I have received many inquiries about Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka one way trip. I always recommend to use a regular ticket for this one way long distance train ride, such as from Tokyo to Kyoto, from Osaka to Tokyo. Because this one way trip is not enough to get the worth of JR Pass 7-day. I have written the post about the fare calculation before.
But I think this post was not enough to explain the fare rule. JR single ticket rule is very complicated for the tourists from oversea. But you do not need to know everything. If you understand some basic rules, single ticket is more useful and it gives you a trip at more affordable rate.
In this post, I will show you some basic rules of the regular ticket for the long distance train ride and how to use and purchase it.
How to purchase it
Simply you can purchase it at the station. If you make a short distance trip in the city or city to just outside city, you can purchase a ticket at the vending machine.
e.g.
Ueno to Tokyo (inside city)
Tokyo to Yokohama (city to just outside place)
Osaka to Universal City (inside city)
Osaka to Kyoto (city to outside place)
If you make a long distance trip, you still can buy a ticket at the vending machine. But the ticket window may be easier to purchase a long distance ticket for the foreign travelers. Especially if you intend to make a stopover on the way, you have to buy a ticket at the ticket window. Because you have to explain your trip plan.
If you want to take a limited express train, you have to purchase a limited express surcharge ticket too. Even if you want to take a non reserved seat on a limited express train, you have to purchase it. You can purchase both a reserved and a non reserved ticket for a limited express (the Shinkansen as well) at “Midori no Madoguchi”. Midori no Madoguchi is the name of JR reservation ticket window. You can purchase a base fare ticket at Midori no Madoguchi too. Please get the detail about reservation at the post below.
In the case of purchasing both base fare ticket and limited express surcharge ticket, you can purchase it in advance. An express surcharge ticket is on sale one month prior to a departure date.
e.g.
Tokyo to Kyoto travel on Dec 1
You can purchase the tickets after Nov 1.
You also can purchase the tickets at any JR stations if you buy both base fare and limited express surcharge at same time. For example, if you start to travel from Tokyo station, you can purchase it at Narita airport station on the day of arrival.
Base fare ticket can be purchased at any JR stations where station staff is on duty. There are many station without station staffs in remote area. In major cities and major stations, there are station staff. Even if you take a train at the station without station staff, you can purchase it from the conductor in the train.
How to get a fare
You can use Hyperdia to get the fare quite easily.
As you see above capture image of Hyperdia, you can get base fare and seat fare (includes surcharge). In this image, total fare is the following:
Base fare – 9560 yen
Shinkansen Nozomi (Tokyo – Shin-Osaka) – 5740 yen (reserved seat)
Ltd Exp Haruka (Shin-Osaka – Kansai airport) – 820 yen (reserved seat)
Total – 16120 yen
*The above image was captured in 2013. The fare was raised in April l, 2014 because of consumer tax was increased to 8% from 5%. The actual fare is different from the fare in the image above.
The price of Japan Rail Pass 7 days ordinary is 28300 yen. (New price is 29110 yen.) Total single fare is more than 10000 yen cheaper than 7 days pass price. This is the reason why I recommend to use single fare for Tokyo – Osaka one way transfer.
Validity
Please see the above capture image of Hyperdia again. You also can find a distance at Hyperdia. This is a key to use single ticket. Actually long distance ticket can be used in multiple days.
Distance | Valid days |
---|---|
101 – 200 km | 2 days |
201 – 400 km | 3 days |
401 – 600 km | 4 days |
601 – 800 km | 5 days |
801 – 1000 km | 6 days |
- From 1001 km and up, add 1 day every 200 km.
- If you travel more than 101 km but it is in Tokyo or Osaka zone only, ticket valid in one day only.
So in above capture image, distance is 613.4km. This ticket valid in 5 days.
Stopover
You can stopover as many as you want. Of course you cannot go back. Once you start to travel, you have to go forward. You have to care only one thing. When you depart/arrive to travel at the following areas, you cannot stopover in same areas.
- Sapporo
- Sendai
- Tokyo 23 wards
- Tokyo Yamanote line
- Yokohana
- Nagoya
- Kyoto
- Osaka
- Kobe
- Hiroshima
- Kitakyushu
- Fukuoka
These areas are same as city limit. I show you some examples.
1. Above ticket (Tokyo – Kansai Airport)
You can NOT – Stopover at anywhere in Tokyo 23 wards. For example, after you start to travel from Tokyo, you cannot stopover at Shinagawa.
You can – Stopover at Kyoto, Osaka and anywhere outside of Tokyo 23 wards.
By the way, you can start to travel from anywhere in Tokyo 23 wards.
2. Ticket from Narita airport to Osaka
You can NOT – Stopover at anywhere in Osaka city. For example, you cannot stopover at Shin-Osaka. Once you exit at any stations in Osaka city, your ticket will be expired right away.
You can – Stopover at Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya and anywhere outside of Osaka city.
By the way, when you travel through Tokyo downtown core, ticket will be calculated by the shortest route. For example, most typical route from Narita to Osaka via Tokyo, via Tokyo station and Shinagawa station. But if you want to go to Osaka via Akihabara and Shinjuku, you can take this route and stopover.
