Train Passes Required? (Kansai Area)

[Blitzy]

Hi all again

Will be going to Japan again soon, this time to Kansai area for honeymoon

I just like to check that for my itinerary below (just a rough draft first), do I need to purchase any train/railway/transport passes as this is my 1st time to Osaka and the Kansai areas.

My wife and I will be staying in Namba throughout our stay in Kansai as we don't really like the idea of having to move around lodgings.

Plans for now:

Day 1: Kyoto
Day 2: Mie (Kuwana)
Day 3: Kobe
Day 4: Kyoto
Day 5: Nara
Day 6 and 7: Osaka
Day 8: Taking Shinkasen To Tokyo

Thanks for any kind suggestions!

 

[kifo]

Kansai Surutto Pass

KANSAI THRU PASS (English) | Ticket&Goods | SURUTTO KANSAI

 

[Blitzy]

Kansai Surutto Pass

KANSAI THRU PASS (English) | Ticket&Goods | SURUTTO KANSAI

Hi kifo,

Thanks!

So basically when using this pass, I will omit taking JR lines?

 

[cancer81]

it depends though

u will have to take JR from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo... most likely Shinkansen??

it is one trip only so a JR pass wun sound that worth it...

 

[lillyelf]

You probably won't get good value out of the Kansai Thru based on your current itinerary. Also, Mie is not covered under that pass.

I'd recommend the Kintetsu Rail Pass instead. Extra perk: it gives you 3 trips on the Limited Express and allows you to go all the way to Nagoya as well.

How to Use the KINTETSU RAIL PASS | Discount Tickets | Kintetsu Corporation

All your current planned areas are covered by this pass except for Kobe, but Namba to Kobe is pretty cheap at 400 yen one way.

As for Osaka, the one-day Enjoy Eco pass is quite worth it, especially on weekends.

http://www.kotsu.city.osaka.lg.jp/foreign/english/ticket/image/obj_con02.pdf

 

[kifo]

You probably won't get good value out of the Kansai Thru based on your current itinerary. Also, Mie is not covered under that pass.

I'd recommend the Kintetsu Rail Pass instead. Extra perk: it gives you 3 trips on the Limited Express and allows you to go all the way to Nagoya as well.

How to Use the KINTETSU RAIL PASS | Discount Tickets | Kintetsu Corporation

All your current planned areas are covered by this pass except for Kobe, but Namba to Kobe is pretty cheap at 400 yen one way.

As for Osaka, the one-day Enjoy Eco pass is quite worth it, especially on weekends.

http://www.kotsu.city.osaka.lg.jp/foreign/english/ticket/image/obj_con02.pdf

There is one issue with taking the Kintetsu to Kyoto -
The Kintetsu line goes all the way to Nara before it goes to Kyoto.
Taking JR - Kyoto is only 30 mins.
Taking Hanyu (umeda - Omiya)- about 50 mins
Taking Kintetsu - 70 mins

In this case, it might be better to go to Nara and then proceed to Kyoto the day after. And perhaps go Kobe before you go to Kuwana.

 

[Nalgene123]

There is one issue with taking the Kintetsu to Kyoto -
The Kintetsu line goes all the way to Nara before it goes to Kyoto.
Taking JR - Kyoto is only 30 mins.
Taking Hanyu (umeda - Omiya)- about 50 mins
Taking Kintetsu - 70 mins

In this case, it might be better to go to Nara and then proceed to Kyoto the day after. And perhaps go Kobe before you go to Kuwana.

yes.....i faced this problem when using the Kintetsu pass to get to Kyoto from Osaka...its a real hassle and time consuming....if memory don't serve me wrongly...you have to stop at Yamato-Saidaiji Station to change line to Kintetsu Nara line....after coming from Namba in Osaka..and from Yamato-Saidaji its like 10-12 stations away by Express train to Kyoto...for JR line..you just have to get on one of the main station along the Yamatoji line that serves Kyoto and its usually a straight train to Kyoto usually 35-40mins ride away

imo...i think its better to just get the JR Kansai Pass for 2-3000 JPY to save on trouble and time...this is especially so if you want to go to Fushimi Inari to see the shrine as the nearest station with Kintetsu trains are quite a distance away

 

[lillyelf]

Point to note that the JR pass (4-5k for 2-3 days) won't be worth it for the itinerary either, since it doesn't cover Kuwana and the trips between Nara-Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe don't cost that much. If OP wants to take JR trains to minimize travel time, buying an ICOCA and topping it up as you travel would be the optimal choice. No cost savings, but much more convenient.

 

[satyavirya]

yes.....i faced this problem when using the Kintetsu pass to get to Kyoto from Osaka...its a real hassle and time consuming....if memory don't serve me wrongly...you have to stop at Yamato-Saidaiji Station to change line to Kintetsu Nara line....after coming from Namba in Osaka..and from Yamato-Saidaji its like 10-12 stations away by Express train to Kyoto...for JR line..you just have to get on one of the main station along the Yamatoji line that serves Kyoto and its usually a straight train to Kyoto usually 35-40mins ride away

imo...i think its better to just get the JR Kansai Pass for 2-3000 JPY to save on trouble and time...this is especially so if you want to go to Fushimi Inari to see the shrine as the nearest station with Kintetsu trains are quite a distance away

I think no point getting JR Kansai Pass, the most costly trip here is to Kuwana, Kintetsu Rail Pass with only 3700 JPY already save a lot for travelling to Kuwana and Nara. To Nara from Namba one way trip is 540 yen. For Kyoto and Kobe can just use ICOCA.

 

[coldkey]

Not sure if staying in Namba is a good idea if you are traveling most days.

The better station for traveling would be Umeda since the trains stop at that station.

 

[satyavirya]

I agree, if does not plan to visit Namba area every night, should consider staying in Osaka/Umeda area

 

[Blitzy]

Hi all,

Thanks very much for the responses!

I guess I will just get a ICOCA (definitely as I am quite used to using Suica in Tokyo ) and perhaps consider the Kintetsu Rail Pass for my Kuwana and Nara trip then.

And yep reason for staying in Namba is my wife will like to shop the area every night ><

 

[chaotah]

Hi all,

Thanks very much for the responses!

I guess I will just get a ICOCA (definitely as I am quite used to using Suica in Tokyo ) and perhaps consider the Kintetsu Rail Pass for my Kuwana and Nara trip then.

And yep reason for staying in Namba is my wife will like to shop the area every night ><

Iirc now suica and icoca now compatible. Suica can use in osaka, icoca in Tokyo

Edit: Prepaid IC Cards in Japan

 

[lcpteck]

Iirc now suica and icoca now compatible. Suica can use in osaka, icoca in Tokyo

Edit: Prepaid IC Cards in Japan

Cool, so that means if I buy ICOCA when I'm in Osaka, I can keep it for future tokyo trips or other places covered by it. It says the IC Cards are valid for up to 10 years of no usage.

 

[cpuer]

Cool, so that means if I buy ICOCA when I'm in Osaka, I can keep it for future tokyo trips or other places covered by it. It says the IC Cards are valid for up to 10 years of no usage.

correct, I am keeping my SUICA for my year end trip to Osaka too