ICOCA, JR WEST PASS, OSAKA AMAZING PASS, and KANSAI THRU PASS? WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? Which is the best for you? In this post, we break down all these options to help you figure out which is the one that you need for your travel!

If I tally all the inquiries we get about traveling around Japan’s Kansai Region, I’m positive that one question will be getting the highest score: What should I get: Kansai Thru Pass, JR Pass, Osaka Amazing Pass, or ICOCA card?

I hate answering questions with “It depends,” but in this case, the answer really is, well, it depends. Seriously, it depends on your itinerary.

The great thing about taking the public transportation in Japan is that you have A LOT of options to make your journey comfortable. The bad thing about it: there are A LOT of options that it’s easy to get lost and confused. Ever heard of choice overload? Well, let us break it down for you so you’ll be confused no more.

Again, it depends on your itinerary. The key is to understand where you can use these options, and what each can do and cannot do for you. But before that, let’s define some terms so we know we’re on the same page.

• Osaka. This may refer to Osaka City or Osaka Prefecture. A prefecture is an administrative division. Think of it as a “province.”
• Kansai. The name of the region. A region is a cluster of prefectures. Kansai Region is composed of seven prefectures: Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Wakayama, Mie, Shiga, and Hyogo (where Kobe is located).
• JR West. JR stands for Japan Railways, which is composed of seven companies that operate many train systems all around Japan. One of them is JR West, which controls the JR lines in Kansai region and Chugoku region (Hiroshima and friends).
• Non-JR Trains. Not all train lines in Kansai are operated by the JR Group. Some are operated by Hankyu Railway/Hanshin Railway, Keihan Railway, Kintetsu, and Nankai Railway.
• Metro. Osaka’s subways are not JR-operated either. They are connected to the JR lines as part of a greater railway system, but they’re owned and managed by a separate company.
• Pass. For the purpose of this article, let’s define “pass” as a ticket that would give you unlimited use of certain transportation lines within a specific period of time and specific area. The keyword there is UNLIMITED. Some passes can also be used to score discounts for some attractions.
• IC Card. These are stored-value, rechargeable cards that you can use to conveniently pass through the gates. ICOCA, PASMO and SUICA are all IC cards. They’re NOT unlimited. You’re still charged every time you use it, but you just bypass falling in line or purchasing tickets each time. It’s similar to Hong Kong’s Octopus card, Singapore’s EZ Card, and to some extent Manila’s Beep card. Some IC cards are also accepted at convenience stores and designated establishments.

I’ll provide a detailed description of each option, but before that, here’s a brief summary so you easily see the difference:

You can use a combination of these cards and passes. For example, you can use Osaka Amazing Pass + JR West Kansai Rail Pass. You can also use JR West Kansai Rail Pass (for JR lines) + ICOCA (for non-JR lines).

OSAKA AMAZING PASS

Best for: Traveling around Osaka City

I strongly recommend this!

The ultimate all-inclusive Osaka sightseeing pass, available in 1-day and 2-day versions! The 2-day variant must be used consecutively. It gives the holder unlimited use of the subway, tramway, and bus systems in Osaka. It also gives FREE access to certain attractions including the following:

• Osaka Castle Main Tower
• Umeda Building’s Floating Garden Observatory
• HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel
• Natural Hot Spring Naniwa no Yu
• Tombori River Cruise
• Dotombori Tour

You can reserve one online. Note that there are different types, depending on where you wish to pick it up. Make sure you book the one that is more convenient for you.

✅ If you want to pick up the pass at Kansai Airport, RESERVE HERE.

✅ If you want to pick it up at Kuromon Market in Namba, RESERVE HERE.

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JR WEST KANSAI RAIL PASS

Best for you if: You will be visiting multiple destinations in Kansai Region on consecutive days.

This pass offers unlimited rail and bus rides to and in many cities in Kansai Region including Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara. You can also use this to travel from Kansai Airport to Osaka or Kyoto and back. Available in 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-day validity variants.

Note that this pass is only accepted on JR Trains. This won’t work on Nankai lines or subway lines.

Do you need this pass?

• If you plan on staying within Osaka and not visiting other cities, this is not for you. Get the Amazing Osaka Pass instead.
• If you plan to visit Kyoto, Nara, Kobe or other cities in Kansai, this could be great for you.

