Purchase your JR West Kansai Area Pass and receive your exchange order by email.
We facilitate advance reservation for the JR West Kansai Area Pass valid for unlimited travel in Kansai region.
Passengers can travel on the Haruka Express as well as Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 1 or 2 consecutive days. Passengers cannot travel on other Limited Express trains or Shinkansen trains.
Contents
Trains operated by JR West
Rail services in western Japan are operated by JR West.
JR West is one of the companies of JR Group dedicated to provide passenger train services in Hokuriku, Kansai and Chugoku regions in Honshu island.
Limited Express conventional rail
JR West operates many intercity and regional lines with trains running on conventional rail at a maximum speed of 130-160 km/h.
Given the limited coverage of the Shinkansen network, passengers may need to use conventional trains to reach certain areas of western Japan or travel directly between two cities.
Conventional rail services are classified depending on the stop pattern:
- - Limited Express is the fastest service
- - Express is a semi-fast service stopping at major stations
- - Rapid is a fast service stopping at most stations
- - Local is a slow service stopping at all stations
When travelling on conventional rail, the standard ticket depends on the travel distance and it is the same for all the trains regardless of the number of stops or transfers. The standard ticket allows the passenger to access the platform and board Limited Express trains as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains.
On Limited Express trains, passengers can travel on Non-reserved Seat or Reserved Seat. In case of travelling with Reserved Seat, passengers are required an extra ticket for the Reserved Seat, which is purchased separately from the standard ticket and is inspected by the train conductor on board.
In total, the Limited Express trains offer three passengers classes: Green Car Seat, Reserved Seat and Non-reserved Seat.
Travellers with Reserved Seat tickets are required to take their numbered seat in the Green Cars or the Ordinary Cars. Travellers with Non-reserved Seat tickets are allowed to take any seat available in the Ordinary Cars designated as Non-reserved. On these cars, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. When all the seats are full, passengers must travel standing on the corridor or the coach entrance without blocking the access to other passengers.
On Express, Rapid and Local trains, passengers can travel on Non-reserved Seat.
Getting around Japan by train
The JR West Kansai Area Pass is valid for unlimited travel in the available area: Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Shiga prefectures in Kansai region.
Travel with JR West Kansai Area Pass
Passengers can travel on the Haruka Express as well as Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 1 or 2 consecutive days.
The rail pass reservation is available 3 months in advance.
| Stations | HARUKA |
| Kansai Airport | |
| Hineno | |
| Izumi-Fuchu | |
| Tennoji | |
| Osaka | |
| Shin-Osaka | |
| Takatsuki | |
| Kyoto |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | Miyakoji Rapid | Rapid | Regional Rapid |
| Kyoto | |||
| Tofukuji | |||
| Inari | — | — | |
| Rokujizo | |||
| Uji | |||
| Ogura | — | ||
| Shinden | — | ||
| Joyo | |||
| Nagaike | — | — | |
| Yamashiro-Aodani | — | — | |
| Yamashiro-Taga | — | — | |
| Tamamizu | |||
| Tanakura | — | — | |
| Kamikoma | — | — | |
| Kizu | |||
| Narayama | — | — | |
| Nara |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | Yamatoji Rapid | Rapid | Direct Rapid | Regional Rapid |
| Osaka | ||||
| Namba | ||||
| Imamiya | — | — | ||
| Shin-Imamiya | ||||
| Tennoji | ||||
| Kyuhoji | ||||
| Oji | ||||
| Horyuji | ||||
| Yamato-Koizumi | ||||
| Koriyama | ||||
| Nara | ||||
| Narayama | ||||
| Kizu | ||||
| Kamo |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | Special Rapid | Rapid |
| Osaka | ||
| Amagasaki | ||
| Nishinomiya | — | |
| Ashiya | ||
| Sumiyoshi | — | |
| Rokkomichi | — | |
| Sannomiya | ||
| Motomachi | — | |
| Kobe | ||
| Hyogo | — | |
| Akashi | ||
| Nishi-Akashi | ||
| Kakogawa | ||
| Himeji |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
The rail pass is not valid for the following trains:
Tokaido Shinkansen serving Osaka and Kyoto
Sanyo Shinkansen serving Osaka, Kobe and Himeji
Thunderbird Limited Express serving Osaka, Kyoto, Tsuruga, Fukui and Kanazawa
Destinations
Western Japan is divided into four regions: Hokuriku, Kansai, Chugoku and Kyushu.
