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The Kansai Thru Pass is a rail pass, which provides unlimited use of trains, subways and buses in the Kansai Region (around Osaka and Kyoto), with the prominent exception of JR trains. It can be used only by foreign visitors to Japan.

Purchase the Kansai Thru Pass

Kansai Thru Pass
 
If purchased outside Japan or online
If purchased inside Japan
2 Days
4,380 yen
4,480 yen
3 Days
5,400 yen
5,600 yen
Reduced rates (50% off) apply for children aged 6-11.

Below is a map of the major railway lines (some minor ones are omitted) that can be used with the Kansai Thru Pass:

Validity

  1. Unlimited use of non-JR trains in the Kansai Region, including
    • Subways of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe
    • Hankyu Railway (Kobe - Osaka - Kyoto)
    • Hanshin Railway (Kobe - Osaka)
    • Keihan Railway (Osaka - Kyoto)
    • Kintetsu Railway (Osaka - Kyoto - Nara)
    • Nankai Railway (Osaka - Kansai Airport - Koyasan)
    • Sanyo Railway (Kobe - Himeji)
    • Keifuku Railway (Kyoto)
    • Nose Railway (North of Osaka)
    • Kobe Railway (North of Kobe)
    • Osaka Monorail (Northern Osaka, Itami Airport)
    • Kobe Kosoku Railway (Kobe)
    • Port and Rokko Liner (Kobe)
    • Various cablecars (Hieizan, Koyasan)
    • A few more minor railway lines
  2. The Kansai Thru Pass is not valid on trains operated by JR (Japan Railways).
  3. A supplement fee has to be paid on limited express trains of Nankai Railway and Kintetsu Railway, but not on limited express trains of the other railway companies. A supplement fee has to be paid on Premium Cars of Keihan Railway.
  4. Unlimited use of many buses in the Kansai Region, including, among others, the city buses of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe, and the Nankai, Hankyu, Kintetsu, Wakayama and Keihan buses.
  5. Discounted admission to selected tourist attractions in the Kansai Region.
  6. The pass can be used on any two or three calendar days within the period of validity (between April 1 and May 31 of the following year). They do not have to be consecutive days.
  7. The Kansai Thru Pass can only be used by:
    • Foreign tourists (with temporary visitor status)
    • Japanese nationals with permanent residence outside of Japan
    • Residents of Japan who are traveling together with Kansai Thru Pass holders as guides

Points of sale

The Kansai Thru Pass can be purchased inside the Kansai Region and through selected travel agencies outside of Japan. Points of sale inside the Kansai Region include the tourist information centers and the Nankai ticket office at Kansai Airport, tourist information centers at Namba Station, Osaka Station and Hankyu Umeda Station, and the bus information center in front of Kyoto Station. Alternatively, the pass can be purchased online at travel reservation websites such as Klook and Rakuten.

Purchase the Kansai Thru Pass

Assessment

The Kansai Thru Pass is one of the better rail passes available in Japan. One of its advantages is that it does not only cover the train and bus lines between cities, but also most city buses and subways inside the cities.

Alternative tickets

The JR Kansai Area Pass is also available only to foreign tourists. Its advantage over the Kansai Thru Pass is that JR trains to Himeji are considerably faster than non-JR trains. Otherwise, the Kansai Thru Pass should be considered the better value, because it covers a denser network in the region's most visited cities than the JR Kansai Area Pass.

Read also our page about passes for the Kansai Region for more information.