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
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:

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:

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:

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.

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. Hazim says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I will be travelling to Osaka along with my 5 family members on 20/1/2017-27/01/2017. Our accommodation is located nearby Imazato Station(Kintetsu Line). Is it good for us to buy Kintetsu Rail Pass Plus? Planning to visit Kyoto and other areas too. And is it possible to travel to kyoto/Nara without Kintetsu Limited Express?

    Thanks a lot 🙂

    • Hi Hazim,

      Kansai thru pass is better choice.
      https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-use-kansai-thru-pass-compare-pass-and-single-fare.html

      You can get Kyoto by Kintetsu rail pass but it does not cover any local transportation, such as subway and city bus in Kyoto, but Kansai thru pass does. This pass also covers local transportation in Osaka too. It is much more convenient and flexible than Kintetsu rail pass. Kintetsu rail pass is good for the traveler who wants to go to Nagoya and Ise. It’s not a good choice for Nara and Kyoto.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Hazim says:

        because the kansai thru pass is quite expensive, thus i want to try kintetsu rail pass. but the thing is, we can use the kintetsu rail pass in any kintetsu line right? still can go to kyoto, ise, nagoya, nara without buying the limited express? and lastly how long the journey will be, example to kyoto and nagoya without the limited express ticket. Thanks Takeshi-san, really appreciate your reply.

        • Hi Hazim,

          It’s no problem to get Nara. You can get there directly from Osaka.
          When you go to Kyoto, you have to change the train at least once at Yamago-Saidaiji. Even if you take limited express, there is no direct trains between Osaka and Kyoto.
          After arriving Kyoto, you have to pay extra to get subway or/and bus. Most of places cannot be accessed by walk. You may have to add the pass in the link below on top of Kintetsu Rail Pass.
          https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-kyoto.html

          When you go to Nagoya and Ise, you can get there by other than limited express. But it’s quite long trip and need to change the trains a few times. There are many connections and I cannot say the exact trip time. It takes usually 3.5 hours to get Nagoya from Osaka. You have to change the trains at least twice.

          It takes 3 hours usually to get Toba (Ise) with a few times transit.

          I recommend you to pay extra to get Limited Express. It’s a quite long trip and you have to change the trains many times. It’s really inconvenient.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Jorge F says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I’m planning to travel to JApan from April7-14th. Which is a complicated season due to the cherry blossom.

    I would like to know your recommendations on buying single tickets and Kansai Area Passes vs a JR Pass and what would be the cheapest with the following itinerary:

    Tokyo April 7-9th
    Travel to Osaka on the 9th (preferably on Shinkansen)
    Visit Kyoto from Osaka and back on the 10th and maybe continue to do the same on the 11th
    Visit Nara on the 12th.
    Travel back to Tokyo on the 13th and stay the night in Narita to fly back on the 14th.
    Consider also we will be moving around all of the cities as well and prefer to use public transportation and that Shinkansen is preferred due to the time it may save in order to enjoy the cities more.

    Any advice should be helpful. Many thanks in advance.

    Jorge

    • Hi Jorge,

      JR pass is your choice. You will be Narita in the evening on 13th April, right? If so, you can use JR pass 7 days from the arrival day to 13th April.
      If you stay in hotel near Narita airport, hotel shuttle may be available. Ask your hotel to make sure. Otherwise single fare can be added to take a train to Narita airport.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Yang says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I would like to seek your advice on which pass will suit me best for our 13-days Japan trip next month. Here is our itinerary:

    Day 1-3 Narita Airport to Tokyo -> Tokyo Shuttle (one-way) + Tokyo Subway 72-hour Pass (2,400 yen)
    – Day 1: City
    – Day 2&3: Disney

    Day 4-5 Tokyo to Osaka -> one way ticket (~15,000 yen)
    – Day 4: Namba (ICOCA)
    – Day 5: USJ (ICOCA)

    Day 6-8 Osaka to Kyoto
    – Day 6&7: Kyoto Imperial Palace, Fushimi Inari, Nishiki Market (Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass 2-days 1,000yen)
    – Day 8: Arashiyama, Kinkakuji (?)

