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
I would like to confirm the best way of travel in Japan. We are planning the following itinerary:-
Day 1: Tokyo – Takayama
Day 3: Takayama – Nagano
Day 5: Nagano – Nikko
Day 7: Nikko – Tokyo
Appreciate if you could advise if the 7 day Japan rail pass or a single ticket in the example above most suitable.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Rebecca,
The best option for you is JR East Pass.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/jr-east-pass-flex-5-days-unlimited-travel-within-14-days-in-eastern-japan.html
Takayama is not in coverage area. But you can take express bus from Matsumoto at half price.
http://www.hida.jp/english/access/bus_ticket.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hello your advice is amazing I could not resist to run this by you, if that’s ok. We are in Japan 16 days and I was going to get a 14 day JR pass. We are flying in and out of narita airport. From Tokyo to Kyoto and thinking of kyosan, takayama, Kanazawa and Osaka. Plus travel around Tokyo for 5 days.
Hi Staazichan,
At this point, I can say that JR pass 14 days is too expensive. Before you choose the deal, you have to build the detailed plan. How many days you will spend in each cities? Where are you going to stay? Are you going to drop by Kanazawa and Takayama, or make a day trip from either Tokyo or Osaka? I need to make sure how many times you make trips by train. And then I can compare deals and single fares.
If you show me the detailed plan, I think I give you some more options.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi,
I am so glad to have come across your site. It was extremely useful -thank you. I would like to confirm with you about the best way to travel next week in Japan. I arrive in Kansai and want to either spend the afternoon in Osaka or head straight to Nara for a day, then onwards to Kyoto for 2 days and finally to Tokyo where I fly out of. Is the local train the best option? Nara isn’t really mentioned in other peoples itineraries so I wonder if it makes it more difficult to purchase affordable train passes. Thank you so much in advance!
Hi CALI gal,
I recommend you to use Kansai area pass one day for arrival day. It covers Osaka, Nara and Kyoto.
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
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/how-to-access-to-nara-by-japan-rail-pass-if-you-dont-use-jr-pass-kintetsu-railway-is-more-convenient.html
You may use subway or bus deal when you are in Kyoto.
http://www.insidekyoto.com/special-kyoto-bus-train-subway-passes
There is no deal for one way trip to Tokyo from Kyoto. Only single fare is the best choice. If you want to save your cost, you may use highway bus.
https://willerexpress.com/en/
But I’m not familiar with bus. All I can say that it’s cheap.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
hi takeshi,
please help. may i ask what train passes and bus passes should i consider taking to have a cheap budget transportation if my itinerary is this:
-narita airport to kyoto
-4 days kyoto to osaka tour (and any near side trips)
-1 day tokyo day tour
-back to narita airport
thank you!
Hi Sarah,
JR pass 7 days is the best choice. This is the most affordable for you.
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
Most part of your trip will be covered. But if you travel in the cities, Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo, some places cannot be accessed by JR train. You need to take bus or subway and these are not covered by JR pass. Please find more info at the link below:
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-osaka-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
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
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/best-way-efficient-how-much-can-we-use-japan-rail-pass-in-downtown-tokyo.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi takeshi,
Will visit japan this october. Need your recommendation which transportation modes is cheaper.
Day 1: Osaka to Shibuya
Day 2-Day 3: Tokyo downtown tour
Day 4: Tokyo-Kyoto-KIX
Thanks
Hi Hani,
JR pass 7 days is the best option for you. It does not give you a big saving but it gives you flexibility.
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
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi. Thanks for your informative site 🙂 My husband and I are travelling to Hakata next month and we plan to go to Tokyo via Kobe and Osaka. In your opinion, would it be better for us to buy individual tickets or should we buy passes? Also will we see interesting things along the way? Thank you for your time.
Hi Julie,
If you travel from Hakata to Tokyo in 7 days, you can use 7 days JR pass. Roughly total fares will be not much different from 7 days pass. That means JR Pass does not give you a huge saving. But it gives you flexibility. It gives you unlimited ride and easy to change your plan on the spot. Bus and subway are better transportation in both Osaka and Kyoto. But you can use JR pass to get some places.
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-osaka-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
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
Fuji and Hakone are located on the way to Tokyo and highly recommended/
https://jprail.com/destinations/chubu-area/fuji-hakone-access-guide-by-train-and-bus-from-both-tokyo-and-osaka-kyoto-nagoya.html
You can make these places from Tokyo as day trip too.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi takeshi,
Would it be more appreciate for me to purchase single trip or jr pass if I’m traveling from Tokyo to Osaka back to Tokyo again
Basically it’s
June 15 to 18 Tokyo
June 18 to 20 Osaka
June 20 to 23 Tokyo
Please advise.
Hi Shawn,
You can use 7 days JR pass. As long as the pass covers Tokyo-Osaka-Tokyo, you can use any 7 days in your trip. If you intend to visit outside Tokyo, try to included that trip in this 7 days.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail
Hi,I will like to find out as I staying in okasa from 1st to 8th sept. Will be touring okasa places of interest Then to kyoto. Will I need to purchase to jr pass or single ticket pass is suitable for my journey.
Hi Mika,
No. It’s way more expensive than single ticket or local deals.
You may find some more idea at the links below:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/how-to-build-the-itinerary-and-choose-the-deals-for-osaka-stay-5-to-7-days.html
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/visit-kyoto-osaka-nara-and-kobe-for-5-to-7-days-sample-itinerary.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi,
I am going from Tokyo to KIX and am wondering if I should use the same ticket as the one used in your example. I would like to cover this:
Day 1 Tokyo – Odawara/Hakone
Day 2 Hakone – Kyoto
Day 3 Nara daytrip
Day 4 Kyoto – Osaka
Day 5 Osaka – KIX
So extra tickets required would be Odawara-Hakone return and for the Nara day trip.
Thanks for your help
Hi Dan,
Yes. You are right. You can use one base fare ticket for Tokyo to KIX with stopover at Odawara, Kyoto and Osaka. But you have to purchase limited express surcharge ticket for each segment if you take Shinkansen or other express trains.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi,
Need your recommendation for my next visit with following itinerary:
– Arrived in Narita Tokyo , stay in Tokyo one night
– go to Toyama for Tateyama Alpine ( may be Kanazawa too)
– go to Matsumto for Kamikochi
– go to Kawafujiko from Matsumoto
– back to Tokyo from Kawafujiko
– stay in Tokyo for 2 days trip
Please recommend what kind of JR pass I should buy for the above trip.
Thanks for your advise.
Hi Chujit L.,
In my rough estimation, total fares will be almost same as 7 days JR pass if you visit Kanazawa. If you don’t go to Kanazawa, total fares will be cheaper than JR Pass. There is no other deal go cover Tokyo and Toyama/Kanazawa other than JR Pass. So your choice is 7 days pass or single fare.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail