Just going to Japan will break my piggy bank lol. Definitely want to visit Kyoto just to see my favorite marching band. Good information. Was wondering about the Kansai Area Pass, but the last one you showed definitely seems like the one I’d get.
Hi Paul, thanks for watching our video! Yes, if you just travel between Osaka and Kyoto, the cheaper option is Osaka-Kyoto Sightseeing Pass with Keihan Railyway. If you have to visit Kobe as well, Hankyu Railway also has a day pass available. Have a nice trip!!😊
Hi Adelyssa, thanks for watching our videos and your appreciation!!🙏🏻 All the information in the video can be found in our published travel plan for your reference when you plan your own trip!! 😊
@@haimingle6780 Of course! 🫶🏻 My brother and I are planning a trip for next year and I'll definitely be looking into your travel plan as a guide for our trip! 🩷
It kinda depends on how much time you've got left before your trip. If you still have plenty of time to plan your Japan trip and your trip is after October 2023 (when they raised the price of the JR Pass), then you can think about the options below: Fastest Option: Like I said in the video, there are a few cheap domestic airlines that have flights between Osaka and Tokyo and it only takes 1.5 hour. For example, Starflyer gives a special discount to tourists from other countries, and it could cost you around 10,000 yen to 16,000 yen for a round-trip ticket with checked baggage. Website: www.starflyer.jp/en/ Cheapest Option: Overnight Highway Bus which only costs 12,000 yen for a round trip from Tokyo to Osaka. However, it usually takes around 8 to 9 hours. Website: www.kosokubus.com/en/ Most Expensive Option: Osaka-Tokyo Hokuriku Arch Pass, 7 consecutive days pass costs 24,500 yen. Website: www.jrpass.com/regional-passes/osaka-tokyo-hokuriku-arch-pass?c=JPY Or Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen operated by JR Central Japan. Its price would be around 28,000 yen for a round trip between Tokyo and Osaka. Website: global.jr-central.co.jp/en/ I hope these are helpful for you! ☺
@@haimingle6780 I have been to many places in Japan when using JR pass went far distances next trip will take some of the pretty local trains and just day trip areas near by so many places to go .
Hello, thank you for watching our video! That's an excellent question. According to the official website of West JR (www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/one_way/), you must exchange the physical ticket within three months after the online e-ticket has been issued. Therefore, if you purchase it online now, you can still use it before December. When you check Klook (www.klook.com/en-AU/activity/18400-jr-haruka-airport-express-train-tickets-osaka/), you will find that they still offer the old-price Haruka tickets until November.
Hi planning a trip in November to Osaka, arriving at KXI at night, for 9 days. Thinking 2 to 3 days to Kyoto, 1 day Kobe, maybe 2 days Hiroshima/Miyajima and 1 day Himeji. The rest would be staying in Osaka. Pls recommend what pass would I need for these places. Thanks
Hi Lisa, you can use Kansai Thru pass for travelling around Himeji, Kobe, Kyoto and Osaka. Exploring within Osaka, you can choose Osaka Amazing Pass as it includes subway and most popular tourist spots in Osaka. For Hiroshima, you can opt for a cheaper option, which is bus (check out willerexpress.com/en/ for more details). But if you want to save some time, then JR is the best choice! 😊
Hi, i'm thinking going to KIX -> kyoto -> arashiyma -> kyoto -> fushimi inari -> kyoto -> osaka -> nara -> osaka -> kix, would you know which pass might be the best for covering these places? thanks!
Hi, thanks for watching our video! There are multiple passes available for traveling around these places, depending on how many days you plan to stay in each city, your travel route, and the proximity of the railway to your hotels. These passes include the Osaka Amazing Pass, Osaka Metro Pass, Kyoto Sightseeing Passes (brown), Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass (silver, golden & blue), the green Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass (Greater KURAMA & KIBUNE area), the Randen & Kyoto Subway 1-day Ticket for Arashiyama, and the Kintetsu Rail Pass to Nara, among others. You can check out our previous video (ruclips.net/video/O5cFTCWFDFI/видео.html), as it provides information on all these passes. ☺
I was looking at this and maybe you will see this comment. We are going for 14 days and we have a schedule set up. But don’t know about travel. We are going to Tokyo for 5 days, then Nagano for a night for some onsen, then a day trip in Kanazawa, and continuing to Kyoto for 2 days, then Osaka for 3 days, then go back to Japan. This is what we plan to do. But don’t know what do do for travel yet? Any help I would benefit from!!
Hi Trenton, thanks for watching our video! Based on all destinations of your trip, I believe the Hokuriku Arch Pass is one of the best options. But you have to use this pass in 7 consecutive days for unlimited rides between Tokyo, Nagano, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Osaka. Check their website for more details: www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/hokuriku-arch-pass/ We are also planning to visit Kanazawa in March, but due to the recent earthquake, most of the main attractions in Kanazawa are now temporarily closed, so we may need to cancel this stop in our trip if they are still closed 2 months later!! So you better check the latest situation in Kanazawa before you go and have a contingency plan in hand! Hope this information is helpful to you! ☺
This is so helpful thank you for putting it together. Do you have any tips on taking luggage on these types of trains? Planning on a trip where we are going from Tokyo > Osaka, Osaka > Kyoto, Kyoto > Tokyo and will have suitcases with us. I've read online that JR trains have suitcase spaces but other regional trains do not. Any info would be so helpful thank you!
Hi, we're glad that you found the video helpful! There is no luggage restriction on other private trains (except JR). We did travel among Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe with all our luggage and no issue at all as long as your suitcase is not an oversized one!! 😉 But I would suggest checking the official websites of the railway companies before buying any travel passes as things may change from time to time!! 😊
From Namba to Kobe, Will the Kansai pass also apply to the Midosuji and Tokaido-Sanyo lines? Take Midosuji line from Namba station to Umeda station, then walk ~5 mins to Osaka station Take Tokaido-Sanyo Line to Sannomiya Station Do you have a better recommendation? I will also be visiting Kyoto from Osaka - hotel is near Namba station. Appreciate your advise!
Hi Justin, thanks for watching our video! The Kansai Thru Pass doesn't include any JR Trains. The Tokaido-Sanyo line is operated by JR, so you can't use the Kansai Thru Pass for it. The Midosuji Line, which is run by another company called Osaka Metro, does accept the Kansai Thru Pass. If you're looking to travel from Namba to Kobe, you can hop on the Hanshin Railway, and luckily, the Kansai Thru Pass covers this. However, to save some money, your best bet is the Hanshin Tourist Pass (1 day), which costs only 500 yen (Website: enjoy-osaka-kyoto-kobe.com/ticket/hanshin-tourist-pass/). With this pass, you can enjoy unlimited rides between Namba (Station number HS 41) and Sannomiya (Station number HS 39). If you're heading from Namba to Kyoto, there's no direct train, so you gotta hop on the Osaka Metro to Yodoyabashi Station first, and then switch to the Keihan Railway that'll take you to Kyoto. This whole route is included in the Kansai Thru Pass. But, if you're looking to cut some costs, you can grab the Blue Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass (1 Day). It covers the Osaka Metro and Keihan line and lets you ride as much as you want, all for just 1,400 yen (Website: www.keihan.co.jp/travel/en/trains/passes-for-visitors-to-japan/osaka-subway). I hope this info is useful! ☺
@@haimingle6780 thanks for the suggestions! I guess really depends on where your accommodation is and whether the nearby train services are covered in the kansai thru pass. Might save some money using the passes but if need to walk much further to get to the station or change trains will be inconvenient.
Hi Justin, you are absolutely correct, especially in Kyoto. The stations of the Keihan Line do not overlap with the Hankyu Line, so we always check the nearest stations when buying passes or booking hotels. 😊
Hi, I am still confused what pass to get betweem Osaka & Kyoto. I am traveling from Osaka to Kyoto and staying at Kytoto for 3 nights. Would you be able to advise what pass should I get during my stay in Kyoto. Sightseeing places: Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji, Fushima Inari Is it better to purchase the 1 day Kytoto Metro & Bus pass?
Hi Karen, it would depend on which railway your hotel in Kyoto is closest to because the stations operated by different railway companies in Kyoto do not connect with each other. For Arashiyama, the available travel pass is the Kyoto Subway and Randen one-day pass. However, if you intend to visit both Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji on the same day, you will need to pay for the bus separately, as the pass no longer covers bus transportation. The Kyoto subway is unable to access Arashiyama. If you intend to visit both Kiyomizu-dera and Fushimi Inari on the same day, you can opt for the Keihan Railway Kyoto Sightseeing Pass (Brown color), which costs 700 yen and allows for unlimited rides within a single day. We do not recommend taking the bus to Kiyomizu-dera, as the buses in that area were consistently full and crowded. You might find it challenging to board one even after attempting three times! You can find more information from below websites and our videos: - Travel passes in Kyoto video - ruclips.net/video/O5cFTCWFDFI/видео.html Arashiyama video - ruclips.net/video/0tr1o9uQhJ8/видео.html Kyoto Subway and Randen one-day pass: www.klook.com/en-AU/activity/1753-randen-kyoto-bus-subway-1-day-pass-kyoto/ Keihan Railway Kyoto Sightseeing Pass (Brown color): www.keihan.co.jp/travel/en/trains/passes-for-visitors-to-japan/kyoto-osaka.html We hope all this information is helpful to you! But again, it depends on the location of your hotel in Kyoto!! ☺
Can you purchase more than one type of travel passes in advance for example Osaka travel pass, Kyoto- Osaka sightseeing pass and hoinshin tourist pass online and pick it at the kansai international airport?