Kansai region
Kansai region comprises Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Shiga prefectures. This region is served by the Sanyo Shinkansen and the Limited Express trains operated by JR West.
Train routes to Kyoto
Train routes to Osaka
Train routes to Nara
Train routes to Kobe
Train routes to Himeji
Getting around Osaka by train
Osaka's urban rail network comprises train lines operated by Japan Railways (JR) and subway lines operated by Osaka Metro.
Getting around Osaka with rail pass
The railway company JR West operates two train lines that interconnect Osaka's major stations, including Osaka, Namba and Tennoji.
Travellers with the Japan Rail Pass or JR West Pass can get around Osaka using the Osaka Loop Line and the Yamatoji Line since the services are operated by JR West.
JR West
| Stations | Rapid | Local |
| Osaka | ||
| Namba | ||
| Tennoji |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | Rapid | Local |
| Osaka | ||
| Namba | ||
| Tennoji |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Train and subway routes in Osaka
Getting to Osaka Airport by train
Kansai Airport is connected to Shin-Osaka, Osaka and Tennoji stations in Osaka by the Limited Express trains operated by JR West.
Travellers with Japan Rail Pass or JR West Pass can reserve seats on the Haruka Express since the service is operated by JR West. Other travellers can book tickets 3 months in advance.
JR West
| Stations | HARUKA |
| Kansai Airport | |
| Hineno | |
| Izumi-Fuchu | |
| Tennoji | |
| Osaka | |
| Shin-Osaka | |
| Takatsuki | |
| Kyoto |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Train routes to Kansai Airport
How to purchase your rail pass in Japan?
Purchasing your rail pass in Japan is very quick and simple. Search for train routes between any two cities in the available area for your travel dates.
Select your route
After search, we will display the results for your itinerary.
Find the Shinkansen and Limited Express services operated by JR West available for your itinerary. Select the most convenient option.
We accept rail pass reservations from 3 months in advance up to 24 hours before departure. For departures under 24 hours, the rail pass must be reserved directly at the station.
Click to expand the details of the route, you will find the rail passes available for this route.
JR West offers various types of rail pass valid for unlimited travel on Shinkansen trains, Limited Express trains, as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains for a number of consecutive days.
Fill in the passenger and contact details
According to the policy of JR West, the passenger must meet the following criteria for rail pass reservation.
Passenger must hold a passport issued by a foreign government
− Japanese nationals are not allowed to use this rail pass for tourists.
Passenger must enter Japan as a 短期滞在 (Temporary Visitor)
− Visitor must obtain a Temporary Visitor stamp at Immigration. Do not use the automated gates, as no stamp will be applied on the passport.
− Student permit and work permit holders, permanent residents in Japan are not allowed to use this rail pass for tourists.
In case you meet the criteria of eligibility, please provide the passenger information and the contact details of the person responsible for booking. We will send by email the booking confirmation and the electronic ticket.
Complete your payment
Select your payment method. We accept international credit or debit cards.
Check your itinerary and price breakdown. Confirm that the booking information is correct. Before you proceed to payment, you must read and accept the terms and conditions of booking.
Receive your electronic ticket by email
Once your payment is complete, your reservation will be processed.
In the following 24 hours you will receive the itinerary and booking confirmation by email with the electronic ticket attached in PDF format.
You can also access to Manage your booking via web and download the electronic ticket to your device.
How to use the rail pass?
The electronic ticket is valid to collect the rail pass at the station. It cannot be used to board the train.
After arriving in Japan, passengers can exchange the rail pass by scanning the passport and the QR code included in the exchange order (E-TICKET) at the ticket vending machines or presenting the passport and the exchange order (E-TICKET) at the ticket office in the exchange locations.
Once exchanged, the rail pass will be associated with the passport and the holder will be able to travel for a number of consecutive days according to the validity indicated in the physical ticket.
Passengers can travel on Shinkansen trains, Limited Express trains, as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains in Non-reserved Seat.
If you wish to travel in Reserved Seat, you must receive your tickets for Reserved seat from the ticket vending machine before boarding.
RECEIVE YOUR EXCHANGE ORDER BY EMAIL
Receive your exchange order (E-TICKET) by email in PDF format. Print a copy in advance and carry it with your passport.
PICK UP YOUR RAIL PASS
Exchange the rail pass at the ticket vending machines in the station or at the ticket office in the exchange locations. To pass through the gates, insert your rail pass or show it to the station officer.
BOARD THE TRAIN
Access the platform, locate your car number corresponding to Non-reserved Seat or Reserved Seat and wait for the boarding call to board the train.