
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 Emily San,
Appreciate is u can advise which is the best pass to get if my itinerary as below:
Day 1- KIX – Kyoto (stay around Kyoto station)
Day 2 – Visit Kyoto Arashimaya
Day 3 – Kyoto – Osaka (stay round Umeda station)
Day 4 – Osaka – Nara (Day trip)
Day 5 – Osaka – Kobe (Day Trip)
Day 6 – Osaka sightseeing
Day 7 – Osaka – KIX
Hi Tan san,
You may use Kansai one pass and Haruka for day 1 to 5 and 7.
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
For day 6, if you intend to visit may attractions, Osaka amazing pass is considerable. Otherwise Osaka 1-day pass is okay.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-osaka.html
P.S. Emily is one of the readers.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi san,
I’ve been reading most of your entries and replies to other inquiries but I am still confused on what to be the best pass or combo to deal with my itinerary. I will be arriving on 24th Jan. 2020 morning. My planned itinerary is as follows:
Day 1: Kansai (KIX) Arrival then go to Nara [temples and markets]
Day 2: Higashimuki then attend the Wakakusa Yamayaki and get the late train to Kyoto (Hotel is in the Kyoto Station)
Day 3: Kyoto – Nishiki Market Breakfast then to Miyama Kayabuki no Sato
Day 4: Kinkaku-ji in the morning and go to Namba in the afternoon, Osaka Castle at night
Day 5 and 6: Markets – Kuromon ,Shinsaibashi-suji , Dotonburi feasts, Den den town, Shinsekai (if time permits)
Osaka Castle at night and Kaiyukan for the other night.
Day 7: Kuromon, Shitennoji Temple, Shinsekai (if haven’t visited yet)
20:00 – Kansai International Airport
Kindly advise what would be the best pass to buy for my itinerary. Looking forward to hear from you. Thank you very much in advance.
Cheers,
Ernie
Hi Ernie san,
You may use a few local deals:
KIX-Nara
If you want an affordable way, please use the deal in the link below:
https://www.howto-osaka.com/en/ticket/ticket/nara.html
If you want an easy way, take a limousine bus at the regular fare:
http://www.kate.co.jp/en/timetable/detail/NR
You don’t need any deal for day 2, 4 and 7. You can purchase Kansai One Pass instead of buying a ticket one by one:
https://kansaionepass.com/en/about.html?info=1
On day 3, you can take a direct bus.
https://kyotomiyama.jp/files/user/20191207120734315.pdf
It will be very busy in this period.
You may add Osaka Kaiyu Ticket when you go to Kaiyukan on day 5 or 6. When you don’t go to Kaiyukan use Kansai one pass:
https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/subway/trip-to-osaka-kaiyukan-aquarium-by-osaka-kaiyu-ticket-2.html
By the way, Osaka castle is closed at 5:00 pm. You cannot visit there in the evening.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi San,
We are planning to visit Japan during next year Mid-March 2020. It would be greatly appreciated if you are able to review and give advise on my itinerary as below.
Day 1 :
Land in Tokyo Haneda Airport
Day 1 – 5 (4 nights) :
Exploring around Tokyo cites center (shibuya, shinjuku, harajuku, ginza, asakusa, odaiba..etc)
Day 5 – 6 (1 night) :
Depart from Tokyo Shinjuku to Hakone (exploring around hakone area, hakone air museum, hakone shrine, lake ashi etc, overnight at ryokan near Sounzan train station)
Day 6 – 8 (2 nights)
Depart from Hakone to Kyoto, stay hotel around Kyoto station
(explore around Kyoto: Arashiyama, Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji, Kiyomizu-dera, Gion district etc)
Day 8
Depart from Kyoto to Nara to Osaka (*with luggage)
(explore around Nara: visit Nara Park , Todai-ji temple etc)
Day 8 – 10 (2 nights)
Exploring around Osaka city center (dotonburi, shinsaibashi, osaka castle, osaka aquarium etc)
Day 10 night departure
I have a few questions regarding my itinerary:
1. Is it worth purchase 7 Days JR Pass based on my itinerary?
2. In terms of transportation from Shinjuku to Hakone, it is better to take Tokaido Shinkansen (cover by JR Pass) to Odawara Station and bus to Sounzan Station? Or it is better to take direct train Romancecar to reach Hakone then to Odawara and lastly Sounzan Station?
