How to choose the best train and bus pass for sightseeing in Kyoto

Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara
It is Must-See spot in Kyoto. ©Sue Ann Simon/©JNTO
2016.11.13
Toji temple is just 10 minutes away from Kyoto station. © Q.Sawami/© JNTO

There are several deals for sightseeing in Kyoto. I would like to show you the deals for the tourist who stays in Kyoto and want to visit the places there. I believe you will find most suitable for your trip.

By the way, if you intend to have a day trip to Kyoto from other cities, such as day trip to Kyoto from Osaka, from Kobe, Kansai thru pass and other deals are available. Please find the detailed information about the deal that covers Kyoto and other cities in the link below:

How to choose discount railway ticket and pass in Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara) area

Kyoto City Bus & Kyoto Bus One-Day Pass

Kyoto city bus
Kyoto city bus
  • Price – Adult:600 yen / Child:300 yen
  • Coverage – Kyoto city bus and Kyoto bus in allocated area
  • Valid period – one day (midnight to midnight)

This pass is most affordable deal in Kyoto. It covers the bus lines in most part of Kyoto city. It does not cover any trains and subway lines. Please see the link below to find the bus route map. You will find the allocated area.

Kyoto city bus route map

The single fare of bus ride is 230 yen. If you make three trips by bus, it is paid off. It is quite easy and this deal is so reasonable.

However the traffic in Kyoto is heavy and Kyoto is very popular city. The bus is stuck by traffic and is behind the schedule very often. Especially when Kyoto hold an event or festival, the bus is very crowded. If you want to visit many places in one day and have very tight schedule, I recommend you to take a train and/or a subway as much as you can. The train is much faster and much more reliable.

Subway, Bus One-day and Two-day Pass

Kyoto station platform (C) もんじゃ (own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Kyoto station platform (C) もんじゃ (own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
  • Price of one day pass – Adult:900 yen / Child:450 yen
  • Price of two days pass – Adult:1,700 yen / Child:850 yen
  • Coverage – All Kyoto subway lines, Kyoto city bus and Kyoto bus in allocated area
  • Valid period – one day (midnight to midnight) or two consecutive days

This deal covers both bus and subway in Kyoto. The subway lines run from west to east and from south to north. This deal gives you more convenience than Kyoto city bus pass and gives you more smooth movement.

If you pay a single fare, it costs 210 to 340 yen to take the subway and 230 yen to take the bus. So if you take a bus or subway more than 4 times a day, this pass is worth the price. Even if you are not sure how many times you make trips in one day, I recommend you to purchase this pass. It is not such a bad deal. You will get more convenient and save your time to calculate the fare at the station.

Please see the links below to find the subway route map and all trains system map in Kyoto.

Kyoto subway route map

You also can find the train network in Kyoto in the link below:

Kyoto train route guide. How to choose the best route by train to get the major spots?
There are lots of the train lines and subway lines in Kyoto. This post shows you the train network in Kyoto. You can learn how to get the major places in Kyoto.
jprail.com
2013.09.22

Kyoto City Subway One-day Pass

  • Price – Adult:600 yen / Child:300 yen
  • Coverage – All Kyoto subway lines
  • Valid period – one day (midnight to midnight)

This deal covers only subway lines in Kyoto. The price is cheaper than Subway, Bus one day pass but the price difference is only 200 yen. And the coverage of subway pass is very limited. You cannot visit many places in Kyoto by subway only. This pass is not very useful in my opinion.

ICOCA, Kansai One Pass and other IC cards

ICOCA is most popular IC card in Kansai area. (C) タンジェント (own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
ICOCA is most popular IC card in Kansai area. (C) タンジェント (own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

You may use these cards to take any trains and buses in Kyoto. You can use even other area’s card, such as Suica, Pasmo too. These cards give you convenience. You can avoid to purchase a ticket whenever you make a train trip. You can take any kinds of trains, such as JR, subway and Non JR trains. However these cards do not give you any discount and unlimited travel.

If you meet these following things, IC card is your choice.

