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. Lee says:

    Hi Takeshi San,

    I’m planning for a trip with my 2 kids, 6 and below. We’ll arrive in KIX 5 plus in the morning and will travel to Kyoto (Higashiyama)where we will be based from 31st May to 4th june ( intend to do a day trip to Nara within this few days) and will travel to Osaka on 31st and base in Osaka(namba) from 4th to 8th June and make our way back to KIX on the 8th from Osaka. Yet to plan in detail but the will be a fairly relaxed trip that we can slowly enjoy Japan and not feel bashed at the end of each day. Will like yo know what will your recommendation be in terms of getting the passes or cards.

    Thank you!

  2. Jeanette Castro says:

    Hello Takeshi,

    Would you know the best transpo option witg this itinerary:
    Day 1: Arrive @NRT, stay in Tokyo
    Day 2: Disney
    Day 3-6: Yokohama
    Day 7: Travel to Osaka
    Day 8-9: Osaka
    Day 10: Travel to Kyoto
    Day 11-13: Kyoto
    Day 14: Travel to Tokyo
    Day 15: Tokyo
    Day 16: To Mt. Fuji
    Day 17: Tokyo
    Day 18: Departure from NRT

    Thank you,
    Jeanette

  3. jeffrey says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    I am planning my trip to kyoto and osaka and i need help on what passes to buy or if need to buy at all.

    here is my itinerary,

    Day 1: arrive at NGO airport around 9pm (so i understandt i will no longer be able to purchase platt kodama ticket for next day)
    Day 2: take kodama to Kyoto (hotel near Karawamachi station)
    Arashimaya/Okochi garden
    Day 3: Ginkaku-ji temple/Kiyomizu temple/Kodai-ji and Gion
    Day 4: Fushimi-Inari/Tokufu-ji
    take Hankyu train to Osaka (hotel near Nipponbashi stn)
    (I don’t know which pass would be best to buy for Kyoto whether to buy just a day pass or a sight-seeing pass or the Kansai thru pass)
    Day 5: Osaka day tour (use Amazing 1 day pass)
    Day 6: Universal Studios
    Day 7: take Kodama train to Nagoya using Platt Kodama (will I be able to choose the time of the train?)

    Thank you for your help! 🙂

    • Hi Jeffrey san,

      You will pay single fare to get Kyoto on day 2. So you can take Nozomi if you want. Nozomi is faster than Kodama. The fare is around 6000 yen to take Nozomi. If you take Kodama, the fare is around 5000 yen. Trip time is 15 to 20 minutes faster than Kodama. You can choose whichever you want.

      For day 2 and 3, you can use Kyoto sightseeing card 2 days at 2000 yen. On day 4, I think single fare is okay. Kansai thru pass is too expensive to use. Both Fushimi Inari and Tofukuji can be accessed by Keihan railway from Gion-Shijo. Keihan railway is not covered by Kyoto sightseeing card. Gion-Shijo is located within walking distance from Kawaramachi.

      You may use Kansai one pass instead of single fare ticket.
      http://kansaionepass.com/en/about.html?info=1

      You can take any trains, subways and most of city bus by this card. But this card gives you same value as cash payment.

      Amazing pass is a right choice. And you can use Kansai one pass to get USJ and Shin-Osaka when you take Kodama.

      You can choose the train when you purchase Platt Kodama.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Jeffrey says:

        Hi Takeshi san,

        I forgot to mention about kintetsu 5 day pass. I read about it here too and would you recommend it for my itinerary? What I like about this pass is that it has a free roundtrip voucher to and from NGO airport. However, I’m thinking that it would take longer travel time between nagoya kyoto and osaka.

        Thanks again!

        • Hi Jeffrey san,

          No, it doesn’t work. I noticed this but I did not recommend it because if you use this, it covers only one way between Nagoya and Osaka/Kyoto. It’s not enough. And also if you use this pass, you need to add limited express charge and need to change trains when you go to Kyoto even if you add limited express fee. It’s not very convenient even though price is attractive.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Jeffrey Co says:

        Hi Takeshi!

        I will be going to Kyoto on november and I will be staying at a hotel near the Kawaramachi station of the Hankyu-Kyoto line.
        I planned a 3-day itinerary for Kyoto…

        Day 1: Kinkakuji temple and Arashimaya
        Day 2: Kiyomizudera, Kodai-ji, Maruyama Park
        Day 3: Fushimi Shrine and Tokufu-ji

        At first I thought of using the 2-day sightseeing pass for Day 1 and 2 but will I be able to use it for Arashimaya?

