I have received many inquiries about Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka one way trip. I always recommend to use a regular ticket for this one way long distance train ride, such as from Tokyo to Kyoto, from Osaka to Tokyo. Because this one way trip is not enough to get the worth of JR Pass 7-day. I have written the post about the fare calculation before.
But I think this post was not enough to explain the fare rule. JR single ticket rule is very complicated for the tourists from oversea. But you do not need to know everything. If you understand some basic rules, single ticket is more useful and it gives you a trip at more affordable rate.
In this post, I will show you some basic rules of the regular ticket for the long distance train ride and how to use and purchase it.
How to purchase it
Simply you can purchase it at the station. If you make a short distance trip in the city or city to just outside city, you can purchase a ticket at the vending machine.
e.g.
Ueno to Tokyo (inside city)
Tokyo to Yokohama (city to just outside place)
Osaka to Universal City (inside city)
Osaka to Kyoto (city to outside place)
If you make a long distance trip, you still can buy a ticket at the vending machine. But the ticket window may be easier to purchase a long distance ticket for the foreign travelers. Especially if you intend to make a stopover on the way, you have to buy a ticket at the ticket window. Because you have to explain your trip plan.
If you want to take a limited express train, you have to purchase a limited express surcharge ticket too. Even if you want to take a non reserved seat on a limited express train, you have to purchase it. You can purchase both a reserved and a non reserved ticket for a limited express (the Shinkansen as well) at “Midori no Madoguchi”. Midori no Madoguchi is the name of JR reservation ticket window. You can purchase a base fare ticket at Midori no Madoguchi too. Please get the detail about reservation at the post below.
In the case of purchasing both base fare ticket and limited express surcharge ticket, you can purchase it in advance. An express surcharge ticket is on sale one month prior to a departure date.
e.g.
Tokyo to Kyoto travel on Dec 1
You can purchase the tickets after Nov 1.
You also can purchase the tickets at any JR stations if you buy both base fare and limited express surcharge at same time. For example, if you start to travel from Tokyo station, you can purchase it at Narita airport station on the day of arrival.
Base fare ticket can be purchased at any JR stations where station staff is on duty. There are many station without station staffs in remote area. In major cities and major stations, there are station staff. Even if you take a train at the station without station staff, you can purchase it from the conductor in the train.
How to get a fare
You can use Hyperdia to get the fare quite easily.
As you see above capture image of Hyperdia, you can get base fare and seat fare (includes surcharge). In this image, total fare is the following:
Base fare – 9560 yen
Shinkansen Nozomi (Tokyo – Shin-Osaka) – 5740 yen (reserved seat)
Ltd Exp Haruka (Shin-Osaka – Kansai airport) – 820 yen (reserved seat)
Total – 16120 yen
*The above image was captured in 2013. The fare was raised in April l, 2014 because of consumer tax was increased to 8% from 5%. The actual fare is different from the fare in the image above.
The price of Japan Rail Pass 7 days ordinary is 28300 yen. (New price is 29110 yen.) Total single fare is more than 10000 yen cheaper than 7 days pass price. This is the reason why I recommend to use single fare for Tokyo – Osaka one way transfer.
Validity
Please see the above capture image of Hyperdia again. You also can find a distance at Hyperdia. This is a key to use single ticket. Actually long distance ticket can be used in multiple days.
| Distance | Valid days |
|---|---|
| 101 – 200 km | 2 days |
| 201 – 400 km | 3 days |
| 401 – 600 km | 4 days |
| 601 – 800 km | 5 days |
| 801 – 1000 km | 6 days |
- From 1001 km and up, add 1 day every 200 km.
- If you travel more than 101 km but it is in Tokyo or Osaka zone only, ticket valid in one day only.
So in above capture image, distance is 613.4km. This ticket valid in 5 days.
Stopover
You can stopover as many as you want. Of course you cannot go back. Once you start to travel, you have to go forward. You have to care only one thing. When you depart/arrive to travel at the following areas, you cannot stopover in same areas.
