How to use JR West Kansai Area Pass. Compare pass and single fare.

Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara
Osaka castle is one of popular spot to see cherry blossom in Osaka. ©Osaka Government Tourism Bureau/©JNTO
2012.10.19
Limited Express Haruka from KIX is covered by this pass.
The limited express Haruka from KIX is covered by this pass.

JR West Kansai Area Pass is one of the choices for the traveler who stays in Osaka and make some day trips to the surrounding places, such as Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, Himeji and Wakayama.

In this post, I would like to share the information about JR West Kansai Area Pass with you. And I will compare the price of the pass and the regular fare. You can find that you can get the worth by your trip or not.

Coverage area

Kansai Area pass map
Only major stations are shown in the map.

Please refer the map in JR West Kansai Area Pass official site as well to get the detailed map.

The pass covers most of points of interest, such as Osaka (Umeda), Namba, Universal Studio Japan, Kobe, Kyoto, Nara, Wakayama, Kansai airport, Himeji.

Expansion of the coverage area in Kyoto

And also Kansai Area Pass includes the following exchange vouchers:

  • Keihan Railways Kyoto Sightseeing Pass 1-day
  • Kyoto City Subway 1-day pass

These passes expand the coverage in Kyoto so much:

Green line (subway) and red line (Keihan railway) are additional coverage. (click to view large)

Kansai Area Pass did not cover Keihan and subway in Kyoto. These lines cover eastern part of Kyoto, such as Gion, Kiyomizudera.

You may exchange the vouchers in the designated stations. Please find the detailed information in the official press release:

JR West official press release

You can use these passes separately.

e.g.
You have Kansai Area Pass 2-day
Day 1 trip to Kyoto and exchange Kyoto city subway pass only
Day 2 trio to Kyoto and exchange Keihan Railway Kyoto sightseeing pass

But in my opinion, you should use these two passes in same day. If you use only JR line and Kyoto city subway line, the coverage are limited.

The places where you cannot go by Kansai Area Pass

Major spots that are not covered by this pass is Mt. Koya. But if you want to go to Mt. Koya, Nankai Railway is the best way. Nankai Railway is not covered by JR West Kansai Area Pass anyway. Nankai Railway’s Koyasan World Heritage Ticket or Kansai Thru Pass is a right choice for trip to Mt. Koya.

Nankai Railway Koyasan World Heritage Ticket
How to use Kansai Thru Pass. Compare pass and single fare.

Who is eligible

Visitors who land as “Temporary Visitor” status can purchase this pass.

Types and prices

Purchasing from
the travel agent
overseas
(Before arrival)		Purchasing from
JR West online
(Before arrival)		Purchasing from
JR West station
(After arrival)
1-day2,400 yen2,4000 yen2,400 yen
2-day4,600 yen4,600 yen4,600 yen
3-day5,600 yen5,600 yen5,600 yen
4-day6,800 yen6,800 yen6,800 yen

*Child rate is half of the adult prices above.
*5 year old or younger child is free. Maximum 2 children per one adult.

The pass must be used in consecutive days. The validity of a rail pass starts from 12 O’clock at night (midnight to midnight).

e.g.
If you start to use 3 days pass on May 1, the pass is expired at 23:59 on May 3. The time when you start using does not matter.

If you want to purchase this at the lower price, you can purchase it at authorized travel agents. You can find the dealers list and exchange location at the link below:

JR West Rail Pass Dealer’s list

You also can purchase this pass online through JR West official site. But the price is not much cheaper than the price which is sold at the station.

Valid trains and bus lines

This pass covers all JR local trains and non reserved seat of Limited Express Haruka. You CANNOT ride any other express trains, such as the Tokaido Shinkansen the Sanyo Shinkansen, the limited express Thunderbird. But as long as you travel in Kansai area, Rapid Services Network is enough to cover your trip. It is actually crowded because these trains are the commuters one. But these are fast and frequent. The following list shows you trains that you can ride by JR West Kansai Area Pass.

Of course, you can ride any local trains that are not shown on above list.

Find your hotels in 400 cities throughout Japan!!!