        Do I need to buy a sightseeing pass for my itinerary or just buy tickets as I go around?

        Thank you!

        • Hi Jeffrey,

          You may use Kyoto sightseeing pass one day for day 1. But you can get Arashiyama by bus only. Please see the bus map in the link below:
          http://www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp/koho/eng/access/img/pdf/ENG160319(map).pdf

          You cannot get Arashiyama by subway. You need to take a bus eventually. Bus pass is only 500 yen for one day. If you want to save your cost, just use bus pass.

          On day 2, you can walk. All places can be accessed by walk. There are lots of other temples, shrines and shops.

          On day 3, you can take Keihan railway from Gion-Shijo to Tofuji and Fushimi-Inari. Only single ticket is your choice.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

          • Jeffrey Co says:

            Hi Takeshi!

            I’ve been doing my research on which buses/trains to use to go around my itinerary in Kyoto.

            Day 1: Higayashima District – mostly walking as you had said most places here are accesible by walk.

            Day 2: Kinkakuji and Arashimaya – Here I researched that I will be taking Bus 101 from Nishiki market to Kinkakuji. From Kinkakuji going to Arashimaya I will take bus 205 and JR Sagano Line. then from there I can take JR Sagano to Kyoto and Karasuma subway to our hotel.

            Day 3: Fushimi and Tofuku-ji – Here i will take Keihan Line. Then i will take Hankyu from Kyoto to Osaka in the afternoon.

            Do I need to buy any pass for my itinerary or can I use what you mention the Kansai Pass? Is this both for Kyoto and Osaka?

            Thank you so much for your help!

            • Hi Jeffrey,

              You don’t need any passes. Single ticket is your choice. You will pay one by one.
              You may use Kansai one pass instead. It does not give you unlimited ride. It gives you same value as cash payment but you don’t need to buy ticket one by one. You can take any trains and any city buses. You just tap your card to take a bus and enter ticket gate at train station. It offers discount at many attractions. When you need more fund, you can add more fund at the vending machine in JR station.
              https://kansaionepass.com/en/about.html?info=1

              Cheers,

              Takeshi / JPRail.com

  4. John says:

    Dear Takeshi san,

    I need your advice on our upcoming trip to Japan Osaka and Kansai area. We will be in kansai for 8 days and have difficulty finding the best train tickets for our trip. Rough detail of our trip as below. We will be staying at an airbnb in Osaka throughout the 8 days and had to consider traveling back to Osaka everyday.

    Day 1: Arrive at Osaka by overnight bus. Check in airbnb. Tour Osaka.

    Day 2-7: We planned to go to kyoto for 2 days, Nara for 1 day, 3 days in Osaka (possible to add in a half day in Himeiji?). Is this a good plan for first trip to Kansai? We felt that the Kansai thru pass may not be worth it and also considered Osaka amazing pass, Keihan Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing pass and Hanshin tourist pass. But how should we combine the passes together?

    Day 8: Check out airbnb. Tour Osaka. Take overnight bus back to Tokyo.

    One issue is we have to travel back to Osaka every trip we make out of Osaka as our airbnb is in Osaka. Please advice and thank you very much.

  5. David says:

    Hi Takeshi san,

    I am visiting this April. I will be staying in a hostel in Namba for the whole duration of the trip. My itinerary looks like this:

    Day 1: Arrival at KIX at around 5:30AM. Transfer to Namba. Tour around Osaka in the afternoon.
    Day 2: Tour of Osaka
    Day 3: USJ and other places in Osaka
    Day 4: Tour of Kyoto
    Day 5: Tour of Kyoto
    Day 6: Tour of Kyoto and then Nara in the afternoon
    Day 7: Tour of Himeji and Kobe
    Day 8: Tour of Hiroshima
    Day 7: Namba to KIX

    Would appreciate if you could recommend the most cost effective pass/es for this kind of itinerary.

    Thank you!

  6. Shing says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    My itinerary is as below:

    Staying in Kyoto
    Day 1-Kansai Airport to Kyoto station (Use Haraku pass)
    Kyoto Imperial Palace, Fushimi Inari Taisha (Use Kyoto subway 1 day card)
    Day 2-Kinkakuji, Kodaiji Temple, Kiyomizudera (Use Kansai One Pass)
    Day 3-Arashiyama (Use Kansai One Pass)
    Day 4-Himeji, Kobe day trip (JR Kansai Area Pass)
    Day 5-Kyoto to Osaka, Nijo Castle

    Staying in Osaka
    Day 6- Shitennoji, Shinsekai, Hozenji (Use Osaka Amazing pass Day 1)
    Day 7-Osaka Castle, Okawa river cruise, Umeda Sky Building, HEP 5 Ferris Wheel (Osaka Amazing pass Day 2)
    Day 8- Kyoto day trip (philosopher’s path, okazaki canal)
    Day 9-Nara day trip
    Day 10-Osaka
    Day 11-Airport (Haraku pass)

    Please kindly advise on the Passes to get. Thank you in advance.

