How to choose discount railway ticket and pass for the trip in Kansai area

Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara
Katsura river in Arashiyama, Kyoto is very popular in Spring and Fall. ©Yasufumi Nishi/© JNTO
2011.11.27
Dotonbori (道頓堀) is one of the popular spot around Osaka Namba area. ©JNTO
Dotonbori (道頓堀) is one of the popular spot around Osaka Namba area. ©JNTO

There are JR lines and lots of private railway lines, such as Hankyu, Hanshin, Kintetsu and Keihan in Kansai area. There are so many kinds of ticket or passes as well. It makes you confused to choose it.

In this post, I would like to share the information about the discount tickets and passes that cover Kansai area.

Kansai Thru Pass

  • Online purchasing price (2-day) – Adult : 4,300 yen / Child : 2,150 yen
  • Online purchasing price (3-day) – Adult : 5,300 yen / Child : 2,650 yen
  • Coverage – All Non JR lines, subway lines and city bus in whole part of Kansai area
  • Valid period – 2 or 3 days (not required using in consecutive days)

This is the most recommend one. This pass includes all major private lines and subway lines, such as Hankyu, Hanshin, Keihan, Kintetsu, Nankai, Osaka Metro and Kyoto Subway. You can access Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara, Himeji, Mt. Koya, Kansai airport, Wakayama and many more place. This pass is sold at 5,300 yen for 3-days and 4,300 yen for 2 days. It gives you the greatest value in any railway pass of Kansai area. But if you think about only round trip between Kyoto and Osaka, the regular fare may be cheaper. Please see the details at the post in the link below:

How to use Kansai Thru Pass. Compare pass and single fare.
Kansai thru pass is one of the best option to travel in Kansai area, such as Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, Himeji, Wakayama, Koyasan. This post shows you how to use this pass.
jprail.com
2012.10.07

JR West Rail Pass – Kansai Area Pass

  • Price (1-day) – Adult : 2,200 yen / Child : 1,100 yen
  • Price (2-day) – Adult : 4,300 yen / Child : 2,150 yen
  • Price (3-day) – Adult : 5,300 yen / Child : 2,650 yen
  • Price (4-day) – Adult : 6,300 yen / Child : 3,150 yen
  • Coverage – All JR railway lines in whole part of Kansai area
  • Valid period – 1 to 4 days (midnight to midnight)
Limited Express Haruka connects Kansai airport and Kyoto via Tennoji and Shin-Osaka. This is covered by Kansai area pass.
Limited Express Haruka connects Kansai airport and Kyoto via Tennoji and Shin-Osaka. This is covered by Kansai area pass.

This pass includes most of JR lines in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe, Himeji and Kansai airport. But the Shinkansen and all express trains are not covered except Kansai airport express “Haruka”. Please see the details about this pass in the link below:

How to use JR West Kansai Area Pass. Compare pass and single fare.
This posts explains you how to use Kansai Area Pass. It is one of JR West rail passes and it covers whole part of Kansai area.
jprail.com
2012.10.19

Hankyu Tourist Pass one day and two days

  • Price (1-day) – Adult : 700 yen / Child:Not available
  • Price (2-day) – Adult : 1,200 yen / Child:not available
  • Coverage – All Hankyu railway lines
  • Valid period – one day (midnight to midnight) and two days (must be used in consecutive days)

Hankyu Railway operates trains among Umeda (Osaka), Takarazuka, Kawaramachi (Kyoto near Gion), Arashiyama (Kyoto) and Kobe (Sannomiya). The price of this deal is very attractive to cover three cities, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. If you access to Kobe-Sannomiya from Umeda, single fare is 320 yen. If you access to Kyoto-Kawaramachi from Umeda, single fare is 400 yen. You can get the worth of one day pass by one round trip to Kyoto-Kawaramachi from Umeda. If you look for deal to access to just Kobe, Arashiyama and Gion area, this is a good choice.

But if you want to visit all part of Kyoto and many places in Kobe, Kansai Thru Pass is better choice. Because you have to take other train or bus than Hankyu Railway. Kansai Thru Pass covers all.

Please see the link below to find more information:

Hankyu Railway official site- Hankyu Tourist Pass

Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass one day and two days

  • Price (1-day) – Adult : 700 yen / Child : 350 yen
  • Price (2-day) – Adult : 1,000 yen / Child : 700 yen
  • Coverage – All Keihan railway lines
  • Valid period – one day (midnight to midnight) and two days (must be used in consecutive days)

Keihan Railway connects Yodoyabashi (Osaka) and Demachiyanagi (Kyoto). It covers Kyoto and Osaka only but the price is cheaper than Hankyu Tourist Pass. And many places in Kyoto are located along Keihan Railway. Fushimi Inari shrine, Uji, Kiyomizu-dera temple and many places in Higashiyama area can be accessed from Keihan Railway stations.

