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. steffernie Wong says:

    Dear Sir,

    We are going Kyoto & Osaka for free & easy trip in March 24th, leaving on Apr 2nd 2019. 2 persons. As by March 24th could be still early before the Sakura blossom. We intend to push our kyoto stay towards the end part of our trip with the brief itinerary below.

    Mar/24: Evening arrival at KIX — transfer to Namba (plan to use Nankai express) staying at Shinsaibashi area near Hotel Nikko Osaka.
    Mar/25: at Osaka
    Mar/26: at Osaka
    Mar/27: Transfer to Kyoto station. (not sure how & which train route to take)
    Mar/28 – Mar/31: staying at Kyoto (Cross hotel)
    Apr/1 : transfer from Kyoto station to KIX Airport in the late evening.
    Apr/2: Early morning flight departing.
    note: We can also do a day trip to Nara while in Kyoto.

    Would appreciate your kind advise if I should get a ICOCA card + round trip Heruka or just the ICOCA card with a JR pass?

    Best regards,
    Steffernie

  2. Ben says:

    Dear Takeshi,

    We would like to your assistance to advise what is the recommend pass should get base on my draft itinerary.

    Also would like the recommend way to get from tokyo to Lake kuwagugi /Mount Fuji?

    Draft itinerary
    Day 1 Kansai airport -> (Accommodation Near station : Nipponbashi) -> Shop at namba area

    Day 2 Kuromon Ichiba Market -> Osaka Momofuku Ando instant ramen museum -> Shineskai -> (Accomdation Near station : Nipponbashi)

    Day 3 USJ

    Day 4 Nara -> Osaka

    Day 5 Kyoto -> Accommodation Near station: Gion Shijo -> Fushimi Inari -> Arashiyama

    Day 6 Kiyomizu-dera -> Nishiki Ichiba -> Toyko

    Day 7 Arashiyama tokyo

    Day 8 Harajuku ->Shibuya

    Day 9 – Disneysea

    Day 10 – Mount Fuji /Lake kuwagugi

    Day 11 – Takaosan (Mount Takao) – TBC

    Day 12 – Shibuya -> Haneda

  3. Jieha says:

    Hi, I’ve reserved the icoca and haruka ticket for my trip from KIX to Kyoto and I understood that the haruka express is for non reserved seat but is it possible if I want to purchase the reserved one? Let say I cant, what if there is no more seat in the train?

    • Hi Jieha,

      It’s possible. But if you add a reserved seat fee, a regular ticket is cheaper. Because the difference between reserved seat fee and non reserved seat fee is 520 yen. But in this case, you have to pay a full amount of reserved seat fee which is 1490 yen. The additional amount is not a difference. It doesn’t make any senses to use ICOCA and Haruka.
      If all seat are occupied, you still can take a train but you have to stand up.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  4. Jessica says:

    Does Haruka reach from Kansai Airport to Kyoto Station? Because when I tried to fill in the booking form on JR West website, it shows “Saga-Arashiyama Station”. I don’t want to go to Saga-Arashiyama Station, I want to go to Kyoto Station

  5. Fadzlina says:

    Hi there, I would like to get a recommendation on which pass should i use when i am in Kansai Area. I have check that I probably need to use both Train & bus as my transportation especially in Kyoto. I will depart from Tokyo with overnight bus to Kyoto. I will be staying nearby Kyoto Station. Below is my planned itineraries:

    Day 1:
    Nijo Castle
    Ginkaku-ji (Silver temple)
    Philosophers Path
    Nanzenji-temple (Aqueduct Wall)
    Kiyomizudera Temple (Zen garden- oldest temple)
    Ninenzaka & Sanenzaka old street
    Gion

    Day 2:
    Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
    Togetsukyo Bridge
    Sagano Romantic Train
    Kinkaku-ji Temple (Gold temple)
    Nishiki Market
    Teramachi Street
    Pontocho Area

    Day 3:
    Fushimi Inari
    Nara Prefacture
    Osaka Dotomburi

    Day 4
    Osaka area/Universal Studio Osaka
    Osaka – KIX

    Extra question:
    Is it ok if i use ICOCA card in tokyo rather than SUICA card?

