ICOCA and Haruka, Kansai One Pass and Haruka, and Haruka discount ticket. Very flexible and good deal for tourist who stay in Kansai.

hello kitty harukaOsaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara
Limited Express Haruka at Kansai Airport station
The Limited Express Haruka at Kansai Airport station

You may travel in Kansai area only and not travel throughout Japan. You may have one way trip from Osaka to Tokyo. For these travelers, Kansai One Pass/ICOCA and Haruka gives you a good deal for the transfer from Kansai airport to Osaka or Kyoto, and the local sightseeing in Kansai region.

This deal gives you access to Osaka or Kyoto by the limited express Haruka and some preloaded e-money in ICOCA or Kansai One Pass.

I will tell you what this deal is and how to use it in this post.

What is Haruka?

Limited Express Haruka operation route map

Haruka is the limited express train which offers you a direct transfer from Kansai International Airport (KIX) to Tennoji, Shin-Osaka and Kyoto. This train does not stop at Osaka station (Umeda). But it is only one station away from Shin-Osaka. This is only direct train service to Kyoto from KIX. If you go to Kyoto, I highly recommend to take this train because this is the fastest, most convenient and most reliable choice. Please see the post, Limited Express Haruka to get more details.

How to use ICOCA and Kansai One Pass

These are e-money IC card. This deals included 1500 yen e-money in ICOCA or 2,500 yen e-money if you choose Kansai One Pass.

You can use this e-money not only JR trains but also Osaka subway, Kyoto subway, most of private train companies (Hankyu, Keihan, Kintetsu and many more) and even city bus in major cities, like Kyoto. You can use it to shop in the kiosk in the station, the nationwide convenience store (Lawson, Family Mart, Seven Eleven) and even some of major electronics retail store.

If you go to other major cities, like Tokyo, Nagoya, Sapporo, Hakata, Hiroshima after staying in Kansai area, you still can use ICOCA. So you can take most of trains in the other areas by ICOCA, such as subway in Tokyo, JR train in Sapporo and many more.

What is the difference between ICOCA and Kansai One Pass

Kansai One Pass is basically same type card as ICOCA. But Kansai One Pass is available for an overseas tourist only. And the preload amount is 1,000 yen more than ICOCA.

You can take any trains and most of bus services in Kansai area by this card. The way of using Kansai One Pass is exactly same as ICOCA. The biggest feature of this card is offering a discount at many attractions in Kansai area. ICOCA does not offer any discount at the attraction. If you intend to purchase ICOCA, you should purchase Kansai One Pass instead.

You might think that 2,500 yen e-money is too much for your trip. But as I mentioned, you can use this e-money to buy something eat and/or drink in the major convenience store. It is not hard to spend 2,500 yen. You can include Kansai One Pass in ICOCA and Haruka package instead of ICOCA.

Please see the link below to find the detailed information of Kansai One Pass:

Kansai One Pass official site

Price

Actually you can get only Haruka discount ticket which is Haruka riding ticket portion of ICOCA and Haruka if you have already got ICOCA card or Kansai One Pass.

ICOCA and Haruka price table

DestinationHaruka service sectionOne wayRound trip
Osaka, Shin-OsakaKIX – Shin-Osaka3,2004,400
Tennoji, JR-NambaKIX – Tennoji3,6005,200
Kyoto, Saga-ArashiyamaKIX – Kyoto3,8005,600
NaraKIX – Tennoji3,7005,400
Kobe, SannomiyaKIX – Shin-Osaka3,6005,200

Haruka ticket only price table

DestinationHaruka service sectionOne wayRound trip
Osaka, Shin-OsakaKIX – Shin-Osaka1,2002,400
Tennoji, JR-NambaKIX – Tennoji1,6002,200
Kyoto, Saga-ArashiyamaKIX – Kyoto1,8003,600
NaraKIX – Tennoji1,7002,400
Kobe, SannomiyaKIX – Shin-Osaka1,6003,200
  • One way type ticket is only available both direction, such as KIX to Osaka and Osaka to KIX. But only the deal from KIX is available online. You cannot purchase the ticket to KIX online. You have to purchase it at the station after arrival.
  • One way type ticket must be used on the day of purchase. Round trip ticket is valid for 14 days.
  • ICOCA and Kansai One Pass can be used whenever you want. ICOCA and Kansai One Pass will be expires in case that you will not use these cards in 10 years at all. If you intend to come back to Japan in next 10 years, you still will be able to use same ICOCA or Kansai One Pass in next trip
  • Haruka riding portion of this deal can allow you to use non reserved seat of Haruka or the other local and rapid train. You cannot take a reserved seat or the Green seat of Haruka and other limited express trains, such as the Shinkansen.

