Affiliate disclosure We earn a commission when you book through links in this article, at no extra cost to you.
Kansai transport passes are tickets that allow unlimited rides on subways or railways for a set period. Each company covers different lines, so the right pass depends on the destination.
By destination
Osaka city, one day
Enjoy Eco Card
¥820
Osaka city, two days
Metro Pass 48-hour
¥1,500
Kyoto Gion and Uji
Keihan pass, 1 day
¥1,650
Arashiyama and Kobe
Hankyu 1-Day Pass
¥1,300
Okayama, Kinosaki, 5 days
Kansai WIDE Area Pass
¥12,000
Official prices from each company, one adult. The Enjoy Eco Card is ¥620 on weekends and holidays and is sold at Osaka Metro ticket machines.
When a pass beats single tickets
-
Subway, 4 rides
The pass is cheaper by ¥140
-
Hankyu: Kyoto return
Single tickets are cheaper by ¥480
-
Hankyu: Kyoto and Kobe
The pass is cheaper by ¥180
-
Keihan: Uji and Gion
Single tickets are cheaper by ¥310
-
Keihan: Inari, Uji and Gion
The pass is cheaper by ¥40
Fares from each company, one adult. Subway rides are in the ¥240 band; on weekends and holidays the Eco Card is ¥620, so the pass pays from 3 rides. Trips start at Hankyu Osaka-umeda and Keihan Yodoyabashi.
Several cities over several days
2 days on JR
WEST QR
¥4,700
2 days, subway and private lines
Railway Pass Lite
¥5,200
3 days on JR
WEST QR
¥5,500
3 days, subway and private lines
Railway Pass Lite
¥6,500
Official JR West and Surutto Kansai prices, one adult. The two passes share no lines. WEST QR is ¥2,700 for 1 day and ¥6,700 for 4 days.
-
JR, 2 days: Haruka one-way, Nara
Single tickets are cheaper by ¥560
-
JR, 3 days: airport, 2 trips
The pass is cheaper by ¥300
-
Lite, 2 days: airport, 2 trips
Single tickets are cheaper by ¥600
-
Lite, 3 days: airport, 3 trips
Single tickets are cheaper by ¥760
JR West WEST QR HARUKA one-way tickets (Kyoto ¥2,700, Osaka ¥1,900) and fares from each company, one adult. JR over 3 days means returns from Osaka to Kyoto and Kobe. Lite trips start at Namba: Kyoto and Nara returns, plus Kobe over 3 days; Kyoto and Kobe include the ¥240 subway to Umeda.
Where each pass goes
JRNankai, KintetsuKeihanHankyu
A sketch of main stations based on each company's route map. Station positions from Wikipedia.
Covered Not covered
From each pass's official details and route map. Airport means Kansai Airport. Not every line within a city is included.
WEST QR and the Kansai WIDE Area Pass both cover the Haruka express from Kansai Airport. The Railway Pass Lite uses the Nankai Airport Line, and the Rapi:t costs extra. Other ways into the city are in the Kansai Airport guide. A pass that bundles attraction entry is in the Osaka Amazing Pass guide.
Conditions by pass
| Pass | Conditions |
|---|---|
| Metro Pass | All Osaka Metro lines. 26-hour ¥900, 48-hour ¥1,500 |
| Enjoy Eco Card | Most city bus routes included. No boarding or alighting at Yumeshima |
| Keihan pass | Main, Uji and Katano lines; Otsu Line excluded. 24-hour version ¥1,850 |
| Hankyu 1-Day Pass | All Hankyu lines; Kobe Kosoku Line excluded. Digital, credit card only |
| Railway Pass Lite | 2 or 3 consecutive days. JR, Kyoto subway, Randen and buses excluded. Reserved-seat private-railway expresses cost extra |
| WEST QR | Foreign passport, temporary visitor. Sold by overseas agents. Haruka non-reserved, reserved seat twice. No Shinkansen |
| Kansai WIDE | Foreign passport, temporary visitor. 5 consecutive days. Limited express reserved seats, Sanyo Shinkansen Shin-Osaka to Okayama |
Sales of the paper JR Kansai Area Pass have ended.
Where to stay
Sources
- JR West: WEST QR Kansai Area Pass
- JR West: Kansai WIDE Area Pass
- JR West: Kansai Area Pass
- Surutto Kansai: KANSAI RAILWAY PASS LITE
- Surutto Kansai: available area map (PDF)
- Osaka Metro: fares (Japanese)
- Keihan: fare tables (Japanese)
- JR West: fact sheet comparing JR and private railway fares (Japanese, PDF)
- JR West: fares by section (Japanese, PDF)
- JR West: WEST QR HARUKA one-way ticket
- Osaka Metro: tickets for visitors
- Keihan: KYOTO-OSAKA SIGHTSEEING PASS
- Hankyu: Hankyu One-Day Pass