But in case of using limited express, you have to purchase limited express surcharge ticket for each segments.
ex) Tokyo – Osaka trip, stopover at Nagoya.
You have to purchase two Shinkansen tickets, Tokyo – Nagoya Shinkansen surcharge ticket and Ngoya – Shin-Osaka surcharge ticket.
Sample ideas
Please see above capture image of Hyperdia again. If you use this ticket, you can do the following itinerary.
Day 1 Tokyo – Kyoto (Stopover at Kyoto)
Day 2 Kyoto (no use single ticket)
Day 3 Kyoto – Osaka (Stopover at Osaka)
Day 4 One day trip to Kobe (purchase another single ticket.)
Day 5 Osaka – Kansai airport
When you arrive in Tokyo, you can use other deals, such as Suica & N’ex. And you have 5 days after you finish to see Tokyo. If you add Suica & N’ex one way ticket, total amount is 19620 yen. It is about 9000 yen cheaper than JR Pass 7 days.
I believe this is the perfect solution for Tokyo – Osaka one way travellers.
Comments
Hi Takeshi San,
This is my first time going to Japan on 6-14 Apr. I find your blog is very useful. Below is my itinerary:
6 -10 Apr : Tokyo
10 – 13 Apr : Kyoto (plan to go to Osaka for day trip & back to Kyoto)
14 Apr : Kansai airport
Could you kindly advise whether I can buy direct ticket on 10 Apr from Tokyo to Kansai airport and make a stopover in Kyoto for 5 days. Then go to Kansai airport on 14 Apr using the same ticket.
If can, during a stopover, do I pass through the auto ticket gate and will my tickets be returned or kept by the machine
Please advise
Thanks
Liana
Hi Liana san,
You can use one base fare ticket. But now you can purchase Haruka discount ticket from Kyoto to KIX at 1600 yen.
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
One way ticket to Kyoto and this 1600 yen Haruka discount deal is cheaper than one ticket to KIX with stopover at Kyoto. And also it’s easier to handle for you too.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi san,
Thank you so much for the info.
I will take the Haruka discount deal into my consideration
Cheers
No problem, Liana san.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi!
Will I be able to use my JR rail pass on Shinkansen bullet train for a roundtrip from Tokyo to Kyoto? Do I have to reserve our seats prior to departure? Or if I don’t have a JR rail pass, what are my other options to get to Kyoto? Because right now i’m still debating if I should get a 7 day rail pass since we are only going to be in Japan for 4 days. We just want to see Tokyo and Kyoto. Hoping for your response.
Thank you,
Cory
Hi Cory,
Shinkansen is covered by JR pass.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/japan-rail-pass-user-guide-how-to-use-jr-pass-to-its-maximum.html
https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-departure-arrival-stations/stations-in-tokai/nagoya-toyohashi/what-is-shinkansen-bullet-train.html
Tokyo – Kyoto round trip fare by Shinkansen is slightly cheaper than 7 days JR pass. But if you arrive and depart in Narita and take Narita Express, 7 days pass will be cheaper even if you stay for 4 days.
https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/limited-express/narita-express.html
If you just need to take Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kyoto only, there is no other options than JR Pass. Single ticket is only your choice.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Thankyou for the information.
I’d like to ask:
1. The validity of Odawara-KIX base fare ticket depends only on the distance or the time duration?
Bcs I follow your itinerary sample start from the Odawara part. The problem is I will stay 4 days in Kyoto and 2 days in Osaka, if I buy my Odawara-KIX base fare ticket, will it be expire if it depends on time duration?
I saw in Hyperdia that Odawara-KIX is about 530km away.
I stopover in Kyoto and Osaka.
Please kindly advise 🙂
Regards,
Clairine
Hi Clairine,
It’s calculate by the distance. So you cannot use one base fare ticket to even Osaka. Just purchase a ticket to Kyoto and purchase another ticket to get Osaka. There are some deals available from Osaka to KIX. So you may use one of these deals:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-choose-the-deals-for-access-tofrom-kansai-airport.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Thank you for taking the time to respond to all of these inquiries and for providing such helpful information. Am I to understand that round trip ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto on the Shinkansen cannot be purchased in advance online, only at the station?
Thank you!
Yael
Hi Yael,
That’s right. Unfortunately you cannot purchase it online. But it’s not hard to book and purchase for Shinkansen ticket. There are lots of trains running.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Takeshi-san,
Konnichiwa. I am getting confused after reading so much information from different sources so I hope you can give me simple advice.
I will be flying in via Haneda International and plan to take the Keikyu line to Shinagawa. I just need to get to Kyoto from there. I will be stay in Kyoto for 14 days and then I need to go to Tokyo after that.
If I don’t buy a JR Pass, is it possible to buy a single trip ticket from Shinagawa to Kyoto at Shinagawa station, and on my return, from Kyoto station to Shinagawa or Tokyo station on the day of travel itself? Or would you advise me to buy the tickets online in advance?
I will be travelling alone with a very big bag, and I’m not so young any more and can only speak and read very simple Japanese.