  1. You intend to visit a few places in a day.
  2. You need to take several kinds of trains and buses, like subway, Hankyu, Keihan, JR.
  3. You cannot fix your plan and want to have some flexibility.

If you visit three places in bus coverage area, you may need to take a bus at least 4 times. It costs around 800 yen that is much more than Kyoto City Bus & Kyoto Bus One-Day Pass.

Please see the link below to find more information about IC card in the link below:

What is IC card, Suica, ICOCA, Pasmo? How to use these cards?
IC card is very common ways to take a train and a bus in these days in Japan. There are so many cards available in Japan. This post will explain you the type of IC card, the way of using it and the coverage area.
jprail.com
2018.07.30

Kansai One Pass

This is same type of IC card as ICOCA. You can use this pass by same way as ICOCA. But this card is designed for overseas tourist. The preload amount is 2,500 yen (plus 500 yen deposit and sold at 3,000 yen) and you can get a discount at many attractions. ICOCA is sold at any JR stations throughout Kansai area. But Kansai One Pass is sold in the designated stations only. Please see the link below to find the detailed information at official site.

Kansai One Pass official site

Find your hotels in 500 cities throughout Japan!!!

Hotels in Kyoto
Hotels in Kyoto station
Hotels in Gion, Kyoto
Hotels in Arashiyama, Kyoto
Hotels in Kansai International Airport

For traveler who visit Osaka and other cities in same day

As I mentioned at the top of this article, there are some deals available, such as Kansai Thru Pass. But if you move other city after sightseeing in Osaka, Kansai Thru Pass and other deals may not be suitable.

e.g.
Sightseeing in Kyoto, move to Osaka and stay (no sightseeing in Osaka)

In this case, the combination of one of the deals in Osaka and single fare between Osaka and Kyoto is usually cheaper than Kansai Thru Pass or other pass. But if you do sightseeing in two cities, Kansai Thru Pass is your choice.

e.g.
Sightseeing in Kyoto, move to Osaka and sightseeing in Osaka

But sightseeing in two cities in one day is very tight and not very recommended.

For traveler who use national or regional pass

If you use JR pass (national pass) or other regional deal, such as Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass, JR train network in Kyoto is covered. You may visit some places by these passes, such as Arashiyama, Nijo and Fushimi. You may not have any other passes beside these deals if you intend to visit these places. Please see the link below to find the coverage of these national and regional deals in Kyoto.

Kyoto train route guide. How to choose the best route by train to get the major spots?
There are lots of the train lines and subway lines in Kyoto. This post shows you the train network in Kyoto. You can learn how to get the major places in Kyoto.
jprail.com
2013.09.22

I hope this post helps you to find the best deal in Kyoto.

Comments

  1. Sammy says:
    August 26, 2017 at 12:33 am

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    The nearest stop from my AIRBNB is Osaka Nippombashi subway station. Please advise on the travel passes below, or if i should swap any days around to make full use of the travel passes:

    DAY 1 :
    Osaka Nippombashi subway – Arima bus stop (Kobe Arima Onsen)

    DAY 2:
    Arima bus stop – Osaka Nippombashi subway
    Osaka Nippombashi subway – Nara day trip

    DAY 3:
    Dotonbori, Osaka Castle & Umeda sightseeing

    DAY 4:
    Kaiyukan, Legoland, Tempozan Ferris Wheel

    DAY 5:
    Osaka Nippombashi subway – USJ one full day

    DAY 6:
    Osaka Nippombashi subway – Kyoto day trip Arashiyama

    Day 7:
    Osaka Nippombashi subway – Kyoto day trip Inari Shrine

    I am planning to get the following passes:
    DAY 1 & DAY 2 – KANSAI THRU PASS (Does this pass includes the Hankyu Highway Bus to Arima bus stop??)

    DAY 3 & DAY 4 – OSAKA AMAZING PASS 2-DAY

    DAY 5 – Is there a prepaid card that i could use for this whole day to and from USJ? which travel pass should i get?

    DAY 6 & DAY 7 – KANSAI THRU PASS

    Hope to hear from you as soon as possible as i only have two days before my flight. Thank you so much!