The JR West Kansai Rail Pass can be used for the following:

• Non-reserved seats on Kansai Airport Express HARUKA
• Local trains, rapid service trains, and special rapid service trains on JR-WEST regular lines

This CANNOT be used for the following:

• Reserved seats on Kansai Airport Express HARUKA
• Reserved and Non-reserved seats on EXPRESS Trains excluding Kansai-airport Express HARUKA
• Shinkansen (Bullet Trains)

IMPORTANT! Best to purchase this pass ONLINE. This pass is meant for foreign nationals traveling as a temporary visitor (tourist) in Japan. You can book below:

✅ 1-Day Pass. RESERVE HERE!

✅ 2-Day Pass. RESERVE HERE!

✅ 3-Day Pass. RESERVE HERE!

✅ 4-Day Pass. RESERVE HERE!

How does it work? How do you use it? Oh, easy, easy.

1. Book a ticket online.
2. When the transaction is complete, you will be emailed a mobile voucher. You can print it out or save it on your phone.
3. On the day of your trip, upon arrival at Kansai Airport, head to the designated redemption counter. Show your mobile voucher to the staff. You will be given a physical voucher.
4. You don’t have to use it immediately. The count will begin on the day you first use it. For example, if you purchase a 2-day pass and you claim it on Monday, it doesn’t mean that you have to use it on Monday and Tuesday. You may choose to use it any day before expiration. If you use it for the first time on Thursday, you can use it on that day and Friday.
5. When you use it for the first time, approach the staff at the counter at any of the station and he will stamp the final date you may use the pass.
6. For succeeding uses, simply show the stamp on the pass at the staff at every JR station.

You can use it together with Osaka Amazing Pass too! On my last trip, I used an Osaka Amazing Pass when roaming within the city and then used my JR Kansai Pass on days when I traveled to Kyoto and Kobe.

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KANSAI THRU PASS

Best for you if: You will be exploring multiple destinations in Kansai Region but your inter-city travels are scheduled on non-consecutive days.

Offers unlimited rail and bus rides in many cities in Kansai Region including Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara. You can also use this to travel from Kansai Airport to Osaka or Kyoto. JR Lines are not covered, though.

Available in 2- and 3-day validity variants. Unlike the JR West Kansai Pass, the Kansai Thru Pass doesn’t require consecutive days, making it much more flexible.

So which is better: Kansai Thru Pass or JR West Kansai Pass? Only you can answer that because it depends on your itinerary. If most of your stops are along JR lines, then the latter makes more sense. But if your destinations are far apart and closer to non-JR lines, then get the Kansai Thru Pass. Also consider your schedule. Kansai Thru Pass’s “non-consecutive” feature will allow you to maximize it better.

✅ RESERVE KANSAI THRU PASS HERE

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HANSHIN TOURIST PASS

Best for you if: You’re exploring Kobe.

The Hanshin Tourist Pass will give you unlimited access to the Hanshin Main Line, which connects Osaka and Kobe, and all other Hanshin and Kobe Kosoku lines. The card is valid for one day. It is operated by Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., commonly referred to as simply Hanshin.

The pass normally costs ¥700. But is an ongoing promo and you can avail of it for only ¥500. Imagine: unlimited access for only ¥500!

You can also book in advance online!

✅ GET THIS PASS HERE!

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HANKYU TOURIST PASS

Best for you if: Your hotel is in Osaka and you want to explore Kyoto (including Arashiyama) and Kobe.

This pass will allow you to freely board trains on any Hankyu Railway line, which connects Osaka to Kyoto and Kobe among others. This does not apply to Kobe Kosoku Line.

Part of the Hankyu network is Kyoto, which means you can easily travel to and around Kyoto using this pass. What sets this apart from other private railway passes is that it can take you to Arashiyama because Hankyu has a station there. It can also take you to Gion District and, if you don’t mind walking, Kiyomizu-dera Temple.

If you’re planning on doing a day tour of Kyoto from Osaka and Arashiyama is part of your itinerary, we recommend this pass.

The pass comes in two variants: 1-Day, which normally costs ¥800, and 2-Day, which costs ¥1400. But currently, there is a promo that cuts the price of the 1-Day or 2-Day Pass for only ¥700 and ¥1200 respectively.

