Jin Travels Japan: Kansai Thru Pass

Kansai Thru Pass

"What's the difference between Kansai Area Pass and Kansai Thru Pass?"

This has been a question that I kept receiving from people who wanted to travel to the Kansai region.

I even received questions asking how does Osaka Amazing Pass differ from Kansai Area Pass/ Kansai Thru Pass - which is a not-so-great comparison, because one works for Osaka and the other works for the Kansai Region, which comprises multiple areas (Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo (Kobe and Himeji are part of it), Wakayama, Nara, Shiga and sometimes Mie is included (but Mie is another story).

Based on my experience in answering so many questions from people, I figured that it's finally the time I should write something to help clearing up some cloudy thoughts. I'll write on:

The passes itself
How to use these passes
How to decide on which between the two is suitable (or none)

1. Kansai Area Pass (JR West)

☆ Kansai Area Pass is a pass that is commonly mistaken for Kansai Thru Pass.

☆ You can only use them on JR (Japan Railway) lines

☆ You can't use them on any trains/ buses that are not under JR.

☆ Certain JR West Passes are eligible for shinkansen rides, but some are not eligible (check here).

☆ For purchases of Kansai Area Pass, you either get an exchange order from your travel agency, or you get a physical ticket if your agency provides it (I don't think I've seen many agencies selling the physical ticket itself).

1A. IN A CASE IF YOU HAVE A PHYSICAL TICKET

☆ If you have a physical ticket like I do, you can just show this ticket to the staff at the manual ticketing gate. The staff will stamp the passes with the expiry date at the back of the pass.

☆ You have to use them on consecutive days. Example: If you activate a 4-day Kansai Area Pass on 1 July 2019, you can start using it from 1-4 July 2019.

☆ This ticket runs by date, not by hour.

1B. IN A CASE IF YOU HAVE AN EXCHANGE ORDER

☆ For Kansai Area Pass, exchange orders are required to be exchanged in any JR West offices (not all JR Stations has an exchange office).
☆ During date of exchange, you can inform the officer on which day you wish to activate your Kansai Area Pass. This is helpful if you do not plan to use the pass as soon as you exchange it.

1C. TYPE OF KANSAI AREA PASS

☆ Kansai Area Pass has 5 types: 1-day, 2-day, 3-day, 4-day and Kansai WIDE Area Pass.
☆ The 1-4 day pass are covering the same regions, while Kansai WIDE Area Pass covers a couple more regions.

>> KANSAI AREA PASS (1-4 DAYS)

Photo from Kansai

☆ The above four types (1-day to 4-day) of Kansai Area Pass covers the same region.

☆ Some of the important tourist spots that you can use it for are:

Biwako Valley
Hakodateyama Ski Resort
Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
Nijo Castle
Yamashina Canal
Lake Biwa (Biwako)
Nara
Wakayama
Rinku Town
Namba
Osaka
Kobe
Himeji
Universal Studios Japan
Fushiji Imari Shrine
and more (check the usage area map here)

☆ You can use it on Limited Express Haruka to go to the airport from Tennoji, Shin-Osaka and Kyoto.

☆ You can use this pass to board JR buses in Kyoto. Following is a list of places you can go in Kyoto by JR bus pass:

Kyoto Station
Kyoto Aquarium
Nijo Castle
Kyoto Railway Museum
Kinkakuji Temple
Kozanji Temple
Ryoanji Temple
Ninnaji Temple
Takaosan Temple
Kitano Tenmangu Shrine

☆ For other regions, buses are not covered in this pass.

>> KANSAI WIDE AREA PASS (5 DAYS)

☆ Kansai WIDE Area Pass offers a wider area of visiting for people who are interested to see areas that a little further.

Sakura from Kyoto

☆ Kansai WIDE Area covers the same regions for Kansai Area Pass, but has a lot more perks!
☆ This pass is a 5-day pass. You need to use it consecutively.
☆ Besides the areas listed for Kansai Area Pass, you can use it to go to:

Tottori Sand Dunes
Amanohashidate (one of the three great views of Japan!)
Shirahama (pretty beaches!)
Kishi Station (the station with Cat staff)
Asuka Shrine (Shingu)
Nachi Falls
Okayama and Kurashiki Bikan Canal
Kinosaki Onsen
and more (refer usage area map here)

☆ You can freely board all kinds of Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka Station and Okayama Station!

☆ Hello Kitty shinkansen is OK for this pass if you use the unreserved seats.