  2. Dina Merrer (USA) says:
    August 18, 2017 at 4:28 pm

    Your website is excellent. Thank you. Can you tell me the following:

    (1) Is it worth it to purchase a 7-day JR Pass for the itinerary below?
    (2) If yes to #1, is it worth it to purchase the Green class for travel in early September?

    Itinerary:
    Days 1-3 = Tokyo
    Day 4 = Tokyo to Gora
    Day 5 = Gora
    Day 6 = Gora to Mt Koya (Day 1 of JR Pass)
    Day 7 = Mt Koya to Kyoto (Day 2 of JR Pass)
    Days 8-11 = Kyoto (Days 3-6 of JR Pass)
    Day 12 = Kyoto to NRT (Day 7 of JR Pass)

    Thank you very much.

  3. Sumi says:
    August 15, 2017 at 4:30 pm

    Hi Takeshi san,

    Below is my planned trip next Feb and would like your advice for the train passes to get.

    Day 1: Arrive Nagoya, travel to Kyoto
    Day 2-4: Kyoto
    Day 4: Travel to Tokyo
    Day 5-7: Tokyo

    Thks!
    Bee

  4. xinyi says:
    July 4, 2017 at 12:55 pm

    Hi Takeshi san,
    I’ll be staying in Osaka and would like to visit Kyoto for a day during my trip. I plan to get a Keihan 1-day Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass to visit places like Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine and Kiyomizu-dera Temple but then I realised it does not connect me to Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji Temple. So, shall I also get a Kyoto City Bus & Kyoto Bus One-Day Pass?

  5. Lin says:
    May 27, 2017 at 12:47 am

    Hi Takeshi San,

    I have a planned trip to OSAKA & KYOTO. Need your help to guide us on which pass to purchase.

    Day 1: KIX – KYOTO
    Nijojo Mae
    Kyoto Manga
    Kyoto Tower
    Day 2: KYOTO
    Inari Fushimi
    Arashima + Sagano Train
    Day3: KYOTO
    Hagashima
    Ritsumeikan
    KYOTO -> OSAKA
    Day 4:HIMEJI + KOBE
    Day 5: NARA + DOTONBORI + KURAMON MARKET
    Day 6: USJ
    Day 7: OSAKA – KIX

    What passes would we buy to avoid overpaid?
    Thanks a lot!!!

  6. david mchale says:
    May 26, 2017 at 8:09 am

    Dear Takeshi

    We seem to be having problems getting through to you. This is our third attempted email. I hope you can help us with pass advice for the itinery below because we travel on Thursday. Many Thanks.

    We are arriving in Kyoto on 1st June for 5 nights and would like some advice on transport passes during this period. Our Itinery is below (we wrote earlier but not sure it got through).

    Day 1. Arrive Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX) 18.00 and need to get to central Kyoto. Our Guest House is Sunput Nanajo Mibu 600-8833,Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Shimogyo-ku Nishisuya cho 3-21.
    Day 2. Tour of East Kyoto ending somewhere at the Philosopher’s path. Heian jingu shrine for Noh play in the evening.
    Day 3. Tour of West Kyoto including Kinkuju-ji and the afternoon at Arashiyama. Nishiki market perhaps later.
    Day 4. DayTrip by train to Nara. Gion in the evening.
    Day 5. Day trip to Miho museum (bus + train)
    Day 6. Morning bus ride to Hiei -zan and back and then leave for Osaka (KIX) to catch 19.00 flight to Nanjing

  7. clara says:
    May 9, 2017 at 10:04 am

    Hi Takeshi San,

    I hope you read my message before my trip tonight..! Need your last advice on my planning. I used google map for the train routes. Can you advise the best passes I need to get?