That’s a big deal! Typically, a roundtrip ticket to Kyoto alone costs ¥800. The Hankyu Tourist Pass covers that already, which means the cost of all the other rides you make become part of your savings!

But you can also purchase online!

✅ GET YOUR HANKYU TOURIST PASS HERE!

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KYOTO-OSAKA SIGHTSEEING PASS (KEIHAN)

Best for you if: Your hotel is in Osaka and you want to explore Kyoto including Fushimi Inari Shrine but not Arashiyama.

This pass is offered by Keihan Railways, which links Osaka to Kyoto. This will enable you unlimited use of the Keihan Line (which also connects Osaka and Kyoto and other tourist sites within the city) and Otokyoyama Cable Line.

Like the Hankyu Line, it can also take you to Gion District and Kiyomizu-dera. But what makes it different from Hankyu Tourist Pass? Well, it can’t take you to Arashiyama because Keihan doesn’t have presence there. But it can take you to Fushimi-Inari Shrine and other Kyoto attractions.

There are also special discounts at some attractions.

Here are the costs: 1-day, ¥800; 2-day, ¥1200.

✅ RESERVE THIS PASS!

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KINTETSU RAIL PASS

Best for you if: You want to visit Osaka, Kyoto and Nara (1-Day/2-Day Pass) or you want to also visit Mie Prefecture or Nagoya (5-Day Pass).

The Kintetsu Rail Pass is a ticket that will give you unlimited access to the Kintetsu railway network, which spans much of the Kansai Region and reaches even as far as Nagoya. There are four types:

• KINTETSU RAIL PASS (regular), which is valid for 5 days for Kintetsu train lines. Cost: ¥3600.
• KINTETSU RAIL PASS plus (emphasis on the plus), which is valid for 5 days for Kintetsu trains as well as buses in Nara and Mie areas. Cost: ¥4800.
• KINTETSU RAIL PASS 1-Day, valid for Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto only. Cost: ¥1500.
• KINTETSU RAIL PASS 2-Day, valid for Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto only. Cost: ¥2500.

The KINTETSU RAIL PASS also gives you special deals and discounts at various attractions and stores in Kansai and Nagoya including BIC Camera stores and Nabana no Sato. For the complete list of participating establishments, visit this page.

As you might have noticed, you can only use the 1-Day and 2-Day passes when traveling in Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto. Hence, since we’re going to Mie, we’re using the KINTETSU RAIL PASS plus so Kintetsu train lines and some bus routes are covered.

Because the KINTETSU RAIL PASS is valid for five days, the itinerary below is best added to your Nagoya or Nara itinerary. This way, you can really maximize the pass.

Note that while the Kintetsu Rail Pass is accepted at Limited Express trains, it only covers the basic fare. An additional fee for the Limited Express ticket (which guarantees a reserved seat) is required.

✅ RESERVE THIS PASS!

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ICOCA Card

The ICOCA Card isn’t a pass. It’s a prepaid IC card. It’s sort of Kansai’s version of Tokyo’s SUICA or PASMO Card.

When you use an ICOCA card, you still pay for every trip. (Again, it’s NOT a pass.) You can also use it to snag some discounts, but the real convenience is that you don’t need to get a ticket each time you’re using the train. You just need to quickly hover the card over the reader and you’re through. It functions like an MRT stored-value ticket (because that’s exactly what it is, a stored-value ticket).

You can also use it not just on trains but also on buses, lockers, vending machines, and even convenience stores. Yep, lockers. The ICOCA card works on lockers at train stations!

Although ICOCA is a product of JR West and is the primary IC card for Kansai and Chugoku region, you can use it in other places in Japan that has an IC card reader: in Tokyo, Nagoya, Fukuoka, or even as far as Sapporo. However, you can’t use it to travel between regions. The entry station and exit station both have to be within the same region. Yes, you can use it WITHIN Osaka. Yes, you can use it to travel from Osaka to Kyoto or Nara. BUT you CAN’T use it to travel from Osaka to Tokyo or Osaka to Nagoya, because Osaka, Tokyo, and Nagoya are not in the same region.

To get one, you just need to approach one of the ICOCA machines at the station. There’s no use for me to enumerate the steps here because it’s so easy. Just choose ENGLISH on the welcome screen and follow the instructions.

But if you want a discount, you can find one online. Usually, the ICOCA card is already preloaded with ¥1500 + the deposit of ¥500. You can get the deposit when you return the card.

