Kintetsu Rail Pass, Most affordable deal for Osaka/Kyoto-Nagoya and access to Ise.

kintetsu railway limited expressRail pass for visitors
Kintetsu Railway has the biggest limited express train network in all private railway companies.
Kintetsu Railway has the biggest limited express train network in all private railway companies.

I have received many inquiries about Nagoya-Osaka or Kyoto trip. There are lots of travellers who arrive in Chubu (Nagoya) airport and depart from Kansai (Osaka) airport or reverse or arrive in/depart from Chubu. Even if you have round trip between Nagoya and Osaka, JR Pass is too expensive choice. And there is no options to cover both Nagoya and Osaka/Kyoto by JR. One way ticket from Nagoya to Osaka or Kyoto by Shinkansen is very common choice. However JR is not only railway that connect Nagoya, Osaka and Kyoto. Kintetsu Railway that is the biggest private railway company operates many trains among these three cities, Nara, Ise and Yoshino. Kintetsu Railway has very useful deal for the travellers who want to travel in this area.

In this post, I would like to show you Kintetsu Rail Pass and Kintetsu Rail Pass Wide.

What is Kintetsu Railway?

In Japan, there are many railway services. This is the biggest reason why you are very confused. Kintetsu Railway is NON JR and the biggest private railway company in Japan. Of course this railway service is not covered by any JR deals, such as JR Pass, Kansai Area Pass. Please see the map below to find Kintetsu Railway network.

Kintetsu Railway lines are shown in bold navy blue line. Other railways are shown in this map for your convenience. (C) JP Rail
Kintetsu Railway lines are shown in bold navy blue line. Other railways are shown in this map for your convenience. (C) JP Rail

Kintetsu Rail Pass covers all part of this network. As you see the map above, you can use this railway to get Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka (Namba, Uehonmachi, Tsuruhashi), Nara, Yoshino and Ise. And this pass includes three vouchers to take Kintetsu Railway Limited Express. Kintetsu Railway Limited Express has very nice accommodation and have same level service as JR’s limited express train. I tell you about detail of this limited express train and coverage below.

You may know about Kansai Thru Pass. This pass covers Kintetsu Railway and other major private railways in Kansai area. But this pass does not include Nagoya and Ise. And it does not include Kintetsu Railway Limited Express train voucher. As long as you travel both Nagoya and Osaka/Kyoto, Kansai Thru Pass is not your first choice. Please find the detailed about Kansai Thru Pass at the link below:

How to use Kansai Thru Pass. Compare pass and single fare.

How good is Kintetsu Railway Limited Express?

Ise-Shima Liner 23000 series is used for limited express to Ise area.
Ise-Shima Liner 23000 series is used for limited express to Ise area.

Some of major private railway companies operate limited express as commute train without extra charge, such as Hankyu, Keihan and Hanshin. But Kintetsu operates limited express as special train. It has reserved seat only. You have to pay limited express surcharge on top of base fare and this limited express train has same level of interior as JR’s limited express train.

There are many kinds of fleets for limited express trains. But all fleets have 2+2 seat configuration and seat pitch is 1000 to 1050 mm. It is spacious and comfortable.

Regular seat car interior of 21000 series, Urban Liner. Most of Kintetsu Railway Limited Express has like this interior. (C) By 2013.1.28 (Own work)
Regular seat car interior of 21000 series, Urban Liner. Most of Kintetsu Railway Limited Express has like this interior. (C) By 2013.1.28 (Own work)
The regular seat of 22600 series. This fleet is used for most of limited express trains.
The regular seat of 22600 series. This fleet is used for most of limited express trains.

Especially if you travel between Nagoya and Osaka, trip time is more than 2 hours. The seat and interior are very important factor.

You can take limited express train up to three times by Kintetsu Rail Pass if you use it until the end of September, 2016. After 1st of October, 2016, you have to purchase a separate ticket to take limited express train.

Who is eligible

Visitors who land as “Temporary Visitor” status can purchase this pass. And Japanese who live in foreign country as permanent resident or who are married to a foreigner residing outside of Japan can purchase this deal as well.

Types and prices

A few types of pass, Kintetsu Rail Pass and Kintetsu Rail Pass wide are available.

TypesPurchase outside JapanPurchase in Japan
Kintetsu Rail Pass
5-day
3,700 yen3,900 yen
Kintetsu Rail Pass Plus
5-day
4,900 yen5,100 yen

Child price is half amount of the adult price. It applies to child who is 6 to 11 years old. Adult price is applied to 12 years old and up.