If your child is 5 years or younger, it is free of charge.

If you want to get only Haruka ticket without purchasing ICOCA or Kansai One Pass, you can buy a ticket at Klook:

Klook.com

I will explain a price comparison later.

How about child deal

ICOCA and Haruka is not available for child. But if you travel between Kansai airport and Shin-Osaka or Kyoto, Kansai Area Pass child rate is cheaper than a single fare.

If you want to compare the exact fare and the price of this pass, the single fare table can be found below. The child rate is applied to 6 years to 11 years old. 5 years old or younger child is free if you share your seat with your child. But when you take a train and there are lots of empty seat, you can give a seat to your child.

ICOCA can be purchased itself beside Kansai area pass. You cannot share your ICOCA Card with your child. Child ICOCA is available. But Please see the next chapter.

How to use ICOCA and Kansai One Pass

Most of you use ICOCA or Kansai One Pass to take a train. The biggest advantage of this card is that you do not have to purchase a ticket when you enter the station and take a train. All you have to do is touch your ICOCA or Kansai One Pass at a ticket gate when you enter/exit station. It is automatically calculated and subtract a fare from your ICOCA or Kansai One Pass. You can save your time when you take a train.

Even if you do not have enough fund in your ICOCA, you can still enter the station and take the trains. (But you must have minimum fares plus 500 yen deposit in this card.) You can add more fund before you enter/exit the station. You can add more fund in your ICOCA or Kansai One Pass at other major cities where other IC cards are available, such as Tokyo, Yokohama, Sapporo, Sendai, Nagoya, Hiroshima and Hakata.

Actually 2,000 yen e-money in ICOCA (2,500 yen in Kansai One Pass) that is included in this deal also includes 500 yen deposit. Therefore your fund in your ICOCA is 1,500 yen and 2,500 yen in Kansai One Pass. If you empty this card and do not use it any more, you can get this 500 yen deposit refund at the station. But if you want to keep ICOCA card itself for your souvenir, you cannot get refund. Especially ICOCA card for this deal is designed for the overseas tourist. It looks different from common ICOCA card. There are two versions available, Wind or Thunder God on the screen (National treasure) or No.1 world famous Japanese character ‘Hello Kitty!’.

If you go to other than Kansai area and want to get refund, complete to use this ICOCA when you stay in Kansai area and get refund. You cannot get any refund in the other cities, like Tokyo.

Child ICOCA is sold at 2,000 yen that is 1,500 yen e-money and 500 yen deposit. It has same value as adult ICOCA card. But if your child use Child ICOCA, child fare is deducted to take a train. Child fare is half amount of adult fare. So it takes longer to spend 1,500 yen e-money than using adult ICOCA.

Please see the following link to get some more information about other IC cards:

How to use this deal

This deal includes 1,500 yen ICOCA e-money or 2,500 yen e-money in the card if you choose Kansai One Pass, and one way/round trip to Osaka, Kyoto, Nara or Kobe. You cannot use this deal to Himeji, Wakayama and other than Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe.

If you go to Sannomiya, Kobe and other stations between Kobe and Shin-Osaka, you have to take Haruka to Shin-Osaka and transfer local, rapid or Special Rapid Service at Shin-Osaka. Of course this ticket covers all part of this trip. However the airport limousine bus runs between Kansai airport and Kobe directly. If you go to Kobe, the airport limousine bus is better way. You can find limousine bus information at the link below:

Kansai airport limousine bus between Kansai airport and Kobe

If you go to Nara, Haruka takes you Tennoji. And then you have to change to Yamatoji Rapid Service to get Nara. There is no direct train services to Nara either. This is same as access to Kobe. The airport limousine bus takes you to Nara directly. You can find limousine bus information at the link below:

Kansai airport limousine bus between Kansai airport and Nara

Price comparison to basic fare

Upper rate is basic fare and lower rate is non reserved seat limited express surcharge.

 Adult (12 yrs and up)Child (6-11 yrs)
KIX – Tennoji1060 yen
650 yen
530 yen
330 yen
KIX – JR Namba1060 yen
650 yen
530 yen
330 yen
KIX – Shin-Osaka1360 yen
970 yen
680 yen
480 yen
KIX – Osaka (Umeda)1190 yen
970 yen
590 yen
480 yen
KIX – Kyoto1880 yen
970 yen
940 yen
480 yen
KIX – Sannomiya1710 yen
970 yen
860 yen
480 yen

This deal is cheaper for all destinations than the regular fares.