Hotels and Ryokans in Nara
Hotels in Himeji
Hotels in Kobe
Hotels in Himeji
Hotels in Kansai Airport

On the other hand, JR West Kansai Area Pass does not cover any private railway lines, subway lines and the bus lines. Most of major private railway companies and subway lines are shown on the following list:

  • Osaka Metro (Subway)
  • Kyoto Municipal Transportation (Subway and city bus)
  • Nankai Railway (Namba-Kansai airport, Namba-Mt.Koya)
  • Kintetsu Railway (Namba-Nara, Kyoto-Nara)
  • Hankyu Railway (Sannomiya-Umeda-Kawaramachi)
  • Keihan Railway (Yodoyabashi-Kyobashi-Shijo-Sanjo)
  • Hanshin Railway (Namba-Sannomiya, Umeda-Sannomiya-Himeji)
  • Sanyo Railway (Umeda-Sannomiya-Akashi-Himeji)

These above railways and bus lines are NOT covered. When you are in Osaka or Kyoto, subway trains and city bus services are very convenient. So you may have to pay a single fare or purchase other pass. This is the biggest disadvantage of JR West Kansai Area Pass. You can find the coverage of this pass in these posts:

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
Osaka train route guide. How much can we use JR Pass in Osaka? How to choose the best route by train to get the major spots in Osaka?
There are lots of the train lines and subway lines in Osaka. This post shows you the train network in Osaka. You can learn how to get the major places in Osaka.
jprail.com
2013.10.30

Compare cost between pass and single fare. Best way to use.

First of all, please see the fare table for major sections below:

StationsOsakaShin
Osaka		KyotoKansai
airport		Sannomiya
(Kobe)		NaraHimehjiJR Namba
Osaka–1605401160
1150		3907801450190
Shin
Osaka		160–5401330
1150		5408901450210
Kyoto540540–1830
1150		10506902210890
Kansai
airport		1160
1150		1330
1150		1830
1150		–1660
1150		1660
730		2730
1150		1030
730
Sannomiya
(Kobe)		39054010501660
1150		–1210950690
Nara7808906901660
730		1210–2210540
Himeji1450145022102730
1150		9502210–1620
JR Namba1902108901030
730		6905401620–

*If there are two fares, basic fare is shown at the top and limited express surcharge at the bottom. For example, if you travel from Kansai airport to Shin-Osaka, basic fare is 1330 yen and surcharge is 1150 yen.

As you saw the fare table above, most of trips from Kansai airport is very efficient because of limited express Haruka. If you travel to Osaka, Kansai airport rapid may be better than Haruka because Haruka do not stop at Osaka. But if you think about getting on Haruka, Kansai Area Pass is considerable. Even one day pass is cheaper than basic fare + surcharge. If you go to Namba, you can access there by JR trains. But Nankai Railway gives you much better access to Namba. Especially if you think about transfer to subway at Namba, Nankai Railway Namba station is much easier to transfer to most of subway lines. Please see the details at the post, How to access from Kansai airport to downtown Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe.

Next, I recommend you to use this pass for the trip to Himeji. Special Rapid Service connects Osaka with Himeji in 62 minutes. This train is the fastest and most frequent service. If you think about Kansai Thru Pass, this pass do not cover JR trains. If you go to Himeji by Kansai Thru Pass, the pass cover all part of your trip to Himeji. But you will spend more than 90 minutes. Kansai Thru Pass is very efficient for the trip to Kyoto or Mt. Koya. But if you go to Himeji, I recommend you to use JR West Kansai Area Pass.

If you go to Kyoto, Nara or Kobe from Osaka, it may not be very efficient. The fare range is between 500 and 1,000 yen. The difference between 1 day pass and 2 days pass is 2,000 yen. If you will purchase 3 days or 4 days, the price difference is 1,000 yen. If you have two trips, from Kansai airport by Haruka and trip to Himeji, you will already make more than 4,000 yen worth. You can use the pass to Kyoto, Kobe or Nara. But if you use 2 days pass for trip from Kansai airport and trip to Kyoto, Nara or Kobe, you may not be able to make more than 4,000 yen worth.

JR West also sell ICOCA and Haruka. This discount ticket include trip from Kansai airport by Haruka and 1,500 yen value e-money in ICOCA prepaid card. If JR West Kansai Area Pass is too expensive for your trip, ICOCA and Haruka may be suitable for your trip. ICOCA can be used for not only JR trains but also Kyoto subway, Osaka subway and other major private railway companies. ICOCA is more flexible than JR West Kansai Area Pass. Please see the details about ICOCA at the post, ICOCA and Haruka ticket. Very flexible and good deal for tourist who stay in Kansai..