This pass has same issue as Hankyu Tourist Pass. You may have to take subway to get Keihan Railway station in Osaka, such as Yodoyabashi, Nakanoshima, Kitahama, Temmabashi and Kyobashi. And when you visit western part of Kyoto, such as Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji temple, you have to pay extra to access this place. Kansai Thru Pass may be better choice if you have another trip(s).

Please see the link below to find more information about Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass:

Keihan Railway official site – Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass

Kintetsu Rail Pass one day and two days

  • Price (1-day) – Adult : 1,500 yen / Child : 750 yen
  • Price (2-day) – Adult : 2,500 yen / Child : 1,250 yen
  • Coverage – All Keihan railway lines
  • Valid period – one day (midnight to midnight) and two days (must be used in consecutive days)

This deals covers Kintetsu Railway in Osaka, Kyoto and Nara.

In Nara, many of places can be accessed by walk from the station. But this deal can take you to Kyoto station only You cannot use this deal to access to most of places in Kyoto.

Please see the link below to find more information about Kintetsu Rail Pass:

Kintetsu Railway official site – Kintetsu Rail Pass

Hanshin Tourist Pass

  • Price – Adult:700 yen / Child:Not available
  • Coverage – All Hanshin railway lines
  • Valid period – one day (midnight to midnight)

Hanshin Railway operate trains among Umeda (Osaka), Osaka-Namba, Kousoku-Kobe and Kobe (Sannomiya). The price of this deal is very attractive. If you access to Kobe-Sannomiya from Osaka-Nmaba, single fare is 410 yen. It is paid off by just one round trip. If you look for deal to access to just Kobe, this is the one for your trip.

However if you access to Arima-Onsen and/or Himeji, Kansai Thru Pass or Kansai Area Pass may be better choice.

Please see the link below to find more information about Hanshin Tourist Pass:

Hanshin Railway official site – Hanshin Tourist Pass

Kansai Wide Area Pass

Kyushu Shinkansen Sakura and Mizuho give you direct trainsfer to Shin-Osaka from Kyusyu.
All Shinkansen trains non reserved seat on Sanyo Shinkansen are covered by this deal.

If you may travel both inside and outside of Kansai area, Kansai Wide Area Pass is the best choice. You can get same coverage as Kansai area pass in Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Himeji and Wakayama. And also this pass covers Kinosaki Onsen, Shirahama, Kii-Katsuura, Shingu, Okayama, Kurashiki and even Takamatsu in Shikoku. You can take non reserved seat on limited express trains and Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Okayama. Please find more information in the post below:

Kansai WIDE Area Pass user guide. The best deal for the traveler who want to travel Kansai and surrounding areas, such as Okayama, Kurashiki, Kinosaki and Kumano.
Kansai Wide Area Pass offers bigger coverage area than Kansai Area Pass. This pass covers Kansai area and surrounding places, such as Kinosaki, Kurashiki, Okayama, Kii-Katsuura. Please find the details about Kansai Wide Area Pass in this post.
jprail.com
2012.04.26

ICOCA and Kansai One Pass

ICOCA is most popular IC card in Kansai area. (C) タンジェント (own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
ICOCA is most popular IC card in Kansai area. (C) タンジェント (own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

You may use these cards to take any trains and buses in all Kansai area. You can use even other area’s card, such as Suica, Pasmo too. These cards give you convenience. You can avoid to purchase a ticket whenever you make a train trip. You can take any kinds of trains, such as JR, subway and Non JR trains. However these cards do not give you any discount and unlimited ride.

If you meet these following things, IC card is your choice.

1. You intend to visit a few places in a day.
2. You need to take several kinds of trains and buses, like subway, Hankyu, Keihan, JR.
3. You cannot fix your plan and want to have some flexibility.

However if you have day trip to other cities, such as day trip to Kyoto from Osaka, Kansai Thru Pass or Kansai Area Pass is better choice in most of cases.

Find your hotels in 500 cities throughout Japan!!!