- Sapporo
- Sendai
- Tokyo 23 wards
- Tokyo Yamanote line
- Yokohana
- Nagoya
- Kyoto
- Osaka
- Kobe
- Hiroshima
- Kitakyushu
- Fukuoka
These areas are same as city limit. I show you some examples.
1. Above ticket (Tokyo – Kansai Airport)
You can NOT – Stopover at anywhere in Tokyo 23 wards. For example, after you start to travel from Tokyo, you cannot stopover at Shinagawa.
You can – Stopover at Kyoto, Osaka and anywhere outside of Tokyo 23 wards.
By the way, you can start to travel from anywhere in Tokyo 23 wards.
2. Ticket from Narita airport to Osaka
You can NOT – Stopover at anywhere in Osaka city. For example, you cannot stopover at Shin-Osaka. Once you exit at any stations in Osaka city, your ticket will be expired right away.
You can – Stopover at Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya and anywhere outside of Osaka city.
By the way, when you travel through Tokyo downtown core, ticket will be calculated by the shortest route. For example, most typical route from Narita to Osaka via Tokyo, via Tokyo station and Shinagawa station. But if you want to go to Osaka via Akihabara and Shinjuku, you can take this route and stopover.
But in case of using limited express, you have to purchase limited express surcharge ticket for each segments.
ex) Tokyo – Osaka trip, stopover at Nagoya.
You have to purchase two Shinkansen tickets, Tokyo – Nagoya Shinkansen surcharge ticket and Ngoya – Shin-Osaka surcharge ticket.
Sample ideas
Please see above capture image of Hyperdia again. If you use this ticket, you can do the following itinerary.
Day 1 Tokyo – Kyoto (Stopover at Kyoto)
Day 2 Kyoto (no use single ticket)
Day 3 Kyoto – Osaka (Stopover at Osaka)
Day 4 One day trip to Kobe (purchase another single ticket.)
Day 5 Osaka – Kansai airport
When you arrive in Tokyo, you can use other deals, such as Suica & N’ex. And you have 5 days after you finish to see Tokyo. If you add Suica & N’ex one way ticket, total amount is 19620 yen. It is about 9000 yen cheaper than JR Pass 7 days.
I believe this is the perfect solution for Tokyo – Osaka one way travellers.
Comments
Hi,
I plan to travel this April for the following itinerary
Tokyo -> Hakone -> Kyoto -> Osaka -> Kansai Airport
Should I get JR pass? If not should I just get a pass from Shinjuku to Kansai and do stopover along the way?
Thanks
Hi Derek,
JR pass is too expensive. If you use single ticket from Shinjuku to Kansai, the ticket is valid for 5 days. You have to reach KIX in 5 days. But there are several deals from Osaka to KIX. If you use single ticket from Shinjuku to Osaka, it’s valid for 4 days because it’s less than 600kn.
I think you can use just one way ticket from Odawara to Kyoto. Even if you add other ticket for Kyoto to Osaka and Osaka to KIX, total cost is not much different.
The following link shows you sample itinerary. It may give you some idea:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/sample-itinerary-of-tokyo-hakone-kyoto-and-osaka-classic-route-in-7-days.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello, I’ve just found your website and it is fantastic! I will travel by train from Osaka Kansai airport to Tokyo and have 2 nights there before flying home from Narita airport.
What would be the best train ticket or pass for me to buy so I can use from Osaka to Tokyo and then around Tokyo and then to Narita? Or maybe I should get the airport bus to Narita as my hotel will be on the airport bus route. Thank you
Hi Christina,
You may use Haruka discount ticket for Kansai to Kyoto, one way at 1600 yen (without ICOCA).
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/icoca-and-haruka-ticket-very-flexible-and-good-deal-for-tourist-who-stay-in-kansai.html
But there is no deals after Kyoto to Tokyo. Only single fare is your choice.
In Tokyo, you may use Tokyo subway ticket.