5 year old or younger child is free. But when you take Limited Express train, all seats are reserved. You have to share your seat with your child. If you want to have a seat for your child, please purchase child pass for even 5 years old or younger child.

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

e.g.
If you start to use 5 days pass on May 1, the pass is expired at 23:59 on May 5.

Sales location

If you want to purchase an exchange order before you leave, you can find the authorized travel agent list at the link below:

Kintetsu Rail Pass official site

They may ship the exchange order to you by mail. Please contact the nearest vendor. Kintetsu Rail Pass Wide can be purchased at both Chubu airport and Kansai airport. But Kintetsu Rail Pass can be purchased at Kansai airport only. You can find the sales location in the airport at the link above as well.

Coverage area and valid transportation

Both Kintetsu Rail Pass and Kintetsu Rail Pass Wide covers all part of Kintetsu Railway network and include three limited express vouchers.

Kintetsu Rail Pass does not include limited express voucher. The separate ticket for taking limited express train is required.

Sightseeing Limited Express Shimakaze is not covered by this pass. This is one of most difficult trains to book in Japan now. (C) Oka21000
Sightseeing Limited Express Shimakaze is not covered by this pass. This is one of most difficult trains to book in Japan now. (C) Oka21000

Some of Kintetsu Railway Limited Express trains have upper class seat. But this pass covers ordinary reserved seat only. And Kintetsu Railway operates Sightseeing Limited Express “Shimakaze”. This train is not covered by this pass either.

If you do not want to pay any extra, you can take rapid express, express, semi express and local trains. These are commute trains. The interior is totally different from the limited express train.

The exterior of Kintetsu Railway commute trains
The exterior of Kintetsu Railway commute trains
Interior is nothing special. (C) ちょろ
Interior is nothing special. (C) ちょろ

When you take a train among Kyoto, Osaka and Nara, you can use these trains because of the short distance transfer.

Compare the pass and single fare

I would like to show you the fare table. Upper fare is base fare and lower is limited express surcharge.

stationOsaka
(Namba)
KyotoNaraNagoyaIse
(Toba)
Osaka
(Namba)
940
900
560
510
2360
1900
2040
1610
Kyoto940
900
620
510
2590
1900
2280
1610
Nara560
510
620
510
2250
1610
1940
1610
Nagoya2360
1900
2590
1900
2250
1610
1710
1320
Ise
(Toba)
2040
1610
2280
1610
1940
1610
1710
1320
stationOsaka
(Osaka-Abenobashi)
KyotoNaraNagoya
Yoshino970
510
1230
900
850
900
2390
2120

If you travel from Nagoya to Osaka or Kyoto by limited express by 30th of September, it is higher than Kintetsu Rail Pass at 3800 yen. It is really good deal for the traveller who wants to travel from Nagoya to Kyoto or Osaka. If you go to Ise from Kyoto, Osaka or Nara, it is better deal than single fare too. But if you visit Ise, Kintetsu Rail Pass Wide may be better deal for you. Please see next chapter.

If you travel after 1st of October, limited express voucher will not be included. You must have at least one round trip between Kansai area (Osaka, Nara and Kyoto) and Nagoya or Ise.

Compare cost and trip time between the Shinkansen fare and Kintetsu Rail Pass

Shinkansen is most common way to get Kyoto and Osaka from Nagoya. It is much faster than Kintetsu Railway Limited Express trains. But Shinkansen is much more expensive too. Before you decide to go for Kintetsu Rail Pass, you should compare these trains by cost and time.

Nagoya – Namba

TrainsTrip timeFare
Kintetsu Railway
Limited Express
2 hrs 30 mins3800 yen
+ Limited express surcharge
Shinkansen (Nozomi)
and Subway
1 hr 20 mins6840 yen

Shinkansen and subway combination is much faster but the cost is almost double. And Kintetsu Railway is direct access without any transfer. This is the strongest point.