    Btw, I think previously you mentioned my Day 4 should get kansai thru pass, my routes for day 4 from kyoto to osaka is : From Apartment → Karasuma-Oike Station (Karasuma Line) → Board on Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line for Kintetsu-Nara → 3 Stops (6mins, 210yen) → Walk about 6mins → Kyoto Station (Tokaido-Sanyo Line) → Board on the subway for Himeji via Kosei Line → 2 Stops (23mins, 560yen)

    This route does not serves for kansai thru pass right? if it does not, how should i go about? because i googled them and this is what it comes out! ):

    Day 1 : ITM to Airbnb → Ichiran Kawaramachi → Pontocho Alley → Shirakawa-Minami Dori → Hanami-koji Street → Back to hotel

    Day 2 : Take train to Togetsukyo Bridge → Tenryu-ji Temple → Nonomiya Shrine → Arashiyama Bamboo Grove → Jojakko-ji Temple → Kura Sushi → Back to hotel

    Day 3 : Take bus to Nishiki Market → Teramachi & Shinkyogoku → Kiyomizu-dera Temple → Jishu Shrine → Higashiyama District → Kichi Kichi → Gion → Back to hotel

    Day 4 : Take train to Fushimi Inari Shrine → back to hotel check-out → Shin-Osaka Station (hotel here) → Sumiyoshi Taisha → Dotonbori → Shinsaibashi → Back to hotel

    Day 5 : From Shin-Osaka → Kintetsu-Nara Station → Kofukuji Temple → Todaiji Temple → Nara park → Kasuga Taisha Shrine → Higashimuki Shopping Street → Shinsekai → Back to hotel

    Day 6 : USJ

    Day 7 : From Shin-Osaka → Kuromon Ichiba Market → Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens → Kitano Street → Nankinmachi → Back to hotel

    Day 8 : Check out hotel → Take bus from Shin-Osaka to ITM → Reached Haneda → Check in hotel (Kuramae station) → Sekai cafe oshiage → tokyo skytree → back to hotel

    Day 9 : From Kuramae Station → Shinjuku Station → Odawara Station → Hakone-Yumoto Station → Gora Station → Gora Park → Sounzan Station → Owakudani → Togendai Station → Moto-Hakone (Hakone shrine/torii gates) → Back to Shinjuku → Coco Ichibanya shinjuku → Back to hotel

    Day 10 : From Kuramae Station → Senso-ji Temple → Nakamise shopping → Gojoten shrine → Ameyoko market → ueno park → back to hotel

    Day 11 : From Kuramae Station → Meiji shrine → takeshita street → shibuya → back to hotel

    Day 12 : From Kuramae Station → Disneyland

    Day 13 : From Kuramae Station → Akihabara → decks tokyo beach → odaiba → ginza → back to hotel

    Day 14 : From Kuramae Station → Ikebukuro (street, sunshine city) → Odakyu/Keio Departmental Store/Mylord/Mosaic Street → shinjuku dori → don quijote → tokyo station → yaesu underground mall → back to hotel

    Day 15 : From Kuramae Station → Narita airport

    Thank you!!

    Best regards,
    Clara

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      May 9, 2017 at 4:10 pm

      Hi Clara san,

      When you check the route, don’t use google map. It does not care about train company. It shows you the best and the fastest route. Please use hyperdia to search the route by private railway only. The result is covered by Kansai thru pass.
      https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html

      For trip between Kyoto and Osaka, you can use Hankyu railway or Keihan railway by Kansai thru pass. Please see the links below.
      https://jprail.com/destinations/how-to-transfer-among-kyoto-osaka-and-kobe-compare-japan-railway-and-private-lines.html
      http://www.surutto.com/images/ticket/kansai_thru_pass/english/en_map.pdf

      You can take Keihan from Fushimi-Inari, Kiyomizu-Gojo or Gion-Shijo. You can take Hankyu from Karasuma, Kawaramachi or Omiya.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Clara says:
        May 9, 2017 at 6:09 pm

        Dear Takeshi san

        Thanks for your quick response! Oh no.. does that means i have to search all over again for my routes?? ): My trip is in less than 24 hrs time! Afraid not enough time to redo my itinerary.. can i ask how about the transportation card i should get for kyoto, osaka, kobe, nara and tokyo? Could you please advise me on this? Thank you!!

