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
- JR West Rail Pass – Kansai Area Pass
- Hankyu Tourist Pass one day and two days
- Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass one day and two days
- Kintetsu Rail Pass one day and two days
- Hanshin Tourist Pass
- Kansai Wide Area Pass
- ICOCA and Kansai One Pass
- For traveler who use national or regional pass
- For the traveler who stay in Kyoto or Osaka and visit inside city only
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:
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)
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:
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
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:
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](https://i0.wp.com/blue-works.com/jprail/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ICOCA_NEW_CARD-600x387.jpg?resize=600%2C387)
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.
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.
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
Dear Takeshi
Could I seek your advice about which pass should I use for my travels in the upcoming week?
I’m going to be travelling to a few places for 8 days:
1) day 1: kansai to hiroshima
2) day 2: hiroshima to miyajima and back
3) day 3: hiroshima to nara
4) day 4: stay in nara, visit temples
5) day 5: nara to osaka
6) day 6: osaka to kobe then himeiji and back to osaka
7) day 7: osaka
8) day 8: osaka to kansai airport
With this itinerary, I was thinking of getting the 5 days pass for hiroshima kansai region then something else (kansai all thru?) for the remaining 3 days. Would that be an ideal choice? Or do you have a better suggestion? Could you kindly aid us in the selection of the best passes suited for our travel plans? Thank you in advance!!
Hi HK Lim,
I think you can drop by Himeji on the way to Nara from Hiroshima on day 3. You may spend full days in Kobe on day 6.
It’s a good idea to use Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass for the first 5 days. And if you drop by Himeji on day 3, you don’t need to have any Kansai region pass. For the trip to Kobe, you may use single fare or Hanshin Tourist Pass.
http://www.kansai360.net/en/ticket02/
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/osaka-kyoto-kobe-and-nara/guide-to-take-trains-in-kobe-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
Subway pass or single fare is okay for Osaka. Amazing pass is a good choice if you intend to visit many attractions.
http://www.osaka-info.jp/osp/en/index.html
http://www.kotsu.city.osaka.lg.jp/foreign/english/Card.html
There are some deals to get back to KIX.
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 Takeshi san
Thank you for the quick reply and recommendations. I will be certain to use them!
No problem, HK san.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi-san,
I’m planning a trip with my husband from 30-Oct to 14-Nov covering Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, Nara, Hakone & Tokyo. Below my summarised & detailed itinerary:
Summarised itineary:
30-Oct to 2-Nov: Osaka (overnight at Osaka. Staying in Shin-Osaka)
3-Nov to 4-Nov: Kobe (overnight at Kobe. Hotel area not decided yet)
5-Nov to 6-Nov: Kyoto (overnight at Kyoto. Hotel area not decided yet)
7-Nov: Day trip to Nara (overnight at Kyoto. Hotel area not decided yet)
8-Nov to 9-Nov: Hakone (overnight at Hakone. Hotel area not decided yet)
10-Nov to 14-Nov: Tokyo (overnight at Tokyo-Shinjuku)
Detailed itineary:
30-Oct : Arrive at KIX airport and travel to Rinku Town, after which travel from Rinku Town to Shin Osaka
31-Oct : Bay Area in Osaka (Universal Studio) & Legoland
1-Nov: Osaka Castle Area + Tennoji Area
2-Nov: Northern Area (Minoh City, Minoh Falls) + Kita / Nakanoshima
3-Nov to 4-Nov: Kobe (Hyogo/Nagata/Kitano/Shin-Kobe)
5-Nov to 6-Nov: Kyoto (itineary not plan yet)
7-Nov: Nara
8-Nov to 9-Nov: Hakone (Sounzan/Gora/Sengoku/Gotemba)
10-Nov to 14-Nov: Tokyo (Odaiba/Kamakura/Shinjuku/Shibuya/Ginza/Harajuku). One of the days is with tour group
I would like to seek your expertised advice on:
1) What are the passes that are suitable & economical for my whole trip?
2) If the sequence of my travel within Kansai Area feasible?
3) Should I just stay in Osaka for my Kansai Area trip?
Thank you.
Best regards
Gladys
Hi Gladys san,
1. Before you choose the deal, you have to decide stay in Osaka only or stay in each cities. If you stay in each cities, mostly single fare is the best for transfer among cities and using city deal, like subway pass.
