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EditKansai Pass
KANSAI WIDE Area Pass
Your journey
The JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass for international visitors includes unlimited access to JR trains in the wider Kansai region, Okayama, Takamatsu, Kinosaki Onsen and Wakayama for 5 consecutive days.
From Kyoto or Osaka, you can explore the entire region, from the Sea of Japan on one side to the Pacific Ocean on the other. You can use this pass to visit Kinosaki-onsen, Toyooka, Himeji, Kurashiki, and Tsuruga or the Kumano region. The pass also gives you access to the Kansai International airport.
A child price (6 to 11 years of age) is available for this pass. Access to trains is free for accompanied infants aged 5 years or under.
Kansai Region
Explore Japan's cultural and spiritual capital Kansai. This multifaceted area offering visitors both the discovery of a multitude of World Heritage Sites, the urban excitement of cities like Osaka and Kobe and the spiritual Kumano Area.
Kansai is known for the warm welcome given by its inhabitants and soothing melodic regional dialect Kansai-ben. In fact, the high-energy people of Kansai are just as famous as the Kansai Area itself.
Osaka and Kobe
Osaka, the largest city in Kansai and the third-largest city in Japan, is known for its high-energy night life and indulgent street food culture. Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki are two delicious staple foods of Osaka that can be enjoyed practically anywhere. For those looking for a day full of fun, Universal Studios Japan resides in the area around Osaka and is a great destination for families and groups of friends alike.
Mentioning Kobe surely generates the image of luxurious, perfectly marbled beef, which is undoubtedly a must-have culinary experience to be had when visiting. But the luxurious feel of Kobe doesn't end with its gastronomy. The city as a whole is noted for its elegant, western-influenced architecture and design that is still distinctly Japanese.
Iconic view of Tsutenaku Tower in Osaka, Japan
@Wikimedia
Kobe Tower, Kobe, Japan
@pixbay
Kyoto and Nara
Kyoto and Nara, are two popular destinations for experiencing traditional and historic Japan. Kyoto is known for its abundance of well-preserved temples and shrines that blend seamlessly with an elegant and sophisticated modern backdrop. Here, a walk up the hill to see the Kyomizudera and the prominent shopping area around it is a popular activity, often followed immediately by a leisurely time at one of the many stylish and lax cafes to enjoy around the city.
Nara is likely very well-known for its famous deer park where deer roam freely and often take food directly from visitors, bowing to them afterwards. An activity surely to be experienced only in Japan. But Nara offers a rich gastronomic culture as well, as it is home to many renowned sake breweries and is even said to be the birthplace of the famous beverage.
Kyoto, Japan at night
@Pixabay
Deer in Nara, Japan
@flickr/ jojonas
Okayama and Wakayama
As the name suggests, other destinations throughout the Kansai Area are accessible with this rail pass, either via train or bus. Okayama and Wakayama are known as more rural prefectures within Kansai that offer unique sights and scenery. Okayama is also home to a number of historic sights like Kyoto is, including Kibitsu Shrine and the easily-recognizable Okayama Castle. This area is especially easily accessible as the Sanyo Shinkansen can be ridden with the Kansai Wide Area Pass.
Wakayama also boasts its own famous historic castle in the form of Wakayama Castle, but is also well-regarded for water sports as it sits in an area right by the ocean. People from all over Japan and the world travel here to engage in activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, and diving. The white, sandy beaches make this an area worthy of travel and is a short trip via rail from other major spots in Kansai.
Nachi Shrine, Wakayama, Japan
@Wallpaper Flare
Okayama Castle, Okayama, Japan
@Wallpaper Flare
Conditions of the JR Kansai Wide Area Pass
Eligibility
- A rail pass user must be holding a passport issued by a foreign government.
※外国での永住権を持っているお客様を含め、日本国籍のお客様は使用できません。
- A rail pass user must be entering in Japan as a "短期滞在 (Temporary Visitor) ".
* "短期滞在 (Temporary Visitor) " is a status of residence defined under Japanese immigration law.