Arigatogozaimashita.
Hi Barbara san,
You can purchase Shinkansen ticket at Shinagawa station. If you can decide which train you take from Kyoto to Shinagawa or Tokyo, you may purchase a ticket at Shinagawa in advance too. Unfortunately there is no online booking available. But you can book it at any major JR stations in advance. You don’t need to purchase it just before taking train. You will be staying Kyoto for two weeks. So you can purchase a ticket during stay in Kyoto.
If you arrive in Haneda daytime, you may take Shinkansen ticket at Haneda airport too.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/customer_support/service_center_haneda.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/station-information/shinagawa-station-guide-transfer-among-shinkansen-keihin-kyuko-to-haneda-narita-express.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/station-information/kyoto-station-guide-how-to-transfer-among-shinkansen-kintetsu-subway-and-jr-local-trains.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Takeshi-san,
Domo arigatogozaimashita. Am very happy to learn I can buy the shinkansen tickets at Haneda International.
Thank you very much once again. 🙂
No problem, Barbara san.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
If we travel from Tokyo to Hakone (2 nights) then onwards to Kyoto, can we buy a single JR ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto and use it to stop over in Hakone? Or do you have to buy Tokyo > Hakone and Hakone > Kyoto separately? We will be getting the Hakone free pass for the 2 days there. Thanks for your advice.
Hi Lisa,
Yes, you can. You can purchase single base fare ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto and make a stopover at Odawara to get Hakone.
But you may take Odakyu Railway from Shinjuku to Hakone. You may purchase Odakyu railway single ticket from Shinjuku to Odawara and purchase Odawra depature Hakone Free Pass at Shinjuku. In this case, if you pay additional fare to take Odakyu railway’s express train “Romancecar”, you can get Hakone-Yumoto directly without changing train at Odawara. Please see some more info at the link below:
http://www.odakyu.jp/english/romancecar/charges/
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/sample-itinerary-of-tokyo-hakone-kyoto-and-osaka-classic-route-in-7-days.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
±Hi Takeshi,
My itineary is
Haneda to Shinjuku
4Nights in Shinjuku
Shinjuku to Hakone
3Nights in Hakone
Hakone to Kyoto
2Nights in Kyoto
Kyoto to Osaka
2Nights in Osaka
Osaka to Kansai Airport
Please advise.
Thanks!
Hi Maddy,
Please refer the link below:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/sample-itinerary-of-tokyo-hakone-kyoto-and-osaka-classic-route-in-7-days.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
We will be in Fukuoka from July 10 to the 17th. We plan to make a trip to osaka and hiroshima. What is the best ticket to purchase?
Thank you
Hi Carlos,
Sanyo Sanin Area Pass is recommended.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/sanyo-sanin-area-pass-it-is-much-better-deal-than-sanyo-area-pass.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi
My family will be going Japan on 3-15 june free and easy . This is our itinerary
03/06 Arrive Haneda, stay Tokyo
04/06 Tokyo –> Fujinomiya –> tokyo
05/06 Tokyo –> Kofu
06/06 kofu –> Matsumoto
07/06 Matsumoto –> alpine route –> toyama
08/06 toyama ( visit kurobe gorge )
09/06 toyama –> hirayu onsen
10/06 hirayu onsen
11/06 hirayu onsen –> tokyo
12/06 Tokyo –> shimoda
13/06 shimoda
14/06 shimoda –> tokyo
Are you able to advise me what JR pass should i purchased for the above. Since some of the journey will be by bus (at hirayu and izu ), so i think buying a 14 days pass is not suitable, what will you suggest ?
Thank you
Hi Jasin,
As you guess, JR pass does not meet your plan.
7 days pass may be considerable for Jun 5 to 11. But you need to take a train from Toyama to Takayama to get Hirayu Onsen. Otherwise even 7 days pass will not be paid off. However you can reach Hirayu Onsen by bus from Toyama. And also you can go back to Tokyo from Hirayu Onsen directly.
http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/toyama.html
http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/tokyo.html
So I think single ticket for all trains is cheaper than either 7 days or 14 days JR pass.
You can get Fuji by bus too.
http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/highway/
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
This is our first trip to Japan. will be going on March 11- March 20. we find your blog is very useful. but we still have some question about it. Here is our itinerary
March 11 Narita- Shinjuku
Mar 12 Tokyo
Mar 13 Tokyo – Hakone
Mar 14 Hakone – Nagoya
Mar 15 Nagoya – Kyoto
Mar 16 Kyoto
Mar 17 Kyoto – Osaka
Mar 18 Osaka
Mar 19 Osaka- Ueno
Mar 20 Ueno – Narita
can you please advise
1. Should we buy the long distance ticket from Shinjuku – Osaka or Shinjuku – Nagoya, then Nagoya – Osaka.
2. Or should we just buy the JRPass for 7 days?
3. Do you have any other suggestion?
Thanks a lot!
Hi Carmen,
I recommend you to use JR pass 7 days from March 13 to 19. It’s better choice and easier to handle than single ticket.
You can use NEX round trip ticket for arrival and departure days.
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/nex_round.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com