The Limited Express Hashidate. The train to Amanohashidate from Kyoto directly.

Most of Kinosaki and all Maizuru are operated by the newest fleet of JR West. (C) Jonathan AyreKinosaki Onsen, Aanohashidate, Toyooka, Fukuchiyama, Maizuru
Most of Kinosaki and all Maizuru are operated by the newest fleet of JR West. (C) Jonathan Ayre
Kyoto Tango Railway 8000 series, Tango no Umi train set (C) やのけん (Yanoken) [CC BY 4.0 from Wikimedia Commons]

Hashidate connects Kyoto and Miyazu, Amanohashidate and Toyooka. This is only train to go directly one of “Three Views of Japan”, Amanohashidate.

This train, Hashidate goes through KTR (Kyoto Tango Railway) between Fukuchiyama and Toyooka. So if you use this train and go to stations further than Fukuchiyama by Japan Rail Pass, you have to pay extra fare. But if you use Kansai Wide Area Pass, Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass or Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass, this segment on KTR is covered.

I would like to share with you about this train’s route, schedule, accommodations. I will also explain about the extra charge for Japan Rail Pass users.

Route, schedule and trip time

Amanohashidate is one of Three Views of Japan. ©Kyoto Prefecture/© JNTO
Amanohashidate is one of Three Views of Japan. ©Kyoto Prefecture/© JNTO

Hashidate connects Kyoto with Miyazu/Amanohashidate in 2 hours, and with Toyooka in 3 hours. If you go somewhere between Amanohashidate and Toyooka, this train will be suitable for you. But if you go to Toyooka, Kinosaki and Kounotori are the right choice. Because Hashidate will go on KTR line. It is going a long way round.

The number of trips is the following:
Between Kyoto and Miyazu — 1 trip to Kyoto
Between Kyoto and Amanohashidate — 3 round trips
Between Kyoto and Toyooka — 1 trip to Toyooka, 2 trips to Kyoto

If you go to Amanohashidate from Kyoto, this train “Hashidate” is the best choice. But if you cannot take this train, you can take another limited express, Kinosaki to Fukuchiyama. And then you can take a local or express train from Fukuchiyama to Amanohashidate by Kitakinki Tango Railway.

If you travel somewhere further than Fukuchiyama by Japan Rail Pass, you need to pay some extra because this section is not Japan Railway line. The extra charges are the following:

 FukuchiyamaMiyazuAmanohashidateKumihamaToyooka
Fukuchiyama700/650770/6501580/9701800/970
Miyazu700/650210/3201050/6501270/970
Amanohashidate770/650210/320980/6501190/970
Kumihama1580/9701050/650980/650290/330
Toyooka1800/9701270/9701190/970290/330

This above table shows you base fare / non reserved seat of Limited Express surcharge.
If you take a reserved ordinary seat, you have to pay another 200 yen.

Kansai Wide Area Pass, Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass and Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass cover these above extra fares.

If you need the detail schedule, you can find it at Hyperdia.
* If you don’t know how to use Hyperdia, please refer this post

Find your hotels in 218 cities throughout Japan!!!

Hotels and Ryokans in Toyooka and Kinosaki Onsen
Hotels and Ryokans in Amanohashidate and Miyazu

Stations 
Kyoto (京都)x
Nijo (二条)x
Kameoka (亀岡)x
Sonobe (園部)x
Ayabe (綾部)x
Fukuchiyama(福知山)x
Oe (大江)x
Miyazu (宮津)x
Amanohashidate (天橋立)x
Nodagawa (野田川)x
Tango-Omiya (丹後大宮)x
Mineyama (峰山)x
Amino (網野)x
Kitsu-Onsen (木津温泉)x
Kumihama (久美浜)x
Toyooka(豊岡)x

x:All train stop *:Some of trains stop


View Hashidate in a larger map

Accommodation and train formations

Hashidate is operated by the newest fleet 287 series and KTR 8000 series (diesel multiple unit).