Compare to other deals, Nankai Railway deals, JR West Kansai Area Pass and Kansai Thru Pass

If you travel to Shin-Imamiya or Namba, you can take Nankai Railway. The basic fare is only 930 yen if you take the airport express train. Nankai Namba station is located at central of Namba and it is much better location than JR Namba. Even if you want ICOCA, you can purchase only ICOCA or Kansai One Pass. You can buy one of these cards and start using to take the train from KIX right away.

If you go to somewhere in Osaka, like Shinsaibashi, Nihonbashi, Uehonmachi, by subway, Nankai Namba is much easier location to transfer to subway Namba station. If you have very tight budget, Osaka Subway to Kansai int’l Airport ticket is sold at 1,020 yen. This includes Nankai Railway one way basic fare between Kansai airport and Namba and one way trip to/from any Osaka Metro stations. As I mentioned, basic fare from KIX to Namba by Nankai Railway is 930 yen. Osaka Metro fare is starting at 180 yen. If you have the shortest trip, like from Namba to Shinsaibashi, the total fare (Nankai plus Subway) is 1,110 yen. You can use this deal, Osaka Subway to Kansai int’l Airport ticket for the trip to Umeda where is same location as JR Osaka station. Osaka Metro Midosuji line can take you from Namba to Umeda. This is cheaper than JR basic fare 1,210 yen. If you want to get more information about Osaka Subway to Kansai int’l Airport ticket, please see Nankai Railways website.

If you go to Nara by the train after you arrive in KIX, you may consider to use Nara Access Ticket or Kansai Thru Pass. Kintetsu Railway is better to access to Nara because Kintetsu Nara station is better location than JR Nara station. So I recommend you to use Nara Access Ticket or Kansai Thru Pass to get Nara. Please see the post, How to access to Nara.

If you go to Himeji, JR West Kansai Area Pass is the best and the fastest. Kansai Thru Pass can be used to get Himeji. But it is too many transfers and spend many hours. JR trains, Haruka and Special Rapid Service, are much faster.

I explained all deals for airport access at the link below. Please refer this post too.

How to choose the deals for access to/from Kansai Airport

Comments

  1. Vanessa says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I am a bit confused as to which passes would be the best for me. Please can you advise thank!

    My itinerary is as follows:-
    Day 1 – KIX to Kyoto
    Day 2 – Kyoto sightseeing
    Day 3 – Kyoto – Arashiyama (Sagano Scenic Railway)
    Day 4 – Kyoto – Nara
    Day 5 – Kyoto sightseeing
    Day 6 – Kyoto to KIX

    Please can you also tell me whether I can purchase all these passes/tickets from KIX arrival terminal or do I need to buy online before the trip?

    Many thanks!

  2. Andri Kandar says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I’ll be going to japan for the first time in (Kansai Region) from 25th – 31th may 2019
    I’ve some question:

    Day 1 – KIX to Kyoto Station (ICOCA + Haruka)
    Day 2 – Kyoto Station – Fushimi Inari and arashiyama area) – ??
    Day 3 – Kyoto (Kinkakuji, Nijo Castle, Imperial Palace) – ??
    Day 4 – Kyoto Station to Osaka/Umeda ( via JR Kyoto Line) and from Umeda to Tanimachi 9 chome station — ??
    Day 5 – Namba JR to USJ (ICOCA ?)
    Day 6 – Osaka to Nara – ?
    Day 7 –Osaka to KIX – what is the best pass ?

    Thanks for your time and help in advance
    Andri Kandar

  3. Korina says:

    Hi. I’ve been reading through and it is very helpful. I didn’t know about the Kansai One Pass until I read your blog. Thank you.

    My family and I are going to Japan next week. We arrive in Osaka (Kansai) at 4:30am and we plan to go straight to Kyoto on the first Haruka Limited train at 6:30am. We will stay in Kyoto for 3 days, and we go back to Osaka to stay another 3 days. Places of interest in Kyoto are the known tourist spots (temples, Arashiyama and Gion), while in Osaka is Dontonburi, Namba and Shinsaibashi areas. Can we just get a Kansai One Pass to use for all our trips (bus, train, subway) so we do not get confused with different passes?