Hotels in Kyoto
Hotels in Osaka
Hotels in Kansai International Airport
Hotels in Nara
Hotels in Kobe

Kansai One Pass

This is same type of card as ICOCA. You can use this pass by same way as ICOCA. But this card is designed for overseas tourist. Preload amount is 2,500 yen (plus 500 yen deposit and sold at 3,000 yen) and you can get discount at many attractions. ICOCA is sold at any JR stations throughout Kansai area. But Kansai One Pass is sold in the designated stations only. Please see the link below to find the detailed information at official site.

Kansai One Pass official site

For traveler who use national or regional pass

If you use JR pass (national pass) or other regional deal, such as Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass, JR train network in Kansai area is covered. You may have same or better coverage than Kansai Wide Area Pass. If you use these passes, please try to use this pass as much as you can. I think you may add only city deal, such as bus pass in Kyoto.

For the traveler who stay in Kyoto or Osaka and visit inside city only

These above deals are too much for the city sightseeing only. You may find the deals in the links below:

How to choose the best train pass for sightseeing in Kyoto
How to choose the best train pass for sightseeing in Osaka

I hope you get the best deal in this post and enjoy your trip in Kansai area.

Comments

  1. June says:
    December 15, 2013 at 1:09 am

    Hi Takeshi,
    I like to read your blog and would be appreciated if you can give me some advices for my trip to Osaka during new year, below is my plan:

    Day 1 arrive at KIX at around 9pm, stay 5 nights at Herbis Osaka Hotel at Umeda, what transportation should I use?

    Kyoto (I day)
    ..Ginkakuji, walk along Path of Philosophy towards Higashiyma area and then to Kiyomoizudera
    ..Gion

    Kyoto(1day)
    ..Nara
    ..Fushimi Inari
    ..Kinkakuji

    Kobe, Arima Osen(1day) where should I visit?

    Osaka(2day) – Kita, Minami

    I am thinking to take 1way limosinbus to get to the hotel, get a 3 day Kansai Thru Pass and 2 day unlimited Osaka pass, use one of the pass back to KIX.

    Is it worth to buy both pass?
    Any suggestion?
    Should I avoid any area on the New Year Day, any place will be closed?

    Thanks in advance for your help

    June

  2. Leon Son says:
    December 9, 2013 at 3:38 pm

    Dear Takeshi san,

    we will be vacationing in Osaka after christmas.
    This is our tentative schedule.
    dec 26 thursday – arrive at Kansai airport and check in at Swissotel.
    dec 27 friday – go to Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan in the morning and
    Universal Studio in the afternoon
    dec 28 Saturday – day trip to kyoto and Nara
    dec 29 – 30 go around the city of osaka..

    My question is which pass to get? Is the KANSAI THRU PASS the best for our planned trip

    Thank you very much

    • JPRail says:
      December 9, 2013 at 4:01 pm

      Hi Leon,

      Kansai Thru Pass will be okay if you use this pass for Kyoto-Nara sightseeing, and KIX-Nmaba transfer + sightseeing on arrival and departure day.

      But you have to make sure you will use this pass after arrival Namaba and before departure Namba. Because if you use this pass only KIX-Namaba transfer, Kanku Tokuwari Rapi:t Ticket is better.
      http://www.howto-osaka.com.e.iv.hp.transer.com/top/ticket/railway/tokuwari.html

      And also I think Kyoto and Nara in one day is quite tough. If you visit both place in one day, this pass gives you a great deal. However if you visit one place, single ticket may be cheaper.

      I show several sample itineraries at the following link. Please try to build the detailed itinerary. Especially you will travel with 5 years old child. I think Kyoto and Nara is too much for your child.

      And I recommend you to read the following link to get more info about the deals in Osaka.
      http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/access/other_card.html

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

      • Leon says:
        December 9, 2013 at 4:10 pm

        Dear Takeshi

        Should we get the 3 day pass? Or just the 2 day pass. Yes it will be tough. But he will just be sitting in a stroller. If we don’t have enough time then we will tour Nara the following day. Are the attractions open on Saturday and Sunday?

        Thank you very much

        • JPRail says:
          December 9, 2013 at 9:49 pm

          Hi Leon,

          It depends on your itinerary. If you use lots on arrival day and departure day, 3 days pass is fine. If you don’t do on both day, single fare or other deals which I mentioned is better.
          Anyway please make sure which point you want to go. For example, which temple do you want to go in Nara and Kyoto. Especially in Kyoto, there are so many spots and one full day is not enough to see most part of Kyoto.
          At this point, I can’t say which pass is the best choice for you.

