Transportation Passes for the Kansai Region

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3 Ways to See Kansai: Explore the Region with These Transportation Passes

The Kansai region has something for every member of the family.

Making your own travel arrangements for your trip to Japan? We recommend using the unlimited ride transportation pass. Depending on what pass you get, you can start using it from the airport and avail of special benefits such as discounts on sightseeing spots.

Here are three carefully selected transportation passes focusing on the popular Kansai region. Explore famed tourist attractions, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and historical landmarks with just one pass.

(1) Kansai Thru Pass: Take advantage of unlimited rides on trains and buses in Kansai

The KANSAI THRU PASS is an exclusive card pass available for foreigners visiting Japan. It can be used on private railways in Kansai, and municipal trains and buses (excluding JR lines). Enjoy unlimited rides on both the two-day pass and three-day pass. The main areas of the Kansai region, Kyoto-Osaka and Kyoto-Kobe, are covered by the pass, so it is super easy to use. Nara Kotsu, Hankai Tramway, West Japan JR Bus, Mizuma Railway / Bus have also been added to the existing pass usage.

The KANSAI THRU PASS offers special benefits to around 260 facilities in the Kansai region–museums, art galleries, hot springs, restaurants, entertainment facilities, shrines, and temples.

There are some dates when discounts are unavailable. Please refer to the official website for more details.

Among the special benefits:

Osaka Castle Tower admission fee: Adults ¥600 → ¥540
Lake Biwa Kisen Michigan Cruise boarding fee: 15% discount
Wakayama Kada Onsen Kada Kaigetsu bathing fee: Adults ¥1,200 → ¥600; children ¥700 → ¥35

Price list

※Check the official website and video at the end of the article to see more information about the areas where the pass can be used, how to purchase tickets, and more.

Popular sightseeing spots within the pass usage area

Whether you explore the Kansai region by day or night, the sights never disappoint.

Osaka: Osaka Castle, Hyogo: Mt. Rokko, Nara: Nara Park, Shiga: Lake Biwa, Kyoto: Arashiyama, Wakayama: SENNAN LONG PARK etc.

When in Osaka, visiting Osaka Castle is a must. (Pass holders get a discount on the admission fee.) Mt. Rokko is one of the largest athletic parks in Japan and is also a popular spot for watching the night scenery from the summit. Nara Park has many attractions such as various UNESCO World Heritage Sites, national treasures, and cute deer. Lake Biwa is overflowing with charming spots such as a cafe with a superb view of nature. Arashiyama attracts tourists with its serene bamboo grove. Sennan Long Park is a sprawling recreational community where families can swim on the beach, dip into hot springs, and hold barbecues all in one location!

(2) Kansai Area Pass: Go around Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara!

Bullet trains are the most efficient way to get around Japan’s regions.

This is an unlimited one-day pass for the Kansai region, sold by JR West. It’s a great value-for-money pass that combines unlimited rides on the JR Line and the Kyoto Municipal Subway and Keihan Railway.

Moreover, Hankyu Railway (between Osaka Umeda and Kyoto Kawaramachi / Arashiyama, between Tenjimbashisuji 6-chome and Kitasenri) is available only for one day within the pass validity. The pass can also be used when traveling between Osaka and Kyoto, making it easier to access Arashiyama and other popular spots.

The pass covers the standard sightseeing areas within Kansai, such as Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara. Reserved seats are also possible on the limited express train Haruka, which can be used to reach Shin-Osaka and Kyoto Station from Kansai International Airport directly. Remember, reserved seats can be used for two times max!

Choose from a 1-, 2-, 3-, or 4-Day Kansai Area Pass based on your travel plans. You can also use the bicycle rental service Ekirin-kun for free and get discounts at various facilities.

Usage period / Prices

1-Day　Adult：¥2,400 / Child：¥1,200

2-Day　Adult：¥4,600 / Child：¥2,300

3-Day　Adult：¥5,600 / Child：¥2,800

4-Day　Adult：¥6,800 / Child：¥3,400

※The Kansai Area Pass is the same price when purchased overseas, via JR- WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION, or at a JR West station ticket office.

Popular sightseeing spots within the pass usage area

(Clockwise from top) Go on a boat ride, cross a bridge, check out the city at night.

Hyogo: Himeji Castle; Wakayama: Wakayama Castle; Shiga: Omi Ohashi; Osaka: Dotonbori and more!

Himeji Castle, which is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Wakayama Castle, a National Historic Site, are the best places to catch cherry blossoms in spring. Omi Ohashi is an overpass that goes over Lake Biwa. A spectacular view of the lake can be enjoyed without any obstructions! In Dotonbori, Osaka, the city where you eat till you drop, takoyaki (a ball-shaped snack made of octopus bits and dough) and other local delicacies can be savored by all members of the family.

(3) Kansai WIDE Area Pass: Expand your trip range from Osaka and Kyoto

Comfortable seats and speedy travels are what you can expect when traveling via bullet train.

This pass is recommended for those who want to head further out into the Okayama Prefecture, as it covers more area than the Kansai Area Pass. Spots include areas from Kansai to the Chugoku region, such as Kinosaki Onsen, where you can go around seven communal baths; Okayama, which is well-known for its Okayama Korakuen and Okayama Castle; and Kurashiki, where the historic townscape is attractive.

Regular trains,rapid trains, limited express trains operated by JR West, as well as reserved seats on the Sanyo Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka⇔Okayama), and the Hello Kitty Shinkansen, which runs between Shin-Osaka Station and Hakata Station, limited to one train ride per day, are within the coverage of this pass. Reserved seats, such as on the limited express trains Haruka, Kuroshio, Thunderbird, and Kounotori are also available.

You can use the bicycle rental service Ekirin-kun for free and get discounts at various facilities with this pass too.

※Check the official website at the end of the article for details on the areas and benefits of Ekirin-kun and the transportation pass.
※Use Travel Support by JR WEST, an app by JR West that provides useful information for foreigners visiting Japan.

With this pass, why not consider adding suburban and rural areas into your travel itinerary? Quaint townscapes and the original scenery of Japan still remain in these areas. Think of them as a refreshing breather from the lively and tourist-packed cities of Osaka and Kyoto.

Usage period / Prices

5 days
[When purchased in Malaysia] 10,000 yen / Child 5,000 yen
[When purchased via JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION] 10,800 yen / Child 5,400 yen
[Purchasing from a JR-West station (Ticket counter)] 11,000 yen / Child 5,500 yen

Areas covered by the Kansai Wide Area Pass

Sightseeing spots within the pass range

The Kansai region offers many attractions–from cityscapes and sandy dunes, to beaches and the best eats.

Tottori: Tottori Sand Dunes; Wakayama: Shirahama; Kagawa: Takamatsu; Osaka: Namba; Hyogo: Kinosaki Onsen and more

We recommend hitting the Tottori Sand Dunes, which look fabulous in photos, and Shirahama (Minami Wakayama), where you can have your fill of the sea and hot springs. In Takamatsu (Kagawa), be sure to try Kagawa cuisine, particularly Sanuki udon! Or head up to Takamatsu Port, the departure and arrival point for ferries that travel to the popular Shōdo Island, a mere 10 minutes on foot from Takamatsu Station. At Kinosaki Onsen (Hyogo), be a part of the outdoor hot spring tour and eat while strolling as you explore the town.