ICOCA, JR Kansai Cross, Osaka Wonderful Cross — in case you aren’t already acquainted with these, you need to be studying this transport information!
Whereas planning a 7-day Japan itinerary ranging from Osaka and surrounds, we discovered that you would 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 Extensive Space Kansai Cross.
Nonetheless, it may be laborious to decide on which transport move to get — there are simply so many various choices and issues to think about!
To begin, listed below are a few of the passes obtainable:
| Transport Cross | Value | Protection | Validity | Coated (Limitless journey) | Not Coated |
| Osaka Wonderful Cross | From ~S$27 | Osaka | 1 or 2 days (consecutive) | – Osaka subway traces – Osaka metropolis buses |
– JR traces, Shinkansen |
| Osaka Metro Cross | From ~S$7 | Osaka | 1 or 2 days (consecutive) | – Osaka subway traces – Osaka metropolis buses |
– Hankyu traces – Kintetsu traces |
| ICOCA | From ~S$23 | Entire of Japan | Expires if unused for 10 years | – Any prepare or bus traces with IC card reader | – No limitless journey – Shinkansen |
| Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Cross | From ~S$9 | Osaka, Kyoto | 1 day | – Keihan traces – Otokyoyama Cable Line |
– JR traces |
| Kansai Via Cross | From ~S21 | Kansai Area (incl. Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara and so on) | 2 or 3 days (consecutive/non-consecutive) | – Non-JR traces and buses in Kansai area | – JR traces, Shinkansen |
| Kintetsu Rail Cross | 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 Vacationer Cross | From ~S$5 | Osaka, Kobe | 1 day | – Hanshin traces | – Non-Hanshin traces |
| Hankyu Vacationer Cross | From ~S$7 | Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe | 1 or 2 days (consecutive) | – Hankyu traces | – Non-Hankyu traces |
| JR West Kansai Cross | From ~S$23 | Kansai Area (incl. Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, and so on) | 1, 2, 3 or 4 days (consecutive) | – JR traces | – Non-JR traces, Shinkansen |
| JR Extensive Space Kansai Cross | From ~S$99 | Kansai Area (incl. Osaka, Kyoto, Himeji, Kobe, Nara, and so on) | 5 days (consecutive) | – JR traces – Sanyo Shinkansen – Whats up 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 should undergo the identical ache.
1) Plan Your Route
Firstly, we discovered it helpful to plot a map of the locations you’ll go to. It will assist resolve which transport move to get as some sights are nearer to sure metro or JR traces.
Whereas Google Maps is useful, we used the native app Japan Journey by Navitime to plan our journey as an alternative because it’s extra correct in Japan — reminiscent of offering the ticket prices and which prepare platform to go to.
We then organised the data in a desk reminiscent of location, departing/arriving prepare station and the fee, so it’s simpler to see.
*Professional-tip: Use on-line instruments like Jorudan to assist calculate the prices in your journeys.
Completely different passes have totally different protection and prices. Laying the data we would have liked in a desk like this helped us slim right down to the 5-day JR Extensive Space Kansai Cross 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.
Learn additionally: JR Cross Information — 9 Issues You Want To Know Earlier than Getting Your First Japan Rail Cross
2) Discover Further Perks Your Cross Gives
When you’ve determined in your move, learn the wonderful print as some passes might embody further perks! Our JR Extensive Space Kansai Cross included the Restricted Specific Haruka airport prepare and the shinkansen to Okayama, on high of JR traces within the Kansai Area.
*Professional-tip: To completely maximise the limitless rides on a JR move, activate it solely while you’re travelling to a number of locations in a day somewhat 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 Worldwide Airport (KIX). You may also need to get reserved seats when travelling throughout peak hours round 8–9AM.
Kyoto station is a serious prepare station with many intersecting traces, which is why it’s at all times so crowded. Therefore, it’ll be higher to e book your seats upfront in case you’re departing from there!
Different passes just like the Osaka Wonderful Cross offers you free entry to over 50 sights reminiscent of the brand new Tsutenkaku Tower Slider (opened Could 2022) and Osaka Citadel. So learn the circumstances rigorously to maximise all of the perks 😉.
3) Test the Prepare 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 after we reached Osaka.
We discovered Japan Journey by Navitime app helpful in looking out up the schedule beforehand.
So lesson learnt, listed below are some various trains you may take from the airport in case you’ve missed yours:
– Nankai Line Airport Specific (35 minutes to Namba Station)
– Restricted Specific Haruka (50 minutes to Shin-Osaka Station)
– Kansai Airport Fast Service (65 minutes to Osaka Station)
4) Pre-book Your Seat Reservation
Some trains just like the restricted categorical prepare to Kyoto are for reserved seating solely.
Should you’re discovered with no 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’ll be able to e book your seats at any JR ticket workplace or through the inexperienced ticketing machines at any JR prepare station.
Listed here are the steps:
– Key in your departing and arriving station
– Key in your departure time
– Choose your most well-liked seats
– The machine will situation your seat reservation tickets
5) Get the Reloadable ICOCA Card
Picture credit score: JR-West
No matter 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 Extensive Space Kansai Cross coated the JR traces however some sights just like the Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium, are solely accessible through the native metro.
As an alternative of getting particular person tickets, having an ICOCA card means you may simply faucet in and have the worth deducted out of your card. It’s mainly a reloadable pay as you go card (identical to our EZ-link) and can be utilized on all subways, trains and even buses.
Plus, you may also use the cardboard to pay for meals or buying at taking part shops with the ICOCA brand!
FAQs about Japan Transport Passes
The place to purchase and gather your transport passes?
You will get your transport passes on the bodily JR ticket counter or from official web sites like Japan Railways. However we received ours from Klook and managed to save lots of at the least ~S$7 on our JR move.
Right here’s a value comparability desk for our JR Extensive Space Kansai Cross:
| Bodily JR ticket counter | Japan Railways web site | Klook |
| ¥11,000 (~S$111) | ¥10,800 (~S$109) | ~S$102 |
As for redemption, it varies based on which move you’re getting however listed below are some typical areas:
– Vacationer data centres
– Station ticket places of work
– Inexperienced ticketing machines at prepare stations (self-collection)
For example, after buying our JR Kansai move on-line, we obtained 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.
Nonetheless, different passes such because the Entire Japan JR move would require a bodily trade order — mailed to you inside seven days after buying. You’ll 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 of self-collect through the inexperienced ticketing machine.
*Observe: Some passes are additionally solely obtainable for redemption at sure prepare stations (reminiscent of 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?
Sure, you may! Each 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.
Whereas SUICA playing cards are extra generally utilized in Tokyo, ICOCA playing cards are used within the Kansai area reminiscent of Osaka and Kyoto. However so long as there’s an IC reader, each playing cards can be utilized interchangeably in all areas.
*Observe: Each playing cards don’t cowl Shinkansen rides although, so that you’ll have to buy a separate ticket.
Concepts in your subsequent journey to Osaka and surrounds:
From spending a day in Common Studios Japan to heading out for day journeys, there’s lots to do in Osaka! Take a look at a few of our guides and itineraries for inspiration:
– 13 Finest Issues to Do in Osaka — New and Should-visit Sights in 2022
– Osaka Finances Information — Journey for Beneath S$70 a Day incl. Lodging
– 7D Japan Itinerary Beneath S$1.3k — Osaka and Different Epic Cities within the Kansai Area
– The Final USJ Information And Ideas To Planning A Magical Expertise — Common Studios Japan
We hope this transport information has been helpful for travelling round Osaka! Remark down beneath when you have different questions 👇