*I have received many images of 287 series from my viewer, Mr. Jonathan Ayre. I would like to thank you for your contribution.

*Sonic Rail Garden has copyright for all images of 183 series accommodations below.

287 series and 289 series

Both train sets have almost same interior. The seat configuration in Green class is 2+1 and the seat pitch is 1,160 mm. The seat configuration in Ordinary class is 2+2 and the seat pitch is 970 mm. All seats in Green class and the first row seats in Ordinary class have a power outlet for a laptop and a mobile device.

4 cars formation

1234
G/RRNRNR

*G=Green seat R=Reserved ordinary seat NR=Non reserved ordinary seat
Smoking is not allowed on this train.
Maizuru is operated with Kinosaki always. This is the reason why car number is started from 5.

287 series images

Green seat

Ordinary seat

Sanitary space

289 series images

Green seat

Ordinary seat

Sanitary space

KTR 8000 series, “Tango no Umi”

This train set which is shown at the top of this post is very nice one. It does not have any Green class seats. However this was renovated by very famous designer, Eiji Mitooka who is the chief designer of JR Kyushu. He designed most of JR Kyushu trains, such as Yufuin no Mori, Seven Stars. This train set, Tango no Umi has same taste of JR Kyushu trains. These are lots of wooden materials in the car and make it nice cozy interior. The seat configuration is 2+2 and the seat pitch is 1,050 mm which is much bigger than a standard of ordinary class.

Train formation

12
RNR
1234
RNRRNR

*G=Green seat R=Reserved ordinary seat NR=Non reserved ordinary seat
Smoking is not allowed on this train. This train is usually operated by 2 cars formation and it is sometimes operated by 4 cars formation with Maizuru in the peak period.

Ordinary class

(C) やのけん (Yanoken) [CC BY 4.0 from Wikimedia Commons]
(C) やのけん (Yanoken) [CC BY 4.0 from Wikimedia Commons]

Public space

(C) やのけん (Yanoken) [CC BY 4.0 from Wikimedia Commons]

Comments

  1. Bella says:

    Hello,
    Can I use 18 Kippu ticket and just pay extra fare to Amanohashidate using JR Hashidate?

    Thank you

    • Hi Bella,

      Unfortunately you cannot.
      18 kippu does not allow you to take any limited express trains. You must pay full fare to take a limited express train. 18 Kippu does not help you at all.

      If you want to use 18 kippu for the travel to Amanohashidate, you have to take a local train or a rapid train to get to Fukuchiyama. And then you have to pay full fare to get to Amanohashidate from Fukuchiyama. This segment is not JR and you have to pay a full fare.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Peter says:

    I am thinking of taking the Limited Express Hashidate using a JR Green pass.

    But I also want to buy a “Sea Kyoto Amanohashidate / Ine Free Pass 1Day”
    (海の京都 天橋立・伊根フリーパス  1Day) (http://trains.willer.co.jp/planned_ticket/). This ticket would cover the area that the JR Green pass does not.

    I can buy a voucher for the 1 day pass online, but there is nowhere in Kyoto to exchange the pass before boarding the Limited Express Hashidate.

    I’m not sure I would have enough time to exchange the voucher for a pass while the train stops at Fukuchiyama for 9 minutes. The next place I can exchange the voucher for the actual pass is Amanohashidate,

    Is there any way that you are aware of I can avoid paying the surcharge while holding the voucher?

    Also is the surcharge the same for the Green car?

    Thanks,

    Peter.

    • Hi Peter,

      There is no ways. You have 2 choices.

      1. You have to gamble. If you can make it in 9 minutes, you can continue to travel on Hashidate. But if you cannot make it, you have to wait for next train.
      2. Pay for Fukuchiyama to Amanohashidate and exchange it at Amanohashidate.

      If I were you, I will gamble.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Melanie says:

    Hi again Takashi san!

