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. Ed says:
    September 27, 2015 at 7:54 am

    Takeshi-san,

    I need an advice on which pass/passes to buy on my backpacking visit to Kansai. I’ll be coming from Fukuoka by night bus (therefore not from KIX). Here’s my tentative itinerary:

    Day 1 (Hotel in Kyoto) – Kyoto (Northern)
    Day 2 (Hotel in Kyoto) – Kyoto (Southern) + Nara
    Day 3 (Hotel in Kyoto) – Day trip to Mt Koya. Transfer hotel to Osaka.
    Day 4 (Hotel in Osaka) – Day trip to Himeji, Kobe, Tarumi
    Day 5 (Hotel in Osaka) – Kobe + Arima Hotspring
    Day 6 (Hotel in Osaka) – explore Osaka. Then to the Kansai Airport

    Thank you very much.

  2. Jess says:
    September 22, 2015 at 5:49 am

    Hi,

    This website has been really useful so far

    However I’m slightly confused as to how many days would be cost effective for purchasing the jr kansai pass, and whether it would be worth buying any additional passes.

    We depart from Shanghai on Friday 25th Sept (in 2 days!) so we will either need tickets delivered in osaka or picked-up/purchased in Japan

    Our itinerary is below:

    Friday 25th Osaka night only
    Saturday 26th Day trip Himeji castle
    Sunday 27th Osaka – Koya San mountains
    Monday 28th Koya San mountain– Osaka – Kobe
    Tuesday 29th Kobe – Kurashuki
    Wednesday 30th Kurashuki – Fukuyama – day trip to Tomonoura
    Thursday 1st Fukuyama – Kyoto
    Friday 2nd Day trip Nara
    Saturday 3rd Day trip Arishyiama
    Sunday 4th Day exploring Kyoto – late afternoon to Osaka
    Monday 5th Fly out of Osaka

    Thank you!!

  3. Mark says:
    September 7, 2015 at 5:23 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    I wondered if you could offer me some advice. I am travelling to Japan next week and my schedule is:

    15th Arrive Kansai airport and go to Osaka
    16th-18th Kyoto (travelling from Osaka each day)
    19th Nara (travelling to and from Osaka)
    20th Explore Osaka
    21st Hiroshima
    22nd Myajima
    23rd Matsue
    24th-27th Tokyo
    28th Kobe
    29th leave for UK from Kansai airport

    I have a 7 day JR pass which I will activate when I go to Hiroshima on 21st from Osaka. My question is which pass or passes would be best to use when travelling in the Kansai area in my schedule? As you can see I am based in Osaka 15th-20th so will be travelling round trip from there to Kyoto and Nara on these days.

    Many thanks for your help

    Best Regards

    Mark

  4. Chris says:
    September 6, 2015 at 7:23 pm

    A very good morning to u Takeshi san” thank you for yr fast reply. I understand that u ask me to get the 7days JR Pass and pls check out my route of train listed below to Toyama from hakudate is cover by JR pass.
    Hakucho super hakucho
    Tohoku shinkansen
    Hokuriku – shinkansen

    Best regards
    Chris

  5. Howe says:
    September 4, 2015 at 3:39 pm

    Hi Takeshi-san

    My family (including 2 kids under 12) is planning a trip to Japan in December starting from Osaka and moving on to Kyoto, Matsumoto (via Shinano Limited Express #9), Hakuba and finally to Tokyo. I would like find out if there are any passes I should consider as my preliminary search seems to suggest that we are better off buying day passes (e.g. Osaka & Kyoto) and single trip tickets. Would appreciate your advice on this.

    Thank you!

    Regards,
    Howe

  6. Elaine says:
    September 3, 2015 at 7:31 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    I am traveling to Osaka with my parents this November.

    My accommodation (6 nights) is 3 min walk from JR Namba and OCAT because I thought it would be easier for my parents to travel around (not sure if I am right in this sense). I know we need to travel on foot quite a lot in Japan and I hope my itinerary can make them walk abit lesser.

    My draft itinerary will be like this:
    2 days in Osaka
    2 days in Kyoto (1 day for eastern side of Kyoto (mainly Kiyomizu-dera ) and 1 day for Arishimaya)
    1 day in Nara

    Is JR West Kansai Area Pass and Osaka Amazing Pass is good for our trip?
    Or shall I get Kansai Through Pass instead?

    Kindly enlighten me with your advice for my trip/itinerary.

    Thank you.

    Best regards
    Elaine

  7. Kenny Chong says:
    September 3, 2015 at 7:20 am

    Hi Takeshi,
    I am planning my family trip (2 adults and 1 child 7 years old) to Japan in mid September. Below is my itinerary and would like to ask the best way of transport and tickets to buy:

    1. Arrival in Kansai Airport early in morning to Kyoto
    2. Sight seeing in Kyoto
    3. From Kyoto to Takayama
    4. Sight seeing in Takayama
    5. From Takayama to Osaka
    6. Day trip from Osaka to Himeji
    7. Day trip from Osaka to Universal Studio
    8. Osaka sight seeing
    9. Leaving Osaka to Kansai Airport.

    Thank you.

    Regards,
    Kenny

  8. Aida says:
    August 31, 2015 at 12:31 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I am planning a trip next month. We are arriving at Kansai airport and are planning to visit Wakayama (and Kishi station), Nara, and plan to stay overnight at Maibara. Are these 3 stations covered by the 1 day Kansai area pass? Or is there a better pass to purchase for our planned trip?

    Thank you.
    Aida

  9. Dwiya says:
    August 27, 2015 at 5:32 am

    Hi Takeshi,,
    Actually I will visit Osaka in November,
    I’ve booked a place in Osaka (It’s near tennoji) for 12 days.
    So I can say that whenever I go, I will back to there.
    I have a plan to visit Osaka, Kobe, Nara, Kyoto, tottori and wakayama in 12 days.
    I think I will choose Kansai Wide Area Pass (5days) and Kansai area Pass (4 Days) and I will buy a single fare or buy one day pass or Haruka/ICOCA for the rest day.
    What do you think about it?
    and can I activate my Kansai Wide Area Pass after I finish used my Kansai Area pass?
    Please let me know if you have any advice for my trip.
    Thank you.

    Best regards,
    Dwiya

  10. Rachel says:
    August 18, 2015 at 5:22 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I am planning a trip in Novemeber for 8 days .

    Itinerary as follows:
    Kansai airport to Wakayama (1-2 days)
    Wakayama to Osaka (3-4 days)
    Osaka to Kyoto (1-2 days)

    Would it better if I purchase both the Kansai Area pass and the ICOCA and Haraku pass or I can just buy the Kansai Area pass?

    Thank you.

    Regards,
    Rachel

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      August 18, 2015 at 1:02 pm

      Hi Rachel,

      Actually single fare ticket is the best and cheapest choice. If you have round trip to Wakayama from Osaka in one day. the pass is considered. But you have one way trip a day. Any passes cannot beat single fare.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

1…56789…23
Copied title and URL