- Individual customers are not allowed to purchase or exchange more than one of the same tickets for the same use period.
- You must present your passport to receive a pass.
Exchange
- We will send the e-voucher to your email address within 5 business days after your order. If you want to get earlier, please contact us. (E-voucher is not the real ticket, you cannot take trains with the voucher)
- You can print out an e-voucher on A4 size paper, or you can show the voucher on your mobile device when you exchange.
You can redeem your voucher for a physical pass in these places.
- Kyoto Station, JR WEST (central exit), Ticket Office, daily from 6:30 am to 9 pm
- Fukuchiyama Station, daily from 6:00am to 8:10pm
- NTA TiS Kyoto Branch, daily from 10:00-12:00 and 13:00-16:00
- Shin-Osaka Station JR WEST (East exit), Ticket Office, daily from 6:30 am to 10 pm
- Osaka Station, JR WEST Ticket Office (East exit), daily from 6:30 am to 10 pm
- Travel Service Center SHIN-OSAKA, daily from 8am to 10pm
- Kansai Airport Station, Ticket Office, daily from 5:30 am to 11 pm
- NTA TiS Osaka Branch (Travel Service Center Osaka), daily from 10am to 6pm
- Sannomiya Station (Kobe), central exit, Ticket Office, daily from 6 am to 10pm
- NTA TiS Sannomiya Branch, Weekdays 10:30am to 6:30pm, Saturdays and Holidays 10:30am to 6pm
- Nara Station, Ticket Office, daily from 8 am to 10 pm
- Wakayama station from 6 am to 9 pm
- Tottori Station, daily from 6am to 7pm
- Okayama Station, daily 8am to 8pm
- Takamatsu Station, daily from 6:50 am to 8:10pm
Validity
What is included with the pass?
- Kansai airport express Haruka
- JR Nara line
- JR Kyoto line
- JR Gakkentoshi line
- JR Yamatoji line
- JR Tozai line
- JR Osaka Higashi line
- JR Osaka Loop Line
- JR Yumesaki line
- JR Hanwa line
- JR Kobe line
- JR Uno line
- JR Ako line
- JR Bantan line
- JR Kakogawa line
- JR Fukuchiyama line
- JR Sagano Line
- JR Maizuru line
- JR Obama line
- JR Kosei line
- JR Hokuriku line
- JR Biwako line
- JR Manyo-Mahoroba (Sakurai) line
- JR Wakayama line
- JR Kisei (Kinokuni) line
- JR Sanyo Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka to Okayama)
- Chizukyu Express Line
- Kyoto Tango Railway
- Wakayama Railway
- JR Buses between Kyoto Station, Takao and Shuzan, Fukuchiyama and Sonobe and Obama and Omi-Imazu.
- The pass is valid on Local, Rapid and Special Rapid trains on conventional JR West lines.
- The pass is valid on the following Express Trains: Haruka, Kinosaki, Konotori, Hamakaze, Thunderbird, Kuroshio.
- The pass is valid on the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Okayama.
- Seat reservations can be made with no additional cost.
What is not included in the pass?
- The pass is NOT valid on the Tokaido Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Kyoto or the Kyushu Shinkansen.
Seat Reservations
- You cannot make seat reservations until you have exchanged the pass.
- An additional fee is required when reserving seats on Express and Limited trains and Shinkansen Bullet Trains.
- Non-reserved Ordinary class cars can be accessed freely. In order to travel in first class (Green cars) you will have to pay additional fees.
- To access the platforms, show your pass to the JR West staff located at the platform gates.
- For a reserved seat, ask the JR West staff at the ticket office. It is a personal pass.
- Always carry your passport when using the pass as station and train staff may check it.
Cancellation conditions and fees
- An unused voucher is refundable for one year from the date of issue.
- The voucher can be refunded if it has never been exchanged in Japan.
- A cancellation fee of 15% of the value of the voucher will be retained.
- No refund is possible for a voucher received by us more than one year from the date of issue.
- A refund is not possible for a lost or stolen voucher.
Common Questions