JR Kansai Area Pass vs Kansai Thru Pass?

Hi everyone,

I'm planning the following days trips from Osaka.

Day trip 1 - Himeji and Kobe
Day trip 2 - Kyoto
Day trip 3 - Nara

Would appreciate advice as to which pass should i get - JR Kansai Area Pass or Kansai Thru Pass?
2 or 3 days pass? Nara is not very far from Osaka right?

Thank you very much!
Wendy

Depends on each area viewing spots or hotel places.

Kansai thru maybe better.
JR Kansai Area Pass not covered local buses and subways
especially in Kyoto and Osaka city/urban area.

Open both pass official web, google map(.com[not .jp]/get direction works) and more.

Nara is not so far by train also right.
This is access map of KIX.
http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/access/index.html

Hi ATR,

thks for pointing out the coverage on the local subway and buses and the map.

we are just covering a few places in each

Day trip 1 - Himeji (Castle) and Kobe (Roepway, Harborland)
Day trip 2 - Kyoto (Inari Shrine, Nishiki, Gion)
Day trip 3 - Nara (Deer Park)

Nara deer park is best visited on foot. Thus does not need bus.

Kyoto attractions stated are nearby train stations, so use train.

Himeji castle can be visited by bus, but the walk takes only about 15 minutes or less from the station. About the same time as waiting for and traveling on the bus, might as well walk and enjoy some atmosphere.

Kobe Ropeway is by Shin-Kobe Shinkansen station and requires bus to get there. Seaside is by Sannomiya Station (non-Shinkansen) and you have got to use a bus to get from Sannomiya to Shin-Kobe. The walk is pretty short but either way, the walk from Sannomiya is uphill. (City uphill, just a slight incline) So you might want to get a bus.

So all in all, how much do you like walking? I would prefer to walk and train. Forego the bus.

It should be Himeji in the morning. Sannomiya kobe bay area in the afternoon. Take bus to Ropeway. Taxi/bus out. (It would be after hours, if there is a taxi i will grab it)

hi joshua,
tqvm for the transport analysis and walkthrough.
will definitely take these into consideration.
cheers,
wendy