The JR Kansai Wide Area Pass is a new rail pass for exclusive use by foreign tourists, providing four consecutive days of unlimited travel on designated JR train lines (including unreserved seats on selected shinkansen and limited express trains) in the Kansai Region.
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JR Kansai Wide Area Pass
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4 consecutive days
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7,000 yen
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Reduced rates apply to children aged 6-11 (50% off).
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Validity
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1)
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Unlimited use of local and rapid JR trains along the lines shown on the map above.
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2)
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Unlimited use of unreserved seats on the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Okayama. However, the Tokaido Shinkansen between Kyoto and Osaka is not covered.
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3)
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Unlimited use of unreserved seats on the following JR limited express trains:
- Limited Express Haruka between Kyoto and Kansai Airport
- Limited Express Kinosaki between Kyoto and Kinosaki Onsen
- Limited Express Konotori between Shin-Osaka and Kinosaki Onsen
- Limited Express Hamakaze between Osaka and Kinosaki Onsen
- Limited Express Thunderbird between Osaka and Tsuruga
- Limited Express Kuroshio between Kyoto and Shingu
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4)
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Reserved seats and green car (first class) seats cannot be used.
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5)
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The pass is valid on consecutive calendar days (midnight to midnight).
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6)
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Only foreign visitors to Japan (on a temporary visitor visa) can use the JR Kansai Wide Area Pass. It cannot be used by residents of Japan.
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7)
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The pass can only be used by a single person. It cannot be transfered between multiple persons. The pass holder has to carry his/her passport at all times.
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Points of Sale
The JR Kansai Wide Area Pass is sold at major stations in the area covered by the pass including Kansai Airport, Osaka, Shin-Osaka and Kyoto Stations and several more. The pass can also be purchased overseas through travel agents, in which case a voucher will be initially issued that has to be exchanged to the actual pass after arrival in Japan. If purchasing the pass inside of Japan, there is a limit of one purchase per person and stay.
Assessment
The JR Kansai Wide Area Pass can be a good value for travelers who visit the Osaka/Kyoto/Nara/Kobe area in combination with at least one major side trip to a less centrally located destination in the pass' coverage area, such as Kinosaki Onsen, Okayama or the Kumano Region. It will not pay off for urban, short-distance travel around Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe alone.
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