At last, if you want to explore some more places, I strongly recommend you JR West Kansai WIDE Area Pass. This pass is available in 4 days pass only. But the area where is covered is much bigger. And limited express train and Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Okayama are covered by this pass. And the price is only 1,000 yen higher than Kansai Area Pass 4 days. I am very happy if you are interested in other places outside of Kansai area.

Comments

  1. Gwen says:
    June 9, 2017 at 6:46 am

    Hi Takeshi San,

    I am planning a trip to the kansai region in november and am not sure if I should get the kansai area pass. Can you help me on this?

    My itinerary is as follows:
    20/11- Kobe

    21/11-Kobe – Himeiji – Kobe

    22/11-Kobe – Kyoto (Sumiya Ryokan)

    23/11- Sumiya – Kyoto
    Kyoto Yamasaki Distillery
    Kiyomizu-dera temple
    Gion (walk)

    24/11- Kyoto – Uji – Kyoto
    Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
    Fushimi inari shrine
    Uji

    25/11- Kyoto- Nara – Osaka
    Nishiki market
    Nara deer park
    Dotonbori

    26/11- Osaka castle, Namba area

    27/11-Osaka Universal Studios Japan

    28/11- Osaka (Umeda)

    Thank you in Advance!

    Cheers,
    Gwen

  2. alex says:
    May 22, 2017 at 9:48 pm

    Hi Takeshi San,

    I am staying in Namba near JR Namba station. I would like to have a day trip to Kobe, Himeji and Osaka Castle.

    I would appreciate your suggestion on the best transport method to use.

    Also the next day I will go to Nara for a day trip from Namba and return to Namba, Your suggestion for the best transport is also appreciated.

    Thank you
    Alex

  3. Ong Jenny says:
    May 17, 2017 at 12:44 am

    Hi Takeshi San,

    Me & my family (adult + 1 child) will visiting Kyoto & Shiga and Osaka on December 2017. I’m not sure if it worth it to buy Kansai West JR pass, Kansai Thru pass or Iccoca card .We Will be staying in one place only which is near at Namba Station.

    Our itinerary as follow :
    Day 1 KIX to Kyoto (Nishiki Market ,Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-
    Dera) Kyoto to Namba.
    Day 2 Namba to Shiga (Half day Biwako Valley) Osaka Castle,
    Umeda Building.
    Day 3 Namba to Nara Park
    Day 4 Namba to Universal Studio
    Day 5 Namba to KIX.

    Thank you for your helped and much appreciated.

  4. Chong says:
    May 14, 2017 at 12:00 am

    Hi Takeshi san, would like to seek your recommendation on the below itinerary planned to be made on the same day.

    Day 1: Kyoto -> Osaka -> Himeiji-> Accommodation in Osaka
    Day 2: Osaka -> Nara -> Osaka

    Thank you in advance!

  5. Michael says:
    May 11, 2017 at 9:10 pm

    Hello Takeshi san,

    Is it possible to do the following on the 1-day JR West Kansai Area Pass?

    We will use it for return trip from Osaka to Himeji. But we thought now to stop over for dinner on the way back to Osaka:

    Osaka > Himeji
    Himeji > Tarumi
    Tarumi > Osaka

    Is Tarumi allowed on the way back?

    Cheers.

  6. Chunyu says:
    May 10, 2017 at 10:24 pm

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    I would like to ask for your recommendation as to which is the more economical and convenient pass to purchase. Here is our itinerary:

    Day 1 Arrive Kansai Airport late night. Stay near to Nankai Namba St. in Osaka, which is our base for the entire trip.

    Day 2 Sightseeing in Osaka- Abeno Harukas, Shi-Tennoji temple, Osaka Castle and Aqua line river cruise.

    Day 3 Shinsaibashi and Dodonburi and afternoon trip to Nara

    Day 4 Himeji Castle and Kobe

    Day 5 Trip to Inari and Kyoto (Higashiyama dist.)

    Day 6 Trip to Kyoto (Arashiyama and Uji)

    Day 7 Trip to Kyoto (Central and Downtown)

    Day 8 Depart to Kansai Airport

    Is it Kansai Wide Area Pass for intercity plus Midosuji line in Osaka? What pass do you recommend for Kyoto itinerary? Itinerary from Day 2 to Day 6 is interchangeable, since we are based in Osaka. Thank you for your advise!