        Regards
        Clara

        • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
          May 9, 2017 at 10:56 pm

          Hi Clara san,

          I understand it’s a big job. But you should do it to save your cost.

          Kansai thru pass is the best choice for day 4,5 and 7.
          Please see the map in the link which I gave in the previous reply. You can find the route. You don’t need to check the timetable. Train runs very frequently.

          In Kyoto, all day bus 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-kyoto.html

          Single ticket is okay for USJ.

          If you are overwhelmed and make it be easy, just buy Kansai one pass. It does not unlimited ride but it covers all trains.
          http://kansaionepass.com/en/about.html?info=1

          You can add fund into the card at any JR stations’ vending machine.

          In Tokyo, Tokyo subway ticket is the best.
          http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/index.html

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

          • clara says:
            May 10, 2017 at 9:27 am

            Hi Takeshi san,

            I dont think i will have sufficient time to do research now. I think we will just stick with google map, hope we wont get lost in japan! 🙁

            I Need your urgent advise on kansai thru pass!

            You mentioned day 4,5 and 7 use Kansai thru pass. my google map routes as below. Can you please advise me if these be covered under kansai thru pass?

            Day 4
            Fushimi Inari Shrine 伏見稲荷大社
            • From Karasuma-Oike Station (Tozai Line) → 2 Stops → Sanjo Station → Walk about 2mins → Sanjo Station (Keihan Line) → 6 Stops → Fushimi-Inari Station → Walk about mins, 500m

            Check-Out
            • From Fushimi Inari Taisha → Walk about 6mins, 500m → Fushimi-Inari Station (Keihan Line) → 6 Stops → Sanjo Station → Walk about 2mins → Sanjo Station (Tozai Line) → 2 Stops (32mins, 420yen)

            Reached Shin-Osaka Station
            • Option 1 (*JR lines) : From Apartment → Karasuma-Oike Station (Karasuma Line) → Board on Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line for Kintetsu-Nara → 3 Stops → Kyoto Station → Walk about 6mins → Kyoto Station (Tokaido-Sanyo Line) → Board on the subway for Himeji via Kosei Line → 2 Stops (29mins, 770yen)
            • Option 2 : From Apartment → Karasuma-Oike Station → Walk about 11mins → Karasuma Station (Hankyu-Kyoto Line) → 24 Stops → Minamikata Station → Walk about 3mins → Nishinakajima-Minamigata Station (Midosuji Line) → 1 Stop (1 hour 15mins, 580yen)

            Sumiyoshi Taisha 住吉大社
            • Option 1 : From Shin-Osaka Station (Midosuji Line) → 7 Stops → Namba Station → Walk about 7mins → Namba (Nankai Line) → 5 Stops → Sumiyoshitaisha Station → Walk about 2mins, 220m (33mins, 490yen)
            • Option 2 : From Shin-Osaka Station (Midosuji Line) → 9 Stops → Dobutsuen-Mae Station → Walk about 2mins → Shin-Imamiya Station (Hankaidenki-Hankai Line) → 11 Stops → Sumiyoshitorii-Mae Station → Walk about 1mins, 130m (42mins, 490yen)

            Dotonbori
            • From Sumiyoshi Taisha → Walk about 3mins, 220m → Sumiyoshitaishi Station (Nankai Line) → Take the Nankai Main Line Local for Nankai-Namba → 5 Stops → Namba Station → Walk about 10mins, 850m (11mins, 210yen)

            Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade
            • From Dotonbori → Head west 110m → Turn right 80m → Take the crosswalk 110m → Cross the road 82m → Turn right 21m → Destination will be on the left (4mins)

            Back to hotel
            • From Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade → Walk about 6 mins → Shisaibashi Station (Midosuji Line) → Take the subway for Senrichuo → 6 Stops → Shin-Osaka Station (19mins, 230yen)

            Day 5
            Reached Kintetsu-Nara Station
            • From Shin-Osaka Station (Midosuji Line) → Take the Osaka City Subway Midosuji Line for Tennoji→ 7 Stops → Namba Station → Walk about 3mins → Osaka-Namba Station (Kinetetsu-Nara Line) → Take the Kintetsu Nara Line Rapid Exp. for Kintetsu-Nara → 3 Stops → Kintetsu-Nara Station (60mins, 840yen)

