JR Kansai Sanin Area Pass

The JR Kansai Sanin Area Pass is a rail pass for exclusive use by foreign tourists, providing seven consecutive days of unlimited travel on designated JR train lines in the Kansai and Sanin regions. It can be a good pass for exploring the area around Matsue, Iwami Ginzan, Hagi and Tottori from Osaka or Kyoto.

Validity

1. Unlimited use of local, rapid and limited express JR trains in the coverage area shown on the map above, including trains along the Chizukyu Express Line between Kamigori and Chizu, a non-JR line that provides the fastest train access to Tottori.
2. Unlimited use of the Sanyo Shinkansen (including Nozomi and Mizuho) between Shin-Osaka and Okayama. However, the Tokaido Shinkansen between Kyoto and Osaka is not covered.
3. Seat reservations can be made at no additional cost at ticket offices. The first six reservations can alternatively be made at ticket machines (or online if you buy your pass via the official website), but subsequent reservations can be made only at ticket offices.
4. Unlimited use of the Kyoto Tango Railway, which provides access to Amanohashidate.
5. Unlimited use of local JR buses around Kyoto.
6. Free use of rental bicycles at designated Ekirin Kun outlets within the covered area.
7. The pass is valid on seven consecutive calendar days (midnight to midnight).
8. Only foreign visitors to Japan (with temporary visitor status) can use the pass. It cannot be used by residents of Japan.
9. The pass can be used only by a single person. It cannot be transferred between multiple persons. The pass holder has to carry his/her passport at all times.

Points of sale

The JR Kansai Sanin Area Pass can be purchased online through various websites and at selected travel agents outside of Japan.

Note that the pass is also sold at the official JR West website. An advantage of purchasing the pass through the official website is that you can make seat reservations online, while others can make seat reservations only at ticket machines and ticket offices.

If purchasing the pass through the official website, a start date within a 1-month period needs to be specified at the time of purchase. If purchasing through other channels, you will receive a voucher, which needs to be exchanged to the actual pass in Japan within a 3-month period. At the time of the exchange, you then select the start date for the pass, which can be any date within a 1-month period.

Assessment

The JR Kansai Sanin Area Pass can be a good value for those exploring the Sanin Region by train, including destinations such as Tottori, Matsue, Izumo or Hagi from Osaka or Kyoto. For example, it already pays off for a round trip between Osaka and Matsue.