    • Hi Shing,

      Why you have day trip to Himeji and Kobe from Kyoto on day 4 and Kyoto day trip from Osaka on day 8? You will waste your time. You may swap day 4 and 8. Himeji and Kobe are much closer to Osaka than Kyoto. You still can use Kansai area pass one day for Himeji and Kobe. You may use Kansai area pass 2 days for Nara too. You also can use Kansai thru pass 2 days. Trip time to Himeji is much longer if you use Kansai thru pass. But it covers subway in Osaka. If you complete your trip early, you can visit some more places in Osaka. You also can take subway in Kobe by Kansai thru pass.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Shing says:

        Hi Takeshi-San,

        Thank you for your prompt reply. I’ll be staying in Kyoto from 28th till 1st April. I’ve been following the sakura forecast closely and it seems that the first bloom will start on 1st April. I wouldn’t want to miss the sakura in Kyoto and that is why I decided to have a day trip to Kyoto from Osaka on 4th April. Please kindly advise. Thanks.

  7. Phyl says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    May I have your advice on choosing the best option of JR / train passes that will suit my plan to Japan?

    My itinerary is below:
    Day 1 – Hakone to Osaka (namba-osaka)
    Day 2 – Kyoto and Nara day trip
    Day 3 – Iga-Ueno day trip
    Day 4 – Universal Studios
    Day 5 – Spend a day in Osaka
    Day 6 – Osaka (namba-osaka) to Kansai International Airport

    Look forward to hear from you. Thank you.

  8. Jasmine says:

    Hi Takeshi-san

    Please kindly recommend what Passes/Lines I would require to buy

    My itinerary is as follow:
    14th March – Arrive KIX at 4pm
    14-17th March – Stay at Osaka Kamishinjo Station
    – Lucky Owl Cafe, Dotonbori
    – Umeda Sky Building
    – Osaka Castle
    – Glico Man
    – Universal Studio Japan
    – Namba Station
    – Nakatsu Statin
    – Shinsaibashi Station
    – Ikeda Station

    17-20th – Stay at Kyoto (and Nara Day Trip)
    – Yamashina Station / Higashino Station
    – OmuRice
    – Fushimi Inari
    – Buses

    21-22nd – Kobe/Himeji
    – Arima Onsen
    – Sannomiya Center Gai Shopping Street
    – Ikuta Shrine
    – Chinatown (Nankinmachi)

    22nd-23rd – Return to Osaka Tenjimbashi station
    23rd March – Return SG

    Thanks & Regards
    Jas

  9. Kelly chen says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    Can i get suggestion on which passes is best for my trip to japan. Before the trip i hv plan to purchase jr rail pass for 7 days with line as follows.

    Day 1 & 2
    Haneda – osaka (namba-osaka castle -osaka tenmagu shrine -tenjinbashi suji – minoo park -shinseikai -kuromon ichiba market -shinsaibashi- nishitenma)

    Day 3 & 4
    Osaka – kyoto ( sakyo-ku- kiyomizudera -higashimaya – philosopher path -gion – shijyo -maruyama park -fushimi inari -arashiyama -daogoji

    Day 5
    Kyoto – nara ( todaiji temple – nara park – chikunrinin – yoshinoyama) – hakone – ito station

    Day 6 – 8
    Ueno – around tokyo – haneda airport

  10. Edmund says:

    Hi Takeshi san,

    Thank you for such useful website.
    Since there are many choices, I’d rather have your expertise in choosing which transportation.
    I will be visiting Osaka for 8 days, and will only stay in Osaka and take day trips from Osaka.

    My itinerary is as follow:
    Day 1 – Arrive KIX at 2PM, head to Kyoto straight from airport, then back to Osaka at night
    Day 2- Kyoto day trip
    Day 3 – Himeji day trip
    Day 4 – Nara day trip
    Day 5 – Universal Studios
    Day 6 – Aquarium
    Day 7 – Spend the day in Osaka
    Day 8 – Depart from KIX at 5:30pm

    Thanks for your help in advance!

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