We (2 adults & 3 kids) will be spending 5 days in Osaka and will leave for Kyoto on the 5th day.
Total transport cost for these 5 days estimated to be ¥7870 per adult, breakdown below.
I see that there are various different passes for Osaka but I'm really confused if any of them is able to accommodate for all the rides that I have projected below since each of them have slightly different coverage in terms of lines (or am I wrong).
Kansai Railway Pass (formerly known as Kansai Thru Pass): Max 3 days, est ¥7000. Unlimited train rides throughout the metro (but not for JR lines – does not cover Nankai-Limited Express, Tokaido-Sanyo Line and Osaka Loop). Not feasible since only cover 3 days.
JR West Kansai Area Pass: Max 4 days, est ¥7000. Possibly take this for first 4 days and use fare for transfer to Kyoto but does this cover all JR lines and subway/metro lines within Osaka, Nara, Kobe and Kyoto?
Any other passes I should consider or it's best that I just go without any transport pass?
Day 1: Arrive in Kansai Airport mid day.
Our accommodation is near Shin-Imamiya / Imamiyaebisu / Ebisucho Station. Plan to take Nankai-Limited Express train (est ¥1490) from airport to Shin-Imamiya Station for check in and spend the rest of the day walking and exploring Shinsekai, Tsūtenkaku, Tennoji Park, Kuromon Ichiba Market. May take Sakaisuji Line (est ¥190) back to Ebisucho Station if we are tired.
Total transport cost estimates ¥1680 per adult.
Day 2: Explore Osaka
Visit below sights. It will be fine if we can't visit all since we are travelling with 3 kids. Keeping our daily schedule very flexible. Seems like we will be taking some Sakaisuji / Chuo / Midosuji / Osaka Loop Line.
- Breakfast at Pokemon Cafe Osaka (Shinsaibashi Station) (est ¥190, via Midosuji or Sakaisuji Line)
- Osaka Castle (near Tanimachiyonchome Station) (est ¥190, via Midosuji & Chuo Line)
- Umeda Sky Building & Kuchu Teien Observatory (Umeda Station) (est ¥240, via Chuo & Midosuji Line)
- Solaniwa Onsen (Bentencho Station) (est ¥240, via Chuo & Midosuji Line) (lternative est ¥170, via Osaka Loop Line)
- Dinner at Dotonbori (Namba Station) (est ¥240, Chuo & Midosuji Line)
Total transport cost estimates ¥1100 per adult.
Day 3: Day trip to Nara
Most likely taking Sakaisuji + Kintetsu-Nara Line (est ¥960) from Ebisucho Station to Kintetsu-Nara Station.
- Nara Park (Kintetsu-Nara Station)
- Todaiji Temple
- Higashimuki Shopping Street
Return to Osaka visit teamLab Botanical Gardens (Nagai Station) via Kintetsu-Nara + Midosuji Line (est ¥960). Return to Accommodation via Midosuji Line (est ¥240).
Total transport cost estimates ¥2160 per adult.
Day 4: Day trip to Kobe
Main agenda to eat Kobe Beef – Tentatively Tor Road Steak Aoyama (Sannomiya Station). Probably from Daikokucho Station take Midosuji Line + Tokaido-Sanyo Line (est ¥660) to get there.
Visit Kobe Animal Kingdom (Keisan Kagaku Center Station by Portliner Line) (est ¥500)
Return to Osaka for shopping or any sights missed (Portliner > Tokaido-Sanyo > Midosuji Line, est ¥950)
Total transport cost estimates ¥2110 per adult.
Day 5: Travel to Kyoto
Check out and move to Kyoto for next 3 nights. Will take Midosuji Line + Tokaido-Sanyo Line (est ¥820) and disembark at Kyoto Station.
Total transport cost estimates ¥820 per adult.
by DisastrousLiving1996
4 comments
The Kansai Area pass only covers trains and buses operated by JR company so local lines like Osaka Metro won’t be covered and you’ll need to pay per ride by buying rickets or using an IC Card. The area pass does provide one day vouchers for the Kyoto City Subway, Keihan Railway, or Hankyu Railway so you can redeem for those. https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/kansai/kyoto_guide.html
Another option would be to forgo the passes and just get an IC Card, load a bunch of money in it and just tap as you go. You can take any line you want and not be limited to figuring out time or which company it belongs to.
I don’t believe the JR passes covers the other metro lines or buses for that matter. I looked into this a bunch before I left (more so kanto region in my case) and everyone insisted IC card is the only real option
No, the JR Kansai Area Pass **does not** cover Osaka subways. It does include a trio of 1-day passes that either connect Osaka and Kyoto (Hankyu) or cover the vicinity of Kyoto (Kyoto Subway and Keihan). These 1-day passes **can only be used during the validity period of the Kansai Area Pass** and must be exchange separately at specific locations.
[More details on the JR Kansai Area Pass and its accompanying 1-day passes](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_03.html)
And as you’ve stated, the [Kansai Railway Pass](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357_005.html) does not pay off for your itinerary.
Instead, I have an alternative pass to suggest: [the 3-day JR Kansai Mini Pass](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_kansai_mini.html) for 3000 yen to cover day 3 to 5.
Using Shin-Imamiya station as your ‘base’, the Mini Pass should cover your day trips to Nara (1160 yen per pax round trip), Kobe (1480 yen per pax round trip) and your one-way trip to Kyoto (950 yen per pax).
There is one caveat: the pass only covers **local and rapid JR trains only**. No subway, no other railway, no limited express or Shinkansen.
That being said, travelling to Nara, Kobe or Kyoto via rapid trains shouldn’t take more than an hour at most, so I think this is the best pass for you.
You see, the pass are more expensive than what you will do and they are also limiting the lines you can get for free.
Instead check to get the Kansai One Pass. Spoiler, it’s not really a pass but the tourist version of the ICOCA IC card. You will need to get the limited express ticket out of the airport on top of it, otherwise just put money on the card and tap in and out of about any transportation method around Kansai (can also be used anywhere the major IC card are used) as a bonus it offer discounts and gifts in some stores ans attractions.