    I am also travelling to Amanohashidate from Kyoto, using the JR national pass.
    I was wondering if I am reserving my trip to Amanohashidate (on the limited express Hashidate), will I have to pay extra on the reserved seat from Fukuchiyama to Amanohashidate even if I reserve the seat for the whole journey already? or will I just pay the basic fee 770 for going onto the other train lines?

    Also on the return, I am taking the Tango Relay from Amanohashidate to Fukuchiyama then the Kinosaki Express to Kyoto. Can I reserve them both ahead of time using my JR Pass? Or will I only be able to reserve the Kinosaki Express with my JR Pass? and reserve the Tango Relay separately?

    Sorry for the long question and the confusion, and thank you for your help

    • Hi Melanie san,

      You have to pay extra separately for Fukuchiyama to/from Amanohashidate. It doesn’t matter that you take Hashidate from Kyoto. This segment is not JR line and you have to pay extra anyway.

      You can book a seat for Fukuchiyama to Kyoto in advnace. But you cannot book a seat for Tango Relay in adcance because you have to book a seat on this train at Kyoto Tango Railway station. So you have to book it at Amanohashidate station.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Melanie says:

        Thank you for your reply Takashi san

        So the extra fee is both the reserved seat fee and the basic fee when I book?
        Do you know if I can pay the difference when booking the train at the airport? or only on the train?

        Thank you again!

        • Hi Melanie san,

          I don’t think that you can buy it at the airport of JR station. Because you have to buy a base fare and express seat fee on Kyoto Tango Railway segment. Usually this segment ticket is not sold in JR stations. But I have never tried it before. You may ask to buy a base fare ticket and seat fee ticket for Fukuchiyama to Amanohashidate at JR station or at Kansai airport station. I’m not 100% sure.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  4. Mac says:

    Hi, Takeshi san,

    We (me, wife & 6 years old child) plan to do a side trip to Amanohashidate from Kyoto this coming 22nd Nov 2019. We do have the Kansai Wide Area Pass.

    From hyperdia, we can take the 7:32 am Ltd Exp Kinosaki 1 to Fukuchiyama and then take the Ltd Exp Tango Relay 1 to Amanohashidate. Some questions about the day trip to Amanohashidate:

    1. Is there any chance that the non-reserved seat on Ltd Exp Kinosaki getting full? Should we purchase extra surcharge for reserved seats instead to avoid standing all the way to Fukuchiyama especially with a small child?

    2. Does the Kansai Wide Area Pass cover the Ltd Exp Tango from Fukuchiyama? Also, the same concern here whether we should get the reserved seat to Amanohashidate?

    3. For the return trip, I would like to get the direct train to Kyoto with LTD. EXP HASHIDATE 6 (14:55) so that we can rest all the way home without worry about the transfer. Similar question here, how early we should queue up to get a chance for the seat in the non-reserved car?

    Sorry for the lengthy questions here. The bottom line, it’s all about not getting seats in the non-reserved car because we want to avoid standing all the way in the train carrying our 6 years old child.
    Thanks.

    • Hi Mac san,

      1,3. If you go to the platform 30 minutes prior do the departure time, you can get seats easily.

      2. Tango Relay from Fukuchiyama is covered by Kansai Wide Area Pass. It covers only non reserved seat car. There are some reserved seat but you cannot book this seat in Kyoto. You have to book a seat at Fukuchiyama. I don’t think you have enough time to book there in the transfer time. Just go for non reserved seat.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Wyne says:

        Hi Takeshi san,

        I’m going to Kyoto, Osaka, kinosaki and tottori in jan and has some questions I need your expertise

        1) the main difference btw the 5D Kansai wide area pass and 5D Kansai-Hiroshima pass is just that the latter goes to Hiroshima right? All train options are same?