3. Can you kindly advise the most convenient / fastest transportation from Hakone to Kyoto?
4. Is it more convenient to take shinkansen from Kyoto to Nara and lastly to Osaka?
Do you have a better advise to accommodate our luggage while travelling these 3 places, I plan to transfer the luggage from Kyoto to our Osaka stay place, but I not sure how this works)
5. The pass I needed in this whole trip as below, do I missed out any?
-7 Days JR Pass
-Hakone Free Pass
-Suica Card (for the road that is not cover by JR Pass)
-Osaka Amazing Pass
6. I would hope to insert Lake Kawaguchiko or Gotemba Outlet in my itinerary, but I worried it would be too packed. Please do let me know if you have any idea on mind.
Thank you.
Best Regards,
Sandra
Hi Sandra,
JR Pass does not work. You cannot get the worth of it by your trip plan.
Actually I have the sample itinerary which is almost same as your trip plan. You can follow it. First of all, please see the link below. You will find most of :
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7to9-days/sample-itinerary-of-tokyo-hakone-kyoto-and-osaka-classic-route-in-7-days.html
There is no Shinkansen route to Nara from either Kyoto or Osaka. If you really care about the luggage, you can make a day trip to Nara from either Osaka or Kyoto.
If you want to visit Lake Kawaguchi, you should visit Lake Kawaguchi first. But you have to travel with luggage. Please see the link below to find the itinerary of Lake Kawaguchi and Hakone two day trip.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1to3-days/fuji-and-hakone-two-days-trip-sample-itinerary-spring-version.html
If you are okay with Gotemba outlet only, you can visit there from Hakone. It is much easier than Kawaguchiko.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
I’m currently living near Yokohama 🙂
Hi,
I’m currently working here in Japan and planning on an Osaka-Kyoto-Nara-Kobe 7day trip in February. Are there any JR passes that I can use other tha the Visitor limited one’s?
Hi Kristine,
Where do you live now?
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Forgot to mention..
I’ll be travelling via HNDKIX
Hi Kristine,
There is no deals available to cover whole part of your trip. But you may add some deals in each cities. These following deals are available for all tourists:
KIX-Osaka
https://www.howto-osaka.com/en/ticket/ticket/tokuwari.html
https://www.howto-osaka.com/en/ticket/ticket/chikatoku.html
Osaka
Osaka amazing pass
https://www.osp.osaka-info.jp/en/
Osaka Kaiyu Ticket
https://www.kaiyukan.com/language/eng/kaiyu.html
Kyoto
City bus, subway pass
https://www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp/kotsu/webguide/en/index.html
Many places can be accessed by walk in Nara and Kobe.
If you have Suica or Pasmo, you may use it in these cities as well. You also have to use IC card or regular ticket for city to city.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
We will be travelling to Japan for 5 days. Can you pls help us with the most convenient travel passes to use:
Day 1 – Arrive at KIX. Our hotel is located at Namba. Tour around Namba area.
Day 2 – Universal Studios
Day 3 – Kyoto (Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama), Nara
Day 4 – Day trip to Kobe
We have an ICOCA card already. Is it more convenient to use it or we should do combination of travel passes?
Thanks!
Kay
Hi Kay,
Kansai Thru Pass is recommended:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-use-kansai-thru-pass-compare-pass-and-single-fare.html
If you intend to make a few trips on day 1 by subway, you can go for 3-day pass for day 1, 3 and 4. Otherwise 2-day pass is okay for day 3 and 4. You may use ICOCA on day 1 to take Nankai Railway from KIX. For day 2, ICOCA is okay.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
We are planning to go to Osaka on December. Please help us identify which is the best pass to get. Booked our hotel in Namba area and Here is our itinerary:
Day 1: arrival at kansai airport
Day 2: osaka
Day 3: osaka
Day 4: kyoto
Day 5: kobe
Day 6: nara osaka
Day 7: depart at kansai
Thank you, Takeshi!