Yes, you can redeem them from the Tourist Information Centre in Kansai International Airport, as long as your arrival time is within their office hours. Otherwise, you have to collect them in other stations or Tourist Information Centre in downtown!
@@haimingle6780 thank you but by any chance you will know what time the Tourist Information Centre at Kansai International Airport close at? We will arrive at 8pm so is quite late.
They open from 9am to 5:30pm. If you buy them via klook, you may need to check on klook where else you can redeem the tickets. We arrived at 11:30 pm last time, so we had to collect some of the pre-purchased tickets from Namba station.
Hello! I plan to Visit Japan in May. My travel plan is entering Osaka in Day 1, explore Kobe in day 2, explore Osaka in day 3, and going to Tokyo in day 4. Looking at it, I think I’m going to purchase 1-way Nozomi to Tokyo rather than Hokuriku Arch Pass. But for my Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto trip, do you have any recommendation of which pass should I get? Will Hankyu+Kyoto Sightseeing pass will cover them? Also the Kyoto pass covers bus lines in kyoto?
Hi Hendy, thanks for watching our video! Which day are you going to explore Kyoto? There are 2 main railway companies running the train between Osaka and Kyoto, Hankyu and Keihan. Both got day pass available for tourists, but which one you should go for depending on the location of your hotel in Kyoto. It is because both railways are not interconnected in Kyoto. If your hotel is closed to the Hankyu Railway train station, then the Hankyu Tourist 2-Day pass is perfect for your travel among Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto. If it is close to the train stations of Keihan Railway, then you may need to use Keihan Sightseeing Pass to travel between Osaka and Kyoto (BUT not Kobe). So, it depends!! The Keihan Sightseeing Passes do not cover buses in Kyoto unfortunately. Hope this information is helpful! ☺
@haimingle6780 thank you! I'll put a note on your suggestions. Although, I'm just going to base in Osaka and will have a one day trip to the nearby cities.
I see....if you are not going to stay in Kyoto overnight, then Hankyu 2 day pass is the best to cover the journey among Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto, but you may need to exchange to bus or walk a bit in Kyoto for some popular attractions!!
Hi, your advice below is really great! Love your kindness and experience. Our family of 4 adults will travel from Fukuoka (South) to Osaka on 25/3/24 ad staying there until 01/4/24. We will then travel from Osaka to Kyoto on 01/04/24 and staying there for 3 days. We will then travel to Tokyo on the 04/4//24. What best pass should we buy please? Thanks for your advice? Tony.
Hi Tony, sorry for the delayed response; someone in my family has been admitted to the hospital, making these days a bit hectic. Thank you for watching our videos, as we love sharing travel information with others! Based on your trip, please find our suggestions below: 1. Fukuoka to Osaka (7 days) - Consider the Sanyo-San'in Area Pass for 7 days, priced at 23,000 yen. This pass allows you to use JR trains in the Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kobe, Osaka, and Kyoto regions. Check out their website: www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/sanyo_sanin/#routes 2. Osaka to Kyoto and back to Osaka (3 days) - Opt for the Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass, priced from 600 yen to 1,800 yen, depending on the area of Kyoto you plan to visit. The 2 day pass is non-consecutive, so you can use it on the 1st day travel from Osaka to Kyoto and on the 3rd day for returning to Osaka. Check out their official website for details: www.keihan.co.jp/travel/en/trains/passes-for-visitors-to-japan/ Or watch our video which talks about these passes: ruclips.net/video/O5cFTCWFDFI/видео.html 3. Osaka to Tokyo - You have several options: a domestic flight (price around 10,000 - 20,000 yen, depending on travel dates and airlines), the Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen (priced around 14,450 yen, website: global.jr-central.co.jp/en/ ), or an overnight bus (price around 6,000 - 10,000 yen, website: www.kosokubus.com/en/ ). Hope this information is helpful to you! 😊
@@haimingle6780 Thank you very much for your times and great and useful advices, despite a health issue in the family. I sincerely wish your family member a speedy recovery.
Hi chanced upon your video and learned so much from it, great job helping first time visitors like us to japan. My family will be visiting Kyoto-Osaka (with a day trip to Nara from Osaka) in Oct, contemplating to get Icoca card + Haruka Express to Kyoto from Kansai Airport; Subway & Bus 1 day for the days in Kyoto; Kansai Thru Pass to Osaka and Nara; Haruka Express back to Kansai airport (returned Haruka Express?). May I know if this makes sense to you? Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi Tania, thanks for watching our video! If you take the Kintetsu Railway from Osaka Namba to Nara, the fare is only 570 yen. Therefore, if you simply plan to travel from Osaka to Nara in one day and visit Nara Park, Kofukuji Temple, Todaiji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine near Kintetsu Nara Station during your visit, you won't need to use Kintetsu or buses to access other Nara attractions on that day. Using the Kansai Thru Pass wouldn't be cost-effective in this case. Instead, please consider purchasing a regular Kintetsu ticket or using your IC card for your round trip to Nara. You can check out the official website of Kintentsu Railway for details and other passes. (www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/). The ICOCA & HARUKA Discount Package includes round trip tickets of HARUKA if you buy them in Kansai Airport, so I believe you don't have to buy return ticket again. See their website for more details (www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/icoca-haruka/). Hope this is helpful to you! Have a lovely journey! ☺
Hi if I purchase a Kyoto Subway-Randen 1 day pass, can I use it on JR Sanin line to Umohori to take the Sagano train (ticket purchased separately) and take the return trip via Randen?
Unfortunately, that pass doesn't cover JR, so you can't use it for taking any JR trains!! Just remind you to buy the Sagano train online in advance, especially during the peak season!
Hi Willy, thanks for watching our video!! It is not clearly written in their website but we believe it has to be used consecutively! Since you can't purchase the 2 days pass from the bus driver directly and you have to buy them from Kobe Information Centre or other venue listed in their website, you can check with the staffs before buying it. 😊
Hello! We're planning to stay in Osaka for our upcoming 1-week Japan trip, but we'll be dedicating 2 days to explore Kyoto. We're planning to dedicate a day exploring the Arashiyama/Ginkaku-ji Temple area, and another day around Fushimi-inari/Gion area. I would just like to get some advice as to which of the 2 would be better to get - 2-day Kansai Thru pass, or 1 Hankyu Tourist Pass & 1 Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass? The latter is cheaper (less than half the amount of the Kansai Thru) but it doesn't cover bus fares as compared to the Kansai Thru pass, and I've heard that most attractions in Kyoto are relatively far from each other. We're also planning to have a short stop at Nara if we're able to which is also covered by the Kansai Thru pass, so I want to check if the Kansai Thru Pass would be the better option in the long run, even if it is double the price. Video was great, thank you for the advice!
Hi Erin, thanks for watching our video! Based on your plans and the places you want to visit in Kyoto, I'd suggest you take a look at these discounted tickets: 1. If you're traveling from Osaka to Kyoto - Fushimi-inari/Gion area, you can go for the Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass (1 day) priced at ¥1,000 operated by Keihan Railway. Website: www.keihan.co.jp/travel/en/trains/passes-for-visitors-to-japan/ 2. For exploring the Arashiyama/Ginkaku-ji Temple area in Kyoto, the Randen + Kyoto Subway 1 Day Pass (¥1,300) would be a good option. It covers Kyoto buses, subways, and the Randen Trams. (www.klook.com/en-AU/activity/1753-randen-kyoto-bus-subway-1-day-pass-kyoto/) 3. If you're heading from Kyoto to Nara and then back to Osaka, the Kintetsu Rail Pass (¥1,500) will serve you well. Website : www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/ticket/krp_1day.html The total cost for this 3-day trip amounts to ¥3,800, which is much more affordable than the Kansai Thru Pass. The latter is better suited for traveling to places like Himeji, Wakayama, Koyasan, and Otsu, where it offers better cost effectiveness. Since we're not sure where your hotel in Kyoto is, you might want to see if there's a Keihan Railway station close by. Oh, and be prepared for some crazy crowds on the buses in Kyoto during busy times. Just give yourself extra travel time when you're taking the buses there. I hope all this information is useful for you, and feel free to watch our video on extra travel passes in Osaka and Kyoto: ruclips.net/video/O5cFTCWFDFI/видео.html to see if there are other passes suitable for your trip! Have a nice journey!☺
@@haimingle6780 Hello!! Thank you so much for the help again, this has definitely helped in planning the transportation for our itinerary ❤️ Would like to ask again some advice if it’s okay, if we were planning to travel from Osaka to Arashiyama, then to Kinkaku-ji Temple afterwards, and finally end at Kyoto Station, would the Randen + Kyoto Subway 1 Day Pass still be the best option? Thank you again so much and have a nice day! ☺️
@@ErinChristen The Randen + Kyoto Subway 1 Day Pass doesn't cover trains in Osaka. So, if you're kickstarting your journey from Osaka and want to get to Arashiyama, you can grab the Hankyu Tourist Pass. However, keep in mind that you might have to shell out some extra cash for getting between Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji Temple, as the Hankyu Line doesn't make a stop near Kinkaku-ji Temple.