            -skip the middle part since we are walking/taking bus-

            Shinsekai
            • From Higashimuki Shopping Street → Walk about 3mins, 200m → Kintetsu-Nara Station (Kintetsu-Nara Line) → 9 Stops → Kintetsu-Nippombashi Station → Walk about 2mins → Nippombashi Station (Sakaisuji Line) → Ebisucho Station → Walk about 6mins, 450m (54mins, 740yen)

            Back to hotel
            • From Shinsekai → Walk about 7mins, 550m → Dobutsuen-Mae Station (Midosuji Line) → 9 Stops → Shin-Osaka Station (27mins, 280yen)

            Day 7
            Kuromon Ichiba Market
            • Option 1 : From Shin-Osaka Station (Midosuji Line) → 7 Stops → Namba Station → About 8mins walk, 700m (34mins, 280yen)
            • Option 2 : From Shin-Osaka Station (Midosuji Line) → 9 Stops → Dobutsuen-Mae Station (Sakaiji Line) → 2 Stops → Nippombashi Station → About 2mins walk, 230m (29mins, 280yen)

            Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens& Ropeway
            • From Kuromon Ichiba Market → Walk about 9mins, 700m → Namba Station (Midosuji Line) → 4 Stops → Umeda Station → Walk about 3mins → Osaka Station (Tokaido-Sanyo Line) → 3 Stops → Sannomiya Station → Walk about 16mins, 1.3km (28mins, 1 hour 5mins)

            Kitano Street
            • From Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens → Take the Robeway down → Head east 63m → Take the elevator down 17m → Turn right 8m → Go down the stairs 64m → Turn right 350m → Take the crosswalk 55m → Turn right 52m → Turn left 280m (12mins walk)

            Nankinmachi (Kobe’s Chinatown)
            • From Kitanocho → Walk about 14mins, 1.1km → Hankyu Kobe Sannomiya Station (Tokaido-Sanyo Line) → 1 Stop → Motomachi Station → Walk about 4mins, 350m (20mins, 120yen)

            Back to hotel
            Walk about 10mins to Sannomiya station (hankyu kobe line) > 4 stops > Juso station (hankyu kobe line) > 1 stop > Minamikata station > walk about 3mins > Nishinakajimaminamigata Station (midosuji line) > 1 stop > shin-osaka

            thank you so so much!!

            cheers,
            clara

            • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
              May 10, 2017 at 11:45 am

              Hi Clara,

              Those following trips are covered.

              Day 4
              Fushimi Inari Shrine 伏見稲荷大社
              • From Karasuma-Oike Station (Tozai Line) → 2 Stops → Sanjo Station → Walk about 2mins → Sanjo Station (Keihan Line) → 6 Stops → Fushimi-Inari Station → Walk about mins, 500m

              Check-Out
              • From Fushimi Inari Taisha → Walk about 6mins, 500m → Fushimi-Inari Station (Keihan Line) → 6 Stops → Sanjo Station → Walk about 2mins → Sanjo Station (Tozai Line) → 2 Stops (32mins, 420yen)

              Reached Shin-Osaka Station
              • Option 2 : From Apartment → Karasuma-Oike Station → Walk about 11mins → Karasuma Station (Hankyu-Kyoto Line) → 24 Stops → Minamikata Station → Walk about 3mins → Nishinakajima-Minamigata Station (Midosuji Line) → 1 Stop (1 hour 15mins, 580yen)

              Sumiyoshi Taisha 住吉大社
              • Option 1 : From Shin-Osaka Station (Midosuji Line) → 7 Stops → Namba Station → Walk about 7mins → Namba (Nankai Line) → 5 Stops → Sumiyoshitaisha Station → Walk about 2mins, 220m (33mins, 490yen)
              • Option 2 : From Shin-Osaka Station (Midosuji Line) → 9 Stops → Dobutsuen-Mae Station → Walk about 2mins → Shin-Imamiya Station (Hankaidenki-Hankai Line) → 11 Stops → Sumiyoshitorii-Mae Station → Walk about 1mins, 130m (42mins, 490yen)

              *Both trips are covered.