✅ RESERVE A CARD NOW

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JR PASS (NATIONWIDE)

Best for you if: You will be visiting multiple destinations in Japan including cities outside Kansai Region (example: Fukuoka > Osaka > Tokyo).

If you’re visiting Osaka, Nara and Kyoto ONLY, you don’t need a JR Pass. It’s only for those who will make multiple long-distance journeys. If you’re staying within the Kansai Region, get a JR KANSAI RAIL PASS INSTEAD.

When is it wise to purchase a JR Pass? If you’re visiting multiple cities in Japan and you’re staying for at least 7 days. If your itinerary is more like that, purchase a pass before your trip. If you live in the Philippines, it’s possible to have the pass delivered to you in 7 days.

✅ CHECK JR PASS RATES HERE

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Which is the best pass?

In summary, supposing you’ll be taking lots of train rides, here’s what you should consider.

• If you’re sightseeing in Osaka for a day or 2, get the OSAKA AMAZING PASS.
• If you’re staying in Osaka or Kyoto and visiting other Kansai cities over NON-CONSECUTIVE days, get a KANSAI THRU PASS.
• If you’re staying in Osaka or Kyoto and visiting other Kansai cities over CONSECUTIVE days, get a JR WEST KANSAI RAIL PASS.
• If you’re sightseeing in Osaka for 1 or 2 days and you’re also visiting Kobe, get an OSAKA AMAZING PASS + HANSHIN TOURIST PASS.
• If you’re sightseeing in Osaka for 1 or 2 days and you’re also visiting Kobe and Kyoto, get an OSAKA AMAZING PASS + 2-DAY HANKYU TOURIST PASS.
• If you’re sightseeing in Osaka for 1 or 2 days and you’re also visiting Kyoto attractions including Arashiyama, get an OSAKA AMAZING PASS + HANKYU TOURIST PASS.
• If you’re sightseeing in Osaka for 1 or 2 days and you’re also visiting Kyoto attractions including Fushimi-inari Shrine, get an OSAKA AMAZING PASS + KYOTO-OSAKA SIGHTSEEING PASS.
• If you’re sightseeing in Osaka for 1 or 2 days and you’re also visiting Kyoto
  and Nara, get an OSAKA AMAZING PASS + 2-DAY KINTETSU RAIL PASS. If Arashiyama is non-negotiable for you, get OSAKA AMAZING PASS + 1-DAY KINTETSU RAIL PASS (Nara) + 1-DAY HANKYU TOURIST PASS (Kyoto)
• If you’re sightseeing in Osaka for 1 or 2 days and you’re also visiting Kyoto, Nara, and Mie or Nagoya, get an OSAKA AMAZING PASS + 5-DAY KINTETSU RAIL PASS.
• If you’re sightseeing in Osaka for 1 or 2 days and you’re also visiting multiple other Kansai cities on other days, get an OSAKA AMAZING PASS + either KANSAI THRU PASS or JR WEST KANSAI RAIL PASS.
• If you’re visiting Kansai as part of a bigger Japan trip with stops outside Kansai Region, get a JR NATIONWIDE PASS.
• If none of the above apply to you, just get an ICOCA Card or none at all.

Note that the ICOCA Card is flexible and can complement the other passes, so I always have it even if I have Osaka Amazing Pass or another pass.

If you don’t have an itinerary yet, check out our sample itineraries! We also indicate the passes that you should get per itinerary.

✅ Sample Osaka-Kyoto Itineraries for 1-6 Days

✅ Sample Osaka-Kyoto Itineraries with Nara or Kobe Day Tours for 4-6 Days

That’s it! Hope this helps.

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2. I’m going to A, B and C. What is the best pass for me?

Ultimately, it depends on the specific attractions that you will visit. One way to figure this out is by using Hyperdia. Just enter your stops one by one and take note of the fare.

Once you have all the fares, add them all up. If the total cost is higher than the price of the pass, then the pass is probably worth it.

Be mindful of the JR and private railway distinction and tweak your search using Advanced Settings.

To know more about Hyperdia, READ: HOW TO USE HYPERDIA!

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3. I’m going to multiple cities. Is the JR Pass worth it?

You can use this Japan Rail Pass Calculator here.

Just enter your stops and it will tell you if the JR Pass is worth it.

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