Uncover West Japan’s Hidden Gems - JR Kansai Wide Pass Guide
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- Опубліковано 22 жов 2023
- The JR Kansai Wide Area Pass is your golden ticket to unlocking the best hidden gems all across the Kansai area - and beyond! It's a great Japan Rail Pass alternative if you want to focus on Kansai. Discover all the ways the Kansai Wide Area Pass offers incredible value for money, whether you use it for the full 5 days, or for only 1 or 2 day trips! This is the best money-saving pass you can get for 12,000 yen, so join me to learn how to use it to the max!
Kansai Wide Area Pass Itinerary Video: • Hidden Gems in Kansai:...
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Kansai Wide Area Pass Itinerary Video: • Hidden Gems in Kansai:...
JR Kansai Wide Area Pass coverage map
www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ti...
Green ticket machines usage guide
www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ho...
Details of extra benefits
www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ti...
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OKONOMIYAKI (お好み焼き) in OSAKA, JAPAN
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JR Kansai Wide Area Pass: japanunravelled.com/rec/Kansai-Wide-Pass
Itinerary video: ua-cam.com/video/8jKwPkznr20/v-deo.html
An absolutely super overview of this pass!
Thankyou!
Thank you for the video! So the Osaka Loop Line + the Yamatoji Line to head to Nara would be covered by this pass?
Yes both of those are included!
Hi Andrew,
I really enjoy watching the videos you are creating!!! Already added alot of hidden gems you mentioned onto my list!
I´ll be visiting japan next year in April and still quiet unsure if purchasing the jr pass will pay off or not.
My Itinerary will include the following stops:
1) Tokyo
2) Lake Kawaguchiko
3) Osaka (Day Trip to Nara, maybe other stops)
4) Kyoto (day trip to Ine)
5) Takayama
6) Kanazawa
I´ll be traveling 19 days in total!
Maybe you could give me an insight whether i shoudl get the jr pass or combine other regional passes!
Thanks alot! And keep up with your amazing work ;)
Thanks for the kind words. Looking at that I don't think you'd get to the magic 50,000 yen mark, but you'd have to run it through one of the JR pass calculators to confirm it. Since you want to go to Kanazawa, look at the Hokiriku Arch Pass. It might be worth it, but I'm fairly sure they're going to jack up the price next year as soon as the shinkansen extension down to Tsuruga gets opened.
@@japanunravelledthank you so much for your thoughts and input !
I got this pass myself and found a bit of a quirk, I got it from JTB in person in Osaka after Klook couldn't supply. For some reason when getting a pass in person from the agency no seat selection is possible at the green machines and has to be done at a counter. I'm using it for a day trip to Nachi Falls which more than covers it and the other days are a bonus.
Yeah, that's an annoying quirk. Makes it worth getting all your trains booked in one one visit to the ticket office.
Hi, your video was very informative and I'm very thankful to stumble across it before my trip. I was planning to get this pass once I get to Kyoto from Tokyo but hopefully you can give me some advice if it's the best choice for me!
Planning to leave Kyoto in the morning to Kinosaki for a day trip then have my return destination in the evening be Osaka. Also a possible day trip to Nara from Osaka (if I have the time) and a transfer from Osaka to KIX Airport.
Would this plan be possible using the JR Kansai Wide Pass or would a different regional pass suit me better? My research is leading me to believe the JR Kansai Wide Pass will be ok regarding those routes but it would be amazing if you could please give me your opinion. I appreciate any info to help me out, thank you for the video!
Yeah, a round trip to Kinosaki and then your Osaka to KIX expresses will get you over the 12,000 yen mark easily. Any other travel you do will be a bonus. I think the Kinosaki train is all reserved seats now, so do book at least a few days ahead to get the train you want.
Ngl, I actually had no idea about Amanohashidate before this - for some reason I had been looking at Kinosaki Onsen without realising it's right next door, so thanks.
Also, on mention of Tottori, apparently the Kansai Wide Pass lets you go there via Okayama, while the Kansai + Hiroshima Pass only lets you go via Kinosaki Onsen. Kind of odd.
You should definitely check out Amanohashidate!
Not sure about the Tottori route. I used the Super Hakuto to go to Tottori from Kyoto and didn't pay extra. But the Okayama route is also usable.
Great video! Quick question, is all the information in this video valid for the Kansai Hiroshima Pass as well? Obviously that pass would include Hiroshima, but I'm checking that the same lines and Shinkansen that are included in the KW pass are also included in the KH pass? Another video says the KH pass includes the Sanyo Shinkansen but there is no mention of that here. Thanks for any help. 6 weeks to go until departure!