              Dotonbori
              • From Sumiyoshi Taisha → Walk about 3mins, 220m → Sumiyoshitaishi Station (Nankai Line) → Take the Nankai Main Line Local for Nankai-Namba → 5 Stops → Namba Station → Walk about 10mins, 850m (11mins, 210yen)

              Back to hotel
              • From Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade → Walk about 6 mins → Shisaibashi Station (Midosuji Line) → Take the subway for Senrichuo → 6 Stops → Shin-Osaka Station (19mins, 230yen)

              Day 5
              Reached Kintetsu-Nara Station
              • From Shin-Osaka Station (Midosuji Line) → Take the Osaka City Subway Midosuji Line for Tennoji→ 7 Stops → Namba Station → Walk about 3mins → Osaka-Namba Station (Kinetetsu-Nara Line) → Take the Kintetsu Nara Line Rapid Exp. for Kintetsu-Nara → 3 Stops → Kintetsu-Nara Station (60mins, 840yen)

              Shinsekai
              • From Higashimuki Shopping Street → Walk about 3mins, 200m → Kintetsu-Nara Station (Kintetsu-Nara Line) → 9 Stops → Kintetsu-Nippombashi Station → Walk about 2mins → Nippombashi Station (Sakaisuji Line) → Ebisucho Station → Walk about 6mins, 450m (54mins, 740yen)

              Back to hotel
              • From Shinsekai → Walk about 7mins, 550m → Dobutsuen-Mae Station (Midosuji Line) → 9 Stops → Shin-Osaka Station (27mins, 280yen)

              Day 7
              Kuromon Ichiba Market
              • Option 1 : From Shin-Osaka Station (Midosuji Line) → 7 Stops → Namba Station → About 8mins walk, 700m (34mins, 280yen)
              • Option 2 : From Shin-Osaka Station (Midosuji Line) → 9 Stops → Dobutsuen-Mae Station (Sakaiji Line) → 2 Stops → Nippombashi Station → About 2mins walk, 230m (29mins, 280yen)

              *Both trips are covered.

              For trip between Osaka-Nmaba and Kone-Sannomiya, you can take Hanshin railway. You don’t need to go to Umeda.
              http://www.hanshin.co.jp/global/en/

              Hanshin railway is covered by Kansai thru pass.

              Cheers,

              Takeshi / JPRail.com

              • Clara says:
                May 10, 2017 at 11:58 am

                Dear Takeshi san

                Thank you soo much for your reply!

                It seems that all those are covered except for the last part Kobe. We decided to change it to this routings. Can you check if it is all covered? Btw, since we googled it, it shows the transport amount and we calculated the total amount was about 2-2.5k yen lesser than kansai thru pass. But not sure if it is accurate.

                Below is the route for day 7, pls advise :
                Nunobiki ropeway
                From Kuromon Ichiba Market → Walk about 5mins, 300m → Kintetsu-Nippombashi Station (Kintetsu-Nara Line) → 1 Stop → Continue on the same train (Hanshin-Namba Line) → 5 Stops → Continue on the same train (Hanshin Line) → 6 Stops → Kobe-Sannomiya Station → Walk about 6min → Sannomiya Station (Seishin-Yamate Line) → 1 Stop (1hr, 770yen)

                ​Nankinmachi (Kobe’s Chinatown) (Opening Hours: 24Hrs)​
                • From Kitanocho → Walk about 14mins, 1.1km → Hankyu Kobe Sannomiya Station (Tokaido-Sanyo Line) → 1 Stop → Motomachi Station → Walk about 4mins, 350m (20mins, 120yen)

                Kobe Harborland 神戸ハーバーランド (Opening Hours: 10AM – 9PM/10PM)
                • From Nankinmachi → Walk about 5mins, 300m → Kyukyoryuchi-Daimarumae Station (Kaigan Line) → 2 Stops (8mins, 210yen)