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
And you can take a bus to Narita.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello, I’ve read your article about single fare tickets, but I’m confused about the stopover. In April, we will be traveling from Osaka to Fukuoka (Hakata) and would like to stopover in Hiroshima for two nights. I can’t find out any other information about how the stopover works, and our family in Hiroshima has never heard of it! Can you please provide more detail? Like do we have to tell the agent when we buy the ticket that we’re going to stopover? Is it a different kind of ticket? Thank you for your help.
Hi Candy,
Even most of Japanese do not know this ticket rule. It’s not strange that your family don’t know it. JR ticket rule is very very complicated.
When you purchase a ticket to Hakata from Fukuoka, you don’t need to tell anything. But when you exit Hiroshima station, do not slot your ticket into machine gate. You have to go through man’s gate and tell them that you will make a stopover.
And also I think you will take Shinkansen. You need to have two Shinkansen tickets for Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima and Hiroshima to Hakata.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you for your earlier response. I understand that on our trip from Osaka to Fukuoka with a stopover in Hiroshima that we should go through the man gate in Hiroshima and tell them that we are doing a stopover, but I don’t understand about the two Shinkansen tickets. When we purchase our tickets in Osaka, what kind of tickets do we tell them that we want, and can you also tell me how much such a ticket would cost? Thank you again.
Hi Candy,
When you take Shinkansen (bullet train), you must purchase two tickets, base fare ticket and Shinkansen ticket. And you must have Shinkansen ticket for each segment. Only base fare ticket allows you to make stopover. So you must have two Shinkansen ticket for Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima and Hiroshima to Hakata.
I don’t calculate the fare personally but you can find the fare at Hyperdia easily:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
I’m trying to plan a trip around northern Kyushu, and would like to do a circle route from Hanaka to Kumamoto to Aso to Beppu and back to Hanaka, but I can’t seem to find a direct route for trains between Kumamoto and Beppu. We would like to stop in Aso for several hours on the way.
Hi Candy,
If you intend to take train between Kumamoto and Beppu via Aso, you cannot go through because some segment between Kumamoto and Aso is closed due to earthquake in last year. It has not been recovered and it will take a long time to recover. It won’t be recovered in this year.
I think that is why you cannot find the route.
http://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/english/pdf/news_161027_en.pdf
I think substitute bus service is available but I don’t have any detailed info. If you want to take a train, please take the route from Kummaoto – Kurume – Yufuin – Beppu route.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi,
I will be Travelling to Japan in September period from singapore and this is my planned route.
SG- Osaka- Kyoto-Tokyo-SG
Since I’m going one way throughout the trip, there is no need to purchase a JR railway pass right?
Would it be better to just get the local tickets from Osaka to Kyoto(500 yen) and the Shinkansen ticket from Kyoto to Tokyo (13,000-13,500 Yen). Am I right to say this?
Also, when Travelling within the different cities, buying a ticket on the spot at the ticketing counters/vending machines on the day or travel would be ideal?
Thanks!
Hi Shikin,
You have understood correctly. You can purchase a ticket at vending machine for short distance trip, like Osaka to Kyoto. But when you take a long distance train, such as Kyoto to Tokyo, you may purchase and book your seat ticket at the window. Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/how-to-reserve-seat.html
And the following link shows you sample itinerary. That may give you some idea.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/basic-itinerary-of-osaka-kyoto-and-tokyo-in-7-days.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
I have been reading your posts at jprail.com and they are really useful, especially for people like me who have never been to Japan.
I’ll be visiting Japan in a few weeks. I’ve been doing research on whether or not I should get a JR Pass. Following your posts, I came to a conclusion that I should not get a JR Pass. My itineraries are below:
Day 1: Narita Airport to Shin-Osaka (17,010 yen)
Day 2: Osaka
Day 3: Shin-Osaka – Kyoto (1,730 yen)
Days 4-8: Kyoto
Day 9: Kyoto – Tokyo (14,110 yen)
Days 10-14: Tokyo
Day 15: Tokyo – Narita Airport (3,220 yen)
Is my conclusion correct? 14 days JR pass would cost 46,390 yen, whereas individual tickets would cost 36,070 yen. I know that I would need to purchase subway/bus passes and even visiting places such as Nara (from Kyoto), but I think these additional costs are still below the difference between a 14-day JR pass and individual tickets.
