I have received inquiries about the trip to Kansai area many times. So I make a basic itinerary that includes Kansai area, such as Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and Nara only. This is 7 days itinerary. But you can shorten or extend as you can.
Now I would like to tell you the best route and most economical deals about this trip.
Day 1 – Kansai airport (KIX) to Kyoto
Kansai One Pass and Haruka one way trip to Kyoto at 4,600 yen.
Overnight around JR Kyoto station
If you arrive in Kyoto early, you can visit somewhere around Kyoto station. Fushimi Inari is only 5 minutes away from Kyoto station. Kyoto Tower is just located in front of Kyoto station. You can use Kansai One Pass to get there.
Day 2 and 3 – Sightseeing in Kyoto
There are several deals available. I recommend you to use both Kansai One Pass and Kyoto City Bus Pass. Kansai One Pass covers city bus too but Kansai One Pass does not give you unlimited travel. It offers only convenience. On the other hand, Kyoto City Bus Pass is sold at 600 yen for one day. You can take a bus as many as you want. You can get the worth of it by only 3 rides. You can use Kansai One Pass only for taking a train and/or a subway.
Kyoto City Bus and Subway Pass (Kyoto Sightseeing Card) is also available. But this does not cover other railways, such as JR, Hankyu, Keihan railways. You will take various trains in Kyoto. Please see the link below to find the train route in Kyoto:
You can get anywhere in downtown Kyoto by bus. It is possible to visit all places only by city bus. However city bus is always crowded and the traffic in Kyoto has been very heavy in these days. I recommend you to take a train or a subway as much as you can.
Kansai One Pass and Bus Pass are the best combination for sightseeing in Kyoto, in my opinion.
Day 4 – Trip to Nara and transfer to Osaka
Visit Nara on the way to Namba, Osaka from Kyoto.
You can take either Kintetsu Railway or JR to get Nara. Both trains depart from Kyoto station. But Kintetsu railway’s Nara station is better location. It is 1 km closer to most of tourist spots in Nara than JR Nara station.
After Nara, you can take either JR or Kintetsu to get Osaka. Please see the link below to find the route to Nara:
Day 5 – Trip to Kobe and Himeji from Osaka
You may use JR Kansai Area Pass one day at 2,200 yen if you book it online in advance. If you buy it online, you have to exchange the pass at Shin-Osaka, Osaka, Kyoto or Kansai airport.
You can purchase this pass at many major stations in downtown Osaka but the price is a bit higher. There is other trains to Kobe and Himeji, like Hanshin railway. But JR is the fastest to get Himeji. Please see the post, How to access to Himeji and Kobe from Osaka to get the details.
Day 6 – Sightseeing in Osaka
There are lots of deals available in Osaka. Please see the link below to find the deal:
How to choose the pass for sightseeing in Osaka
Day 7 – Osaka to Kansai airport (KIX)
If you want to take Haruka again, you can purchase Haruka discount ticket. This discount ticket is available for overseas tourist who has ICOCA or Kansai One Pass only.
ICOCA and Haruka, Kansai One Pass and Haruka
Otherwise you can choose other deal in the link below:
How to choose the deal for trip to/from KIX
I hope this sample helps you to build your trip plan.
Comments
Hi takeshi san,
We are planning to visit osaka kyoto on may. With this itinerary
Day 1 arrived at KIX (10PM)
Day 2 osaka
Day 3-4 kyoto
Day 5 nagoya
Day 6 nara-kobe
Day 7 osaka – KIX
What pass is the best for this itinerary, and do kansai thru pass cover to nagoya?
Notes : We will stay at osaka for whole trip
Thanks in advance for your help
Hi Willy san,
You can use Kansai thru pass for Kyoto, Nara and Kobe. But Nagoya is way far from the coverage area. You have to use Kintetsu Rail Pass or Platt Kodama. Please find more info in the links below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/kintetsu-rail-pass-most-affordable-deal-for-osakakyoto-nagoya-and-access-to-ise.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/how-to-transfer-between-nagoya-and-osaka-kyoto-by-train.html
For KIX-Osaka and sightseeing in Osaka, please refer the links below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/how-to-access-from-kansai-airport-to-downtown-osaka-kyoto-and-kobe.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-osaka.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear takeshi,
If i use osaka kyoto sightseeing pass and kyoto bus day pass for transportation from osaka and kyoto is it worthed? Or better use kansai through pass?
Hi Willy,
You may use Kyoto-Osaka sightseeing pass and Kyoto bus day pass. But Kyoto-Osaka sightseeing pass covers only Keihan Railway. If you don’t stay near Keihan station, you have to take Osaka Metro subway. It’s not covered but Kansai thru pass does.
In Kyoto, you can get most places by Kyoto city bus. But the traffic is heavy all times in Kyoto. You may take a long time to get the places in Kyoto by bus. If you have Kansai thru pass, you can take Kyoto city bus pass, Hankyu railway, Kyoto subway, Keifuku railway. It is much better.
But as you probably think, the cost is way different. If you really want to save your cost, you can use Kyoto-Osaka sightseeing pass + Kyoto city bus pass. The choice is yours.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi takeshi san,
Thank you for your information,however i still confuse because there are too many train in osaka. here is my itinerary in kyoto, do you suggest to get kansai thru pass or osaka kyoto sightseeing + bus pass. I will stay near imamiya station
Day 1
* Kiyomizudera
*Yasaka shrine
*Fushimi inari
*Kinkakuji
*Gion
Day 2
*Kyoto imperial palace
*Kyoto gyoen national park
*Nishiki market
*Arashiyama
*Gion
*Kyoto station
Day 3
Kobe and himeji
Thank you for your assistance
Hi Willy,
I recommend you to use 3-day Kansai Thru pass because you can use it for these 3 days trips and more convenient.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com