        2) say on hyperdia, it’s says 3200jpy for non reserved seats and 4200jpy for reserved seats and 5200jpy for green seats, it means I just have to pay cash at the JR office the difference of reserved – non reserved seat costs (1000jpy) right?

        I’m always on JR. pass but this is first time I am using regional pass that does not include reserve seats, and I want to make sure I put aside enough money for the TOP up.

        Thank you
        Wyne

        • Hi Wyne san,

          1. There is one more big difference between these passes. When you go to Tottori, Kansai Wide Area Pass covers Osaka-Tottori direct and the fastest route which is the limited express Super Hakuto.
          https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/limited-express/the-fastest-train-access-to-tottori-from-osaka-and-kyoto-limited-express-super-hakuto.html

          This is a huge difference when you go to Tottori. If you use Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass, you have to take a local train from Kinosaki to Tottori. You also have to change trains at Hamasaka on the way to Tottori. It takes about 2 hours from Kinosaki to Tottori. The limited express Hamakaze runs between Osaka and Tottori on this route. But it runs only one round trip between Osaka and Tottori. And also it runs very early morning or very late evening only.

          2. Actually you have to pay 4,200 yen on top of the pass. The additional payment is not the difference. Please see the link below about reserved seat and non reserved seat in the link below:
          https://jprail.com/travel-informations/travel-tips/reserved-seat-vs-non-reserved-seat-how-to-get-a-seat-on-non-reserved-car.html

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

          • Wyne says:

            Hi Takeshi san,

            thanks for your reply. i have decided to buy the kansai wide area pass. i need some advices for my route below.

            21Jan KIX – Kyoto : Haruka to Kyoto (KIX – Kyoto, route 2: 1846:2004 http://bit.ly/21JanKixKyo

            22Jan Kyoto – tottori : Kyoto to Tottori
            (route 2: 0803:0904 – SHINKANSEN NOZOMI 99 to Okayama + 0913:1104 – LTD Express INABA 3) http://bit.ly/22JanKyoTot

            23 Jan Tottori – Kinosaki
            Tottori – Kinosaki
            (route1: 0930 -1129 (direct) JR SAN-IN LINE for KINOSAKIONSEN – only non reserved) http://bit.ly/23JanTotKin

            24Jan Kinosaki – Kyoto (route 1: 1039:1307 (direct) LTD. EXP KINOSAKI 12 ) : http://bit.ly/24JanKinoKyo

            The pass can apply to all these trains right without extra on non-reserved seats?
            ===
            2) for point 2, for example if i take the 24Jan routing
            (route 2: 0803:0904 – SHINKANSEN NOZOMI 99 to Okayama + 0913:1104 – LTD Express INABA 3) http://bit.ly/22JanKyoTot

            on hyperdia, the base fare for NOZOMI is 3740JPY, Non-reserved seat fare is 3400JPY(covered by the pass), Reserved seat fare is 4,050JPY.
            meaning, if i want to take Reserved seats, i will need to top up 4050JPY in cash.

            Am i correct to say this?
            ====

            Thank you again!
            Wyne

            • Hi Wyne san,

              Kansai Wide Area Pass does not cover the Shinkansen between Kyoto and Shin-Osaka. So you cannot take Nozomi from Kyoto station. You must take other express train or rapid train to get Shin-Osaka and then take the Shinkansen.

              But the limited express Super Hakuto 3 departs at 8:50 from Kyoto and arrive in Tottori at 11:57. This is direct and you can get Tottori directly. Kyoto is the original departure station of Super Hakuto. If you show up at the platform 20 minutes before departure time, you can get a seat in non reserved car.

              Other routes are okay.

              Cheers,

              Takeshi / JPRail.com

              • wyne says:

                Hi Takeshi san,

                LOL, thank you so much for that detailed notice! i wanted to let my mum experience the shinkansen but didn’t realised Kyoto-Shin Osaka is still the Tokaido line. it is lucky that i have asked you else i would have an unpleasant surprise on the actual day.

