Osaka Travel Pass Comparison: JR Pass vs Osaka Amazing Pass vs Kansai Thru Pass vs IC Card
JR Pass vs Osaka Amazing Pass vs Kansai Thru Pass vs IC Card
The Kansai region is home to Himeji, Kobe, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, and Wakayama and can be accessed by foreign travellers from Kansai International Airport (KIX). Famous Tourist spots in the region include Kiyomizu-dera, Osaka Castle, Todaiji Temple, Kinkakuji, Koya-san, Himeji Castle.
First-time travelers to Osaka, Japan, may be overwhelmed by information when planning for itinerery about transportation passes, including options for traveling to and from Kansai International Airport. Some of the popular transporation pass in Osaka / Kansai Region includes IC Card / Iphone via Apple Pay, JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass, JR Pass Whole Japan Rail Pass, JR West Kansai Area Pass, JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass, Kansai Thru Pass, Kintetsu Rail Pass, Osaka Amazing Pass, Osaka ePass, and Osaka Metro pass.
Here are eight things to consider when choosing a pass:
- How much is your budget?
- How many are travelling?
- Are you travelling with kids?
- Where would you like to travel?
- Do you prioritize spending more time in an area or do you want to explore as much tourist spots as possible?
- Where are you staying?
- How many days are you staying?
- Are you travelling outside Kansai?
Travelling today or planning for a commute using the Kansai Thru Pass, JR Pass, Osaka Amazing Pass, and IC Card? Learn more about the pass comparison, price, inclusions, exclusions, how to buy, and how to properly budget.
NOTICE: The fares and schedules listed here may subject to change without prior notice. Pls check with the companies for the updated details.
CommuteTour is in no way affiliated with any of the buses / trains / tourist spots listed on any of its pages.
Subscribe: youtube.com/@commutetour
Planning for your Itinerary
When planning your itinerary in Japan, the first thing to always consider is how to maximize your stay especially if this is your first time visiting. You have reached this blog most probably since you have seen a lot of rail pass in Osaka and you are confused which one to buy. You may have limited budget but want to get the best value for your money.
So let’s make it simple. When to Use and What rail pass to buy
- IC Card ONLY: If you are only planning to stay in Osaka, want to visit 3-4 sites in one day and will be staying near a train station, then, just get an IC Card. That way, you don’t need to bother checking if this train line or that train line is included. Note that one train ride may cost from 150 yen to 270 yen depending on the line or distance.
- Lets put it on average of 210 yen per ride. From hotel ⇒ 1st tourist spot ⇒ 2nd tourist spot ⇒ 3rd tourist spot ⇒ 4th tourist spot ⇒ back to the hotel. 210 x 5 = 1050 ~ 1500 yen. As you increase the number of rides, purchasing a pass may already be an option.
- For perspective the Osaka Amazing Pass is ¥2,800 inclusive of the entrance fee and unlimited train along the Osaka Metro.
- There are a lot of places to visit in Osaka which you dont need to pay for an entrance including Dotonbori, Tsutenkaku, Osaka Castle Grounds. You can check the tourist spots list included in the OSAKA AMAZING PASS Here.
- Say you are only going to Universal Studios and will be spending your whole day in the park, then you dont need the Japan Rail Pass or Kansai Pass just to get to the park.
- Osaka Amazing Pass Only: If you are the type or traveller who wants to explore the area and want to enter the tourist spots, then best to get the one day or 2days Osaka Amazing Pass. The good thing is that it is already inclusive of unlimited train rides on the OSAKA METRO subway lines.
- Say you want to experience the Cruise Ship Sta Maria. One ride costs 2100 Yen, then on the same area in Tempozan you can also ride the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel which costs 800 Yen. Plus you are staying at a hotel 5-10 minutes away from the Subway Line. The pass is sufficient enough to make a round trip and enjoy the Rides. Plus you can go to Dotonbori, Tsutenkaku and Osaka Castle using the subway for free.