  6. MEI KOH says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    Thank you so much…
    For Day 1, my actual plan is like this…
    KIX to Namba (by train)
    Namba to Shinsaibashi (by train) – we stay at Shinsaibashi
    Can I use Kanku Chikatoku Ticket (1,000 Yen) ?
    Thanks again…

  7. Cindy says:

    Hi Mr Takeshi,

    Can you please help to check and guide me about my itinerary ? 2 person .

    10.02.18
    10PM REACHED KIX AIRPORT
    TAKE BUS TO KYOTO AS NANKAI TRAIN IS CLOSED
    STAYING AT NEARBY GOJO STATION

    11.02.18
    TRAVEL AROUND WITH ICOCA CARD
    (NISHIKI MARKET, FUSHIMI INARI, SANEN & NINEN-ZAKA)

    12.02.18
    TRAVEL AROUND WITH ICOCA CARD
    (ARASHIYAMA & NARA PARK)

    13.02.18
    HEAD TO NAGOYA WITH KINTETSU 5 DAYS RAIL PASS
    STAYING NEARBY NAGOYA STATION

    14.02.18
    TAKAYAMA TOUR FROM NAGOYA ENDED AT 7PM
    HEAD TO OSAKA WITH KINTETSU 5 DAYS RAIL PASS

    15.02.18
    STAYING AT DOTONBORI
    HEAD UNIVERSAL STUDIO (ICOCA)

    16.02.18
    EXPOLORE USING OSAKA AMAZING PASS

    17.02.18
    EXPOLORE USING OSAKA AMAZING PASS

    18.02.18
    HEAD TO RINKU PREMIUM OUTLET & AIRPORT BY NANKAI TRAIN / BUS

    Thank you in advance.
    Hope to hear from you soon.

    • Hi Cindy,

      You can use Kintetsu Rail Pass to visit Nara. You don’t need using ICOCA. You can use ICOCA to visit Arashiyama only. You may purchase Kansai one pass instead of ICOCA. Those are basically same but you can get discount at many attractions by Kansai one pass.
      https://kansaionepass.com/en/about.html?info=1

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Cindy says:

        Hi Mr Takeshi,

        Thank you for your reply.
        May I know how many kansai one day pass should I purchase ?

        For 11 and 15.02.2019 ?

        Thank you 🙂

        • Hi Cindy,

          It’s not Kansai one day pass but Kansai one pass. It’s same type of card as ICOCA. You need only one card. Please refer the link which I gave you to get more detailed info.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

          • Cindy says:

            Hi Mr Takeshi,

            So does it means I only need passes as below for my whole trip ?

            1. Kansai One Pass
            2. Kintetsu 5day Rail Pass
            3. Osaka Amazing Pass

            From my hotel nearby kintetsu nihombashi station, may I know you will recommend to take which transport to airport (my boarding time is around 2100)
            Will stop by Rinku premium outlet before heading to airport .

            Thank you very much 🙂

            • Hi Cindy,

              That’s right.

              You can take Subway Sakaisuji line from Nippombashi to Tengachaya and then transfer to Nankai railway train to KIX. Rinku is on the way to KIX on Nankai railway line.

              Cheers,

              Takeshi / JPRail.com

              • Cindy says:

                Hi Mr Takeshi,

                If I want to go to Nabana no sato from Nagoya station, other than take direct bus, is kintetsu train able to reach there ? As I want to maximise the use of kintetsu rail pass .

                Or actually direct bus is the best way?

                Thank you 🙂

                • Hi Cindy,

                  You can get Kuwana by Kintetsu but you have to take a bus from there to Nabana no Sato. It’s too far to get there from Kuwana station by walk. It’s more than 3km away. The fare for Nabana no Sato is 890 yen from Nagoya and 220 yen from Kuwana. You can save 670 yen if you take Kintetsu but you have to change.

