The TravelClassroom

The “San’in-Setouchi-Shikoku Expressway Pass” (abbreviated as SEP Pass) is the second highway pass introduced by NEXCO West Japan (NEXCO West Japan) for foreign self-driving tourists, following the KEP in Kyushu. It covers highways operated by NEXCO West Japan in the western Chugoku region (San’in, Sanyo) and Shikoku, including ten prefectures: Hyogo, Okayama, Hiroshima, Tottori, Shimane, Yamaguchi, Kagawa, Tokushima, Ehime, and Kochi.   With airlines now offering flights to Hiroshima, Okayama, Yonago, and Takamatsu, the San’in, Sanyo, and Shikoku regions in western Japan have become increasingly popular tourist destinations. Due to the scattered attractions, many visitors prefer self-driving tours in these

Kyushu is the region in Japan where autumn foliage appears the latest, usually around mid-November. During the major holiday in mid-November 2011, we chose to embark on a self-drive trip to Kyushu. Kyushu is not small, and it’s impossible to explore the entire region in just eight to ten days, so we focused on the northern part of Kyushu, starting our self-drive journey from Fukuoka. The itinerary included Fukuoka, Beppu, Yufuin, Mount Aso, Kumamoto, and Nagasaki.   This North Kyushu self-drive trip lasted eight days, with Fukuoka as the entry and exit point. On the first day, we arrived in

Hokkaido Expressway Pass (abbreviated as HEP) is a highway pass introduced in June 2012 by East Nippon Expressway Company Limited (referred to as NEXCO East Japan). It is specifically designed for foreign tourists driving in Japan, allowing unlimited use of Hokkaido expressways for a fixed fee when renting a car in Hokkaido.   Table of Contents Coverage Pricing and Validity How to Purchase     Coverage of Hokkaido Expressway Pass   The Hokkaido Expressway Pass can be used on all expressways in Hokkaido operated by NEXCO East Japan, including the Doo Expressway, Sasson Expressway, Doto Expressway, Fukagawa-Rumoi Expressway, and Hidaka

The “Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass” is a rail pass (JR Pass) jointly offered by JR Central and JR West, designed for foreign tourists exploring Japan’s Chubu and Hokuriku regions by train. If your itinerary starts from Osaka or Nagoya and includes destinations like Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Toyama, Kanazawa, or Gero Onsen—and you’re not driving—this limited JR Pass is a must-have for your travels.   When I visited Shirakawa-go for the illumination festival in 2018, my flight arrived at Kansai Airport. The original plan was to take the JR from Osaka to Kanazawa, explore the city, and then proceed to Takayama and

In the summer of 2009, I embarked on my first self-drive trip in Hokkaido. Over the next decade, I visited Hokkaido six or seven times, covering almost all its major tourist destinations. Except for winter trips, all my journeys were self-drive adventures. Hokkaido is vast, making it impossible to explore everything in one trip, so multiple visits are necessary. For first-time visitors to Hokkaido, I recommend focusing on the central region, with Sapporo as the base, and exploring key attractions like Otaru, Furano, Biei, Noboribetsu Onsen, and Lake Toya. If time permits, you can also include Hakodate in the southern