At this point, ICOCA and Haruka is recommended.
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 I recommend you to use shuttle bus to Rinku Town and return to KIX by shuttle bus. And then you can take direct express Haruka to Shin-Osaka. Because this train does not stop at Rinku town. You can store your luggage at airport.
2. You can keep this itinerary. But you will use single fare mostly.
3. If you don’t want to move with luggage many times, you can stay in Osaka only. If you will do it, the following link shows you how to choose the deal.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/how-to-build-the-itinerary-and-choose-the-deals-for-osaka-stay-5-to-7-days.html
After you leave Kansai area, single fare is your choice again. You can use one base fare ticket from Osaka or Kyoto to Tokyo with stopover at Odawara. The following link shows you how to use single fare and access to Hakone from Odawara.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/for-non-jr-pass-travellers-guide-to-use-jr-single-ticket-basic-rules-validity-and-stopover.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
At Tokyo, subway deal is your choice again.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/compare-many-discount-tickets-and-passes-for-sightseeing-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-right-tickets.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi
I have a question regarding the use of the pass. I will be having a JR Pass traveling by Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka. We are planning to stay in Osaka for 5 days but explore Nara & Kyoto as well. Will the Kansai Thru Pass be worth it if we already have the JR Pass?
JR Pass will be activated for 7 days on the first day in Osaka. Day 2 will cover Osaka & Nara, Day 3 & 4 will cover Kyoto and Day 5 will be USJ.
Therefore, I believe we would have to buy 2x 2 Day Kansai Thru Pass for Day 1 to Day 4 for value? However I already have a JR Pass, will it still be worth the value or paying much more than necessary to travel the area?
Hi Leroy,
You don’t need Kansai thru pass. But you may need to add subway/bus pass or single fare because JR pass does not cover subway and local bus. Please find more info at the link below:
https://jprail.com/destinations/how-to-transfer-among-kyoto-osaka-and-kobe-compare-japan-railway-and-private-lines.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
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/trains/sort-by-type/subway/how-to-access-to-nara-by-japan-rail-pass-if-you-dont-use-jr-pass-kintetsu-railway-is-more-convenient.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi san
Thank you for your help and advice!
With best regards
Rainbow
Enjoy your trip, Rainbow.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi,
It will be my first time to Osaka, Nara and Kyoto. Would you be able to advise us on the best pass(es) for our itinerary?
We will spend 10 days in Japan and the sequence is this:
Day 1: Land in Narita Airport. We will take the Shinkansen to Osaka.
Day 2: Universal Studios Osaka
Day 3: Minoh Park / Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade / Amerikamura / Tenjinbashi-suji Shopping Street
Day 4: Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum / Mount Koyosan
Day 5: Nara day trip (Nara Park / Higashimuki Shopping Street / Mochiidono Shopping Street / Nara Family Shopping Mall)
Day 6-8: Kyoto (Fushimi Inari Shine/ Kinkaku-ji / Ginkaku-ji, Kiyomizudera Temple / Higashiyama District / Nishiki Market / Kifune-jinja Shrine / Sagano Scenic Railway / Arashiyama Bamboo Grove)
Day 8-10: Tokyo ( We will purchase either a Suica or Pasmo card)
Appreciate your assistance! どうもありがとうございます!
Hi Charlene,
If you complete Osaka/Kyoto/Nara in 7 days, you can use JR Pass 7 days. But you will spend 8 days. You have to use single ticket for Tokyo-Osaka and Osaka-Tokyo.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/for-non-jr-pass-travellers-guide-to-use-jr-single-ticket-basic-rules-validity-and-stopover.html
And there are lots of deals in Kansai area, like Kansai area pass, Kansai thru pass. You can use Kansai thru pass 3 days for day 4, 5 and 6.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-use-kansai-thru-pass-compare-pass-and-single-fare.html
But day 4 is too tight. Ramen museum can be combined with Minoo on day 3.
Single ticket is okay for day 2 and 3. Kyoto city deals may be added for day 7 and 8.
http://www.insidekyoto.com/special-kyoto-bus-train-subway-passes
You can use Suica or Pasmo in Osaka and Kyoto instead of single fare. Those can be used in Kansai area too.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Thanks for your fast reply!
