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. May says:

    Hello,

    I am planning to make a trip to Amanohashidate from Osaka. From what I have read it is better to train from Osaka to Fukuchiyama then transfer to Ltd. Exp Hashidate (extra fee) to Amanohashidate. I have a couple of questions regarding this trip:
    1. Where can I buy the ticket for Ltd. Exp Hashidate?
    2. If there is no conductor on train where will I buy my ticket?
    3. How often does the Hashidate run?

    If there is a better option to travel from Osaka to Amanohasidate, please advise me. I will be staying in Dontobori in Osaka.
    Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it.

  2. Linh says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    We are planning a day trip from Osaka to Amanohashidate in early November. From my understanding, we can take the Kounotori (covered by JR Pass) from Shin-Osaka to Fukuchiyama then transfer to Ltd. Exp Hashidate (extra fee) to Amanohashidate. Do you know if we can reserve the tickets for the Hashidate train from Fukuchiyama to Mananohashidate from Osaka at the same time we reserve the tickets for Kounotori? According to Hyperdia train schedule, we only have 4 minutes to transfer, not sure if that is humanly possible…
    For the returning journey from Amanohashidate, we will tale the Ltd. Exp Tango Relay train to Fukuchiyama, can we reserve the ticket in advance from Osaka or we can only buy the tickets once we are at Fukuchiyama?

    Thanks in advance.

    Regards,
    Linh

    • Hi Linh san,

      You cannot purchase a ticket for Fukuchiyama to Amanohashidate in JR station. So unfortunately you cannot reserve a seat for Fukuchiyama to Amanohashidate. You have to find a seat in non reserved car. You can purchase a ticket for this on board from a conductor. If you cannot meet a conductor, you can pay extra when you exit Amanohashidate station.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Michael says:

        I am taking a similar trip with JR Pass, is it possible to reserve a ticket from Amanohashidate to Kyoto on Hashidate from JR tokyo station? If not, do I buy the whole trip from just Amanohashidate, or do I have to buy the ticket in two parts?

        Thanks!

      • Linh says:

        Hi Takeshi san,

        Thank you so much for the prompt response.

        It appears to be quiet humanly impossible to transfer at Fukuchiyama within 4 minutes and plus we cannot reserve seats in advance.
        If that is the case, we are thinking of detouring to Kyoto and take the Ltd. Exp Hashidate from Kyoto Station. If we take Ltd. Exp Hashidate from Kyoto to Amanohashidate, can we reserve the seats for the entire journey ( as i thought it is the same train all the way to Amanohashidate from Kyoto)? Or can we only reserve from Kyoto to Fukuchiyama (covered by JR Pass?), and pay extra fee to purchase the ticket for journey from Fukuchiyama to Amanohashidate from the onboard conductor and remain on the same train?

        Thanks in advance
        Regards,
        Linh

        • Hi Linh san,

          Actually you can transfer trains at Fukuchiyama in 4 minutes. Because both trains will arrive at same platform. You can move from train to train in 30 seconds. Even if you will take Limited Express Hashidate from Kyoto, you cannot reserve a seat for Fukuchiyama to Amanohashidate either. It’s not a solution. Just do as you planned and change trains at Fukuchiyama. You can pay extra as I explained.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. SK says:

    Hi, we would like to visit Amanohasidate with our 7 days whole Japan Pass. If we took LTD. EXP KINOSAKI from Kyoto Stn and transfer LTD. EXP TANGO RELAY at Fukuchiyama, do we need to pay addition fare? Thank you.

  4. Michael says:

    Hello,
    I am planning to take the limited express hashidate from Fukuchiyama to Amanohashidate, I was wondering does the train leave from the JR part of the station or the Kyoto Tango Railway side of the station?

    I am arriving on a JR train and only have 9 minutes to connect, so I was wondering how fast it will be to transfer.

  5. kms says:

    Hi

    This is my Itinerary for my up coming trip to Osaka, I have only listed these 5 days as the other days are with Osaka area itself, look at my Itinerary do you think the Kansai Wide Area Pass is worth getting to use on these 5 days, from my calculation it seems the figure are really close to, if buying tickets and using a ICOCA card against using the Kansai Wide Area Pass.
    I know some trains are not covered, and I will be using non reserved seats, so additional fee is probably not necessary.

    Do You think that non reserved seat for my Itinerary is alright, what are the chances of these trains being full and for me having to stand, the date is 16th November 2018 to 20th November 2018

    Is this doable, traveling solo.