@@haimingle6780 Hi! We're planning to travel again between Osaka and Kyoto (and potentially Kobe) for 4 days this April. Much like last time, we'll go around the Arashiyama/Ginkaku-ji Temple for a day (since unfortunately, we weren't able to go last time), and another day to explore Philosopher’s Path, Kyoto temples like Kiyomizu-dera and Kodaiji Temple, and the Gion area hopefully for cherry blossom season. We were eyeing on getting the JR Kansai Mini Pass, but I'm not sure if it would be of use in going from attraction to attraction. Based from our last visit to Kyoto, we had a difficult time with transportation since we opted to not avail any passes, so we confused with what buses to board. Looking for a second opinion if the JR Kansai Mini Pass will suffice/will be worth our money, or if there are any alternative passes you could recommend for navigating within Kyoto. Thank you so much! Your advice has really helped us during our previous Japan trip☺
Hi Erin, glad that you found our sharing is useful! I believe the JR Kansai Mini Pass will suffice for going among those attractions you've mentioned, but one thing worth noting is that the JR Kansai Mini Pass has to be used in consecutive days, which means your last day is not covered. Also, you may need to buy bus ticket separately to go to some temples in Kyoto. It is not recommended to take buses in Kyoto city during peak season/ hours based on our experience, the buses are super crowded and you may have to wait for 2 to 3 buses in the bus stop to get yourself in one of them!! Most of the time, we just walk to Gion, Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Philosopher's path from train stations.
Hi Fannie, we'll be sharing it in the final video of the trip. Unfortunately, that won't be happening within the next week or so. Apart from Osaka, are you visiting any other cities? I'll try to see what I can do to help you out !
@@haimingle6780 am actually planning to bring my family to Osaka>Nara>Kobe>Kyoto wondering any recommendations for which pass to take that’s more cost effective for 4 adults and 1 child?
@@fannieteo1477 I guess your trip would be more than 10 days?! If this is the case, Kansai Thru Pass (3 day) would be the most cost-effective as you can use it on different days, not necessarily consecutive ones. For example: Day 1 - Day 3: in Osaka Day 4: Osaka > Nara - use Kansai Thru Pass (1 of 3 days) Day 5: in Nara Day 6: Nara > Kobe - use Kansai Thru Pass (2 of 3 days) Day 7 - Day 8: in Kobe Day 9: Kobe > Kyoto - use Kansai Thru Pass (3 of 3 days) If you purchase the Kansai Thru Pass (3 days) online (Klook) before arriving in Japan, it costs 5,400 yen for adults and 2,700 yen for children. The price is slightly higher if you buy it in Japan. You don't need to make seat reservations, just hop on and hop off. If your itinerary is similar to the above, then JR Kansai Area Pass is NOT recommended because It's designed for consecutive days of use, which means you have to use it continuously for four days if you have a four-day pass. Plus, the cost of a four-day JR Kansai Area Pass is 6,800 yen for adults and 3,400 yen for children. Kansai Thru Pass website: www.surutto.com/tickets/kansai_thru_english.html Hope this help! ☺
Osaka Amazing pass is good for traveling within Osaka if you wanna visit some attractions for free e.g. Osaka Castle etc. You can use it during the days you stay in Osaka! Kansai Thru Pass is for long-distance travel, like traveling from Osaka to Nara.
What pass would be good if I were to travel between Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kyoto and Kanazawa and back to Tokyo for 14 days? Would the JR Pass be worth it or are there cheaper regional passes available? Thanks.
Hi Holly, there are multiple combinations of various options depending on your itinerary and travel dates. If your trip is after the JR price hike in Oct 2023, the 14-day JR pass would cost ¥80,000. Another cheaper option to consider compared to this price would be the Hokuriku Arch Pass (7 days) and Setouchi Area Pass (7 days), along with a direct flight/bus/JR from Tokyo to Hiroshima. Here is the breakdown for your reference: Day 1: You have several options for traveling from Tokyo to Hiroshima. You can take a domestic flight operated by Starflyer (approximately ¥7960), an overnight bus (¥4,920-¥7,900), or the JR train (approximately ¥19,080). Day 1 to 7: You can explore the areas of Hiroshima, Okayama, Kobe, and Osaka using the Setouchi Area Pass for 7 days. (¥19,000) Day 8 to 14: you can use the Hokuriku Arch Pass (7 days) to visit Kyoto, Kanazawa, and then return to Tokyo. (¥24,500) Total cost would be around ¥50,000 to ¥62,500 depending on what option you have chosen for the direct travel from Tokyo to Hiroshima. Websites: Starflyer - www.starflyer.jp/en/ overnight bus - willerexpress.com/en/ Setouchi Area Pass - www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/setouchi/ Hokuriku Arch Pass - www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/hokuriku-arch-pass/ Prices are for your reference only as they vary according to your travel date. We hope this information is helpful to you! ☺
Hi HAI Mingle! So I land in Kobe, stay for 2 nights, head to Osaka, also stay for 2 nights and plan to visit Nara and USJ, then head to Kyoto and spend 3 nights in Kyoto, and head back to Osaka to fly out of Kansai. Do you think I should buy the 3 Hanshin Passes for my Kobe leg, then head to Osaka (the 3rd Hanshin pass still active), and then buy 2 day Kansai Thru pass to use for Osaka, Nara and USJ (altho at this point I feel like buying a roundtrip ticket to Nara might be cost efficient since USJ is not covered by Kansai Thru Pass?), and then buy 4 Hankyu passes for my Kyoto leg? I thought there is another Kyoto Day Pass but I heard it got discontinued??? :(
Hi Mika, thanks for watching our video! For the stay in Kobe, if you plan to roam around Kobe city only, like visiting Kitano Ijinkan, China Town and Kobe harbour within one day, taking Kobe city loop bus with their 1 day pass would be more convenient than taking Hanshin Railway, and Hanshin Railway can't reach Kobe Airport, so on your arrival day you may not be able to fully utilize the Hanshin Railway 1 day pass. We would confirm it is good idea to use Hanshin 1 day pass on the day you travel from Kobe to Osaka. But the other 2 days in Kobe just depend on your itinerary. You are right! In our USJ video, we've mentioned it is not required to buy any day pass as you'll spend whole day inside USJ and no need to travel multiple places. Also, the train station near USJ is run by JR, it is not covered by the Kansai Thru pass. The most budget friendly combination is, buy one-way tickets at the station or use ICOCA card on the day you visit USJ, and use a regular Kintetsu ticket or using your IC card for your round trip to Nara. If you take the Kintetsu Railway from Osaka Namba to Nara, the fare is only 570 yen. Therefore, if you simply plan to travel from Osaka to Nara in one day and visit Nara Park, Kofukuji Temple, Todaiji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine near Kintetsu Nara Station during your visit, you won't need to use Kintetsu or buses to access other Nara attractions on that day. Using the Kansai Thru Pass wouldn't be cost-effective in this case. 2 days Kansai Thru Pass costs around 5000yen, but the combination above may cost less than half of it. You can check out the official website of Kintentsu Railway for details and other passes. (www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/). For Kyoto, it depends on where your hotel located in Kyoto and what places in Kyoto you wanted to explore. Like going to Arashiyama, Kurama and Kibune, Hankyu day pass may not be a good option. There are many other day passes for visiting Kyoto, you can either tell us your itinerary in Kyoto, so we can give you some suggestions or simply watch our videos of Arashiyama, Kurama, Kibune, and Uji in Kyoto for the transport insights! Hope all these are helpful to you! 😊
Wow thanks for the detailed reply!! So let’s see, 1 day pass city loop bus for Kobe, I hope it covers Kobe Airport to Sannomiya? And then 1 Hanshin day pass from Kobe to Osaka. 1 ICOCA card for USJ (not sure what ICOCA is). 1 Kintetsu ticket for round trip for Osaka to Nara. My hotel is in Gion but I thought since I’m already spending some yen on Osaka to Kyoto. I might as well by a pass? I’m still unsure where to go in Kyoto. I’d really like to try the yellow/brown water onsens and just be around old architecture or even day trip to the temples in the mountains. I appreciate your help! :‘)
@@meet__mika Happy to help! 😊Kobe City Loop bus doesn't not cover Airport. It is a tourist bus for traveling around Kobe city, you have to take other transport from Kobe Airport to Kobe downtown. ICOCA card is just a simple top-up transport card where you can tap at the gate and they deduct transport fee from the card, so you don't have to buy ticket at the station but there is no discount on transport fee when using ICOCA card. If you stay in Gion, I guess your hotel is close to Keihan Railway, but you better double check. Keihan Railway also have many tourist passes. You can check out their website www.keihan.co.jp/travel/en/trains/passes-for-visitors-to-japan/ . The yellow/brown water onsen....did you mean the Arima Onsen? It locates in between Kobe and Osaka and quite far from Kyoto, so if you meant Arima Onsen, you may need to arrange this spot during your Kobe trip. Not sure if you have downloaded our Free Travel Plan, if not, you can go and have a look for planning your trip!! haimingle.notion.site/HAI-Mingle-Travel-Plans-d791376a85434b3781959ef0b89e794b
Ah, okay. So I guess ICOCA is like a Suica? Bc I have a Suica card! and yes my hotel 4min to Gion-Shijo, Keihan Railway!@@haimingle6780 ohhh yes, Arima Onsen. I guess I can just use that Kobe City Loop day pass? Sooo just to confirm: Kobe 2 nights, 3 days = 2 Kobe Loop Day Passes, Kobe to Osaka = 1 Hanshin Day Pass (are there any popular places to use this Hanshin pass to maximize its use?), Osaka 2 nights 3 days = 1 round trip Osaka to Nara ticket by Suica card , 1 round trip ticket hotel to USJ by Suica card , Kyoto 3 nights, 4 days = Combination of Keihan Railway passes, even though I need a roundtrip ticket from Osaka to Kyoto it is NOT cost effective to buy a Kansai Thru Pass? oh nice! I checked out your Travel Plan, looks like you put tons of work into it! Super thankful for people like you to make the organization so much easier :')
Hi Mika, the Kobe City Loop Bus can't take you to Arima Onsen. If you want to explore Arima Onsen, you have to take railways! You can see the details in our travel plan or in our Arima Onsen video. The Hanshin Day pass cost 500 yen, and the cost for one way from Kobe to Osaka is 450 yen, so it is more cost effective if you have to take 2 times of Hanshin Railway with the pass on the same day. You definitely DO NOT need Kansai Thru pass to travel between Osaka and Kyoto only, go for Hanky Railway or Hanshin Railway, and they have day passes which are much cheaper than Kansai Thru Pass. Our videos of each attraction have the transportation info of that attraction for your reference!!