Based on what you recommend, I should buy the JR Pass 7 days as well as a single ticket for Tokyo-Osaka and Osaka-Tokyo? Will the JR pass be able to bring us to most of the attractions I planned for in my itinerary or would I have to use my Suica/Pasmo card for some bus/train rides?
If I purchase the 7 day JR Pass, does that mean that I need not purchase the Kansai area/thru pass? We want to make full use of our JR Pass 🙂
The numerous passes are quite confusing. Thank you for your help!
Cheers!
Hi Charlene,
JR Pass does not work for your trip at this point. If you change your itinerary and make Osaka portion in 7 days, it work. As long as you keep your itinerary of Osaka-Kyoto portion for 8 days, JR Pass does not work. Just forget about it.
Just use single fare ticket and the deals that I recommend.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi,
I need your advice on ICOCA Haruka usage and Kansai thru pass.
I will arrive on 11 Nov 2015. 6am Kansai airport and then straight to Kyoto for 3 or 4days and then come back to Tennoji Osaka on 14 Nov and leave Tennoji Osaka to Kansai airport on 16 Nov.
1. Which pass is convenient for me to get to Kyoto and back to Kansai airport on 16nov?
2. On return trip ICOCA Haruka pass can be used on 16 Nov ? Or 14 Nov from Kyoto to Osaka?
Thanks for your help
Sincerely
Rainbow
Hi Rainbow,
You can use ICOCA and Haruka round trip ticket. Haruka portion ticket covers KIX-Kyoto and Tennoji-KIX. You may use ICOCA e-money to get Tennoji from Kyoto.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thanks for the advice. Mr. Takeshi
What are the stations Haruka train stop in Kyoto?
And how to go to Arashiyama bamboo grove?
Your sincerely
Rainbow
Hi Rainbow,
Haruka stops at Kyoto station only in Kyoto.
Please see the link below to get Arashiyama.
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
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi-san,
Thank you so much for your quick reply. Will definitely explore your recommendations.
Thanks again.
Regards,
Jamie
No problem, Jamie san.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi san,
My friends and I are planning for an eight day trip to Kansai.
Our itinerary as follows. We are confused on which passes (currently contemplating between Kansai thru pass or JR pass) best suit us and would be grateful for your advice.
Our hotels are located near Namba and Kyoto stations.
Day 1 Osaka Castle and Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Day 2 Going to Kyoto (from Namba) Fushimi Inari Taisha, Bamboo grove, Tenryuji Temple and Gion
Day 3 Zenrinji-temple, Nijio Castle and Kinkakuji temple
Day 4 Kyoto to Nara (Todaiji and Nara Park) and going back to Namba
Day 5 Exploring Shinsaibashisuji and nearby
Day 6 Universal Studios
Day 7 Sumiyoshi Taisha and exploring Umeda
Day 8 Shinsekai and Shitennoji Temple (To Kansai International Airport going back to Singapore)
Thank you in advance.
Best regards,
Jamie
Hi Jamie san,
My recommendations are the following:
Day 1 Yokoso Osaka ticket
http://www.howto-osaka.com/en/ticket/ticket/yokoso.html
Day 2 and 4 Kansai thru pass
Day 3 Kyoto city deal
http://www.insidekyoto.com/special-kyoto-bus-train-subway-passes
Day 5, 6 and 8 Osaka city deal as you need
http://www.kotsu.city.osaka.lg.jp/foreign/english/Card.html
Back to KIX
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 Takashi-san,
We will be checking out from our Hotel at Asakusa. From Asakusa transfering to Shinagawa to Kujo (Kyoto).
For the below itinerary is it suitable to use the Kansai Thru Pass?
If not, can please help to advice which suitable discount pass that we can use.
20 Oct – Kyoto:
Check in to our hotel at Kujo
Nara Park
21 Oct – Kyoto:
Toei Uzumasa Eigamura (Kyoto Studio Park)
Arashiyama
22 Oct – Kyoto:
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Fushimi Inari
23 Oct – Kyoto:
Gion
Jishu Shrine
Check out from our Hotel at Kujo (Kyoto) to Universal City
24 Oct – Osaka:
Check in to our hotel at Universal City
Dotonbori / Namba
25 Oct – Osaka
Universal Studio Japan
26 Oct – Check out and made a fly off from Kansai International Airport to Singapore
Appreciate your advice.