Nagoya – Osaka (Umeda)

TrainsTrip timeFare
Kintetsu Railway
Limited Express
and JR local train
2 hrs 45 mins3800 yen
+ Limited express surcharge
+ 180 yen (JR)
Shinkansen (Nozomi)
and JR local train
1 hr 10 mins6560 yen

You have to transfer at Shin-Osaka to get Osaka by the Shinkansen. But it is same station and very easy to transfer from the Shinkansen to JR local train. If you take Kintetsu Railway, you can transfer at Tsuruhashi to JR Osaka Kanjo line. It is much easier than transfer at Namba to subway. Tsuruhashi station is much smaller than Namba. JR and Kintetsu stations are connected directly.

Nagoya – Shin-Osaka

TrainsTrip timeFare
Kintetsu Railway
Limited Express
and Subway
3 hrs3800 yen
+ Limited express surcharge
+ 280 yen (subway)
Shinkansen (Nozomi)50 mins6560 yen

Shin-Osaka is Shinkansen’s terminal station. Shinkansen is much more accessible than Kintetsu Railway. If you take Kintetsu Railway, you have to transfer at Namba to get subway. And subway fare is extra.

Nagoya – Kyoto

TrainsTrip timeFare
Kintetsu Railway
Limited Express
Need to transfer at Yamato-Yagi
2 hrs 35 mins3800 yen
+ Limited express surcharge
Shinkansen (Nozomi)36 mins5800 yen

Both Kintetsu Railway and Shinkansen are direct access to Kyoto. Shinkansen is 2 hours faster than Kintetsu Railway Limited Express.

Nagoya – Nara

TrainsTrip timeFare
Kintetsu Railway
Limited Express
and Kintetsu local train
Need to transfer at Yamato-Yagi
2 hrs 15 mins3800 yen
+ Limited express surcharge
Shinkansen (Nozomi)
JR local train
1 hr 30 mins6560 yen

Shinkansen and JR trains are still faster than Kintetsu Railway. But the difference is smallest in all above cases.

Assessment

If you are really sensitive with cost, Kintetsu Rail Pass is a good choice for even Nagoya to Osaka or reverse one way trip. If you travel from Nagoya to Osaka and visit Nara and Kyoto, this pass gives you a huge savings.

Even though the Shinkansen is much faster, this pass is one of my most recommended deals.

Comments

  1. evelyn says:

    Hi,

    Can you advise which railway pass i should use?
    here’s our itinerary:
    Day 0- Arrive in Japan via Kansai Airport
    Day 1 and 2 – Nagoya
    Day 3 and 4 – Kyoto
    Day 5 to 8 – Osaka
    Day 9: Depart from Japan via Kansai Airport

  2. Barbara says:

    Dear Takeshi,
    We will be in Osaka from18th May till 25th May 2018.
    In/out Osaka.
    This is our planning hope you can give us some advice which pass should we consider to purchase.
    Day 1 Osaka arrived evening 1815pm
    Day 2 Osaka
    Day 3 Osaka
    Day 4 Nagoya – depart early morning.
    Day 5 Nagoya -Takayama – Shirakawa – Kanazawa
    Day 6 Kanazawa -Kyoto
    DAY 7 Kyoto
    DAY 8 Kyoto to Kansai Airport back home.

    Shall we take Kintetsu Rail Pass Plus.
    just for your information that we are travelling in a group of 9 person no children.
    Thank you.

  3. Choon Hoo says:

    Hi Takeshi-San,

    We’ll be in Japan for 11 days, here’s our itinerary:

    Day 1 – arrival Osaka airport at 1530hrs (stay at Shin osaka)
    Day 2 and 3 – Kyoyo
    Day 4 – Nara
    Day 5 – Nagoya
    Day 6 – Oaska
    Day 7 – Osaka to Tokyo by Express bus (0700hrs to 1530hrs)
    Day 8 to 11 – Tokyo
    Do you thinks I should buy Kintetsu Railway 5 days pass ?
    Thanks for your advice and help.

    Thanks 😉

  4. Thomas says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    I will be in Nagoya this coming Christmas. I would like to know how to get to Nara/Osaka using Kintetsu Rail Pass just with ordinary train? I know that its going to be a long ride but I dont have any other choice. Dont need to purchase Jr pass since I’ll be in Japan for 5 days only.

    Please help! Thanks in advance!

  5. ST says:

    Hi Takeshi-San,

    I’m planning the transports for my upcoming trip to Japan.

    Would appreciate if you could give some advise.

    8 Nov: Kansai Airport (reach at night)
    9 – 13 Nov: Kyoto and Osaka (staying in Osaka)
    14 – 16 Nov: Takayama and Shirakawago
    16 Nov: departing from Kansai Airport at late night

    Not sure if I should buy any pass as I’m afraid I won’t be utilising them fully.