  7. Karen says:
    May 8, 2017 at 4:41 pm

    Hi,

    I’m grateful I stumbled upon this website with all the information about the different types of passes I can purchase for my trip in July. However, it’s so overwhelming that I’m not even sure which pass is the best one for me now. Originally I was planning to just buy the 3 Day Kansai Thru Pass for my group of 16 who’s traveling to Osaka on July 24th and leaving from Haneda on August 9th. Do you think you can let me know which pass I should get? Your help is greatly appreciated.

    Day 1, July 25th: Arrive at Kansai Airport – Take train to Shinsaibashi Station. Plan to do some light site-seeing around Dotonori and Kuromon Market. I plan to have my group buy the ICOCA cards at the airport so we can use that when we use the trains in Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo.

    Day 2, July 26th: Visit Himeji Castle in the morning (wanted to get there by 8:30am). Then travel back to Kobe by 12pm or 1pm to have lunch. I wanted to go on the Kobe Ropeway, visit the Herb Garden, Kitano, Chinatown & Harborland.

    Day 3, July 27th: Go to Ramen Museum in the morning and Umeda Sky Buidling at dusk.

    Day 4, July 28th: Visit Osaka Castle in the morning (hoping to finish by 11am). Then take the train to Nara from Osaka Castle and spend the rest of the day in Nara.

    Day 5, July 29th: Leaving Osaka and taking train to Kyoto (want to arrive at Kyoto by 11am). Plan to visit Nijo Castle, Nishiki Market and Fushimi Inari Taisha the same day.

    Day 6, July 30th: Visit Kinkaku-ji Temple, Roan-ji Temple, Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple (if time permits), Bamboo Alley, Tenryu-ji Temple, Togetsukyo Bridge & Arashiyama.

    Day 7, July 31st: Visit Kurama-dera Temple, Kifune Jinja Shrine & then head back in town to visit local places near our hotel.

    Day 8, Aug 1st: Visit Uji’s Byodo-in Temple, have lunch, buy tea and then head back to Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Hokan-ji Temple Yasaka Pagoda, Shoren-in Temple (if time permits) & Gion.

    Day 9, Aug 2nd: Leaving Kyoto…want to take the Shinkansen back to Tokyo’s Ikebukuro area.

    Day 11, Aug 4th: Day trip to Hakone

    Rest of the days in Japan will be visiting Tourist Spots in Tokyo.

    We will leave for Taiwan on Wed, Aug 9th.

    Any advice or suggestions is greatly appreciated.

    Thank again.

  8. ET says:
    April 29, 2017 at 9:23 pm

    Dear Takeshi San,

    Thank you so much for your helpful advice on the various webpages on this site.

    My friends and I are planning a trip to Kyoto and Osaka. Would it be possible to advise us on whether we should get train passes for our trip, and if so, which passes? Also, we previously went to Tokyo last year and have the Pasmo card. Can it be used in Kyoto and Osaka?

    Our itinerary is as follows:

    Day 1: Arrive at Kansai airport. Travel to Kyoto. Explore Kyoto (Kawaramachi area and Nishiki market)

    Day 2: Visit Arashimaya area (Tenryuji Temple+ Togetsukyo Bridge + Bamboo Grove). Visit other temples in Kyoto and Inari Shrine.

    Day 3: Explore Kyoto. Travel to Osaka. Osaka Namba area.

    Day 4: Himeiji Temple half day. Nara half day.

    Day 5: Kobe.

    Day 6: Sightseeing in Osaka (Osaka castle, Shinsekai area).

    Day 7: Shopping in Osaka. Depart Osaka.

    Thank you so much for your help! 🙂

  9. Casper Serrano says:
    April 22, 2017 at 1:07 am

    Hi Takeshi.

    Regarding the Purchasing of Day Pass

    can i avail only once … what if i just want to buy a day pass for my arrival and then another day pass for when i return…
    since the Child Ticket is much cheaper buying a Single Pass than buying a Haruka Ticket.

    Looking forward for the Help

    Casper

  10. Ren says:
    April 11, 2017 at 7:01 pm

    Hi Takeshi san, i would like to ask for your recommendation as to whether we should avail of jr westkansai area pass or kansai thru pass, here is our itinerary:

    Day 1: kix to shin osaka (hankyu hotel) we plan to get the limousine bus/kate bus round trip ticket valid for 7 days).

    Day 2: usj, dotonbori tour around osaka

    Day 3: tour around kyoto

    Day 4: tour around nara

    Day 5: hotel new hankyu to kix

    Thank you in advance!

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