    Day 9-10 Kyoto to Kobe
    – Day 9: Kyoto to Kobe (Hankyu One Day Tourist Pass 800yen)
    – Day 10: Mt Rokko (Single Ride Ticket)

    Day 11-12 Kobe to Osaka
    – Day 11: Kobe to Osaka (?)
    – Day 12: Osaka (ICOCA)
    – Day 13: Osaka to Kansai Airport (Discounted HARUKA 1,300yen)

    I still have a few questions regarding this trip:
    – Is there any pass that cover travelling in Kyoto to Arashiyama and Kinkakuji?
    – Is there any suggested pass for us to go back to Osaka from Kobe (Day11)?
    – Is there any alternative/better pass for our trip?
    – Is Osaka Visitor Ticket (500yen) only available for tourists from Korea/HK/Taiwan/China?

    Thanks a lot in advance for your advice!

  4. cheryn says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    I will be staying at Hotel Brighton Kyoto Yamashina. I want to travel to the following places, is it worth it to get the Keihan special sightseeing pass? Should i buy one or two day pass? Thank you!

    Day 1:
    – Hotel Brighton Kyoto Yamashina to Fushimi Inari
    – Fushimi Inari to Nishiki Market
    – Nishiki market to Hotel Brighton Kyoto Yamashina
    – Hotel Brighton Kyoto Yamashina to Hotel Brighton Osaka Kitahama (via Keihan Main Ltd Exp)

    Day 2:
    – Osaka Castle
    – Osaka Museum of History and Living
    – Namba area

  5. Nelson says:

    Hello,

    We will be arriving Kansai International Airport and staying at Nara for 5 days.

    Question is should we buy 2 travel passes?
    1 for OSAKA-Nara (Kintetsu Pass) and 2 for going around Osaka (Osaka Amazing Pass)? we will also go to universal Studios.

    Thanks you
    Nel

    • Hi Nelson,

      I think you will spend one full day in USJ. It’s very easy to spend one day. Some says one day is not enough.
      If so, you don’t need to use 2 days amazing pass. 1 day is okay. You can use single ticket to get USJ. But if you stay in USJ for half day and visit many more places after USJ, you can use 2 days amazing pass.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

    • Nelson says:

      hello again,

      how about for everyday travel from Nara to Osaka, is the Kintetsu Pass for 5 days worth it?

      Thanks
      Nel

  6. Elaine Yip says:

    Hi,

    We will be travelling to Osaka for 8 days this coming Nov. There are 2 children below 12 years old. Staying in osaka all the way n travel to sites as below:
    Kyoto
    Nara
    Universal studio
    Wakayama

    Additional if have time
    Shirakawa
    Takayama

    Can you pls advice which train pass should i get if to use to travel to all the sites.

  7. Yap fang yu says:

    Hi,

    Thanks for your post. I am only going Kyoto and Osaka. 4 days in Kyoto and 2 days Osaka . Can I know which pass is more suitable ?

    Thanks !

  8. Jay says:

    Takeshi-san, Rainbow card and Eco Card both seem to give you unlimited use of subway in Osaka for 1 day, but Rainbow is only 500 yen while Eco card is 800 yen. Am I missing something ?

  9. meriana kwee says:

    i have check willer express
    i might take willer express from kyoto on 18 Oct night bus and arrive 19 oct morning ,
    but there sign “Ladies Seat policy”, i’m travel with my husband, is that mean we can seat down next to each other?

    • Hi Meriana,

      I think your husband cannot seat together. Some express bus have same condition. But I have never taken Willer before. I’m not sure 100%.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  10. meriana kwee says:

    hi Takeshi-San,
    i have ready all your information.
    thankyou for share your knowledge to other.
    i really need a help for choose the transports pass
    13 oct
    day 1 i will arrive in Kansai Airport around 7 pm and i have book airbnb on Osaka-shi
    14 oct
    day 2 USJ
    15 oct
    day 3 kobe (mount rokko, earthquake museum,nankinmachi) and himeji castle if we have time
    16 oct
    day 4 osaka castle, osaka aquarium,dotonbori
    and at night time will travel to kyoto and will continue the trip from kyoto
    17 oct
    kiyomizudera temple, toei kyoto studio park
    18 oct
    fushimi inari temple,arashiyama bamboo,kinkakuji temple,gion
    19 oct from kyoto will travel to tokyo

    what is the best pass i need to used when i’m in osaka and kyoto?could you please help me. thankyou

    • Hi Meriana,

      The following link shows you one of my sample itineraries. You can use it for most part of your trip.
      https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/basic-itinerary-of-osaka-kyoto-and-tokyo-in-7-days.html

