Kintetsu Rail Pass
The Kintetsu Rail Pass is a rail pass for exclusive use by foreign tourists. It provides unlimited use of trains (except limited express trains) by Kintetsu Railway, Japan's largest non-JR railway network. Some versions of the pass also cover designated buses around Nara Prefecture and the Shima Peninsula.
 Purchase the Kintetsu Rail Pass |
| 5-Day Pass | ||
| 5-Day Pass Plus | ||
| 2-Day Pass | ||
| 1-Day Pass | ||
| Reduced rates apply to children aged 6-11 (50% off) for the Kintetsu Rail Pass. | ||
The maps below show the coverage areas for each pass type:
Validity
- Unlimited use of local (futsu), rapid (kaisoku) and express (kyuko) trains, as well as cablecars as shown on the maps above.
- The pass is not valid on limited express (tokkyu) trains. Pass holders using limited express trains will have to pay the limited express fee separately.
- Some of the passes are also valid on designated Nara Kotsu buses in the Nara and Asuka areas and on designated Mie Kotsu and Toba City buses around Mie Prefecture.
- The pass provides discounts for selected tourist attractions.
- The passes are valid based on calendar days (midnight to midnight) as opposed to 24-hour periods. The 2-day and 5-day passes are valid on consecutive calendar days.
- Only foreigners who stay in Japan as temporary visitors are eligible to use the passes.
Points of sale
The Kintetsu Rail Pass is available as a digital ticket to be used with a QR code at ticket gates. It can be purchased through various sale channels, such as Klook.
Alternatively the pass can be purchased as a traditional paper ticket at selected major stations around Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya, but note that not all pass versions are available at all sales locations and some pass versions are a little bit more expensive than their digital alternatives if purchased as paper tickets.
| Purchase the Kintetsu Rail Pass |
Assessment
Over the years, the Kintetsu Rail Pass underwent multiple price increases - most recently in December 2024 - which were much greater than the price increases of regular tickets. As a result, the pass has become increasingly more difficult to pay off.
The 5-day passes can still pay off for those making long-distance journeys across the Kintetsu railway network, for example a round trip between Osaka or Kyoto and the Shima Peninsula or Nagoya, but note that pass holders will have to pay additionally the limited express fees when using the fast and comfortable, direct limited express trains along these routes.
The 1-Day Pass costs more than regular tickets for a round trip between Osaka (or Kyoto) and Nara, so it will pay off only if you also use buses around Nara. Likewise, the 2-Day Pass will pay off only if you make two day trips from Osaka (or Kyoto) beyond just Nara, for example to more distant destinations, such as Muroji Temple or Yoshino.
Read our page about passes for the Kansai Region for more information.
Questions? Ask in our forum.
Links and Resources