☆ Besides JR trains, you can use the Wakayama Railway to Kishi, Kyoto Tango (Tantetsu) to Amanohashidate, and Chizu Express between Kamigoori and Chizu

2. KANSAI THRU PASS (This is NOT JR)

☆ Kansai Thru Pass is the pass that always gets mistaken by people with Kansai Area Pass.
☆ This pass works by the date, but is not consecutive.
☆ There are two types of Kansai Thru Pass: 2 days and 3 days.
☆ By non consecutive, you can use it on any 2 or 3 days, as long as it is within the validity period.
☆ For example, if you have a pass that is valid from 1 May 2019 to 30 April 2020, you can use it for any 2/3 days within this time frame.

Sakura

☆ The pass is a physical card that you don't have to use it through manual entry gates.

☆ Just use it like any metro card: slot it into the gate, pass through, and take your pass back.

☆ This pass can basically use almost any other railway besides JR (check usage map here). A good list of the passes are as follow:

More sakura

☆ This pass can be very helpful for long distance travels for regions like Himeji, Kobe, Osaka, Wakayama, Kobe, Mt. Koya, Nara, Kyoto (except northern Kyoto parts such as Amanohashidate), and to a part of Biwako.

☆ However, there are certain transportation modes that is not applicable for Kansai Thru Pass users, as shown below:

More Blossoms

☆ This pass works for transportation only and does not cover entrance fees. However, discount coupons are available (refer list here).

☆ For local buses, such as Kyoto, Osaka, Wakayama local city buses, you can use it with Kansai Thru Pass (refer areas marked with yellow background here)

☆ Note that Kobe Loop Bus is not allowed with Kansai Thru Pass/ IC cards (ICOCA, SUICA, etc)/ Kansai One Pass etc. (refer here for fare and restrictions for Kobe Loop Bus).

3. Kansai Thru Pass vs Kansai Area Pass - Which to choose?

Generally, I choose the pass I need based on the following (cheapo) criteria:

Where I am staying;
My itinerary

If I know that I'm going to Amanohashidate or Tottori, I'll be taking a JR West's Kansai WIDE Area Pass immediately;
If I know that I'm going to Hiroshima, I'll be taking JR West's Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass;

My transportation price

If I'm going to use Kansai Thru Pass, I will make sure that my itinerary transportation cost (that is covered in this pass) will exceed 5,300 JPY in 3 days of pass usage, or 4,300 JPY in 2 days of pass usage, otherwise I'll find other alternatives.
If I'm going to use Kansai Area Pass, I'll make sure that my itinerary transportation cost (covered in this pass) will exceed 2,200 JPY (in 1 day), 4,300 JPY (in 2 days), 5,300 JPY (in 3 days), 6,300 JPY (in 4 days) or 9,000 JPY (in 5 days).
How to decide if a pass is worth it? Check here for a tutorial.

In a case where my itinerary requires a combination of both, adjustments will be made!

But, it's quite confusing for many first-timers because many don't know how to utilize the passes. Therefore, there are some scenarios that are super common among the questions I've received, that can help you to decide if you need a pass!

If you are going to Amanohashidate, Tottori, Shingu, Okayama - Consider Kansai WIDE Area Pass
If you want to try boarding the Hello Kitty Shinkansen/ Nozomi Shinkansen, consider Kansai WIDE Area Pass (or some other JR West Passes)
If you are going to Biwako Valley or Hakodateyama Ski Resort, consider Kansai Area Pass (this region is not covered in Kansai Thru Pass) or Kansai WIDE Area Pass if you are going to the Kansai WIDE Area regions
If you are staying near Namba/ Umeda and is not going anywhere listed above, either Kansai Area Pass or Kansai Thru Pass works for you just well.
If you are just heading to USJ, you don't need a pass - buy a one-way ticket or use your IC (ICOCA/ SUICA/ Pasmo etc.) card.
If you are just staying in Osaka and doing only ONE day trip to Nara, Kobe, Kyoto, Himeji, then use your IC card.
If you have a full day in Kyoto, you can consider 1-day Kyoto Bus Pass (you can purchase in Kyoto Station) or Keihan Pass if you are to going between Kyoto and Osaka.
If you need your Kansai Pass to be leaping days, consider Kansai Thru Pass. Otherwise, if you happen to need to do leap days for regions in Kansai Area Pass/ Kansai WIDE Area Pass, either rearrange your itinerary or buy separate passes.

Hope the above clears up your doubt!

You can drop me any questions in the comments or DM me on instagram! :)

Until next time!

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⛩️ Mie Prefecture

🗺️ General Kansai & Travel Tips

📍 Discover Other Regions

1. Kansai Area Pass (JR West)

1A. IN A CASE IF YOU HAVE A PHYSICAL TICKET

1B. IN A CASE IF YOU HAVE AN EXCHANGE ORDER

1C. TYPE OF KANSAI AREA PASS

2. KANSAI THRU PASS (This is NOT JR)

3. Kansai Thru Pass vs Kansai Area Pass - Which to choose?

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