Hi Lorenzo,
The regular fare to take Nankai railway between KIX and Namba is most affordable. One way fare is 930 yen.
You can use Kansai thru pass 3-day for Kyoto, Kobe and Nara.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-use-kansai-thru-pass-compare-pass-and-single-fare.html
For day 2 and 3, you can choose the deal in the link below:
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 san,
My family of 5 have 5 Pasmo cards from our last visit to Tokyo last year. We plan to visit Osaka/Kyoto early next year. Our Itineraries are:
KIX to Kyoto, arrive at Kyoto around 6 pm by Haruka limited express. Staying near Kyoto station.
Day 2 – 5 explore Kyoto to places like Philosophers path, Kiyomizu Dera, Gion etc using trains or bus services and travel to Nagoya for a day trip.
Day 6 Kyoto to Osaka. Staying near Umeda station.
Day 7 – 9 explore Osaka Castle, Himeji, Dotonbori etc and travel to Nara for a day trip
Day 10 from Osaka to KIX by airport limousine bus
Can you please advise do we need to get the ICOCA cards? Or we can use our Pasmo cards to purchase the Haruka tickets to Kyoto? Will there be a discount? And lastly, can Pasmo card be used widely in Osaka/Kyoto/Nagoya/Nara?
Thank you so much for your time.
Janice
Hi Janice san,
You can use Pasmo in Kyoto, Osaka, Nara and Himeji. You also can use Pasmo for train ride among these cities. You can use Pasmo in Nagoya too.
But you cannot use Pasmo for the train ride between Kyoto and Nagoya. You cannot use Pasmo to purchase Haruka ticket. Pasmo covers only base fare. And you cannot buy Haruka ticket at the discount price by Pasmo. You must purchase ICOCA to get Haruka ticket.
So if you really want to take Haruka at the discount price, you must get ICOCA. If you really want to use your Pasmo, your choice is taking Haruka at regular fare or taking the limousine bus to Kyoto. Actually you can use Pasmo to take the limousine bus. It is valid for Umeda to KIX bus too.
http://www.kate.co.jp/en/timetable/detail/KY
I recommend you to use use Kansai area pass 3-day for Kyoto to Osaka, trip to Himeji and trip to Nara. But you have to use it for 3 consecutive days. It is much cheaper than using Pasmo.
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
In Kyoto, you may use all day bus pass to take city bus in Kyoto. You can use Pasmo to take a bus too but you can get the worth of this bus pass by only 3 rides. You can use Pasmo to take a train or a subway.
The Shinkansen is the best way to get Nagoya but as I mentioned, you cannot use Pasmo. Only Platt Kodama is the deal to take the Shinkansen:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/platt-kodama-one-way-deal-among-tokyo-nagoya-kyoto-and-shin-osaka-by-shinkansen.html
You can use Pasmo to see Osaka. But there are some deals available. It may be easier than using Pasmo.
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 San,
Thank you for the informative writeup!
Please check and see if my selection of the passes are suitable 🙂
Day 1 arrival at night in Kansai Airport to Namba – using The Rapi:t Airport Express
Day 2 Osaka – using 1 day OAP
Day 3 USJ – using ICOCA
Day 4 kyoto – using 4 Day JR West Kansai Pass
Day 5 kyoto – using 4 Day JR West Kansai Pass
Day 6 Nara – using 4 Day JR West Kansai Pass
Day 7 Kobe/ Himeji – using 4 Day JR West Kansai Pass
Day 8 departure
Hi Ann san,
Kansai area pass 4-day is okay for day 4 to 7. But Kansai Thru Pass is more useful for sightseeing in Kyoto.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-use-kansai-thru-pass-compare-pass-and-single-fare.html
Especially Kansai thru pass covers Kyoto city bus. This is a great advantage of this pass. Kansai area pass does not cover it. It covers only JR train and you can access Arashiyama, Fushimi, Nijo and Uji only. If you want to visit Kinkakuji, Gion, Kiyomizudera and many other places, you may need to take city bus.