                Back to Hotel
                • From Harborland → Walk about 7mins, 550m → Kosoku Kobe Station (Kobekosoku Tetsudo Line) → 2 Stops Continue on the same train (Hankyu-Kobe Line) → 4 Stops → Juso Station (Hankyu-Kobe Line) → 2 Stops Sozenji Station (54mins, 500yen)

                2) for the 24 hour ticket subway tokyo, does it covers every single line including the train to narita and haneda airport? Also what is the difference between the 600yen and 900yen ticket? We are not sure which should we get! If it’s 600yen and if it covers the airport lines, it seems that we can get 6 days instead of using icoca card.

                3) kyoto all day bus pass, is there an possibility this is not worth? We see online it says it cost 1200yen per pax but it seems like our day 3 does not requires us to travel that much by bus.

                Any kind advise from you?

                Thanks alot takeshi san!!!

  8. Ashish says:
    May 7, 2017 at 12:15 am

    Dear Takeshi-san,

    We are planning to explore Kansai over a 5 day period, culminating in a day trip to Hiroshima. We were looking at the Kansai Hiroshima Area pass. Would this be a good choice to use for travelling up to Kyoto, Himeji, Nara and Kobe? It says that it can be used on the local and rapid trains for these cities and on the Nozomi to Hiroshima. Would it also cover the Nozomi trains to Kyoto?
    Thanks in advance.

    Ashish

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      May 7, 2017 at 7:18 am

      Hi Ashish san,

      Kansai Hiroshima area pass is the perfect choice. You can visit all places which you want to go. But you cannot take Shinkansen, such as Nozomi between Shin-Osaka and Kyoto. When you travel between Kyoto and Hiroshima, you have to change trains at Shin-Osaka.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  9. Katherine Chong says:
    April 16, 2017 at 6:51 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    Your post does helps the travellers a lot. You introduced a couple of deals that could help travellers to save up during the trip, however I still couldn’t decide which deal or pass fit my itinerary. Appreciate if you could suggest me the best deal or pass:
    22/04- Reach KIX at 9am -> Kyoto (stay close to Jujo Station), plan to purchase Kansai One pass + Haruka.
    To visit North Kyoto (kinkakuji) and Central Kyoto (nishiki market, pontocho)
    23/04- To visit West Kyoto (arashimaya) and Central Kyoto (Nijo Castle)
    24/04- To visit East Kyoto (kiyomizudera, Ginkakuji, Higashimaya, Gion)
    25/04- To visit South Kyoto (Fushimi Inari)
    26/04- Kyoto -> Osaka (stay close to Daikokucho station)
    To visit Shinsekai, Tsutenkaku, Dotonburi, Shinsaibashi
    27/04- To visit Minoo Park, Umeda sky building
    28/04- To visit Osaka castle, Aqua Liner (Might visit Nara)
    29/04- Osaka -> KIX through Nankai Railway

    Also one question, to visit Nara or not, will make a big difference in choosing the deal or passes?

    Thanks in advance.

    Regards,
    Chong

  10. Cindy says:
    April 6, 2017 at 1:47 am

    Hi Takeshi,
    We’ll be travelling to Osaka on 23.06.2017 to 31.03.2017.
    Can you pls advise us on the type of pass to purchase for me & my family (2 adults, 3 kids aged 14,12 & 9) :
    -Day 1: From Kansai Airport to Namba Stn (it’s good if inclusive of 1 day unlimited subway in Osaka).
    – Day 2: From Osaka to Nara (day trip only) & return to Osaka.
    – Day 3: From Osaka to Kyoto (inclusive of subway rides in Kyoto)
    – Day 4: Unlimited rides in Kyoto (intend to go to Arashimaya & to take Sagano Romantic Train)
    – Day 5: Return to Osaka (unlimited rides within Osaka inclusive visiting places of interest until Day 7)
    – Optional: Intend to go to Kobe for day trip from Osaka if permissible in Day 6 or Day 7.

    Really appreciate your assistance & advise. Thank you.

1234…6
Copied title and URL