Glad you found this video helpful! If you're planning to travel between Kobe, Osaka, and Kyoto, the Hankyu tourist pass is your best bet in terms of cost. Whether you buy it online or in Japan, the price remains the same. However, if you have credits in your Klook account, you can use them to purchase the pass. Sometimes, Klook also offers promotion codes with a 5% or 10% discount, so you can use those codes to grab the pass at a discounted price.
Hello. We are travelling 4days in Kansai, 1day Nara+Kobe, 1day Kyoto, 1 day USJ and 1 day Osaka daytour. Is using Kansai thru pass be worth it or a Hankyu pass will suffice??? Btwy, We are staying in Osaka for the whole trip.
Hi Maricris, thanks for watching our video! We would say Hanky pass will suffice for travelling among Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe (Note: it also depends on where you wanna explore in Kyoto!). It is not worth purchasing a Kansai Thru Pass based on the destinations of your trip. Also, personally, it may not be time efficient if Nara and Kobe arranged on the same day as Nara is on the East of Osaka while Kobe is on the West of Osaka, and Hankyu pass does not cover the journey between Osaka and Nara. Hope this info is helpful to you! ☺
@@haimingle6780 Thank you for the reply. If we rather have 1 whole day in Nara instead of going to Kobe, what pass should we use in Nara? Should we just use an Icoca card? Also, is Icoca card available in the airport? I can't find it in Klook without the package with Kansai Thru Pass. Also, here are the places we want to go to Kyoto, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kinkakuji Temple, Niju Castle and Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine. I hope the Hankyu pass cover those places.
Yes, you can use ICOCA card for traveling to Nara or you can have a look the Kintetsu Rail 1 day pass (www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/ticket/krp_1day.html). You can purchase ICOCA in the train station at KIX Airport. You can reach Arashiyama by Hankyu Railway, but for other places you wanted to visit, you may need to exchange to bus or other railway.
how about JR Kansai mini pass 3 days 3000 yen. I think its better than JR Kansai area pass 4 days 7000 yen. Im staying at JR osaka loop line (its usefull), so from KIX day 1, day 2 to kobe. Day 3 to Kyoto, Nara..
Hi Willy, thanks for watching our video! Yes, JR Kansai mini pass can reach all those cities as well. But the main difference is the pass can only be used for consecutive days. Each day would cost 1000 yen, but Hankyu 2 day pass would cost 600 yen PER DAY only for traveling Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. On the other hand, JR Kansai mini pass covers the normal train between KIX and Osaka which is good. So both have pros and cons! Depends on which one suits your trip more.😊
@@haimingle6780 hankyu 600/day. But from my hotel i have to take JR loop line to Umeda cost 200/way. Round trip 400+hankyu 600=1000 yen/day. Same cost as Kansai mini pass. The plus of hankyu is Kawaramachi station than JR kyoto (Kansai mini pass)
Yes, sometimes they are cheaper compare to JR as well! But obviously, have to spend extra time travelling as they may not be as fast as JR!!😄And thanks for the info, we are going to Nagoya in March next year!!☺
Hello! Thanks for this video. Is it still worth to buy JR-Pass General before October? I'm going to head to Japan on September and I'm planning to go from Tokyo to Aichi, from Aichi to Osaka. In Osaka I want to travel from here to Kobe, Kyoto, and Hiroshima and more in Kansai region. and then back to Tokyo again from Osaka. I'm going to be staying in Osaka for 11 days. Hankyu-pass and Kansai-Thru Pass seems ideal for me when I'm in Osaka but, I'll have to go back to Tokyo in the end. Do you think JR-Pass General is worth it? All these trips are gonna be in between 8th-22st of September. I might just skip Hiroshima if the cost is going to rise astronomically. What should I do? Thanks in advance.
Apologies for the delayed response; someone in my family has been admitted to the hospital, making things a bit hectic these days. Thank you for watching our videos! I would definitely recommend buying the JR Pass BEFORE the price hike for such a long distance travel, especially if you need to travel from Tokyo all the way to Hiroshima, with stops in multiple cities along the way, and then back to Tokyo. 😊
i am travelling to japan in 2 weeks (exactly during obon week) i am going back and forth about getting the JR Pass while it is still relatively cheap, i am planing to visit Tokyo(arrival) - one city in north/east - climbing mt fuji - kyoto - osaka- hiroshima - nagoya (departure) however i am aware that during obon, trains tend to be full and it is harder to get in, and also correct me if i am wrong, JR Pass holder can only reserve seat (if bought from the website) only for trains provided by JR East, is it true? since i only have 2 weeks before my trip, i hope you could give me some advice about this, thank you
Hi, sorry for the late reply as my family member has been admitted to the hospital, so it is quit busy these days. Yes, trains may be busier than normal during obon week as many people take a vacation during this period and return to their family homes. It is highly recommended to reserve seats in advance especially if you have oversized luggage (Japan Rail defines oversized luggage as any piece of baggage which has length, height, and depth dimensions between 160cm and 250cm and/or weighs over 60kg.) If you’ve bought the JR Pass (for national use, NOT the JR East Pass) which is a joint offering of the six companies comprising the JR Group, you can reserve seats for trains operated by all 6 companies either through the website (www.japanrailpass-reservation.net/) or at the JR stations in Japan. Have a nice trip!☺
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Just going to Japan will break my piggy bank lol. Definitely want to visit Kyoto just to see my favorite marching band. Good information. Was wondering about the Kansai Area Pass, but the last one you showed definitely seems like the one I’d get.
Hi Paul, thanks for watching our video! Yes, if you just travel between Osaka and Kyoto, the cheaper option is Osaka-Kyoto Sightseeing Pass with Keihan Railyway. If you have to visit Kobe as well, Hankyu Railway also has a day pass available. Have a nice trip!!😊
This is such a well thought out video and I love all the visual examples you gave! Thank you so much! 🙌🏻
Hi Adelyssa, thanks for watching our videos and your appreciation!!🙏🏻 All the information in the video can be found in our published travel plan for your reference when you plan your own trip!! 😊
@@haimingle6780 Of course! 🫶🏻 My brother and I are planning a trip for next year and I'll definitely be looking into your travel plan as a guide for our trip! 🩷
Thanks for the excellent advice on the different alternatives to the JR pass
Hi, glad it was helpful!
