Written by TC Team
Researched by Hitomi Kuroda
Rail company JR East will start selling its weekdays-only discount ticket, the “Travel on Weekdays! JR East Tabikyun Early-Bird Pass” — also known as the “Kyun♥ Pass” — from January 12, 2026.
The popular pass allows unlimited rides on various JR East lines and partner railways, including the Tōhoku Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen, Jōetsu Shinkansen, and Yamagata Shinkansen, as well as limited-express trains, rapid, and local trains.
A version of the pass is generally released every year. This one is aimed at people living in Japan, so you might need a local address to make use of it — and need to be prepared to book in Japanese.
How much does it cost?
The Kyun♥ Pass comes in 1- and 2-day formats, priced at ¥10,000 and ¥18,000 respectively. The 2-day pass must be used on two consecutive weekdays. There is no special fare for kids.
Where can I buy it?
The only place you can buy the Kyun♥ Pass is on the Eki-net website. You need to register as a member to purchase it.
The pass will be sold from January 12 to February 26, 2026 (sales for the 2-day pass end on February 25, though).
You can purchase it from 1 month to 14 days prior to the start of your intended travel.
Printing it out
Note that you will need to collect your pass from a ticket machine — it cannot be used in digital form. You can print it out at one of JR East’s reserved-seat ticket machines by scanning your booking QR code; just be aware that they can get crowded!
When can I use it?
The Kyun♥ Pass is only valid for travel on weekdays between February 12 and March 12, 2026 — it is a limited-edition spring rail pass.
Where exactly can I use this pass?
You can use the Kyun♥ Pass to travel on all JR East train lines (including the bullet train), as well as the following:
- Aoimori Railway
- Iwate Galaxy Railway
- Sanriku Railway
- Hokuetsu Express
- Echigo Tokimeki Railway (Naoetsu–Arai section)
We recommend checking the coverage area on the official website.
Reserved and non-reserved seats
The pass allows unlimited use of non-reserved seats on the Shinkansen, limited-express trains, BRT lines and regular trains. However, it also includes 2 reserved seats with the 1-day pass, and 4 reserved seats with the 2-day pass.
You can use the reserved seats on the Shinkansen or limited-express trains — it’s up to you. You just need to remember to book them in advance.
Note that one Kyun♥ Pass can only be used by one traveler — no sharing is allowed.
Is it worth it?
In our opinion, yes. If you plan your itinerary carefully, this pass can be a great way to explore the beautiful Tōhoku region (and other areas covered by the JR East rail network). It offers significant savings over single Shinkansen tickets.
Source: JR East
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change.
