The JR West Rail Pass - Kansai Area is a rail pass for exclusive use by foreign visitors to Japan, providing unlimited travel on local JR trains and the Haruka limited express train in the Kansai region around Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe for one to four days.
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JR West Rail Pass Kansai Area
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1 day
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2,000 Yen
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2 consecutive days
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4,000 Yen
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3 consecutive days
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5,000 Yen
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4 consecutive days
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6,000 Yen
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Reduced rates (50% off) apply to children aged 6-11.
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Below is a map of JR train lines, which can be used with the JR West Rail Pass Kansai Area:
Validity
Points of Sale
The JR West Rail Pass can be purchased through travel agencies outside of Japan and at major JR railway stations and travel agencies in the Kansai region.
When purchasing the pass outside of Japan, you will receive an exchange order which has to be exchanged into an actual rail pass after your arrival in Japan and within three months of the purchase.
When purchasing the pass inside Japan, you are limited to the purchase of one pass, and have to show your passport and your return air ticket.
Assessment
This pass is a good deal if you intend to use the Haruka limited express train for the journey between Kansai Airport and Kyoto, since the price for a regular one way ticket is already 2980 Yen, compared to 2000 Yen for a one day pass.
Apart from the above journey, it is difficult to cover a distance worth 2000 Yen by local trains within the designated area in one day. One of the few other itineraries, which justify the purchase of the JR West Kansai Area Pass, would be a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka to Himeji.
Alternative Tickets
The Surutto Kansai 2 Day and 3 Day Tickets cost about the same as the JR West Kansai Area Pass, but cover a wider and denser network, including the subways and city buses of Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe, but excluding JR trains. Unlike the JR West Kansai Area Pass, the Surutto Kansai Tickets can also be used by residents of Japan.
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