THIS IS VERY HELPFUL...THANKS
Glad it was helpful! And thanks for watching!
Hi, what should I do if I only need to travel between Osaka and Tokyo?
It kinda depends on how much time you've got left before your trip. If you still have plenty of time to plan your Japan trip and your trip is after October 2023 (when they raised the price of the JR Pass), then you can think about the options below:
Fastest Option: Like I said in the video, there are a few cheap domestic airlines that have flights between Osaka and Tokyo and it only takes 1.5 hour. For example, Starflyer gives a special discount to tourists from other countries, and it could cost you around 10,000 yen to 16,000 yen for a round-trip ticket with checked baggage. Website: www.starflyer.jp/en/
Cheapest Option: Overnight Highway Bus which only costs 12,000 yen for a round trip from Tokyo to Osaka. However, it usually takes around 8 to 9 hours. Website: www.kosokubus.com/en/
Most Expensive Option: Osaka-Tokyo Hokuriku Arch Pass, 7 consecutive days pass costs 24,500 yen. Website: www.jrpass.com/regional-passes/osaka-tokyo-hokuriku-arch-pass?c=JPY
Or Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen operated by JR Central Japan. Its price would be around 28,000 yen for a round trip between Tokyo and Osaka. Website: global.jr-central.co.jp/en/
I hope these are helpful for you! ☺
@@haimingle6780 Thank you so much!! It really was helpful and saved me a lot of time! :) I hope you have a great day
You're welcome! Wish you a fantastic trip to Japan! 🤩
Used JR pass many times plan to take Willer bus or flights
👍after the JR Price rise, these become a cheaper options but just need to spend more time travelling.
@@haimingle6780 I have been to many places in Japan when using JR pass went far distances next trip will take some of the pretty local trains and just day trip areas near by so many places to go .
Yes, Japan is a country where you wouldn't feel bored even if you have traveled thousands of times! 🤣🤣
Hey thanks for the great Video.
Can I book the Haruka Express ticket in advance and use it after October?
Hello, thank you for watching our video! That's an excellent question. According to the official website of West JR (www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/one_way/), you must exchange the physical ticket within three months after the online e-ticket has been issued. Therefore, if you purchase it online now, you can still use it before December. When you check Klook (www.klook.com/en-AU/activity/18400-jr-haruka-airport-express-train-tickets-osaka/), you will find that they still offer the old-price Haruka tickets until November.
Hi planning a trip in November to Osaka, arriving at KXI at night, for 9 days.
Thinking 2 to 3 days to Kyoto, 1 day Kobe, maybe 2 days Hiroshima/Miyajima and 1 day Himeji. The rest would be staying in Osaka.
Pls recommend what pass would I need for these places.
Thanks
Hi Lisa, you can use Kansai Thru pass for travelling around Himeji, Kobe, Kyoto and Osaka. Exploring within Osaka, you can choose Osaka Amazing Pass as it includes subway and most popular tourist spots in Osaka. For Hiroshima, you can opt for a cheaper option, which is bus (check out willerexpress.com/en/ for more details). But if you want to save some time, then JR is the best choice! 😊
Hi, i'm thinking going to KIX -> kyoto -> arashiyma -> kyoto -> fushimi inari -> kyoto -> osaka -> nara -> osaka -> kix, would you know which pass might be the best for covering these places? thanks!
Hi, thanks for watching our video! There are multiple passes available for traveling around these places, depending on how many days you plan to stay in each city, your travel route, and the proximity of the railway to your hotels. These passes include the Osaka Amazing Pass, Osaka Metro Pass, Kyoto Sightseeing Passes (brown), Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass (silver, golden & blue), the green Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass (Greater KURAMA & KIBUNE area), the Randen & Kyoto Subway 1-day Ticket for Arashiyama, and the Kintetsu Rail Pass to Nara, among others. You can check out our previous video (ruclips.net/video/O5cFTCWFDFI/видео.html), as it provides information on all these passes. ☺
I was looking at this and maybe you will see this comment. We are going for 14 days and we have a schedule set up. But don’t know about travel. We are going to Tokyo for 5 days, then Nagano for a night for some onsen, then a day trip in Kanazawa, and continuing to Kyoto for 2 days, then Osaka for 3 days, then go back to Japan. This is what we plan to do. But don’t know what do do for travel yet? Any help I would benefit from!!
Hi Trenton, thanks for watching our video! Based on all destinations of your trip, I believe the Hokuriku Arch Pass is one of the best options. But you have to use this pass in 7 consecutive days for unlimited rides between Tokyo, Nagano, Kanazawa, Kyoto and Osaka. Check their website for more details: www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/hokuriku-arch-pass/
We are also planning to visit Kanazawa in March, but due to the recent earthquake, most of the main attractions in Kanazawa are now temporarily closed, so we may need to cancel this stop in our trip if they are still closed 2 months later!! So you better check the latest situation in Kanazawa before you go and have a contingency plan in hand! Hope this information is helpful to you! ☺
This is so helpful thank you for putting it together. Do you have any tips on taking luggage on these types of trains? Planning on a trip where we are going from Tokyo > Osaka, Osaka > Kyoto, Kyoto > Tokyo and will have suitcases with us. I've read online that JR trains have suitcase spaces but other regional trains do not. Any info would be so helpful thank you!
Hi, we're glad that you found the video helpful! There is no luggage restriction on other private trains (except JR). We did travel among Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe with all our luggage and no issue at all as long as your suitcase is not an oversized one!! 😉 But I would suggest checking the official websites of the railway companies before buying any travel passes as things may change from time to time!! 😊
Thank you!
From Namba to Kobe, Will the Kansai pass also apply to the Midosuji and Tokaido-Sanyo lines?
Take Midosuji line from Namba station to Umeda station, then walk ~5 mins to Osaka station
Take Tokaido-Sanyo Line to Sannomiya Station
Do you have a better recommendation?
I will also be visiting Kyoto from Osaka - hotel is near Namba station. Appreciate your advise!
Hi Justin, thanks for watching our video! The Kansai Thru Pass doesn't include any JR Trains. The Tokaido-Sanyo line is operated by JR, so you can't use the Kansai Thru Pass for it. The Midosuji Line, which is run by another company called Osaka Metro, does accept the Kansai Thru Pass. If you're looking to travel from Namba to Kobe, you can hop on the Hanshin Railway, and luckily, the Kansai Thru Pass covers this. However, to save some money, your best bet is the Hanshin Tourist Pass (1 day), which costs only 500 yen (Website: enjoy-osaka-kyoto-kobe.com/ticket/hanshin-tourist-pass/). With this pass, you can enjoy unlimited rides between Namba (Station number HS 41) and Sannomiya (Station number HS 39).
If you're heading from Namba to Kyoto, there's no direct train, so you gotta hop on the Osaka Metro to Yodoyabashi Station first, and then switch to the Keihan Railway that'll take you to Kyoto. This whole route is included in the Kansai Thru Pass. But, if you're looking to cut some costs, you can grab the Blue Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass (1 Day). It covers the Osaka Metro and Keihan line and lets you ride as much as you want, all for just 1,400 yen (Website: www.keihan.co.jp/travel/en/trains/passes-for-visitors-to-japan/osaka-subway). I hope this info is useful! ☺
@@haimingle6780 thanks for the suggestions! I guess really depends on where your accommodation is and whether the nearby train services are covered in the kansai thru pass. Might save some money using the passes but if need to walk much further to get to the station or change trains will be inconvenient.
Hi Justin, you are absolutely correct, especially in Kyoto. The stations of the Keihan Line do not overlap with the Hankyu Line, so we always check the nearest stations when buying passes or booking hotels. 😊
Hi, I am still confused what pass to get betweem Osaka & Kyoto. I am traveling from Osaka to Kyoto and staying at Kytoto for 3 nights. Would you be able to advise what pass should I get during my stay in Kyoto. Sightseeing places: Arashiyama, Kiyomizu-dera, Kinkaku-ji, Fushima Inari
Is it better to purchase the 1 day Kytoto Metro & Bus pass?
Hi Karen, it would depend on which railway your hotel in Kyoto is closest to because the stations operated by different railway companies in Kyoto do not connect with each other. For Arashiyama, the available travel pass is the Kyoto Subway and Randen one-day pass. However, if you intend to visit both Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji on the same day, you will need to pay for the bus separately, as the pass no longer covers bus transportation. The Kyoto subway is unable to access Arashiyama.
If you intend to visit both Kiyomizu-dera and Fushimi Inari on the same day, you can opt for the Keihan Railway Kyoto Sightseeing Pass (Brown color), which costs 700 yen and allows for unlimited rides within a single day. We do not recommend taking the bus to Kiyomizu-dera, as the buses in that area were consistently full and crowded. You might find it challenging to board one even after attempting three times!