    Appreciate your immediate reply. Thanks.

  4. Cindy says:

    Hi Takeshi, can you help me to check whether the passes I’m going to buy is the best? As there’s a lot of passes to choose.

    (February 2019)
    Day1-3 Kyoto/Nara
    Day4-5 Nagoya/Shirakawago by tour
    Day6-8 Osaka

    As my flight arrived at 10pm, I don’t think I able to catch the Haruka to Kyoto (so I couldn’t get Icoca & Haruka deal)

    Ticket / Pass to get;
    Icoca
    Bus limousine (Kix-Kyoto)
    Kintetsu 5days pass (Day2-5)
    Amazing pass (Day-6-7)

    I saw a lot of people recommend kansai railway one day pass, do I need it ?

    Hope to hear from you soon.
    Thank you.

  5. Van Anh says:

    Hello, I am going to Japan this Nov. I still consider about 2 first day:
    Day 1: KIX – Oji station – Nara (because I book a room in Oji)
    Day 2: Oji – Kyoto
    1) Should I buy Icoca + Haruka package for the 1st day? I check on web, package Haruka + Icoca from KIX to Tennoji is 3100y, then I have to tranfer to JR line 390y to Oji (use Icoca to paid for that route)
    2) Or JR Kansai west pass 2 days is more convenient?
    Thank you for advising!

  6. Ane says:

    Hi Takeshi San,

    Could you please recommend me which train and pass should I take to save cost in my itinerary:
    (I’m a bit confusing about ICOCA , ICOCA + Haruka , Kansai one Pass)

    Day 1- Kansai airport to shin-Osaka
    – Shin-Osaka to Namba / Shinsaibashi

    Day 2- Shin-Osaka to Kyoto

    Day 3- Shin-Osaka to Nagoya

    Day 4- within Nagoya area (Nagoya women marathon)

    Day 5- Takaoka Station to Chubu Int’l airport

    Thanks for your guidance in advanced
    Regards
    Ane’s Family

  7. Tami Marr says:

    Hello,
    My name is Tami, my husband and I will be traveling to Japan in 2 weeks. We are flying into KIK airport at 9:55pm and are wondering the best options for this itinerary:
    Day1: Arrive at 9:55pm at KIK to Kyoto.
    Day4: Kyoto to Osaka (Anytime)
    Day5: Osaka to KIK airport arriving at 5:30am Terminal 2.

    I appreciate any advice/ help you can give!

    Thank you,
    Tami

  8. Cenvin Hoe says:

    Hi Takeshi San,

    We will travel in group of 4adults during end of October.
    Can you please advice what combination most suitable for our scenario? Details are as follow

    Day 1 KIX to Kyoto
    Day 4 Kyoto to Kanazawa (via Thunderbird?)
    Day 6 Kanazawa to Osaka (via Thunderbird?)
    Day 8 Osaka to KIX

    I am thinking of getting Kansai One Pass, will it be sufficient for our use?
    Thanks a lots for your advice.

    Regards,
    Cenvin

  9. Richard Quek says:

    Dear Sir

    I am travelling to Japan for sight seeing on following, can you teach me which is the best & cost effective.

    Day: 1 KIX to Kyoto
    Day 2-4 Kyoto area
    Day 5 Kyoto to Hiroshima
    Day 6 – 7 Hiroshima area
    Day 8 Hiroshima to Osaka
    Day 9 Osaka area
    Day10 Osaka to Nara ( Go & bacK)
    Day 11 Osaka to KIX

    Hope you kindly teach me

  10. Charis says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    First timer to Japan, although i been reading up still kinda confuse on the pass
    able to help me have a look ?

    Day 1 – KIX to Kyoto (ICOCA + Haruka)
    Day 2 – Kyoto – Ginkakuji – Arashiyama (Kyoto City Sightseeing card 2 Day Pass)
    Day 3 – Kyoto (Fushimi Inari Taisha, downtown Kyoto, Gion)
    Day 4 – Kyoto to Himeji castle (Touch and go ) to Kobe to Osaka(Namba JR) (I should take Kansai Thru Pass ? 2 days )
    Day 5 – Namba JR to USJ (ICOCA ?)
    Day 6 – Osaka to Nara ( Kansai Thru Pass day 2)
    Day 7 –Osaka
    Day 8 – Osaka to Rinku area (Last night stay for next morning early flight out) – ICOCA

    Thanks for your time and help in advance
    Charis

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