Kansai (KIX) to Osaka to Kyoto by Rail

Hi everyone,

Planning to go to Japan in two weeks for the first time!

We will arrive at Kansai Airport and the intial plan is to travel to Osaka for a few hours and then continue on to Kyoto (purchase separate Shinkansen ticket from Shin-Osaka).

- Is the ICOCA Haruka pass the best thing for this? Since Haruka pass does not travel to Shin-Osaka (for shinkansen to Kyoto), I will purchase the one-way Haruka pass to travel to Osaka Station and then use the prepaid cards to use the JR Osaka Loop later in the afternoon to get back to Shin-Osaka Station correct?

Thanks so much! So excited for Japan!

The Haruka does travel through Shin-Osaka! It has to because it then continues onto Kyoto. You can choose to get off the Haruka at Osaka or Kyoto, but if you are using the Haruka ticket in the package you cannot get off at Osaka and then later travel to Kyoto (you must buy a new ticket for Kyoto).

[Osaka trip]

the initial plan is to travel to Osaka for a few hours

When in the day is your flight scheduled?

A few hours sound too short for first-time visitors to tour Osaka City.
Which areas in Osaka City do you have in mind? What would you do there?

In Shin-Osaka, you can make a transfer between a JR non-Shinkansen line and Osaka Municipal Subway Midosuji Line, passing by a Shinkansen gate on the way.
This transfer may need about 10 minutes, not including time on waiting for trains.

[ICOCA & Haruka]

Is the ICOCA Haruka pass the best thing for this?

ICOCA & Haruka does not include a rail pass.
The one-way ICOCA & Haruka package is composed of one ICOCA Card and one ticket.
This ticket is a one-day one-way ticket (to travel by JR-West from Kansai-airport Station), which should be collected when you get outside a gate of a station; it is not a rail pass allowing you to make stopovers outside gates.

You pay
2000 yen on the ICOCA Card (= 500 yen as a deposit + 1500 yen for e-money)
and 1030 yen on the ticket.
This ticket fully covers a ride without seat reservation on a "Haruka" train from Kansai-airport Station.
(When you take a "Haruka" train on reserved seats, additional charges are required.)

The one-way JR fare from Shin-Osaka to Kyoto by JR Kyoto Line (#) is 560 yen per adult.
With an ICOCA Card, you can have this JR ride and also Osaka Municipal Subway rides.

#: JR Kyoto Line is a nickname for the section Osaka -- Shin-Osaka -- Kyoto of Tokaido Main Line.

[Luggage]

It is strongly recommended to pack lightly.
If you carry much luggage from Kansai Airport [KIX], you might hope to use coin lockers (= lockers whose fees are collected in 100-yen coins), but you still had better avoid dragging a heavy suitcase because most coin lockers are not so big.

If you stay in a same hotel in Kyoto for plural nights, one option to lessen your luggage (after your arrival to KIX) is to send some goods by a major delivery service [takuhaibin], with your hotel�fs agreement.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2278.html

[Osaka Station and Shin-Osaka Station]

travel to Osaka Station and then use the prepaid cards to use the JR Osaka Loop later in the afternoon to get back to Shin-Osaka Station

Please distinguish Osaka Station and Shin-Osaka Station of JR.
http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/travel-information/pass/icoca-haruka...
: This route map is roughly indicating locations of major stations, not precisely reflecting actual distances.
: Shin-Osaka Station is not on Osaka Loop Line.
: Osaka Station and Shin-Osaka Station are next to each other on JR Kyoto Line.
: Shin-Osaka Station is closer to Kyoto Station.
: Ltd. Express "Haruka" trains do not make a stop at Osaka Station.
: Most Rapid trains departing from Kansai-airport Station (in KIX) run clockwise on Osaka Loop Line from Tennoji via Osaka to Kyobashi.

Thank you so much for the tips!

In response:

1) We are scheduled to land in Kansai at 545am. The plan for Osaka would be a short one. I believe we plan to only go to Osaka Castle and tour the grounds and gardens. Then continue to Dotonbori to try and stuff as much Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki as we can into our bellies.

2) Thank you for the info about the ICOCA & Haruka. I think we will use the Haruka ticket to travel to Osaka and then use the ICOCA to ride the JR Osaka Loop or subways to venture around for a few hours right?

3) For luggage, we are only planning to bring one medium carryon (with wheels) and a backpack. The carry-on luggage we plan to store in lockers at Shin-Osaka. That way we can just pick them back up before we board the shinkansen for Kyoto in the late afternoon.

Can you help to see if this plan is OK?

- Kansai Airport to Shin-Osaka station via Haruka. We will store our luggage here.

- Use ICOCA to ride JR Kyoto Line onto Osaka Loop so that we can go to Osaka Castle Station and also to go to Dotonbori area to eat and explore.

- Return to Shin-Osaka station and continue to Kyoto via either Shinkansen (faster but more expensive?) or Kyoto Line (a little longer but much cheaper at 590 Yen).


Thanks so much!!