You can find more information from below websites and our videos: -
Travel passes in Kyoto video - ruclips.net/video/O5cFTCWFDFI/видео.html
Arashiyama video - ruclips.net/video/0tr1o9uQhJ8/видео.html
Kyoto Subway and Randen one-day pass: www.klook.com/en-AU/activity/1753-randen-kyoto-bus-subway-1-day-pass-kyoto/
Keihan Railway Kyoto Sightseeing Pass (Brown color): www.keihan.co.jp/travel/en/trains/passes-for-visitors-to-japan/kyoto-osaka.html
We hope all this information is helpful to you! But again, it depends on the location of your hotel in Kyoto!! ☺
Is this a computer reading the information?
Can you purchase more than one type of travel passes in advance for example Osaka travel pass, Kyoto- Osaka sightseeing pass and hoinshin tourist pass online and pick it at the kansai international airport?
Yes, you can redeem them from the Tourist Information Centre in Kansai International Airport, as long as your arrival time is within their office hours. Otherwise, you have to collect them in other stations or Tourist Information Centre in downtown!
@@haimingle6780 thank you but by any chance you will know what time the Tourist Information Centre at Kansai International Airport close at? We will arrive at 8pm so is quite late.
They open from 9am to 5:30pm. If you buy them via klook, you may need to check on klook where else you can redeem the tickets. We arrived at 11:30 pm last time, so we had to collect some of the pre-purchased tickets from Namba station.
@@haimingle6780 I see thanks for all the information you’ve provided. It helps a lot. 😊
Hello! I plan to Visit Japan in May. My travel plan is entering Osaka in Day 1, explore Kobe in day 2, explore Osaka in day 3, and going to Tokyo in day 4. Looking at it, I think I’m going to purchase 1-way Nozomi to Tokyo rather than Hokuriku Arch Pass. But for my Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto trip, do you have any recommendation of which pass should I get? Will Hankyu+Kyoto Sightseeing pass will cover them? Also the Kyoto pass covers bus lines in kyoto?
Hi Hendy, thanks for watching our video! Which day are you going to explore Kyoto? There are 2 main railway companies running the train between Osaka and Kyoto, Hankyu and Keihan. Both got day pass available for tourists, but which one you should go for depending on the location of your hotel in Kyoto. It is because both railways are not interconnected in Kyoto. If your hotel is closed to the Hankyu Railway train station, then the Hankyu Tourist 2-Day pass is perfect for your travel among Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto. If it is close to the train stations of Keihan Railway, then you may need to use Keihan Sightseeing Pass to travel between Osaka and Kyoto (BUT not Kobe). So, it depends!!
The Keihan Sightseeing Passes do not cover buses in Kyoto unfortunately. Hope this information is helpful! ☺
@haimingle6780 thank you! I'll put a note on your suggestions. Although, I'm just going to base in Osaka and will have a one day trip to the nearby cities.
I see....if you are not going to stay in Kyoto overnight, then Hankyu 2 day pass is the best to cover the journey among Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto, but you may need to exchange to bus or walk a bit in Kyoto for some popular attractions!!
Hi, your advice below is really great! Love your kindness and experience. Our family of 4 adults will travel from Fukuoka (South) to Osaka on 25/3/24 ad staying there until 01/4/24. We will then travel from Osaka to Kyoto on 01/04/24 and staying there for 3 days. We will then travel to Tokyo on the 04/4//24. What best pass should we buy please? Thanks for your advice? Tony.
Hi Tony, sorry for the delayed response; someone in my family has been admitted to the hospital, making these days a bit hectic. Thank you for watching our videos, as we love sharing travel information with others! Based on your trip, please find our suggestions below:
1. Fukuoka to Osaka (7 days) - Consider the Sanyo-San'in Area Pass for 7 days, priced at 23,000 yen. This pass allows you to use JR trains in the Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kobe, Osaka, and Kyoto regions. Check out their website: www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/sanyo_sanin/#routes
2. Osaka to Kyoto and back to Osaka (3 days) - Opt for the Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass, priced from 600 yen to 1,800 yen, depending on the area of Kyoto you plan to visit. The 2 day pass is non-consecutive, so you can use it on the 1st day travel from Osaka to Kyoto and on the 3rd day for returning to Osaka. Check out their official website for details: www.keihan.co.jp/travel/en/trains/passes-for-visitors-to-japan/ Or watch our video which talks about these passes: ruclips.net/video/O5cFTCWFDFI/видео.html
3. Osaka to Tokyo - You have several options: a domestic flight (price around 10,000 - 20,000 yen, depending on travel dates and airlines), the Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen (priced around 14,450 yen, website: global.jr-central.co.jp/en/ ), or an overnight bus (price around 6,000 - 10,000 yen, website: www.kosokubus.com/en/ ).
Hope this information is helpful to you! 😊
@@haimingle6780 Thank you very much for your times and great and useful advices, despite a health issue in the family. I sincerely wish your family member a speedy recovery.
Thanks Tony! 😊
Hi chanced upon your video and learned so much from it, great job helping first time visitors like us to japan.
My family will be visiting Kyoto-Osaka (with a day trip to Nara from Osaka) in Oct, contemplating to get Icoca card + Haruka Express to Kyoto from Kansai Airport; Subway & Bus 1 day for the days in Kyoto; Kansai Thru Pass to Osaka and Nara; Haruka Express back to Kansai airport (returned Haruka Express?).
May I know if this makes sense to you? Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi Tania, thanks for watching our video! If you take the Kintetsu Railway from Osaka Namba to Nara, the fare is only 570 yen. Therefore, if you simply plan to travel from Osaka to Nara in one day and visit Nara Park, Kofukuji Temple, Todaiji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine near Kintetsu Nara Station during your visit, you won't need to use Kintetsu or buses to access other Nara attractions on that day. Using the Kansai Thru Pass wouldn't be cost-effective in this case. Instead, please consider purchasing a regular Kintetsu ticket or using your IC card for your round trip to Nara. You can check out the official website of Kintentsu Railway for details and other passes. (www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/).
The ICOCA & HARUKA Discount Package includes round trip tickets of HARUKA if you buy them in Kansai Airport, so I believe you don't have to buy return ticket again. See their website for more details (www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/icoca-haruka/). Hope this is helpful to you! Have a lovely journey! ☺
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my query, appreciate it 🤗
@@taniatang9832 We just love sharing travel info! Hope you have a lovely trip!☺
Hi if I purchase a Kyoto Subway-Randen 1 day pass, can I use it on JR Sanin line to Umohori to take the Sagano train (ticket purchased separately) and take the return trip via Randen?
Unfortunately, that pass doesn't cover JR, so you can't use it for taking any JR trains!! Just remind you to buy the Sagano train online in advance, especially during the peak season!
Kobe 2-day loop bus ticket has to be consecutive days?
Hi Willy, thanks for watching our video!! It is not clearly written in their website but we believe it has to be used consecutively! Since you can't purchase the 2 days pass from the bus driver directly and you have to buy them from Kobe Information Centre or other venue listed in their website, you can check with the staffs before buying it. 😊
Hello! We're planning to stay in Osaka for our upcoming 1-week Japan trip, but we'll be dedicating 2 days to explore Kyoto. We're planning to dedicate a day exploring the Arashiyama/Ginkaku-ji Temple area, and another day around Fushimi-inari/Gion area.
I would just like to get some advice as to which of the 2 would be better to get - 2-day Kansai Thru pass, or 1 Hankyu Tourist Pass & 1 Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass? The latter is cheaper (less than half the amount of the Kansai Thru) but it doesn't cover bus fares as compared to the Kansai Thru pass, and I've heard that most attractions in Kyoto are relatively far from each other. We're also planning to have a short stop at Nara if we're able to which is also covered by the Kansai Thru pass, so I want to check if the Kansai Thru Pass would be the better option in the long run, even if it is double the price.
Video was great, thank you for the advice!
Hi Erin, thanks for watching our video! Based on your plans and the places you want to visit in Kyoto, I'd suggest you take a look at these discounted tickets:
1. If you're traveling from Osaka to Kyoto - Fushimi-inari/Gion area, you can go for the Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass (1 day) priced at ¥1,000 operated by Keihan Railway. Website: www.keihan.co.jp/travel/en/trains/passes-for-visitors-to-japan/
2. For exploring the Arashiyama/Ginkaku-ji Temple area in Kyoto, the Randen + Kyoto Subway 1 Day Pass (¥1,300) would be a good option. It covers Kyoto buses, subways, and the Randen Trams. (www.klook.com/en-AU/activity/1753-randen-kyoto-bus-subway-1-day-pass-kyoto/)
3. If you're heading from Kyoto to Nara and then back to Osaka, the Kintetsu Rail Pass (¥1,500) will serve you well. Website : www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/ticket/krp_1day.html
The total cost for this 3-day trip amounts to ¥3,800, which is much more affordable than the Kansai Thru Pass. The latter is better suited for traveling to places like Himeji, Wakayama, Koyasan, and Otsu, where it offers better cost effectiveness.
Since we're not sure where your hotel in Kyoto is, you might want to see if there's a Keihan Railway station close by. Oh, and be prepared for some crazy crowds on the buses in Kyoto during busy times. Just give yourself extra travel time when you're taking the buses there.