    From Osaka to Takayama and then back to Kansai Airport for departure, which route would you recommend? and whether should I buy any pass.

    Thank you.

    Kind Regards,
    ST

  6. Nguyen Cong Dong says:

    Dear Takeshi San

    My family ( 04 members ) will be visited Japan for 08 days that arrive to Osaka then move to stay 04 nights at Nagoya after that will be back to Osaka for remaining 04 nights. We have intention to buy 05 days Kintestsu Railway from the started day then remaining days in Osaka will use common ticket.
    Please kindly recommend and give us your advising.

    Many thanks and appreciated.

    Dong

  7. Jason says:

    Hello Takeshi san,

    I’ll be visiting Nagoya, primarily to Kasugai in Aichi. Will I be able to use this Kintetsu Rail Pass from Chubu Airport to Kasugai? Can I use this from Kasugai to Nara/Kyoto?

  8. Mallows says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    Does Kintetsu Rail pass also cover the local trains in Nagoya? Is it available at the Nagoya airport in the evening? I’m worried since we’ll be arriving 8pm.

    • Hi Mallows san,

      Kintetsu rail pass covers Kintetsu railway trains only. It does not cover local train on other lines, such as JR., Meitetsu. It does not cover subway in Nagoya either.

      You can purchase Kintetsu rail pass at travel plaza. It’s open until 22:00.
      http://www.centrair.jp/en/travelplaza/

      Cheers.

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Wuri says:

        Hi Takeshi,
        If I purchase kintetsu railpass at Kansai airport when I arrive, and my route namba to Nagoya use limited express train, can I pay the additional fee at the sales counter or do I have to make an online payment before ?
        Thanks

        • Hi Wuri,

          You need to book and pay for limited express fee online or at Osaka-Namba station. You cannot book and purchase it at Kansai airport. You can purchase and receive Kintetsu rail pass only at the airport.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  9. Dennis says:

    Dear Takeshi san, 4 of us travelling from November 8 to 18 and we wish to use the Kintetsu system to plan our travel for savings:
    I hope to buy the Kintetsu Rail Pass for use Day 6 to 10.
    Is this ok? Appreciate your advice for us. Thank you for all your good advice given to travellers.

    Day 1 Arrived Kansei Airport to go to Umeda Osaka 11pm
    Day 2 in Osaka
    Day 3 Depart Osaka to Kyoto /Hira Station
    Day 4 Day 5 Kyoto
    Day 6 Leave Kyoto/Hira Station to Nabari
    Day 7 Nabari
    Day 8 Leave Nabari to Nagoya stay for 4 days
    Day 11 Leave Nagoya to Chuba Airport, to Tokyo Narita, connect to Haneda ,

  10. Joy says:

    Hi Takeshi-San,

    We’ll be in Japan for 5 days, here’s our itinerary:

    Day 1 and 2 – Nagoya
    Day 3 – Nara
    Day 4 – Kyoto
    Day 5 – Nagoya

    Please take note that in all 5 days, our hotel will be based in Nagoya. Based on my search, the cheapest pass for those 5 days is Kintetsu Rail Pass, is this correct? Will that cover Nagoya to Nara and Nagoya to Kyoto?

    What will be the best router without purchasing a limited express ticket and just using the Kintetsu Rail Pass? I don’t mind transferring trains in between.

    • Hi Joy san,

      Kintetsu Rail Pass is the best choice anyway. Actually even if you take Limited Express train, you cannot get Kyoto and Nara directly. Please see the link below:

      Using Limited Express train
      Nagoya – Yamato Yagi (or Ise Nakagawa) – Kyoto
      Nagoya – Yamato Yagi (or Ise Nakagawa) – Yamato Saidaiji – Nara
      *Taking local train between Yamato Saidaiji and Kintetsu Nara

      Using ordinary train
      Nagoya – Ise Nakagawa – Yamato Yagi – (may need to change trains at Yamato Saidaiji) – Kyoto
      Nagoya – Ise Nakagawa) – Yamato Yagi – Yamato Saidaiji – Nara

      Trip time is much longer if you take ordinary train. It takes 2.5 to 3 hours by Limited Express to Kyoto and 4 to 4.5 hours to get Kyoto. Trip time is 15 minutes shorter to get Nara than Kyoto.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

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