Does a JR pass or even a regional pass make sense for Kansai?

I'll be in the Kansai region for eleven days (September 5 to 15). I'm flying in and out of Kansai International Airport, will spend a couple of days attending a conference at the Kyoto International Conference Center, and I might visit some nearby / near-ish towns (Nara, Osaka, perhaps Takayama or Kanazawa). I don't anticipate going to Tokyo (been there, done that) or further north (too far for a relatively short period of time). Regarding locations to the west, I'm not particularly interested in Hiroshima.

Does it make sense to get a JR Pass or even a regional pass, as opposed to not getting a pass? If it's a line-ball decision, how can I easily weigh up the costs of getting or not getting a pass?

Best Answer

It can make sense depending on your itinerary.

As you will be spending (what seems like) most of your time in Kyoto (and I assume staying somewhere close to the International Conference Centre) you may want to look into getting something like the Kansai Thru Pass 3-day ticket.

This grants you unlimited use of all services from...

Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau
Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau
Kobe Municipal Transportation Bureau
Hanshin Electric Railway, Hankyu Railway
Nankai Railway
Keihan Railway
Kintetsu Railway
Sanyo Electric Railway
Kobe Electric Railway
Itami Municipal Transportation Bureau
Amagasaki Municipal Transportation Bureau
Takatsuki City Transportation Dept.
Osaka Monorail
Kita-Osaka Kyuko Railway
Nose Electric Railway
Hokushin Kyuko Railway
Kobe Rapid Transit Railway
Semboku Rapid Railway
Kobe New Transit
Keifuku Electric Railroad
Hieizan Railway
Eizan Electric Railway
Keihan Bus
Hankyu Bus
Wakayama Bus
Wakayama Bus Naga
Shintetsu Bus
Kintetsu Bus
Kyoto Bus
Hankyu Denen Bus
Nankai Rinkan Bus
Nankai Bus
Nankai Wing Bus Kanaoka
Nankai Wing Bus South
Keihan City Bus
Kobe City Transportation Promotion
Keihan Uji Bus
Amagasaki Transportation Service
Hanshin Bus
Keihan Kyoto Kotsu

... but NOT JR Lines.

It also grants you discounts at certain shops along each of the lines.

Comparing the two options... (Adult Prices)
- JR Rail Pass (7 days) x 1????29 110
- JR Rail Pass (14 days) x 1?? ?46 390
- Kansai Thru Pass (3-day) x 3 + (2-day) x 1
????????????????19 600 (5200 x 3 + 4000 x 1)

Note that if you get the JR Pass, you will at least require a return trip (of ?580) if you are based in or around the International Convention Centre (as Kyoto Subway is not a JR Line) and intend to board JR services at Kyoto Station.

If however you decide you want to go further out than the main 4 Cities in Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara) and go as far as Kanagawa, then as fkraiem said, getting a JR Regional Pass would be your best bet.

Also note that the JR Rail Pass must be purchased outside of Japan (at this point in time) whereas the JR Regional Passes can be purchased either outside Japan or within Japan (with a ~?1000 price increase).

The Kansai Thru Pass is only available from within Japan. Further, the JR Rail Passes are all consecutive use (as in a 7 day pass expires 7 days after first using it regardless of how many times you have used in in those 7 days) whereas the Kansai Thru Pass is non-consecutive (using one day and not the next will still be valid for 2 more days (in the case of a 3-day pass).

In Summary

It really is up to your travel preference as to which routes you travel and how much time you have. Most of the time JR routes with be faster, though more expensive however they also cover a lot larger area. Getting a JR Pass may not be the cheapest option in all instances and will require an application before you arrive to Japan).

As @fkraiem states in the comments, over at Japan Guide there is a comparison of Kansai-centric fare paying methods which may help you make up your mind as to which would be the most beneficial to your situation.

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Can JR Pass be used for Kansai Airport?

Using the JR PassYou can use your Japan Rail Pass to get from Kansai Airport to Osaka by catching the Haruka Express or Kansai Airport Rapid. JR Pass holders can just check the times when they land and catch the next train available.

Does the JR Pass cover Osaka?

The JR Kansai Area Pass is a rail pass for exclusive use by foreign visitors to Japan, providing unlimited travel on local JR trains and buses in the Kansai Region around Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe, as well as on the Haruka limited express train to/from Kansai Airport.

Does the JR Pass cover all of Japan?

JR is the largest train company and covers travel around the whole of Japan using the world famous bullet trains. Subways, Metros, and non JR trains are not covered by the Japan rail pass.

Can I use JR Pass from Tokyo to Osaka?

For tourists, the most economical train pass that one can use to travel from Tokyo to Osaka is the JR Pass. The JR Pass is only valid for foreigners traveling to Japan, who are on a temporary or short-term visitor visa. Three types of JR Pass are available for tourists, namely, the 7-day, 14-day and 21-day JR passes.

Does a JR pass or even a regional pass make sense for Kansai?

Best Answer