What is your thought on this? Have I missed anything?
Thanks you 🙂
Cheers,
Dimitri
Hi Dimitri,
Your calculation is correct. Only 7 days pass suits to Tokyo-Osaka round trip. 14 days pass is too expensive.
There are some deals which include Narita airport-Tokyo and subway pass. You may use one of these deals for day 1 (Narita-Tokyo segment) and day 15. You can use subway pass portion from day 10. Please see the link below:
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/airport_bus/index.html
If you are really sure that you will see Kyoto only from day 4 to 8, your plan is okay. But if you change your mind and go to somewhere outside Kyoto, 14 days pass may work. For example, Hiroshima, Kanazawa and other areas surrounding Osaka can be accessed as day trip from Kyoto/Osaka.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1-day/day-trip-to-hiroshima-and-miyajima-from-osakakyoto.html
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1-day/sample-itinerary-of-day-trip-to-kanazawa-and-shirakawago-from-osaka-or-kyoto.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Mr Takeshi
What would be best for arrive at Tokyo Narita and stay at tokyo for 2 nights then to Kyoto/osaka 3 nights and return back to tokyo. What pass should I buy?
Thank you.
Hi Teresa,
JR pass 7 days is the best choice.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/japan-rail-pass-user-guide-how-to-use-jr-pass-to-its-maximum.html
JR pass covers most part of your trip. But it does not cover subway, city bus and non JR trains. You may need to add extra fare or pass in Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo. Please see the links below:
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-kyoto-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-osaka-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
HI there!
i plan to go to Japan by the end of this month. i will arrive at osaka and maybe wander around for a few days and I plan to go to Tokyo then go back to osaka to get home.
question,
where do I get single journey ticket from osaka to tokyo and how much will it cost? can I reserve ahead of time?
which line do I take to get to Tokyo from Osaka? i do not plan to get a JR pass because I know it is much expensive.
thanks ♥
Hi Cherryl,
Shinkansen (bullet train) is most common way to get Tokyo from Osaka.
https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-departure-arrival-stations/stations-in-tokai/nagoya-toyohashi/what-is-shinkansen-bullet-train.html
It costs almost equal to JR pass 7 days. You can use JR pass when you are in Tokyo and Osaka. JR pass is actually cheaper.
You may find other cheaper transportation, such as overnight bus. But it is out of topic in this site unfortunately.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
We are a family of 4 (2 adults & 2 kids age 10 & 16) planning a trip from Canada to Japan this August visiting Toyko (5 days), Hakone (1day), Kyoto (3 days) and Osaka (5 days).
We would like your guidance and advise as to which/what type of tranist /railway passes to purchase for our trip. I’d read posts and comments but there are so many choices and felt overwhelmed as they are very sophistated and complicated; especially since we are not familar with the physical location of the stations, sight-seeing sites, hotel and airport etc. eg. what is the difference between Tokyo 23 wards & Tokyo Yamanote line; Osaka Amazing Pass vs. Osaka One day pass; and what is the stopover option on the base fare ticket for Odawara-Kansai airport etc.
FYI, in Toyko, we plan to visit Tsujiki Fish Market, Ginza, Museum Ghibli, Shinjuku, Asakusa, Akihaibara, Harajuku, Roppongi Hills, Daikanyama, Ikebukuro or maybe DisneySea. In Hakone we will do the Hakone Loop and visit Open Air Museum. In Kyoto, we plan to go Kinkakuji Temple, Kiyomizudera Temple, Gion, Ponto Cho, Monkey Park Iwatayama, Arashiyama (Saga Scenic Railway), Tenryuji bamboo grove, Daikakuji, Kimono Forest Arashiyama, Nishi Market & Fushimi Inari Shrine. For Osaka, we plan to go Osaka Castle, Shinsaibashi, Dotombori, Osak Aquarium & Tempozan Ferris Wheel, Umeda Sky Building or maybe USJ.
