ICOCA, JR Kansai Pass, Osaka Amazing Pass — should you aren’t already acquainted with these, you need to be studying this transport information!
While planning a 7-day Japan itinerary ranging from Osaka and surrounds, we came upon that you may save fairly a bit with Japan’s transport passes. For instance, as an alternative of spending a complete of ¥17,510 (~S$168) on single-trip tickets, we managed to save ~S$72 with the JR Wide Area Kansai Pass.
However, it may be laborious to decide on which transport move to get — there are simply so many alternative choices and issues to contemplate!
To begin, listed below are a few of the passes obtainable:
| Transport Pass | Price | Coverage | Validity | Covered (Unlimited journey) | Not Covered |
| Osaka Amazing Pass | From ~S$27 | Osaka | 1 or 2 days (consecutive) | – Osaka subway traces – Osaka metropolis buses |
– JR traces, Shinkansen |
| Osaka Metro Pass | From ~S$7 | Osaka | 1 or 2 days (consecutive) | – Osaka subway traces – Osaka metropolis buses |
– Hankyu traces – Kintetsu traces |
| ICOCA | From ~S$23 | Whole of Japan | Expires if unused for 10 years | – Any practice or bus traces with IC card reader | – No limitless journey – Shinkansen |
| Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass | From ~S$9 | Osaka, Kyoto | 1 day | – Keihan traces – Otokyoyama Cable Line |
– JR traces |
| Kansai Thru Pass | From ~S21 | Kansai Region (incl. Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara and many others) | 2 or 3 days (consecutive/non-consecutive) | – Non-JR traces and buses in Kansai area | – JR traces, Shinkansen |
| Kintetsu Rail Pass | From ~S$15 | Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Mie, Nagoya | 1, 2, 5 or 5 days plus (consecutive) | – Kintetsu traces – Nara Kotsu buses |
– Osaka subway traces |
| Hanshin Tourist Pass | From ~S$5 | Osaka, Kobe | 1 day | – Hanshin traces | – Non-Hanshin traces |
| Hankyu Tourist Pass | From ~S$7 | Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe | 1 or 2 days (consecutive) | – Hankyu traces | – Non-Hankyu traces |
| JR West Kansai Pass | From ~S$23 | Kansai Region (incl. Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, and many others) | 1, 2, 3 or 4 days (consecutive) | – JR traces | – Non-JR traces, Shinkansen |
| JR Wide Area Kansai Pass | From ~S$99 | Kansai Region (incl. Osaka, Kyoto, Himeji, Kobe, Nara, and many others) | 5 days (consecutive) | – JR traces – Sanyo Shinkansen – Hello Kitty Shinkansen |
– Non-JR traces |
I do know, overwhelming huh.
In hindsight, we realised we didn’t plan issues totally earlier than our journey and ended up lacking trains or not absolutely maximising our JR move. So right here’s the Osaka transport information we wished we had earlier than our journey so that you don’t need to undergo the identical ache.
1) Plan Your Route
Firstly, we discovered it helpful to plot a map of the locations you’ll go to. This will assist determine which transport move to get as some sights are nearer to sure metro or JR traces.
While Google Maps is useful, we used the native app Japan Travel by Navitime to plan our journey as an alternative because it’s extra correct in Japan — resembling offering the ticket prices and which practice platform to go to.
We then organised the knowledge in a desk resembling location, departing/arriving practice station and the price, so it’s simpler to see.
*Pro-tip: Use on-line instruments like Jorudan to assist calculate the prices on your journeys.
Different passes have totally different protection and prices. Laying the knowledge we wanted in a desk like this helped us slender right down to the 5-day JR Wide Area Kansai Pass because it coated all of the areas we deliberate to go to and helped us get monetary savings in comparison with shopping for single tickets.
Read additionally: JR Pass Guide — 9 Things You Need To Know Before Getting Your First Japan Rail Pass
2) Find Extra Perks Your Pass Offers
Once you’ve determined in your move, learn the high quality print as some passes could embody additional perks! Our JR Wide Area Kansai Pass included the Limited Express Haruka airport practice and the shinkansen to Okayama, on prime of JR traces within the Kansai Region.
*Pro-tip: To absolutely maximise the limitless rides on a JR move, activate it solely if you’re travelling to a number of locations in a day moderately than only a single location.
For instance, reserved seating was included in our move for sure trains which proved helpful particularly for longer journeys like our journey from Kyoto to Kansai International Airport (KIX). You may additionally need to get reserved seats when travelling throughout peak hours round 8–9AM.
Kyoto station is a significant practice station with many intersecting traces, which is why it’s at all times so crowded. Hence, it’ll be higher to e-book your seats upfront should you’re departing from there!