I hope all this information is useful for you, and feel free to watch our video on extra travel passes in Osaka and Kyoto: ruclips.net/video/O5cFTCWFDFI/видео.html to see if there are other passes suitable for your trip! Have a nice journey!☺
@@haimingle6780 Hello!! Thank you so much for the help again, this has definitely helped in planning the transportation for our itinerary ❤️ Would like to ask again some advice if it’s okay, if we were planning to travel from Osaka to Arashiyama, then to Kinkaku-ji Temple afterwards, and finally end at Kyoto Station, would the Randen + Kyoto Subway 1 Day Pass still be the best option?
Thank you again so much and have a nice day! ☺️
@@ErinChristen The Randen + Kyoto Subway 1 Day Pass doesn't cover trains in Osaka. So, if you're kickstarting your journey from Osaka and want to get to Arashiyama, you can grab the Hankyu Tourist Pass. However, keep in mind that you might have to shell out some extra cash for getting between Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji Temple, as the Hankyu Line doesn't make a stop near Kinkaku-ji Temple.
@@haimingle6780 Hi! We're planning to travel again between Osaka and Kyoto (and potentially Kobe) for 4 days this April. Much like last time, we'll go around the Arashiyama/Ginkaku-ji Temple for a day (since unfortunately, we weren't able to go last time), and another day to explore Philosopher’s Path, Kyoto temples like Kiyomizu-dera and Kodaiji Temple, and the Gion area hopefully for cherry blossom season.
We were eyeing on getting the JR Kansai Mini Pass, but I'm not sure if it would be of use in going from attraction to attraction. Based from our last visit to Kyoto, we had a difficult time with transportation since we opted to not avail any passes, so we confused with what buses to board.
Looking for a second opinion if the JR Kansai Mini Pass will suffice/will be worth our money, or if there are any alternative passes you could recommend for navigating within Kyoto.
Thank you so much! Your advice has really helped us during our previous Japan trip☺
Hi Erin, glad that you found our sharing is useful! I believe the JR Kansai Mini Pass will suffice for going among those attractions you've mentioned, but one thing worth noting is that the JR Kansai Mini Pass has to be used in consecutive days, which means your last day is not covered. Also, you may need to buy bus ticket separately to go to some temples in Kyoto. It is not recommended to take buses in Kyoto city during peak season/ hours based on our experience, the buses are super crowded and you may have to wait for 2 to 3 buses in the bus stop to get yourself in one of them!! Most of the time, we just walk to Gion, Kiyomizu-dera Temple and Philosopher's path from train stations.
Hi where can I get this travel plan as I’m traveling to Osaka this weekend. Thanks
Hi Fannie, we'll be sharing it in the final video of the trip. Unfortunately, that won't be happening within the next week or so. Apart from Osaka, are you visiting any other cities? I'll try to see what I can do to help you out !
@@haimingle6780 am actually planning to bring my family to Osaka>Nara>Kobe>Kyoto wondering any recommendations for which pass to take that’s more cost effective for 4 adults and 1 child?
@@fannieteo1477 I guess your trip would be more than 10 days?! If this is the case, Kansai Thru Pass (3 day) would be the most cost-effective as you can use it on different days, not necessarily consecutive ones. For example:
Day 1 - Day 3: in Osaka
Day 4: Osaka > Nara - use Kansai Thru Pass (1 of 3 days)
Day 5: in Nara
Day 6: Nara > Kobe - use Kansai Thru Pass (2 of 3 days)
Day 7 - Day 8: in Kobe
Day 9: Kobe > Kyoto - use Kansai Thru Pass (3 of 3 days)
If you purchase the Kansai Thru Pass (3 days) online (Klook) before arriving in Japan, it costs 5,400 yen for adults and 2,700 yen for children. The price is slightly higher if you buy it in Japan. You don't need to make seat reservations, just hop on and hop off.
If your itinerary is similar to the above, then JR Kansai Area Pass is NOT recommended because It's designed for consecutive days of use, which means you have to use it continuously for four days if you have a four-day pass. Plus, the cost of a four-day JR Kansai Area Pass is 6,800 yen for adults and 3,400 yen for children. Kansai Thru Pass website: www.surutto.com/tickets/kansai_thru_english.html
Hope this help! ☺
@@haimingle6780 thank you so much for helping us decide. Was undecided between kansai thru pass or Osaka amazing pass or both
Osaka Amazing pass is good for traveling within Osaka if you wanna visit some attractions for free e.g. Osaka Castle etc. You can use it during the days you stay in Osaka! Kansai Thru Pass is for long-distance travel, like traveling from Osaka to Nara.
What pass would be good if I were to travel between Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kyoto and Kanazawa and back to Tokyo for 14 days? Would the JR Pass be worth it or are there cheaper regional passes available? Thanks.
Hi Holly, there are multiple combinations of various options depending on your itinerary and travel dates. If your trip is after the JR price hike in Oct 2023, the 14-day JR pass would cost ¥80,000. Another cheaper option to consider compared to this price would be the Hokuriku Arch Pass (7 days) and Setouchi Area Pass (7 days), along with a direct flight/bus/JR from Tokyo to Hiroshima.
Here is the breakdown for your reference:
Day 1: You have several options for traveling from Tokyo to Hiroshima. You can take a domestic flight operated by Starflyer (approximately ¥7960), an overnight bus (¥4,920-¥7,900), or the JR train (approximately ¥19,080).
Day 1 to 7: You can explore the areas of Hiroshima, Okayama, Kobe, and Osaka using the Setouchi Area Pass for 7 days. (¥19,000)
Day 8 to 14: you can use the Hokuriku Arch Pass (7 days) to visit Kyoto, Kanazawa, and then return to Tokyo. (¥24,500)
Total cost would be around ¥50,000 to ¥62,500 depending on what option you have chosen for the direct travel from Tokyo to Hiroshima.
Websites:
Starflyer - www.starflyer.jp/en/
overnight bus - willerexpress.com/en/
Setouchi Area Pass - www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/setouchi/
Hokuriku Arch Pass - www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/hokuriku-arch-pass/
Prices are for your reference only as they vary according to your travel date. We hope this information is helpful to you!
☺
Hi HAI Mingle! So I land in Kobe, stay for 2 nights, head to Osaka, also stay for 2 nights and plan to visit Nara and USJ, then head to Kyoto and spend 3 nights in Kyoto, and head back to Osaka to fly out of Kansai.
Do you think I should buy the 3 Hanshin Passes for my Kobe leg, then head to Osaka (the 3rd Hanshin pass still active), and then buy 2 day Kansai Thru pass to use for Osaka, Nara and USJ (altho at this point I feel like buying a roundtrip ticket to Nara might be cost efficient since USJ is not covered by Kansai Thru Pass?), and then buy 4 Hankyu passes for my Kyoto leg? I thought there is another Kyoto Day Pass but I heard it got discontinued??? :(
Hi Mika, thanks for watching our video! For the stay in Kobe, if you plan to roam around Kobe city only, like visiting Kitano Ijinkan, China Town and Kobe harbour within one day, taking Kobe city loop bus with their 1 day pass would be more convenient than taking Hanshin Railway, and Hanshin Railway can't reach Kobe Airport, so on your arrival day you may not be able to fully utilize the Hanshin Railway 1 day pass. We would confirm it is good idea to use Hanshin 1 day pass on the day you travel from Kobe to Osaka. But the other 2 days in Kobe just depend on your itinerary.
You are right! In our USJ video, we've mentioned it is not required to buy any day pass as you'll spend whole day inside USJ and no need to travel multiple places. Also, the train station near USJ is run by JR, it is not covered by the Kansai Thru pass. The most budget friendly combination is, buy one-way tickets at the station or use ICOCA card on the day you visit USJ, and use a regular Kintetsu ticket or using your IC card for your round trip to Nara. If you take the Kintetsu Railway from Osaka Namba to Nara, the fare is only 570 yen. Therefore, if you simply plan to travel from Osaka to Nara in one day and visit Nara Park, Kofukuji Temple, Todaiji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine near Kintetsu Nara Station during your visit, you won't need to use Kintetsu or buses to access other Nara attractions on that day. Using the Kansai Thru Pass wouldn't be cost-effective in this case. 2 days Kansai Thru Pass costs around 5000yen, but the combination above may cost less than half of it. You can check out the official website of Kintentsu Railway for details and other passes. (www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/).