- Another option is to combine the Osaka ePass with the Kansai Thru Pass if you have a slightly higher budget, that way, you can also use other train lines except for the Jr Lines. The Kansai Thru pass also includes Local train to Osaka Kansai International Airport.
- Kansai Thru Pass: the 3 days Kansai Thru pass costs ¥5400 for 3 days or ¥1800 per day.
- Based on experience, Even if you are not travelling to Kyoto or Nara, this is the best pass to be used in Osaka. Why? because you can use any train lines that is not a JR Line without worrying if you are using the subway or not.
- It even includes travel to the airport via the local lines, and the nearby Rinku Town Premium Outlet.
- Sometimes, using different train lines is more efficient in saving time rather than going all the way around to the next connecting Metro subway station.
- JR Pass (Whole Japan): The JR Pass is available for 7, 14, 21 days and is not for everyone to use especially those staying in Osaka only. This pass is good if you are travelling via Shinkansen on several Areas.
- If you are planning to buy this to go to Kobe or Kyoto or Himeji and use the Shinkansen, then you will not be able to maximize your pass. Also, a lot of tourist spots are away from a JR Station in Osaka and you will need to pay for fare adjustment using another train line.
- JR West Kansai Pass / JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass: The JR West Kansai Pass is a good option if you are only planning to use JR trains. The good thing is it includes the Haruka to go to the Airport which is already a steal. You can also stop over in Rinku Town before heading to the Airport without paying for additional 300 yen fare.
- Kintetsu Rail Pass: A Kintetsu Rail one day pass would cost ¥1,500 and a 2 day pass cost ¥2,500. The Kintetsu line is good if you are travelling between Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Mie. However, it is not good if you will only use it in Osaka as there are limited stations served by Kintetsu near tourist spots in Osaka.
Kansai Pass Comparison by Price, Area, Inclusion and Exclusion
| Pass | Passenger | 1 day | 2 days | 3 days | 4 days | 5 days | 7 days | 14 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JR Pass Whole Japan Rail Pass | Adult | ¥29,650 | ¥47,250 | |||||
| Child (6-11) | ¥14,820 | ¥23,620 | ||||||
| JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass | Adult | ¥10,000 | ||||||
| Child (6-11) | ¥5,000 | |||||||
| JR West Kansai Area Pass | Adult | ¥2,400 | ¥4,600 | ¥5,600 | ¥6,800 | |||
| Child (6-11) | ¥1,200 | ¥2,300 | ¥2,800 | ¥3,400 | ||||
| JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass | Adult | ¥15,000 | ||||||
| Child (6-11) | ¥7,500 | |||||||
| Kintetsu Rail Pass | Adult | ¥1,500 | ¥2,500 | ¥3,700 | ||||
| Child (6-11) | ¥750 | ¥1,250 | ¥1,850 | |||||
| Kansai Thru Pass | Adult | ¥4,380 | ¥5,400 | |||||
| Child (6-11) | ¥2,190 | ¥2,700 | ||||||
| Osaka Amazing Pass | Adult | ¥2,800 | ¥3,600 | |||||
| Child (6-11) | ¥2,800 | ¥3,600 | ||||||
| Osaka ePass | Adult | ¥2,000 | ¥2,500 | |||||
| Child (6-11) | ¥2,000 | ¥2,500 | ||||||
| Osaka Metro pass | Adult | ¥650 | ¥1,200 | |||||
| Child (6-11) | ¥650 | ¥1,200 | ||||||
| IC Card / Iphone via Apple Pay |
For context, The 7 days whole Japan Rail Pass price cost is ¥29,650. If divided by 7 days the price per day is ¥4,235. If you are only travelling between Osaka, Kyoto and Nara, that will not be worth the cost. It will only be cost effective if you travel using the shinkansen to Tokyo as one way Nozomi Train would cost around 14520 yen.
