Japan Guide
Kansai
Getting around
The most convenient way of getting around the Kansai district is by train. The area is crisscrossed by competing JR and private rail lines, while the Tōkaidō Shinkansen provides a high-speed service between Ōsaka, Kyoto, Kōbe and Himeji. If you plan to travel intensively a round the region, you might want to investigate JR-West's Kansai Area Pass. Valid for between one and four consecutive days (¥2000–6000), the pass allows unlimited travel on all local services operated by JR West, apart from the Shinkansen. It also offers discounts on admission to various cultural and tourist sights, including art museums and amusement parks along JR lines. For those travelling on to Fukuoka, the San'yō Area Pass covers JR services from Kansai Airport via Ōsaka, Kōbe and Himeji, including the Shinkansen (four consecutive days ¥20,000, eight consecutive days ¥30,000). Another option is to take advantage of the loose alignment which the region's private railway lines, subway networks and bus companies have made under the "Surutto Kansai" umbrella. The Kansai Thru Pass (two-day ticket, ¥3800; three-day ticket, ¥5000) and the stored-value Rainbow Card, available in ¥1000, ¥2000, ¥3000 and ¥5000 denominations, enable travellers to ride on almost any bus, subway or private railway in the whole of the region. Even if you have a JR Rail Pass these cards are handy, as they save the hassle of buying tickets each time you jump on a bus or ride the subway.