Other passes just like the Osaka Amazing Pass offers you free entry to over 50 sights resembling the brand new Tsutenkaku Tower Slider (opened May 2022) and Osaka Castle. So learn the circumstances rigorously to maximise all of the perks ????.
3) Check the Train Schedule
Trains in Japan are actually punctual. Miss it by a minute and also you may need to attend an hour for the following. #truestory this occurred to us once we reached Osaka.
We discovered Japan Travel by Navitime app helpful in looking out up the schedule beforehand.
So lesson learnt, listed below are some different trains you’ll be able to take from the airport should you’ve missed yours:
– Nankai Line Airport Express (35 minutes to Namba Station)
– Limited Express Haruka (50 minutes to Shin-Osaka Station)
– Kansai Airport Rapid Service (65 minutes to Osaka Station)
4) Pre-book Your Seat Reservation
Some trains just like the restricted categorical practice to Kyoto are for reserved seating solely.
If you’re discovered with out a reserved ticket, you is perhaps requested by the conductor to buy a ticket on the spot or alight on the subsequent cease.
To safe a seat throughout peak journey timings, lengthy journeys, or sudden conditions, keep in mind to order it at the least a day upfront!
You can e-book your seats at any JR ticket workplace or through the inexperienced ticketing machines at any JR practice station.
Here are the steps:
– Key in your departing and arriving station
– Key in your departure time
– Select your most well-liked seats
– The machine will situation your seat reservation tickets
5) Get the Reloadable ICOCA Card
Photo credit score: JR-West
Regardless of which move you find yourself with, it’s at all times good to have an ICOCA card useful to cowl the transport that your move doesn’t. For instance, our JR Wide Area Kansai Pass coated the JR traces however some sights just like the Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium, are solely accessible through the native metro.
Instead of getting particular person tickets, having an ICOCA card means you’ll be able to simply faucet in and have the worth deducted out of your card. It’s principally a reloadable pay as you go card (similar to our EZ-link) and can be utilized on all subways, trains and even buses.
Plus, you can too use the cardboard to pay for meals or procuring at collaborating shops with the ICOCA brand!
FAQs about Japan Transport Passes
Where to purchase and accumulate your transport passes?
You can get your transport passes on the bodily JR ticket counter or from official web sites like Japan Railways. But we obtained ours from Klook and managed to avoid wasting at the least ~S$7 on our JR move.
Here’s a value comparability desk for our JR Wide Area Kansai Pass:
| Physical JR ticket counter | Japan Railways web site | Klook |
| ¥11,000 (~S$111) | ¥10,800 (~S$109) | ~S$102 |
As for redemption, it varies in keeping with which move you’re getting however listed below are some typical places:
– Tourist data centres
– Station ticket places of work
– Green ticketing machines at practice stations (self-collection)
For occasion, after buying our JR Kansai move on-line, we acquired an digital trade order within the type of a QR code. We then scanned the QR code through the inexperienced ticketing machine to redeem our bodily JR move.
However, different passes such because the Whole Japan JR move would require a bodily trade order — mailed to you inside seven days after buying. You would then want to go to a JR ticket workplace to swap it for a bodily JR move. For this explicit move, you gained’t be capable to self-collect through the inexperienced ticketing machine.
*Note: Some passes are additionally solely obtainable for redemption at sure practice stations (resembling main ones like Shin-Osaka), so learn the small print rigorously earlier than assortment!
Can I take advantage of a SUICA as an alternative of an ICOCA card?
Yes, you’ll be able to! Both the SUICA and ICOCA playing cards are reloadable pay as you go playing cards which can be utilized on subway/JR/personal trains and buses.
While SUICA playing cards are extra generally utilized in Tokyo, ICOCA playing cards are used within the Kansai area resembling Osaka and Kyoto. But so long as there’s an IC reader, each playing cards can be utilized interchangeably in all areas.
*Note: Both playing cards don’t cowl Shinkansen rides although, so that you’ll have to buy a separate ticket.
Ideas on your subsequent journey to Osaka and surrounds:
From spending a day in Universal Studios Japan to heading out for day journeys, there’s loads to do in Osaka! Check out a few of our guides and itineraries for inspiration:
– 13 Best Things to Do in Osaka — New and Must-visit Attractions in 2022
– Osaka Budget Guide — Travel for Under S$70 a Day incl. Accommodation
– 7D Japan Itinerary Under S$1.3k — Osaka and Other Epic Cities within the Kansai Region
– The Ultimate USJ Guide And Tips To Planning A Magical Experience — Universal Studios Japan
We hope this transport information has been helpful for travelling round Osaka! Comment down beneath when you have different questions ????