| Pass | Local Train to Airport | Express Train to Airport | JR Trains | Subway | Shinkansen | Private Railways | Tourist Attractions Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JR Pass Whole Japan Rail Pass | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Sanyo Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka to/from Okayama) | Yes | No |
| JR West Kansai Area Pass | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Sanyo Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka ⇔ Hiroshima) | Yes | No |
| Kintetsu Rail Pass | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Kansai Thru Pass | Yes | Yes with additonal charge | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Osaka Amazing Pass | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Osaka ePass | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Osaka Metro Pass | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| IC Card / Iphone via Apple Pay | Depends on the card used | Depends on the card used | Depends on the card used | Depends on the card used | No | Depends on the card used | Depends |
| Pass Name | Osaka | Kyoto | Nara | Kobe | Himeji | Hiroshima | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JR Pass Whole Japan Rail Pass | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| JR West Kansai Area Pass | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Kintetsu Rail Pass | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Kansai Thru Pass | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Osaka Amazing Pass | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Osaka ePass | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Osaka Metro Pass | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| IC Card / Iphone via Apple Pay | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Choosing Rail Pass based on budget
If you are travelling alone or with a companion to Japan on a limited budget of up to 49,999 Yen, on a 3-5 days trip, then that would mean your average cost per day is between 10,000 to 16,000. If you would factor your hotel and food allowance, then it is best to just stay in Osaka and purchase the Osaka Amazing Pass. However, a better option would be to get the Kansai Thru Pass for 3 days and then purchase the Osaka ePass for 2 days.
The Kansai thru pass includes local train to and from the airport, as well as private railways except JR trains to Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, Himeji and Wakayama while the Osaka ePass for 2 days will allow you to access the tourist spots in Osaka. You dont need to buy the Osaka Amazing Pass since the Kansai Thru Pass already covers the Osaka Metro Subway.
Kansai Thru Pass 3 days ¥5,400 + Osaka ePass ¥2,500 = ¥7900. Depending on your length of stay, you can buy one 2 day and one 3 days Kansai Thru Pass.
Amazing Pass
If you are travelling alone or with a companion on a slightly higher budget of up to 79,999 yen for 5-7 days, then your best option is to take the 5 Days JR Kansai Wide Area Pass. You can choose to buy the 7 days Whole Japan Rail Pass worth ¥29,650 but if you are constrained by time, then this might not be a good idea.
The travel time between Osaka and Tokyo for example would take around 3-4 hours. If you stay in Osaka for 3 days, 1 day in Kyoto, then that will give you only 1-2 days in Tokyo as half of your day is already alloted for travel between Osaka and Tokyo. Also take into consideration your arrival time from your flight to Osaka and your flight going out of Osaka.
However, if you are flying to Japan in Osaka and exit out of Japan in Narita Airport in Tokyo, then, the JR pass may be worth considering.
Note also that the JR Pass does not include subways. You can purchase the 3 days Kansai thru Pass and the Osaka ePass for the Attraction but if you are going to Universal Studios Japan for 1 day, then reduce the Kansai Thru Pass to 2 days only as the train to Universal Studios is included in the JR Pass.
If you have a lot of budget but want to spend more on the attractions rather than the transportation cost and have a lot of time to spend of more than 7 days, then your best option is to take the Japan Rail Pass and combine with the Kansai Thru Pass. You can spend 3 days in Osaka, half day in Nara then stay overnight in Kyoto before head to Tokyo via the Shinkansen.
However, if you will only be staying in the Kansai Region and spend most of the time in Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe and Himeji, then you can just buy the Kansai Thru Pass. You can visit this link for more details on the train lines covered by the Kansai Thru Pass. You can also combine the JR Kansai Wide Area Pass if you wish to travel to Okayama and Hiroshima rather than the Whole of Japan JR Pass.
