigned at the time of purchase.
  • This ticket is not good for Mizuho and Sakura trains.

JR Kyushu released a new discount ticket of Kyushu Shinkansen Higaeri Ni-Mai Kippu (九州新幹線日帰り2枚きっぷ meaning Kyushu Shinkansen's Two-Ticket Set for Day-Trippers) on October 1, 2011. This is a set of two Shinkansen's tickets for a short-distance day-trip from/to Hakata.

This ticket, aimed at increasing use of Shinkansen within thse short-houl ride, is now available for a limited time until next March. The media reports taht JR Kyushu will consider the continuing selling if this discount proves to be popular. Another discount ticket, Kyushu Shinkansen Ni-Mai Kippu (九州新幹線2枚きっぷ, NOT for a day-trip) valid for a month, is available between Hakata - Chikugo-Funagoya/Shin-Omuta. Of course the tickets for day-trippers are at low price.

Overviews of Kyushu Shinkansen Higaeri Ni-Mai Kippu

• Name of the ticket: Kyushu Shinkansen Higaeri Ni-Mai Kippu (九州新幹線日帰り2枚きっぷ meaning Kyushu Shinkansen's Two-Ticket Set for Day-Trippers)
• Travel dates: October 1, 2011 - March 31, 2012
• Period of selling: October 1, 2011 - March 31, 2012
• Maximum period of travel: one day
• Effects of the ticket: This is a set for two legs of Kyushu Shinkansen travel. One can make a day round trip, and two passengers can make one-way trip on the same day. Only for non-reservation seats.
• Available sectors and prices:
  • Hakata - Shin-Tosu 2,200 JPY / two legs, saving about 20%
  • Hakata - Kurume 2,400 JPY / two legs, saving about 23％
  • Hakata - Shin-Omuta 4,000 JPY / two legs, saving about 32%
  • Hakata - Chikugo-Funagoya 3,200 JPY / two legs, saving about 30%
• Purchasable at: a JR Kyushu's major station , etc.