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. Cindy says:
    January 15, 2020 at 9:33 pm

    Hi Takeshi,
    I still confused which pass do I have to buy, can you help if I want to visit Osaka, kyoto, nara, himeji, nagoya in 7 days which pass do I have to buy?

    Thanks a lot

    Cindy

    • Takeshi (JPRail.com administrator) says:
      January 16, 2020 at 6:14 am

      Hi Cindy,

      You have to decide where you stay first before choosing the pass. Are you going to stay in one place to make day trips? Or are you going to stay in each places. And also you have to make sure which airport you arrive in and depart from.

      We cannot find the best deal before you decide these.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Christine Choi says:
    January 1, 2020 at 3:04 pm

    Hi, I would love to get some advice on which JR pass to purchase. JR West Pass or JR Kansai Wide Pass?
    – Yonago to Okayama
    – Okayama to Shin Osaka
    – Shin-Osaka – Nara
    – Nara – Shin-Osaka
    – Shin-Osaka – KIX

    Thank you so much in advance!
    Christine

    • Takeshi (JPRail.com administrator) says:
      January 1, 2020 at 11:23 pm

      Hi Christine,

      You need two passes.
      1. San’in Okayama area pass
      https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/sanin_okayama/
      2. Kansai Wide area pass
      https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/kansai_wide/

      Kansai Wide area pass does not cover Yonago. That is whyou have to buy Sanin Okayama area pass. You can get the worth of this pass by Yonago to Okayama trip only.

      You cannot buy Kansai Wide area pass in Yonago. You must buy it when you get Okayama:
      https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/shop/pdf/JRW_EN.PDF

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Christine Choi says:
        January 2, 2020 at 9:38 pm

        Thank you very much Takeshi!

        Just to confirm, to purchase San’in Okayama Area Pass for 4 days = 4580 yen (adult), the one way fare from Yonago to Okayama = 5370 Ye – on the website, it shows 2 fares (Basic Fare 2640 Yen and Limited Express ticket 2730 yen). So this sounds like a great deal?

        For the Kansai Wide Area Pass for 5 days for 9200 yen, this will allow me to use all the routes that I need between Osaka, Nara, and Kansai Airport.

        I am not clear when you said “You cannot buy Kansai Wide area pass in Yonago. You must buy it when you get Okayama”. I thought I can purchase Kansai Wide are pass on the website before my arrival to Japan?

        Thank you again!!

        • Takeshi (JPRail.com administrator) says:
          January 2, 2020 at 11:09 pm

          Hi Christine,

          There are two kinds seat fee, 2,730 yen for reserved seat fee and 2,200 yen for non reserved seat fee. The pass covers only non reserved seat fee but the pass is still cheaper. Please find the link below about the difference between reserved seat and non reserved seat:
          https://jprail.com/travel-informations/travel-tips/reserved-seat-vs-non-reserved-seat-how-to-get-a-seat-on-non-reserved-car.html

          If you buy a pass online, you still have to exchange the actual pass. You cannot turn in an actual pass at Yonago. I gave you the link about the exchange and sales location. Yonago is not assigned to exchange Kansai Wide Area Pass. You must do it when you get Okayama. But if you will be somewhere around Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Okayama before reaching Yonago, you can do so before you go to Yoango. When you exchange the pass, you will decide which date you will start using it. And the date will be stamped on the pass. That is why you have to exchange the pass. If you but a pass online, you will get an exchange voucher only. It is not an actual pass.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. michelle says:
    November 17, 2019 at 9:59 am

    Hi Takeshi /JPrail.com,

    Thanks for your reply. May I ask if the Platt Kodama ticket will run out? I am planning to purchase the ticket once i reach osaka at shin-osaka which is 4 days before i actually use it to travel to tokyo from osaka.

    Thank you,
    Michelle

  4. Vera says:
    November 10, 2019 at 8:24 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    Please help to advise what passes and/or tickets me and my husband should get for our trip as follows :

    Day 1 – arrival in Kansai Airport ETA 4pm, going to Hotel near Ebisucho station
    Day 2 – Visit Nara and explore Osaka
    Day 3 – Day trip to Himeji and Kobe
    Day 4 – Full in USJ
    Day 5-6 – Checkout hotel in Osaka and head to Kyoto, drop luggage in hotel near Saiin station, visit Arashiyama, Kinkakuji, Nijo Castle, Gion, Kiyomizudera, Fushimi Inari
    Day 7 – Checkout hotel and prepare for our flight at 4pm

    Originally, we were planning to buy ICOCA/Kansai One Pass and Kansai Thru Pass 3 days (for day 3,5,6), or ICOCA/KOP and JR Kansai Area Pass/Kansai Wide Area Pass. Please advise us which was more suitable?

    Thank you very much!