My recommendation is using Kansai thru pass for day 4, 5 and 7, and using ICOCA to get Nara on day 6. JR train special rapid is faster than Hanshi railway and Sanyo railway. JR is covered by Kansai area pass. Hanshin and Sanyo are covered by Kansai thru pass. But you have to get Osaka station first to take special rapid. You have to take JR Kanjo line to get Osaka but if you take Hanshin railway, you can get from Namba. In the total trip time, JR is still faster than Hanshin and Sanyo but the price is cheaper because you will use Kansai thru pass.
For the trip on other days, your choice is okay.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Takeshi san;
I have finalized our trip agenda. Want to purchase a 14 day JPRail pass but unsure about Green or Ordinary. We will have 4 trips by Shinkansen; one from Tokyo to Osaka with 4 large luggage, Osaka to Hiroshima and return day trip, and one from Osaka to Haneda with luggage. The rest of our local transport will basically not have green cars( to Kyoto, Kobe, etc. ) Trip dates are from June 13 to June 29. Biggest concern is transporting the luggage. Last trip we did use green car pass but that was in August at height of festival time. What is your opinion?
Hi Ken san,
June is one of the shoulder season in Japan. But there are lots of business traveler using the Shinkansen all season long. I think Green Pass is better solution.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi san,
I tried to read your previous post that you explained to others, but I still confuse and I really hope you can help me on right pass to choose. I plan to go Osaka early Dec for 10 days, below my itinerary:-
Day 1 : Arrive Kansai Airport 7am, travel to Kyoto and arrive by noon. Sightseeing around Kyoto (Hotel near Kyoto Station). Question : shall I use Haruka and Kyoto Subway/City 2 days pass1700yen?
Day 2 : Sightseeing in Kyoto (Hotel near Kyoto Station) – 2nd say Kyoto Subway/City 2 days pass
Day 3 : Check out Kyoto, go to Uji/Nara (with luggage, may I know any locker at Kintetsi-Nara Station for luggage storage ), then check in hotel near Nipponbashi Station, Osaka (I stay 5 nights here) – using Kansai Thru Pass?
Day 4 : Universal Studio Japan (by ICOCA or just buy ticket?)
Day 5 : Osaka City/Dotonburi/Shinsaibashi (by ICOCA)
Day 6 : Himeji/Kobe (Kansai Thru pass or Kansai Area Pass 1 day?)
Day 7 : Kuromon/Tenoji/Denden town (by ICOCA)
Day 8 : check out hotel, go to Takayama/Shirakawa-go (from OCAT, Nohi bus, correct?)
Day 9 : half day moring tour at Shirakawago and back to OCAT at night, check in hotel near OCAT
Day 10 : Dotonbori/Shisaibashi/last day shopping (by ICOCA)
Day 11 : Take Limousin bus from OCAT to Kansai airport for 10:30am flight
Kindly advise if I am selecting the right pass. Thanks in advance for your help.
Regards,
Emily
Hi Emily san,
You can use Kansai one pass and Haruka for KIX to Kyoto. Kansai one pass is better choice than ICOCA because you can get the discount.
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
City bus and subway pass is okay for day 1 and 2.
You may use Kansai one pass for day 3 because JR is better choice from Kyoto to Uji. If you use Kansai thru pass, you have to change trains at Tambabashi and Chushojima twice.
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
Kansai one pass is okay for other than day 6, 8 and 9. Kansai area pass one day is your choice fro day 6.
There are lots of lockers available at Kintetsu Nara station. But you will take JR from Uji to Nara. There are lots of lockers available at JR Nara station. But JR Nara station is a bit away from many of places in Nara:
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
You may take JR train from Nara to JR-Namba.
Please do not forget to book a seat for Nohi bus for Osaka to/from Takayama. Reservation is required.
https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/highwaybus/osaka_en/
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com