Questions regarding KIX

Hi guys,

My arrival date/time in KIX is Sept 20 7:55 PM.

1. From within the airport (without going out), can I activate JR Pass?
2. From within the airport (without going out), can I check the availability of nobi-nobi seats (covered by JR Pass) of Sunrise Seto overnight train going to Tokyo?
3. Are there any �gMidori no Madoguchi (‚Ý‚Ç‚è‚Ì‘‹Œû)�h inside KIX?
4. Does anybody know the cheapest lounge rate inside KIX? Which lounge type is the cheapest? We're planning to stay for 6-8 hours..

Your ideas/comments will be very much appreciated.

The airport is the airport and the train station is the train station. There are no Japan Rail Booths before immigration or before collection of luggage. That is just not possible.

What is possible is to walk out of immigration, take the escalator to the second floor, walk straight for about three minutes to reach the train station ticket counter. However, you would have to 'get out' of the airport.

There is just no way to get a JR Pass without going through immigration. (You need to be on a Japan Visitor's Pass anyway so immigration is necessary)

Thanks Joshua, I understand.

So from the 3min-away train station ticket counter next the airport, can I check the availability of nobi-nobi seats (covered by JR Pass) of Sunrise Seto overnight train going to Tokyo?

"There is just no way to get a JR Pass without going through immigration. (You need to be on a Japan Visitor's Pass anyway so immigration is necessary)"

This is pretty obvious and the OP is fully aware of this..

Addison,

You want to know if you can activate your JR Pass at the airport after clearing customs, etc.

https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/common-questions/using-japan-rail-pass...

Finally, here is another link regarding the nobi nobi seats and the night train:

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2356.html

Hope this helps :)

Does anybody know the cheapest lounge rate inside KIX? Which lounge type is the cheapest? We're planning to stay for 6-8 hours..

http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/service/relax/pdf/airportlounge_multi....

@Shinji: From page 1 of the pdf brochure, I couldn't make out the actual price per person if ever we want "Group Room." There's a column that says "Booth Seats/Group room"...and it says 3090jpy for 6 hrs. What does it mean? Is it 3090jpy for single booth seat? 3090jpy for 1 Group Room? Or 3090jpy per person for Group Room?

@Ohara: Thanks for the links. That is exactly what I needed. Although, my concern is that given our arrival time in KIX is 8PM, I'm wondering if there is a way for us to check immediately whether or not there are still nobi-nobi slots in sunrise seto train BEFORE turning in the JR Pass Exchange Order.

If there are still slots in sunrise seto train, then we will set the starting date of our JR Pass on that same day. If there are no more slots, then we'll set the starting date to the next day.

I hope you can point me to the right direction. So, will there be a way to check from the train station ticket counter?

Yes. You queue at the counter. At your turn you can exchange your jr pass and /or ask questions about reservations. You can make resevarions, payment, and purchase any other pass you might want.

Note however, that if immigration happens to be a trampede then you might not be able to leave the airport before the ticket counter closes. When I arrive at the 6-8am or at about 2 pm, I do not have to worry as I can get from plane to station (no check in) in less than half an hour. Not sure how the airport is at 8 pm though.

do you have Plan B, when your targeted train is full ?
sanrise seto on sep. 20 is full.

It is possible to know about your desired Nobi Nobi seats if your traind is bound for Tokyo (but not from Tokyo) before your arrival to Japan. Here you can see how:

http://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and...

@Ken: OP said he will stay in the airport lounge and take the shinkansen the next morning.

@JOSHUA hugh: Thanks for the info.

@ken, @Pablo: Those tips are really solid. Thank you so much. I looked at JR Cyber Station website and all marks (travelling from Osaka station to Tokyo station) are in "X" which means they are fully booked correct? :(

Just to make sure, here is a screenshot of my search. I just want to verify with you guys that nobi-nobi seats are indeed booked out:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B105nZHdcJJBbldIT2htUmlUNjg

http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/service/relax/pdf/airportlounge_multi....

From this brochure, there's a column that says "Booth Seats/Group room"...and it says 3090jpy for 6 hrs. What does it mean? Is it 3090jpy for single booth seat? 3090jpy for 1 Group Room? Or 3090jpy per person for Group Room?

a single booth for one person = 3090 yen for 6 hrs.
a living room is two persons (minimal) to 4 persons (maximal).
you may not use the room or may use with double prices (two persons), depending on their policy.

another place : refreshsquare
http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/service/relax/refreshsquare/pdf/refres...
you can't use a group room by a single person. (maybe not, if you pay double.)
the price seems to be cheaper.
non-alcoholic beverages are free. self-service.

Yew, I'm afraid that an X on your desired train/seat means fully booked.