It is only a matter of how much you would like to spend for your hotel and if you are travelling with a companion to share the expenses.
Based on the number of Passengers and if travelling with Kids or Senior Citizen
Travelling solo gives the most flexibility when travelling in Japan as you can decide at a whim where you want to go. However, solo travellers also have some drawbacks as you will shoulder all the expenses especially when it comes to hotels. A cheap option is to stay at a capsule hotel, or stay in a dorm type hotel. Here, you may be able to meet other travellers who may be looking for company.
Most solo travellers would like to exhaust as much tourist spots as they can in Japan. If budget permits and you have more than 5 days to spend, then purchasing the JR whole Japan Pass is your best option as you can easily navigate any part of Japan from Osaka, Hiroshima, Himeji, Okayama, Kyoto, Nara and go all the way to Tokyo.
But if you are a budget conscious solo traveller and would only want to stay around Kansai Area, then the Kansai Thru Pass paired with Osaka ePass is your best option. No need to purchase the Osaka Amazing Pass as the Osaka Metro is already covered by the Kansai Thru Pass. The pass also covers the train ride to and from Kansai International Airport.
Kansai Thru Pass 3 days ¥5,400 + Osaka ePass ¥2,500 = ¥7900. Depending on your length of stay, you can buy one 2 day and one 3 days Kansai Thru Pass.
Travelling in pair is probably the best option when exploring Japan. You can share the cost for the hotel at the same time share the experience with another person. Do note that you should also be conscious of the needs and wants of the person you are travelling with. If you are the type of person who wants to explore a lot but your companion is the chill type and wants to spend time only at a location or two, then that may be a cause of conflict. Also note that there will be a lot of walking in Japan so if the other person easily gets tired, then your whole experience might be placed in jeopardy.
When travelling by pair in Osaka, 2 adult tickets or pass must be purchased. If travelling only in Osaka Area, the Osaka Amazing Pass is a good option. However, if you want to extend your adventures in Kansai such as Kyoto, Kobe, Himeji, Wakayama and Nara, then the Kansai Thru Pass is the best option. If you prefer to go to Mie, then the Kintetsu Rail pass is also a good option. Note that these does not include JR West Train Lines.
If you have a lot of budget and will be spending more than 5 days in Japan, it is best to consider the JR Kansai Wide Pass or the Whole of Japan JR Pass and travel to Tokyo. If you have more time and budget, a 14 day JR Pass is enough to go around Japan from Osaka, to Fukuoka, Tokyo, Saitama and even to Sapporo in Hokkaido.
Travelling in group of 3-4 is usually the case for a small family or group of friends. The more people you have in the group, the harder it is to determine the type of travel you will need to plan as you need to consider if everyone in the group would enjoy the attraction. As the group becomes larger, travelling by Uber or Taxi now becomes an option as this may sometimes save on cost and time of walking. Another option is to rent a car or service to guide you.
Also, if travelling with children or senior citizen, note that they wont have as much energy to walk across of train lines and train stations. It would be wise to focus in an area where you can spend a lot of time without travelling long distances. Say for example stay in Tempozan Area where you can experience the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel, Legoland Discovery Center, Cruise Ship Sta Maria which are all included in the Osaka Amazing Pass. The Kaiyukan Aquarium is also in the same area but requires separate entrance fee.
You may also enjoy the Universal Studios and stay in the hotels near Universal Studios. Tempozan is only a river cruise away from Universal Studios via the Universal City Port
Travelling in group of 5 or more requires a lot of planning. Getting the services of a travel agency is the best option as they can arrange land travel for group and can join you with other groups. Note that joining a group tour would have time restrictions and you would need to join most, if not all, the arranged part of itinerary.
It is also hard to find a hotel that will accomodate more than 4 occupants. Another option is to rent an airbnb which is a cheaper option if staying for 5 days or more.
If all the passengers have the same energy and wants, then travelling by public transportation is also possible.
Featured