Pretty much the same, yes. The Sanyo Shinkansen is included up to Hiroshima, but again the Kyoto Shin-Osaka part is off-limits. You can get to Iwakuni for Kintaikyo, and Miyajima for Miyajima, but for the latter you'll need to pay the 100 yen visitor tax now.
Hi, fantastic information thank you!! I'm thinking of spending a good 4 nights in Osaka and 4 nights in Kyoto before going to Fukui, and having plenty of day trips from Osaka and Kyoto in that time. Am I allowed to buy 2 passes, to use one after the other? Or is it only one pass per visit to Japan? Or, if not 2 of the same passes, am I allowed to use one type of pass, then start another type of pass the next day?
There's no limit to how many passes you can use. So using two back to back is fine.
@@japanunravelled Thanks so.much for your reply. That's great news. 👍
Hey! Thank you for this! Does it cover Hiroshima and Hakata?
No, for those you'll want either the Kansai Hiroshima Pass or the JR West All Area Pass (a few others may work). Have a look on the link for regional passes in the description or here: www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/
Thank you for this video, it's very informative! I was intending to actually buy it from the JR West site but I do prefer a flexible timing so Klook it is. I do have a question though, do you reckon it'll be worth it to purchase for a route like this?
Kyoto -> Kinosaki Onsen (stay overnight; so first day of the pass is used here) -> Osaka (the next 4 days)
I plan to use it on the day I leave Kyoto for Kinosaki Onsen, and then from Kinosaki Onsen to Osaka. It’ll also nicely coincide with my last day in Japan as I’ll use that to KIX. But do you think it will be worth it to use this pass around Osaka city, or would the Kansai Wide Excursion Pass (3 days) instead be a better choice?
It'll pay off for the Kyoto>Kinosaki>Osaka part alone. Add in the journey to KIX and you're golden. A few trips on the loop line in Osaka aren't expensive though, so only use it for that if it's already activated.
Thanks for the video, very informative.
I will be traveling last week of march and first week of April, my route is as following:
Kyoto-Okayama / Okayama-Uno
Uno-Okayama / Okayama-Osaka
Nara-Osaka (already bought Osaka-Nara)
Do you think the pass is worth it?
Also is it difficult/risky to reserve tickets only few days before each trip? I can't buy the tickets in advance through the website.
Thanks!
It will pay off, though not by much. The only train involved allowing reservations is the shinkansen between Shin Osaka and Okayama. I'd reserve on the day or just go in nonreserved.
great up to date video! you even answered one of my lingering questions whether to buy via agency or direct on jr west! another follow up question: via jr west you will be able to reserve seats directly, but is it only for the first day and first train ride? on our first day we go from kix directly to amanohashidate. this is with two limited express train (transfer in Kyoto). Will I be able to reserve seat on both trains upon purchase online or I still need to reserve in a JR ticket station upon arrival? thanks in advance!
and if I may ask another: When I try to search online directions from kix to amanohashidate! I get bus or train to osaka then hashidate limited exp train to amano or haruka to kyoto and tango line to amano. But when I search separately, there is a limited exp haruka line from kix to kyoto and limited exp hashidate kyoto to amano. that option don’t show up together in any travel planner sites. I can take the two limited exp option together right? only it will be more expensive ( but with a wide pass I think it will be worth it ) Please let me know if my assumption is correct! or if I should follow what google map/ JR west travel planner advice.
Just reserve the tickets online for the two limited expresses since you have the wide pass.
@@japanunravelled thank you!!!
Hi there, I can't find any information on whether you can rent bikes with the ticket without initiating "Day 1".
E.g. can I use the pass to rent Ekiren bikes on Monday, but start using the pass for train travel on Wednesday?
You could do that by making the first day of use on the Monday.
Hi, does this cover Shinkansen to Kyoto?
Between Shin-Osaka and Kyoto, Shinkansen is not covered. Take the local train, fastest takes about 25 mins or any of the expresses covered by the pass.
does this pass cover the usage of city buses in kyoto? and how do i know which train line is not covered by this pass. i have read the kyoto map and it has a few different lines
Buses are not covered. You can check the coverage map to see which lines are included, which is linked in the description.
Great video, but if it’s not to much to ask could you help me with this question?
I’m planning on buying the Kansai-Hiroshima Area pass.
Day 1, We arrive at Kansai airport, and have a hotel in Shin-Osaka. (Pass covers this right?)
Day 2, Some sightseeing in Osaka (Only JR lines covered by the pass)
Day 3, To Hiroshima form Shin-Osaka (Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen, Nozomi coverd by this pass?)
Day 4, Daytrip to Miyajima (Pass covered by this right?)
Day 5, Hiroshima to Kyoto. If I understand this right we can use the Shikansen up to Shin-Osaka (Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen not coverd between Shin-Osaka and Kyoto right?)