                For the non-reserved seats on the Super Hakuto, is Jan generally a low season for domestic travel? cos this is a very long leg, and i don’t want to have the family all split up. if it is also a peak, then i would get the reserved seats when i reach kix airport on arrival, after i exchange for my wide area pass.

                ===
                Just a side note:
                Actually, i really do find the regional pass abit confusing at times because there are so many types and limitations to the actual coverage. it is easy for beginner travels because the cities they are going are usually not so complicated, but when repeaters want to venture into the lesser travelled regions, it requires alot of research. Hyperdia is just to tell time and schedule but as much as it is so useful, it won’t be able to tell if the leg is covered by certain passes or not or how much to top up etc.

                Wouldn’t it be nice if the regional pass can be like the national JR pass, covering all/most lines in that region(s), and only has the options of buying a fully reserved seats pass and non-reserved seats pass according to one’s budget. It would really help to solve so many small and minor overlooks even for many repeaters, and you do not need that many types of passes to confuse travelers.
                This is just my humble suggestion.

                Wyne

                • Hi Wyne san,

                  Late January is low season. It’s usually easy to get a seat in non reserved car. Especially Kyoto is the original departure station of Super Hakuto. If you go to the platform 20 minutes before the departure time, it is usually easy to get a seat.

                  I understand your opinion. But JR West will continue to sell their regional pass with non reserved seat only. Because Kansai airport station is always crowded. They try to minimize spending the time per customer. If everybody want to reserve a seat, they have to ask them and book one by one. The waiting time per customer will increase.

                  On the other hand, JR East try to remove non reserved seat from all express trains. Because JR East want to increase the profit. As a result, their regional pass covers reserved seat fee. But sometimes passengers cannot take a seat for the train which they want to take.

                  JR Central is not interested in the tourist from overseas so much. That is why they still do not allow JR Pass user to take Nozomi. JR looks same for overseas tourists. But JR group consists of six passengers companies. They are totally different organizations. Each company have different vision. It makes the tourist be confused.

                  Cheers,

                  Takeshi / JPRail.com

          • wyne says:

            Hi Takeshi san,

            one more question on the pricing.
            if i take this route : http://bit.ly/21JanKixKyo (route 2: 1846:2004)
            Kansai to Kyoto station on LTD. EXP HARUKA 48
            The base fare on hyperdia is 1910JPY
            non reserved seat is 990JPY + 1910JPY = 2900JPY
            reserved seat is 1320JPy + 1910JPy = 3230JPY

            i remembered many years ago when i took this train using the 3D kansai area pass, i had topped up only about 1300JPY(+/-) more only….

            But reading your article, it seemed i have to pay the full fare of 3230JPY OR is it only 1320JPY?
            Kindly do assist to clarify on the pricing shown on hyperdia…

            thank you again
            Wyne

            • Hi Wyne san,

              You have to pay 1,320 yen. Base fare is covered anyway.

              Cheers,

              Takeshi / JPRail.com

              • wyne says:

                Say i don’t reserve any seats on my kansai wide area pass. i just have to turn up at the gate for the non-reserved seat cabins at my desired timing/date right? the only thing i need to do at the JR west office at KIX is just to get my MCO exchanged for the actual pass.

                thank you very much again~

                • Hi Wyne,

                  That’s right. All you have to do is showing your pass at the ticket gate and hop on non reserved seat car.

                  Cheers,

                  Takeshi / JPRail.com

                  • wyne says:

                    Hi Takeshi san,

                    i wish you well. again. We will be using the ICOCA card in kansai and need a little confirmation that they can be used on the train line below
                    1) Kyoto – Inari – Uji – Nara via the JR NARA Line on Local/rapid service
                    2) Kyoto – Osaka station via JR Special Rapid Service
                    3) Nara – Osaka station via the JR Rapid service

                    *point 2 and 3 we are still planning whether to go to Osaka from Kyoto or Nara. either way, we find that the cost is cheaper than the kansai area pass (we are considering if we should get the area pass after the 5D kansai wide area pass expires). Just to confirm that the ICOCA can cover these lines.