For Kyoto, it depends on where your hotel located in Kyoto and what places in Kyoto you wanted to explore. Like going to Arashiyama, Kurama and Kibune, Hankyu day pass may not be a good option. There are many other day passes for visiting Kyoto, you can either tell us your itinerary in Kyoto, so we can give you some suggestions or simply watch our videos of Arashiyama, Kurama, Kibune, and Uji in Kyoto for the transport insights! Hope all these are helpful to you! 😊
Wow thanks for the detailed reply!! So let’s see, 1 day pass city loop bus for Kobe, I hope it covers Kobe Airport to Sannomiya? And then 1 Hanshin day pass from Kobe to Osaka. 1 ICOCA card for USJ (not sure what ICOCA is). 1 Kintetsu ticket for round trip for Osaka to Nara. My hotel is in Gion but I thought since I’m already spending some yen on Osaka to Kyoto. I might as well by a pass? I’m still unsure where to go in Kyoto. I’d really like to try the yellow/brown water onsens and just be around old architecture or even day trip to the temples in the mountains. I appreciate your help! :‘)
@@meet__mika Happy to help! 😊Kobe City Loop bus doesn't not cover Airport. It is a tourist bus for traveling around Kobe city, you have to take other transport from Kobe Airport to Kobe downtown. ICOCA card is just a simple top-up transport card where you can tap at the gate and they deduct transport fee from the card, so you don't have to buy ticket at the station but there is no discount on transport fee when using ICOCA card. If you stay in Gion, I guess your hotel is close to Keihan Railway, but you better double check. Keihan Railway also have many tourist passes. You can check out their website www.keihan.co.jp/travel/en/trains/passes-for-visitors-to-japan/ . The yellow/brown water onsen....did you mean the Arima Onsen? It locates in between Kobe and Osaka and quite far from Kyoto, so if you meant Arima Onsen, you may need to arrange this spot during your Kobe trip. Not sure if you have downloaded our Free Travel Plan, if not, you can go and have a look for planning your trip!! haimingle.notion.site/HAI-Mingle-Travel-Plans-d791376a85434b3781959ef0b89e794b
Ah, okay. So I guess ICOCA is like a Suica? Bc I have a Suica card! and yes my hotel 4min to Gion-Shijo, Keihan Railway!@@haimingle6780 ohhh yes, Arima Onsen. I guess I can just use that Kobe City Loop day pass? Sooo just to confirm: Kobe 2 nights, 3 days = 2 Kobe Loop Day Passes, Kobe to Osaka = 1 Hanshin Day Pass (are there any popular places to use this Hanshin pass to maximize its use?), Osaka 2 nights 3 days = 1 round trip Osaka to Nara ticket by Suica card , 1 round trip ticket hotel to USJ by Suica card , Kyoto 3 nights, 4 days = Combination of Keihan Railway passes, even though I need a roundtrip ticket from Osaka to Kyoto it is NOT cost effective to buy a Kansai Thru Pass? oh nice! I checked out your Travel Plan, looks like you put tons of work into it! Super thankful for people like you to make the organization so much easier :')
Hi Mika, the Kobe City Loop Bus can't take you to Arima Onsen. If you want to explore Arima Onsen, you have to take railways! You can see the details in our travel plan or in our Arima Onsen video. The Hanshin Day pass cost 500 yen, and the cost for one way from Kobe to Osaka is 450 yen, so it is more cost effective if you have to take 2 times of Hanshin Railway with the pass on the same day. You definitely DO NOT need Kansai Thru pass to travel between Osaka and Kyoto only, go for Hanky Railway or Hanshin Railway, and they have day passes which are much cheaper than Kansai Thru Pass. Our videos of each attraction have the transportation info of that attraction for your reference!!
Wow exactly what we need !
We will visit osaka kobe kyoto, so Hankyu tourist pass seems to be the best !
Discount for online order ?
Glad you found this video helpful! If you're planning to travel between Kobe, Osaka, and Kyoto, the Hankyu tourist pass is your best bet in terms of cost. Whether you buy it online or in Japan, the price remains the same. However, if you have credits in your Klook account, you can use them to purchase the pass. Sometimes, Klook also offers promotion codes with a 5% or 10% discount, so you can use those codes to grab the pass at a discounted price.
@@haimingle6780 wow thanks for the info !
Hello. We are travelling 4days in Kansai, 1day Nara+Kobe, 1day Kyoto, 1 day USJ and 1 day Osaka daytour. Is using Kansai thru pass be worth it or a Hankyu pass will suffice??? Btwy, We are staying in Osaka for the whole trip.
Hi Maricris, thanks for watching our video! We would say Hanky pass will suffice for travelling among Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe (Note: it also depends on where you wanna explore in Kyoto!). It is not worth purchasing a Kansai Thru Pass based on the destinations of your trip. Also, personally, it may not be time efficient if Nara and Kobe arranged on the same day as Nara is on the East of Osaka while Kobe is on the West of Osaka, and Hankyu pass does not cover the journey between Osaka and Nara. Hope this info is helpful to you! ☺
@@haimingle6780 Thank you for the reply. If we rather have 1 whole day in Nara instead of going to Kobe, what pass should we use in Nara? Should we just use an Icoca card? Also, is Icoca card available in the airport? I can't find it in Klook without the package with Kansai Thru Pass.
Also, here are the places we want to go to Kyoto, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kinkakuji Temple, Niju Castle and Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine. I hope the Hankyu pass cover those places.
Yes, you can use ICOCA card for traveling to Nara or you can have a look the Kintetsu Rail 1 day pass (www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/ticket/krp_1day.html). You can purchase ICOCA in the train station at KIX Airport.
You can reach Arashiyama by Hankyu Railway, but for other places you wanted to visit, you may need to exchange to bus or other railway.
how about JR Kansai mini pass 3 days 3000 yen. I think its better than JR Kansai area pass 4 days 7000 yen. Im staying at JR osaka loop line (its usefull), so from KIX day 1, day 2 to kobe. Day 3 to Kyoto, Nara..
Hi Willy, thanks for watching our video! Yes, JR Kansai mini pass can reach all those cities as well. But the main difference is the pass can only be used for consecutive days. Each day would cost 1000 yen, but Hankyu 2 day pass would cost 600 yen PER DAY only for traveling Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. On the other hand, JR Kansai mini pass covers the normal train between KIX and Osaka which is good. So both have pros and cons! Depends on which one suits your trip more.😊
@@haimingle6780 hankyu 600/day. But from my hotel i have to take JR loop line to Umeda cost 200/way. Round trip 400+hankyu 600=1000 yen/day. Same cost as Kansai mini pass. The plus of hankyu is Kawaramachi station than JR kyoto (Kansai mini pass)
Yes, the location of your hotel also determines which railway you should take!! Have a lovely journey! 😉
In certain regions in Japan, private railways are more reliable than JR. most notably, Nagoya/Aichi
Yes, sometimes they are cheaper compare to JR as well! But obviously, have to spend extra time travelling as they may not be as fast as JR!!😄And thanks for the info, we are going to Nagoya in March next year!!☺
Hello! Thanks for this video. Is it still worth to buy JR-Pass General before October? I'm going to head to Japan on September and I'm planning to go from Tokyo to Aichi, from Aichi to Osaka. In Osaka I want to travel from here to Kobe, Kyoto, and Hiroshima and more in Kansai region. and then back to Tokyo again from Osaka. I'm going to be staying in Osaka for 11 days. Hankyu-pass and Kansai-Thru Pass seems ideal for me when I'm in Osaka but, I'll have to go back to Tokyo in the end. Do you think JR-Pass General is worth it? All these trips are gonna be in between 8th-22st of September. I might just skip Hiroshima if the cost is going to rise astronomically. What should I do? Thanks in advance.
Apologies for the delayed response; someone in my family has been admitted to the hospital, making things a bit hectic these days. Thank you for watching our videos! I would definitely recommend buying the JR Pass BEFORE the price hike for such a long distance travel, especially if you need to travel from Tokyo all the way to Hiroshima, with stops in multiple cities along the way, and then back to Tokyo. 😊
@@haimingle6780 Thanks for the answer! I wish health upon your family member.
Thank you! 🙏🏻
i am travelling to japan in 2 weeks (exactly during obon week) i am going back and forth about getting the JR Pass while it is still relatively cheap, i am planing to visit Tokyo(arrival) - one city in north/east - climbing mt fuji - kyoto - osaka- hiroshima - nagoya (departure) however i am aware that during obon, trains tend to be full and it is harder to get in, and also correct me if i am wrong, JR Pass holder can only reserve seat (if bought from the website) only for trains provided by JR East, is it true? since i only have 2 weeks before my trip, i hope you could give me some advice about this, thank you
Hi, sorry for the late reply as my family member has been admitted to the hospital, so it is quit busy these days. Yes, trains may be busier than normal during obon week as many people take a vacation during this period and return to their family homes. It is highly recommended to reserve seats in advance especially if you have oversized luggage (Japan Rail defines oversized luggage as any piece of baggage which has length, height, and depth dimensions between 160cm and 250cm and/or weighs over 60kg.) If you’ve bought the JR Pass (for national use, NOT the JR East Pass) which is a joint offering of the six companies comprising the JR Group, you can reserve seats for trains operated by all 6 companies either through the website (www.japanrailpass-reservation.net/) or at the JR stations in Japan. Have a nice trip!☺