    • Takeshi (JPRail.com administrator) says:
      November 10, 2019 at 11:22 pm

      Hi Vera,

      I recommend you to use Kansai One Pass for arrival day. You can take Nankai railway from Kansai to Tengachaya and Osaka Metro Sakaisuji line from Tengachaya to Ebisucho.
      Kansai Thru Pass 3-day is a good choice but I recommend you to use for day 2, 3 and 5. You may use Kansai one pass as well for day 6.

      For day 7, there is no deals. The best and the easiest way is taking Hankyu Railway from Saiin to Awaji, Hankyu-Osaka Metro from Awaji to Tengachaya, and Nankai railway from Tengachaya to Kansai. You can use Kansai one pass for all trains.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  5. Luna says:
    November 4, 2019 at 1:13 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    According to your post, Kansai Area Pass includes the exchange vouchers for Keihan Railways Kyoto Sightseeing Pass 1-day and Kyoto City Subway 1-day pass. Do I have to pay an extra fee to exchange them? I arrive at Kansai Airport in the early morning. I am thinking to use JR Kansai Area pass to travel to Kyoto by Haruka express. After that, I can exchange JR pass to Keihan Raiway or Kyoto City subway. Can I exchange to either one, or can I exchange to BOTH Keihan and subway pass?

  6. Eliz Ong says:
    October 24, 2019 at 1:57 am

    I am arriving at KIX in the morning and planning to head to Kyoto directly. I see that the airport limousine to Kyoto costs 2,600 yen whereas if I purchase a Kansai Area 1 day pass which allows me to take the Haruka to Kyoto, it only costs 2,300 Yen and I can use this pass for traveling to some places of interest in Kyoto.

    Is my understanding correct ?

  7. Jocelyn says:
    October 20, 2019 at 7:42 am

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    If i am travelling from JR Namba station in Osaka to Kansai airport, which of the pass should i get — Haruka or Kansai area pass? Or should i pay single fare instead?

    Thanks,
    Jocelyn

  8. Luna says:
    October 15, 2019 at 9:46 am

    Hi Takeshi /JPrail.com,

    Could you please help with my trip passes? Please advise what passes and/or tickets I should get for my trip as follows :
    Day 1- arrival in Kansai Airport – going to Kyoto – Kiyomizu dera; Sannenzaka, Nishiki Market, Gion district
    Day 2: Tenryu-ji Temple, Arashiyama bamboo, Kinkaku ji
    Day 3: Kyoto to Nara – and back to Kyoto
    Day 4: Fushimi Inari Dera at Kyoto and transfer to Osaka
    Day 5: Osaka Aquarium; Dotombori Area, Hozenji Yokocho, Shinsaibashi
    Day 6: Osaka Castle, Umeda Sky Building and Isaka Hikari Renaissance
    Day 7: Kobe one day
    Day 8: Transfer to Itami airport in the morning.

    Your answers are appreciated.
    Thank you,
    Luna

  9. Karmen says:
    September 21, 2019 at 7:16 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    Thanks again for your informative webpages. I read online that starting October 1, 2019, if we purchase a Kansai Area pass, we also get extra one voucher for a Kyoto Subway One Day Card which allows for one calendar day of unlimited use of the Karasuma and Tozai subway lines. Do you know anything about this?

    I am planning to purchase a Kansai Area pass before October 1, 2019, but plan to activate it in October, so I am not sure whether JR office will issue me one.

    I ask this because I am travelling from Kyoto to Wazuka for 1 day (from Nijo Station to Kamo Station). The routes available for the time I need are a combination of JR and Karasuma or Kintetsu line. I’m looking for the most cost-effective way to travel this route (if it does include the subway voucher, then I think the Kansai Area pass makes sense for roundtrip). Could you lend me your suggestion?

    Thank you!!

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      September 22, 2019 at 12:03 am

      Hi Karmen,

      JR West official site says,
      • Due to the consumption tax increase in Japan, all products purchased on or after Tuesday, October 1, 2019, will be subject to the revised prices and details.
      • The applicable price and details of the product being purchased will vary according to the purchase date and not the date of exchange or the date of use.

      So you can purchase it before September 30th at cheaper price.

      I have never heard that Kansai area pass includes subway pass. JR West official does not mention anything about it.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  10. Tina says:
    September 4, 2019 at 6:32 pm

    Hi Takeshi /JPrail.com
    Please advise what passes and/or tickets I should get for my trip as follows :
    Day 1- arrival in Kansai Airport ETA 9pm, going to Namba Osaka
    Day 2 & 3 Osaka Castle, Umeda sky building & Dotonbori, Kuromon market
    Day 4 – Hiroshima & Miyajima
    Day 5, 6 & 7- Kyoto Arashiyama Tenryuji, bamboo forest, Gion, Kinkakuji temple golden pavilion, Hozukyo Gorge, Fushimi Inari, & take Haruka to Kansai Airport from Kyoto on day 7 at 4pm.

    Thank you very much!
    Tina

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