JR-West Passes in Kansai
Kansai is a main area in Japan, which includes several regions like Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, and Osaka. The transportation here is very complex as the main transportation tools include Shinkansen, JR trains, JR buses, metros, and private railways. It is very common to transfer among different transportation tools. Apart from ICOCA or Kansai One Pass, you can also use various JR-West Passes to visit Kansai. These passes are suitable for those who want to take excursions or side trips to others cities in Kansai from Osaka or Kyoto. JR-West Passes in Kansai include 7 types: Kansai Mini Pass, Kansai Area Pass, Kansai Wide Area Pass, Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass, Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass, Kansai-San’in Area Pass, and JR-WEST All Area Pass. The first 3 ones are the most frequently used.The Most Popular Passes in Kansai
1. Kansai Mini Pass:
Valid time: 3 Days
Main Covering Area: Kansai International Airport, Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara
Ticket Prices: 3,000 yen for adult; 1,500 yen for child
Please note that child tickets are for kids between 6 and 11 years old, and kids under 6 are free of tickets.
Aimed Visitors:
Kansai Mini Pass is especially suitable for travelers who plans to visit the most popular areas in Kansai, Japan, such as Kyoto, Kobe, and Osaka.
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(1) JR’s Local/Rapid/Special Rapid Service:
Only non-reserved seats are available. To take seats in first-class of Local trains and reserved seats, you need to buy an additional ticket.
(2) Express or Limited Express:
In Japan, you need to buy 2 tickets when taking Express or Limited Express trains: the basic fare ticket and an express or limited express ticket. Kansai Mini Pass only includes the fee of basic fare ticket. Therefore, when you use the Pass to take the Express train or Limited Express train, please buy the express or limited express ticket at the ticket machine before getting on the train.2. Kansai Area Pass
Valid time: 1 day – 4 daysMain covering Area: Kansai International Airport Osaka, Kobe, Himeji, Kyoto, Wakayama, Otsu, Tsuruga
Ticket Prices:
| Time | Adult | Child |
| 1 day | 2,800 yen | 1,400 yen |
| 2 days | 4,800 yen | 2,400 yen |
| 3 days | 5,800 yen | 2,900 yen |
| 4 days | 7,000 yen | 3,500 yen |
Aimed Visitors:
The Kansai Area Pass is especially suitable for visitors who want to visit both central Kansai and the surrounding areas in a limited time. You can choose to visit one or two among Kobe, Osaka, and Kyoto, and go to the less-known areas, such as Himeji or Wakayama. On such occasions, Kansai Area Pass is the best choice.
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Available tools supported by the Pass:
Kansai Area Pass supports JR’s Local/Rapid/Special Service, Express Haruka, JR buses, and metros and some private railways. There are some restrictions while using the Pass to take vehicles.
Trains:
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Local/Rapid/Special Rapid trains | Limited Express Haruka |
| Reserved seats | √ | √ |
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Reserved seats in common carriages |
Twice altogether |
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| For A-seat, an additional ticket is needed | √ | |
| First-class seats | An additional first-class ticket is needed. | You need to buy an additional limited express ticket. |
West JR Buses:
Kansai Area Pass only supports buses running within Kyoto. Expressway buses connecting nearby cities, also called long-distance buses, are not included.
Metros and Some Private Railways
Three extra passes would be given for free once you buy a Kansai Area Pass: Kyoto City Subway 1-Day Pass, Keihan Railway 1-Day Pass, and Hankyu Railway 1-Day Pass. They are only valid before Kansai Area Pass expires. Below briefly presents their sections:① Kyoto City Subway 1-Day Pass:
Uzumasa Tenjingawa – Karasuma Oike – Yamashina Ward –Rokujizo； Kokusaikaikan – Kyoto – Taketa
② Keihan Railway 1-Day Pass：
Cable-hachimangu-sanjo – Chushojima – Demachiyanagi； Uji – Chushojima
③ Hankyu Railway 1-Day Pass：
Umeda – Katsura – Kyoto-Kawaramachi； Arashiyama – Katsura； Kita-Senri– Tenjimbashisuji 6-chome
3. Kansai WIDE Area Pass
Valid time: 5 daysMain Covering Areas:
Kansai WIDE Area Pass has a broader coverage than Kansai Area Pass. It includes Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Wakayama, Shirahama, Kii-Katsuura, Otsu, Tsuruga, Amanohashidate, Kinosaki Onsen, Tottori, Okayama, and Takamatsu.
Ticket Prices: 12,000 yen for adult; 6,000 yen for child
Aimed Visitors:
Kansai Wide Area Pass is especially suitable for travelers who want to have an in-depth trip in Kansai. Since this Pass is valid for 5 days and covers an extensive area, visitors can save much when their travelling spans a long distance.
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Available tools supported by the Pass:
The WIDE Area Pass supports Sanyo Shinkansen &Hello Kitty Shinkansen, JR trains, including Local Service, Rapid Service, Special Services, Limited Express trains, JR local buses and a part of private railways or expresses.
Trains:
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Local/Rapid/Special Rapid Trains | Limited Express trains |
| Non-reserved seats | √ | √ |
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Reserved seats in common carriages. (Reservation in advance is needed.) |
Separate charges are required when using paid seating services (such as A-seat) |
√ |
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7 times altogether |
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| First-class seats | An additional first-class ticket is needed. | You need to buy a limited express ticket and a first-class seat ticket. |
Sanyo Shinkansen & Hello Kitty Shinkansen
Available section: from Shin-Osaka Station to Okayama Station.| Non-reserved seats | √ |
| Reserved seats in common carriages. (Reservation in advance is needed) | √ |
| First-class seats | An additional first-class seat ticket and an express ticket are needed. |
Private Railways and Expresses
Available railways: Kyoto Tango Railway, Wakayama Electric Railway, and Chizu Express. Below shows the sections supported by the Pass:① Kyoto Tango Railway: Toyooka – Miyazu – Fukuchiyama – Nishi-Maizuru
② Wakayama Electric Railway: Wakayama – Kishi
③ Chizu Express: Chizu – Sayo – Kamogori
Some Tips for Using JR West Pass:
1. People who can buy JR Kanai Pass
Temporary visitors in Japan with a passport issued by foreign governments other than Japanese Government.