          You can go anywhere on weekend too.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JP Rail

  3. Rita says:
    December 3, 2013 at 12:14 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I will be traveling in a few days to Japan. I will be staying in Kyoto and plan to do a day trip to Kobe and Osaka on the same day. What pass would you recommend?

    Thank you!
    Regards,
    Rita

  4. Chris says:
    October 15, 2013 at 8:25 pm

    Hi Takeshi,
    I will be traveling from Tokyo to Osaka for one night. Then Osaka to Kyoto for 1 1/2 days. I have purchased the JR rail pass.
    Can you advise me, for Osaka i am going on fri, should I get the Eco one day pass or the unlimited pass that includes attraction (I am definitely visiting Osaka castle, maybe other places). Or do not get because i have JR pass?
    For Kyoto, I will be there sat nov 2&3, it seems like something is happening in Kyoto that weekend. I will be staying on karasuma but dont know if alot of places are walking distance. I want to visit imperial palace, nijo castle, kinkokuji, fushimi inari taisha. Will the 1 or 2 day pass or bus pass be worth it? Which is best?

    Thank you very much
    Chris

  5. Sutham says:
    September 17, 2013 at 11:43 pm

    Dear Takeshi San,

    We (Me my friend and his mother) plan to go to japan for 5 days. Could you suggest which pass should I use?

    Day 1 Arrive at kansai airport in the morning, then stay and travel in the osaka
    Day 2 Going to kyoto and spend the night there.
    Day 3 Going to Mt. Koya from kyoto and spend the night.
    Day 4 Back to osaka from Mt. Koya and spend the night.
    Day 5 Stay and travel in osaka all day and leave to airport around 9 pm.

    BTW, we stay at Hotel Brighton City Osaka Kitahama while we’re in osaka.

    Thank you.

  6. Sheryl says:
    September 6, 2013 at 1:10 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    Can you advise which travel passes I should purchase for my trip?

    1) Day 1: Travel from Kansai Iternational Airport to Kyoto and travel within Kyoto

    2) Day 2:Travel within Kyoto

    3) Day 4: Day Trip to Nara

    4) Day 5: Day Trip to Osaka

    5) Travel from Kyoto to Kansai International Airport

    Appreciate your help greatly!

  7. Wendy says:
    August 3, 2013 at 5:30 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    Thank you for your reply.

    How about the Kyoto Sightseeing One and Two-day Pass Card? Does it include them?

    Is there actually a pass that include everything?

    Thanks Takeshi!

    Cheers,
    Wendy.

    • JPRail says:
      August 3, 2013 at 10:59 am

      Hi Wendy,

      Kyoto pass include subway and bus only. It does not include any other lines, such as Keihan and Hankyu.

      Actually there is no deals that include everything. JR West Kansai Area Pass includes JR trains only. Kansai Thru Pass includes more, but not JR.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  8. Wendy says:
    August 2, 2013 at 7:41 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    It seems that we might be using combination of Bus, subway, keihan, hankyu and JR.

    Can the passes be used for Kyoto’s private lines? I.e. Keihan, Hankyu?

    Thank you!

    Cheers,
    Wendy

  9. Julia says:
    July 19, 2013 at 7:48 pm

    Dear Takeshi,

    a friend of mine will visit me in August and we are travelling around in Kansai area.
    Our itinerary looks like this:

    Osaka Airport –> Osaka (4 nights including one day trip to Nara) –> Himeji (2 nights) –> Kobe (1 night) –> Kyoto (3 nights) –> Osaka –> Osaka Airport

    Is it useful for her to buy a Kansai Thru Pass or another JR Pass?

    Thank you very much
    Julia

  10. Chris says:
    June 6, 2013 at 1:28 pm

    Dear Takeshi San

    I’m traveling with my family (2 adults and 1 kid – 2.5 years old) to Japan. May I seek your advise on transportation and any pass we should be getting that fits our itinerary below.

    Jun 28 – Narita Airport to Toyoko Inn Tokyo Tozai-sen Nishi-kasai
    Jun 28 to 30 – Tokyo Disneyland (TDR)
    Jul 1 – From Nishi-kasai to Osaka by train. Checkout osaka shopping areas.
    Jul 2 – Sightseeing Osaka city/downtown.
    Jul 3 – Sightseeing Nara or Kobe from Osaka.
    Jul 4 – Morning flight from Kansai airport back home
     