  5. vivian says:

    Dear Takeshi-san,

    thanks very much for the information! I would like to take the Express Hashidate Line from Amanohashidate yo Kyoto directly. Though seems like it cannot be booked a reservation via JR West online… do you know if i could buy the ticket directly in the JR store?

    Best,
    Vivian

    • Hi Vivian san,

      You can book and purchase a ticket at any JR stations which have the reservation window. In Osaka, Kyoto and surrounding places, most of JR stations have the reservation window.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  6. Gwen says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    Am I able to use JR pass without additional cost to travel to Amanohashidate from any point within Japan? I will be using the pass to travel from Tokyo to Kansai region and explore the surrounds. I hope to maximise the use of my JR pass to visit Kinosaki-onsen and Amanohashidate if possible. Thank you!

  7. JJ says:

    Thanks, Takeshi!

    1. Extra fare for Fukuchiyama to Amanohashidate: from the table in your post above, the extra fare adds up to about 1400Yen (one way with seat reservation). But I saw from some online forum that a similar one way is close to 3000Yen. Is there a surcharge I need to be aware of?

    2. Extra fare for Ito to Izu-Kogen: the website is helpful! But can I confirm that I read the table correctly: the extra fare for Super View Odoriko is 1780Yen from Atami?

    Can you advise based on my itinerary which is better: JR 7-days Ordinary Pass or a combination of Kansai Wide Pass+Tokyo Wide Passes?
    •one way trip Kyoto to Tokyo
    •return trip Kyoto to Amanohashidate
    •return trip Tokyo to Izu-Kogen
    •return trip Tokyo to Kamakura

    And to confirm these passes cover Limited Express Hashidate and Super View Odoriko with seat reservations? As I have elderly in my travel group. Much thanks!!

    • Hi JJ,

      1. My faretable was outdated because the tax was raised. However it is still 1,420 yen. I checked the official site again to make sure this. Even if you use reserved seat, the fare is 1,620 yen one way. I think 3,000 yen is the round trip fare.

      2. The extra charge is 1,170 yen for the base fare 660 yen (Ito – Izu-Kogen) and reserved seat fee 510 yen.

      JR pass + the extra fare is cheaper choice for your trip.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  8. JJ says:

    Hi 🙂 I would be travelling from Kyoto to Tokyo. I understand that the 7-day JR Ordinary Pass covers the Hikari/Kodama shinkansen between both cities, but would like to find out if the Pass also covers the following routes to see if it is worth getting the Pass:
    i) Kyoto to Amanohashidate – the direct Hashidate / Kinosaki Limited Express?
    ii) Tokyo to Izu-Kogen – the shinkansen and the Odoriko Limited Express?
    Do I need to do any fare top-ups? If need, how much on average? Also, can I do free seat reservations on all the above trains?
    Thanks!

  9. Sugi says:

    Hi!
    Would appreciate your feedback on which Passes is a better choice for my itinerary below:

    Day 1: Kansai airport to Shin Osaka
    Day 2: Osaka
    Day 3: Osaka Castle/Tsuruhashi/Temma/Uji/Gion/Shin Osaka
    Day 4: Kibune/Kurama Onsen/Eizan Railway
    Day 5:

  10. Charmaine says:

    Hi!
    Would like to check which is a better option: Kansai wide area pass or ICOCA Haruka.

    My itinerary as follow:
    Day 1: KIX – Shin Osaka
    Day 2: Shin Osaka – Kyoto
    Day 3: Sightseeing in Kyoto, Arashiyama
    Day 4: Kyoto – Amanohashidate – Kyoto
    Day 5: Kyoto – KIX

    Would appreciate if you advise which pass should I get. Thank you!

Copied title and URL