      Kobe is not included in this trip plan. I just add some info about it.
      Please see the link below:
      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

      If you add Himeji, please see the link below:
      https://jprail.com/destinations/world-heritage-destinations/how-to-access-to-himeji-and-kobe-from-osaka.html

      I think you can visit both Kobe and Himeji. You can go up Rokko at the last part of your trip. Night view from mountain is gorgeous.
      In this case, you can use JR Kansai area pass one day and add transportation to get Rokko.
      https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/how-to-use-jr-west-kansai-area-pass-compare-pass-and-single-fare.html
      https://www.rokkosan.com/en/

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • meriana kwee says:

        Thankyou for your reply, i really appreciated your help.
        i just realize my accomodation is on Tengachaya location.
        the host have recommend to take nankai airport exp. for namba 920 Yen. (13 Oct)
        what ticket i need to purchase on Kansai airport?

        on 14 Oct will go to USJ and spend 660 Yen Round Trip (Tengachaya-Shinimamiya-nishikujo-universalcity)

        what ticket i can purchase?
        is just a single ticket or i can used ICOCA?and where i can purchase the pass?

        i will take Kansai Thru Pass from 15 Oct to 16 or 17 Oct
        is that worth it with my itinerary?

        On 15 Oct i will go to Kobe and Himeji

        if i used Kansai Thru Pass to visit Kobe what is the spots in Kobe have cover by Kansai Thru Pass?

        depart from Namba, i can catch Hanshin train at Osaka-Namba, 40 minutes and fare is 400 yen.

        place i will visit on kobe it will be cover all the Kansai Thru Pass only.

        and from Kobe to Himeji
        From Sannomiya to Sanyo-Himeji – 60-65 minutes / 940 yen
        still not sure where i will go, can you give me some edvise?

        On 16 Oct will just take around Osaka( osaka castle, osaka aquarium,dotonbori)
        and will go to Kyoto from osaka

        the Hostel we have book is close to Kawaramachi Station?

        which line subway or station i need to take from Dotonbori to Kawaramachi which is have cover by Kansai Thru Pass?

        i have searching on hyperdia but i really not sure which line have cover by Kansai Thru Pass really need your guide and experience

        On 17 Oct
        is my first day on Kyoto and will visit kiyomizudera temple, toei kyoto studio park
        is that good idea if i still used Kansai Thru Pass?
        or i can swape the itinerary on 18 Oct to 17 Oct is there some place have cover by Kansai Thru Pass

        18 oct
        fushimi inari temple,arashiyama bamboo,kinkakuji temple,gion

        19 oct from kyoto will travel to tokyo

        as i stay in Kawaramachi for 3 days only, what is the best pass i can have for cover all my itinerary on kyoto if Kansai Thru Pass not really erconomic to be used on Kyoto ?

        i’m really sorry to give you alot of question.
        thakyou Takeshi

        • Hi Meriana,

          You may purchase a single ticket at the vending machine for trip to Tengachaya from KIX and trip to USJ. You may use ICOCA. If you purchase this card, you don’t need to purchase a single ticket. You can take any trains, JR, subway and other railways. You can purchase it at JR Kansai airport station. But in these days, the window at JR Kansai airport station is very busy. If you see the long line up, just purchase a single ticket at the vending machine. Otherwise you will spend many minutes there.

          The following link shows you the info about Kyoto Access Ticket. This deal is not your choice. But it shows you the route from Tengachaya to Kawaramachi. Kansai thru pass covers this route too and this is the easiest route.
          http://www.howto-osaka.com/en/ticket/ticket/kyoto.html

          Kansai thru pass is a good choice for Oct 15 and 16. I think you can use 3 days Kansai thru pass. I also recommend you to visit Arashiyama, Bamboo forest and Toei Studio Park on same day. If you can add Kinkakuji temple on same day, it’s easier to visit because Toei, Arashiyama and Kinkakuji are located in the west side of Kyoto. Other places are located at east side. If you can do, use Kyoto Sightseeing Card for Arashiyama, Toei and Kinkakuji. Kansai thru pass can be used for the rest of places, Gion, Fushimi, Ginkakuji, Kiyomizudera and Gion.
          http://www.insidekyoto.com/special-kyoto-bus-train-subway-passes

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

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