    Here are my questions:
    1) From Narita Airport to Toyoko Inn Tokyo Tozai-sen Nishi-kasai. Should we buy single ticket to travel from airport to Nishi-kasai station or is there any good deal day pass that we can get? 
    2) Again, for 3 days travelling to and fro between Toyoko and Disneyland. I’ve used your note on Hyperdia to work out this travelling. It’s about ¥400-440 per trip. Not very direct, different connecting train line. Is there a discount pass we should be getting or paying for round trip daily is cheaper? 
    3) For taxi fare from Disneyland to Toyoko, would you know an estimate? We might need to consider this option as we travelling with a 2.5 years old child.
    4) From Nishi-kasai to Osaka, Hyperdia shows cost of ¥13940. Duration is 214mins. Is this the cheapest option for time saver? Is there any discounted ticket fare for bullet train available?
    5) Looking at Toyoko Inn Shin Osaka, Toyoko umeda higashi or Toyoko shinsaibasin Nishi, which of these 3 Toyoko location is better situated for the Jul 1 to Jul 4 itinerary above in terms of travelling convenience and shorter time/lesser cost transportation?
    6) Is there any pass which fits Jul 1-4 itinerary above? I’ve read your many posts on Kansai pass and how to choose discount ticket. I’m overwhelmed and confused by the huge reservoir of informations. I would very much appreciate if you could just recommend me the best deal that fits.

    Many thanks in advance

    Chris

    • JPRail says:
      June 6, 2013 at 10:58 pm

      Hi Chris,

      1. I think single ticket is only your choice. There is no direct service. You can take JR Train to Tokyo and transfer to subway, or take limousine bus to TDL or Shin-Urayasu and use taxi to Nishikasai.

      2. You might purchase day pass for subways. Please see the link below:
      https://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/subway-in-tokyo.html

      3. I don’t have any taxi fare. But I guess appx 2000 yen one way.

      4. Unfortunately only single ticket is available for you.

      5. Umeda is the best location to access to Nara, Kyoto and Kobe. But Toyoko inn Umeda-higashi is too far away from Osaka (Umeda) station. I recommend you to use other hotels near Osaka station. Especially you have 2.5 yrs child. If you really want to use Toyoko inn, use Shin-Osaka.

      6. If you have simple round trip to Kobe and Nara, singlet ticket is fine. When you explore in Osaka, you may be able to use Osaka subway pass if you take subway more than 5 times appx.

      There are so many passes and deals. If you use these deals, you must have very busy and quick trip. But you have small child. I don’t recommend you to do such a busy trip.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

      • Chris says:
        June 9, 2013 at 9:10 pm

        Hi Takeshi San,

        Thank you for the earlier reply.

        I am working on route from Narita to Nishi Kasai station based on link below. Need your advise on few points which I am not clear on.
        http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/e-norikeyin.html

        My questions are
        1) Refer to route 4, Sobu line Rapid and Sobu line Local, do they arrive and depart on same platform at Funabashi station? Do I need to be out and re enter again for these 2 different line at Fuanbashi station?

        2) Refer to route 3, does this route means I need to make 3 separate ticket purchase at different station?
        1st ticket at airport to Keisei Funabashi/funabashi station via Keisei line Limited Exp.
        2nd ticket at Keisei Funabashi/funabashi station to Nishi Funabashi station via Sobu line local
        3rd ticket at Nishi Funabashi station to Nishi kasai via Tozai line?

        3) Is it complicate to make the transfer between the different lines within the same station for route 3? Does it take long to exit, purchase the ticket and re-enter as it seems the arriving and departing time between the transfer train is quite short. We have travel luggage and a child with us.

        4) refer to route 2, it is easy access on foot from kesei Nishi Funabashi to Nishi Funabashi?

        5) Should you know of any better route that’s cheap and easy, appreciate your advise.

        Thank you very much.

        • JPRail says:
          June 10, 2013 at 12:58 pm

          Hi Chris,

          I cannot see the link you gave me. It is only available when you use that site. But I guess it and can answer for you.

          1. It’s Japanese map. But you can see the station map at the following link:
          http://www.jreast.co.jp/estation/stations/1382.html
          Rapid arrive #3 and local depart at #1. So you have to change the platform. But you don’t need to exit the station.

          2. That’s right.

          3. It’s not very complicated. There are lots of English sign. But I recommend you to try to make your schedule with less transfer.

          4. It is 5 minutes away from Keisei Nishifunabashi and JR/Tokyo Metro Nishifunabashi station. I don’t recommend it.

          5. Unfortunately not. Cheaper way is very complicated and easy way is expensive. As I mentioned, Limousine bus and taxi is the fastest and easiest. But it’s not very cheap.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JP Rail

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