                  Cheers,

                  Takeshi / JPRail.com

  8. Teresa Chin says:

    Hi Takeshi
    I am visiting Kyoto/Osaka for the first time with two friends from 15/3/2019 to 22/3/2019. Our flight arrive at KIX at 8.45pm. Is there any bus or train to Kyoto station. Our guest house is 10 min walk from Kyoto station. Appreciate if you could advise which pass would be convenience and best for us. Too many lines and very confusing.
    My itinery is :-
    Day 1 Kansai Airport – KIX 8.45 pm
    Day 2 Kyoto – Kiyomizudera temple-Yasaka Shine-Sanjusangenda Hall-Fushimi Inari Shrine-
    Nishiki Market
    Day 3 Kyoto – Arashiyama Bomboo Forest – Hazugawa River Curise – Gion District
    Day 4 Kobe – Arima Hot Springs – Shin Kobe Ropeway- China Town
    (Is it posible to go Himeji Castle from Kobe?)
    Day 5 Nara – Nara Deer Park – Todaiji Temple – Isuen Garden
    Day 6 Osaka – Osaka Castle – Dotonbori – Kuromon Ichiba Market
    Day 7 Osaka – Umeda Shy Building – Shinsekai
    Day 8 Osaka – KIX back home

    Thank for your time to read my email. Hope you can help me.

    • Hi Teresa,

      I would like to make sure where you stay before I give you suggestions. I understand you go to Kyoto first. On day 4, are you going to move to Kobe and stay there or go back to Kyoto? How about day 5? Are you going to stay in Nara or go to Osaka or go back to Kyoto? Please tell me where you stay other than Kyoto.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  9. Emerlie Marquez says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I will be in Kansai area for 4 days (coming from Tokyo) Dec 5-8. I will be staying in Kyoto but I will be going back and forth to Osaka because my friend is staying there. She has JR pass. May i kindly ask your help to suggest what deal should i take?
    On my last day in Kansai, i will be flying out from Osaka-KIX.

    Thank you very much.

    Looking forward to your reply 🙂

    • Hi Emerlie,

      You have one way trip from Tokyo to Kyoto and do not go back to Tokyo. So JR pass is too expensive for you because you cannot get the worth of it by one way trip and local train trip between Osaka and Kyoto. Regular fare ticket for Tokyo to Kyoto is your choice. And you may use Kansai area pass for staying in Kyoto.
      https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/how-to-use-jr-west-kansai-area-pass-compare-pass-and-single-fare.html

      Kansai area pass covers JR trains and it’s same as JR pass. But I cannot say that you can get the worth of this pass. One way base fare for Kyoto to Osaka is 560 yen. If you have one round trip each days, it costs 4,080 yen. Regular fare is way cheaper than 4 days Kansai area pass. So it depends on how much you use this pass other than Osaka-Kyoto round trips. You have to make sure that before you purchase it.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Emerlie Marquez says:

        Hi Takeshi,
        Thank you very much for the reply. Really appreciate it. Our itinerary is below:
        Day 1-from Kyoto to Nara, to Fushimi Inari, back to Kyoto
        Day 2- from Kyoto to Arashiyama, Osaka, back to Kyoto
        Day 3- from Kyoto to USJ, Osaka, back to Kyoto
        Day 4- from Kyoto, to Osaka to KIX

        Can i kindly ask again if ICOCA+Haruka is the good choice for the above itineraries or maybe there are passes I can use to save some money? Again, thank you

  10. MEI KOH says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    My family and I will travel to Japan in group of 7 adults and 1 kid on 1st March 2019. I’ve been reading through but still kinda confuse on the pass, please help me have a look ? Thank you.

    Day 1 : KIX to Kyoto + Kyoto Sightseeing
    (Icoca + Haruka or Kansai one pass)

    Day 2 : Kyoto sightseeing to Shinsaibashi
    (Kyoto – Osaka sightseeing pass 700yen)

    Day 3 : Shinsaibashi to Kobe
    (Kansai Thru Pass – 2 days – 1st day use)

    Day 4 : Shinsaibashi to Universal Studio

    Day 5 : Shinsaibashi to Nara

    Day 6 : Osaka sightseeing
    (Osaka Amazing Pass – 2 days – 1st day use)

    Day 7 : Osaka sightseeing
    (Osaka Amazing Pass – 2 days – 2nd day use)

    Day 8 : Osaka – KIX

    (KANSAI THRU PASS – 2 days – 2nd day use)

    Please advise…..
    Thank you for your kind advise and guidance…..

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