If I’m right the pass would be cheaper then buying tickets.
Thank you for your time!
All yes, except you need the Kansai Hiroshima pass if you want to go to Hiroshima.
Going in 12 days. With this pass can I get around Osaka easily? Can I get it from Klook?
You can use the loop line in Osaka, but not buses and subways. There's a Klook link in the pinned comment.
Wondering how do I get to takayama from kanazawa using this pass?
Well those places aren't included on this one. You might want to look at the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass instead. That will cover the journey. I think Klook has that as well.
Hi Andrew, I am planning for 5 days following your kansai guide by using kansai wide area pass. My stops will be including
1. Kansai Airport
2. Kyoto
3. Amanohashidate + Ine (this bus will not be covered right?)
4. Wadayama
5. Takeda
6. Himeji
7. Okayama
8. Takamatsu
9. Kobe
10. Nara
11. Osaka
I am having some trouble for train from okayama to kobe. For "Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen", is it included in the pass? do I need to do reservation? Cause its run by Central Japan Railway. How about "Tokaido-Sanyo Line"? Its run by West Japan. I am confused as the name is similar. Thanks for your advice!
after re-reading westjr website for the nth time, is "Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen" the same with "Sanyo Shinkansen" nozomi (which need reservation"?
Yes, Okayama to Kobe is included, and that means all types of Shinkansen. Forget about the Central Japan/West Japan differences. All you need to know is that you can take any kind of shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Okayama, but nowhere else.
If you take the Nozomi, I'd recommend reserving seats. Reserving is only mandatory at New Year, in "Golden Week" and Obon.
And no, the bus at Amanohashidate isn't covered.
Thank you for the replied!@@japanunravelled I read that the pass also offered free bicycle at certain areas too. maybe i will lookout for them. not sure how long they will rent us for free as they dont write the duration
I am spending 1 week in Tokyo and 1 week in Kansai. I bought a voucher for the Kansai-Hiroshima area 5 day pass. I am unable to exchange the voucher in Tokyo, correct? Also is it possible to reserve Shinkansen and limited express seats before I get to Japan and then use the Kansai pass?
Yes, you need to exchange in the JR West area, like at Shin-Osaka or Kyoto, not Tokyo. For reservations, are you talking about ones to use with the pass, or entirely separate tickets?
@@japanunravelled thanks for the info. I’ve heard elsewhere that I’d be able to exchange the voucher in Tokyo and set the activation date to a week later. And reserve seats within the 5 days to use with the pass. It would be convenient if I was able to do that when I first arrive in Tokyo
You will get a definitive answer from this page. I put in Tokyo and no results.
www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/receive/
Hi, can I ask what app should we use or download if we are using this pass? I believe using the google map isnt right coz some trains does not cover this pass right?
"Japan Travel" I talk about in this video has an option for many passes now. Maybe app only. Google Maps is a blunt instrument - only rely on it when you know what you're doing.
@@japanunravelled thank you very much, though you need to buy the premium to fully use this right? But thank god it has an option for kansai wide pass users..thanks
Probably worth the money just to use on your trip. Seems free on the website though.
Hey Andrew,
we are planing to buy the Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass online via JR West Homepage.
Is it possible do buy the pass online at home and do seat reservation also in advance from home?
Or do we need the physical ticket to do online seat reservation?
Thanks!
Yes, if you by direct from JR west you can book in advance. Debatable if you need to though. Nozomi is included so you have way more seats available. Limited expresses in Kansai can also be easily booked a few days before travel.
@@japanunravelledI can't find the site where I can book seats with the pass
@@montolion Same here, pls share if you get a link for online seat reservation. JR west website offers only buying seats it seems. For pass holders I can't seem to find a link to reserve seats although I've booked through jr west site
@@chiragganguly I've had a good hunt around and concluded the same as you. There is a message though saying that some services with online reservations will be unavailable until the end of April. Sorry I can't be of more help.
@@japanunravelled got it thanks. Shall reserve seats from machine once I reach
I do not think Shinkansen is part of this package, except for the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Okayama only.
This is mentioned from 4:00 in the video.
Hi, im thinking of going for 15 days, to kyoto and only stay in the kansai region, can i buy 2 wide area pass for me, and use one after the other? I was thinking to activate it 5 days after arriving and use them one after the other.
Yes, you can. There's no limit to how many you can buy.
Thank you
hello! The national JR pass does not include nozomi (only if you can pay a price difference) with JR pass west can you use the nozomi without paying an extra? Can you buy online and make seat reservations online?
The JR link should have the details but I believe the answer is no to the Nozomi. You can buy online and make the seat reservations through JR West.