Lastly, our hotel will be Gracery Shinjuku in Tokyo, Fukuzumiro Ryokan in Hakone, Citadines Karasuma Gojo in Kyoto, and Hostel Namba Minami Kanon in Osaka.
Ideally, we would like to know which is the best mode of transportation between airport and hotel (eg. Narita and Hotel Gracery; & Osaka Hostel to Kansai etc.); and within city agmonst sight seeing sites (eg. bus pass or rail pass), and between cities eg. Tokyo to Hakone, Hakone to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka etc. to make the right choice of pass/ticket to purchase.
If there are more information required for the query, please inform. Thank you in advance for your assistance and looking forward to hear from you.
Hi Gigi,
First of all, please see the link below. This is 7 days itinerary but it’s exactly same route as your plan.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/sample-itinerary-of-tokyo-hakone-kyoto-and-osaka-classic-route-in-7-days.html
You may follow this itinerary basically.
For arrival and staying in Tokyo, airport access ticket + subway pass combo deal is available.
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/airport_bus/index.html
But subway pass is most convenient but it does not cover some places. You may need to add extra fare on top of subway pass. Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
For the part of trip to Hakone, you can use same way in my sample itinerary. Hakone Free Pass is the best.
And you may add single fare ticket for Odawara to Kyoto. You don’t need to buy a single ticket to Osaka, just Kyoto is fine.
In Kyoto, you can use Kyoto sightseeing card or all day bus pass. Please see the links below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-kyoto.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-kyoto-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
And add single fare again from Kyoto to Osaka.
In Osaka, you can use Osaka amazing pass if you visit several attractions. Kaiyu ticket is a good deal when you go to Kaiyukan aquarium. Just spend a day in Osaka for like shopping, single ticket or Eco card is your choice.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-osaka.html
For trip to KIX from Osaka, please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-choose-the-deals-for-access-tofrom-kansai-airport.html
At last, I recommend you to see Japan Guide. You can find all general there.
http://www.japan-guide.com/
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
I really enjoy your writings, it is really informative and helpful. I will go to Japan this end of October and i would like to advice me on which pass should i buy for my trip.
The itinerary is as below
Day 1: KIX to Kyoto (2nights)
Day 3: Nara and Osaka
Day 4: Hiroshima and Miyajima (1 day trip)
Day 5: USJ
Day 6: Half day trip Osaka-KIX
so which pass should i buy? Haruka and ICOCA or Kansai Hiroshima Pass??
Yoroshikku onegaishimasu
Thank you in advance. 🙂
Hi Hani,
Kansai Hiroshima area pass is the best deal for the first 5 days.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/kansai-hiroshima-area-pass-perfect-deal-for-the-traveller-who-wants-travel-both-kansai-and-hiroshima.html
It covers most part of your trip but you may need to add local deals in Kyoto and may be Osaka. Because this pass does not cover city bus and subway. Especially in Kyoto, you cannot access to many sites without city bus. Please see the links below to find more info:
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-kyoto-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-osaka-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-kyoto.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-osaka.html
You may find some deals to KIX from Osaka.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-choose-the-deals-for-access-tofrom-kansai-airport.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi,
I will travel to japan at april 4th till 14th and plan to go to tokyo-kyoto-hirosima-osaka-tokyo
I plan to use 7days jr pass for trip tokyo-kyoto etc at april 7th (the first 3 days I will go to tokyo only) but the jr pass will be ended at april 13th midnight,unfortunately i need to back to tokyo from osaka at april 14th, what is your suggestion in my case?should i buy 7days JR pass + one way pass OR 14days JR pass?if you suggest about additional one way pass,where can i buy it?
Hi Aname,
One way fare from Osaka to Tokyo by Shinkansen is around 15000 yen. The difference of 7 days and 14 days is around 17000 yen. So 7 days pass + single fare is cheaper than 14 days pass. But if you take train to Narita, you have to pay more. And also if you use 14 days pass, you can start using right after you arrive in Japan. So 14 days pass may be cheaper in total.
I recommend to use 14 days.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com