Thank you in advance
Best Regards,
Nurul
Hi Nurul san,
Kansai thru pass is too much. Subway or bus pass is okay in Osaka and Kyoto.
http://www.insidekyoto.com/special-kyoto-bus-train-subway-passes
http://www.kotsu.city.osaka.lg.jp/foreign/english/Card.html
Single fare is okay from Kyoto to Osaka. And you may take Limousine bus to KIX from USJ.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi,
First of all, thank you so much for your great and informative website. It really helps me a lot preparing me and my wife’s Japan trip.
There is one thing I could not really figure out yet with regard to train passes/discount passes. If you could help us that would be great.
We are going to be in the Kansai area for 4 nights and 5 days.
1 Oct.
I will arrive in the morning at Kansai Airport (KIX) and go to Osaka to spend the day. Then around 6pm (evening) I will go back to Kansai airport (KIX) to pick up my wife who is arriving in the evening. After she arrives we will go straight to Kyoto (near the Palace and the river). The hotel has a (free) shuttle bus from Kyoto Station.
2. Oct.
We will explore Kyoto mostly on foot probably but perhaps take a bus or metro to visit some farther away sights.
3. Oct
We will go from Kyoto to Kobe where we will stay for two nights.
4. Oct
We will sleep in Kobe but also want to go back and forth to Osaka to eat/sightseeing.
5. Oct.
We will go from Kobe to Kansai airport (KIX) and catch a Jetstar flight to Narita (Tokyo)
Do you think it is wise for us to buy a 5-days Kansai WIDE Area Pass for 8500 yen ?(http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/travel-information/pass/kansai_wide)
or would it be better to get a roundtrip ICOCA & HARUKA pass (http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/travel-information/pass/icoca-haruka) and use the credit for getting to Kobe and Osaka and the Roundtrip Haruka for the first day and last day only (for me it would mean I have to buy a separate roundtrip ticket to/from Osaka and Kansai Airport on the first day.
There is so many options also JP West pass for max 4 days and Kansai Thru pass for max 3 days but it seems to me that the Kansai WIDE area pass might be the most convenient option here for us because it gives unlimited 5 day access to the JP railways, Haruka and even the bullet train from Osaka to Kobe?
We don’t mind spending 1000 or 2000 yen extra to have more convenience of not having to change trains etc.
Once again thank you for reading this! Hope it is understandable.
Kind greetings from the Netherlands!
Niki
Hi Niki,
Kansai Wide Area Pass is too much for your trip. My recommendations are the following.
Day 1 Kansai Area Pass one day for you and ICOCA and Haruka one way for your wife. ICOCA and Haruka is not a good idea for you because you will have another round trip between KIX and Osaka. Kansai area pass gives you unlimited ride.
Day 2 Kyoto city deal as you need
Day 3 Single ticket for JR is okay. Your wife can use ICOCA. JR train is only direct and the fastest from Kyoto to Kobe. But Kansai thru pass may be suitable if you visit some places in Kobe or Kyoto. This covers subway. But you have to transfer at Umeda or Juso to take Hankyu railway. There is no direct train.
Day 4 If you use Kansai thru pass on day 3, you can use it for day 4 too. Otherwise single ticket and subway pass in Osaka are your choice.
Day 5 Limousine bus or ferry service is the best way from Kobe to KIX.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-choose-the-deals-for-access-tofrom-kansai-airport.html#Bay_Shuttle_high_speed_ferry
Cheers,
Takeshi /JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi,
We are very grateful for your kind advice, and so quick!
I will definitely follow your advice.
ICOCA + Haruka one way for my wife and a Kansai Area Pass 1-day for me.
I think it will be smart to get a regular ICOCA for myself as well to save the hassle of buying tickets. Don’t thing we will need Kansai Thru Pass, it seems more convenient to use the ICOCA.
Very convenient that we can go by bus or boat from Kobe to Kansai airport directly, I had not thought of that.
Thanks again!
Niki
No problem, Niki.
Enjoy your trip.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com