    Thanks

    Day 4/16th November 2018
    Make my way to Kobe from Osaka in the morning

    Suma Aqualife Park
    Kobe Animal Kingdom
    Kobe China Town

    Stay in Kobe and make my way to Arima Onsen in the morning

    Day 5/17th November 2018

    Arima Onsen

    Make my way back to Osaka at night after 5-6pm

    Day 6/18th November 2018
    Go to Amanohashidate from Osaka in the morning

    天橋立 Amanohashidate Station

    Leave Amanohashidate for Kyoto after 6pm

    Day 7/19th November 2018
    Ginkakuji
    Kinkakuji
    Philosopher’s Path
    Nishiki Market
    Fushimi Inari Taisha

    Day 8/20th November 2018
    Bamboo Grove
    Arashiyama Monkey Park
    Kyoto Aquarium

    Back to Osaka late at night.

    Thanks for looking into my Itinerary

    • Hi kms,

      Yes, you can use Kansai wide area pass. You almost can get the worth by only Osaka-Amanohashidate-Kyoto. You can use local train to Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto. As you calculate, total fare will be higher than Kansai wide area pass price.

      Train will not be very busy in this period. But in these days, even week day may be busy because many overseas travelers visit Japan in fall foliage season. But I do not expect train will be super busy

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • kms says:

        Thanks for the reply, I have one more question, but not related to the above.

        When I arrive at KIX can I purchase the Kansai One Pass and either one of limited edition ICOCA (Hello kitty or wind/thunder gods) at the same time, also can the limited edition ICOCA cards be purchased without the Haruka train service, If I have to buy the Haruka ticket, I will need it as a return journey back to KIX, My journey from KIX has to be the Limited express Rapi:t for a particular reason.

  6. Mathieu Zilmia says:

    Hello!!
    I would like to know, if there is a amanohashidate pass ??
    And what is include ?? (Train, cable car ??).
    THANK YOU!!

  7. Murtedza M. says:

    Please confirm that I can use Kansai Wide Area Pass (without additional fare) for unreserved seat on Limited Express Hashidate from Kyoto to Miyazu. Please also confirm that I can use the same pass for all Kitakinki Tango Railway trains (Tango Akamatsu, Tango Aomatsu and Tango Kuromatsu trains). Thank you.

    • Hi Murtedza M,

      Only Aomatsu is covered fully. You can take Akamatsu with seat fee 540 yen on top of the pass. The seat on Akamatsu is not reserved but you have to get a numbered ticket.

      Kuromatsu is sold as the package tour. It comes with meal on board. You need to pay full fare for taking this train. Even base fare is not covered. Only Japanese site is available to introduce these trains. I just put it just in case.
      https://trains.willer.co.jp/matsu/train/about.html

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  8. Abdelrahman says:

    Dear Takeshi-san,

    Hi, I am arriving in Osaka international airport and want to go to Amanohashidate directly. Is going to Kyoto the only way or can I head there directly from the airport?

    Thank you!
    Abdelrahman

  9. Cheryn says:

    Dear Takeshi-san,

    Hi! My itinerary as below:

    Day 1 – Travel from Osaka Kansai airport to hotel (hotel: Best Western Fino Osaka)
    Day 2 – Go Universal Studio Japan
    Day 3 – Shopping in osaka
    Day 4 – Travel from Osaka to Kyoto hotel (hotel: Hotel Brighton City Kyoto Yamashina). Visit Fushimi Inari Shrine, Nishiki market.
    Day 5 – Sightseeing in Arashiyama
    Day 6 – Sightseeing –> Kiyomizudera, Higashiyama, Gion area
    Day 7 – Travel from Kyoto to Ine
    [Note: I plan to take the 7.32am Hashidate Ltd Exp Kinosaki from Kyoto to Fukuchiyama, and then Tango Relay Ltd Exp from Fukuchiyama to Amanohashidate. Bus from Amanohashidate to Ine]
    Day 8 – Ine to Amanohashidate. Sightsee in Amanohashidate. Return to Kyoto hotel.
    Day 9 – Visit Kinkakuji in morn. Return to hotel to take luggae and go to Kansai Airport in the evening.

    Appreciate your advice:
    1) If I buy Kansai Wide Area pass (use from Day 5 to Day 9), are all the places I want to travel to covered by the pass?
    2) Any other passes will you recommend for my itinerary?

    Thank you!

    Cheers,
    Cheryn

  10. png says:

    Sorry for the long email but i just want to prepare the cost i need to pay for my budget.

    Thank you so much!
    Png

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