Originally Posted by
AlwaysAisle
Yes, you can access Kyoto using Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass and Sanyo-Sanin Area Pass. However, you cannot ride on Shin Osaka - Kyoto portion of the Shinkansen using those two passes. As you travel from/to Hiroshima/Himeji using those two passes on Shinkasnen, need to transfer at Shin Osaka and Shin Osaka - Kyoto portion will be on a regular commuter train. The fastest regular commuter train service between Shin Osaka and Kyoto is the Special Rapid service train, which runs every 15 min. and travels between Shin Osaka and Kyoto in 24 min.
The reason for this is that Shin Osaka - Hakata portion of Shinkansen is run by JR West, and Shin Osaka - Kyoto - Tokyo portion of Shinkansen is run by JR Tokai. Shin Osaka -Kyoto portion of the Shinkansen is not JR West so can not use Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass and Sanyo-Sanin Area Pass on Shin Osaka - Kyoto portion of the Shinkansen.
Thank you. However, when I go to the JR West website
https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/ to look at timetables and put in Okayama to Kyoto (and click no transfer), it shows direct trains from Okayama to Kyoto (e.g., Nozomi 14,
Nozomi 90, & Nozomi 128, etc.) Are you saying those trains are ineligible with the Sanyo-San'in Area Pass and JR-WEST All Area Pass? So I'd have to book only to Shin-Osaka and then transfer?
Also, if I decide to book this example direct (no pass) am I able to make a reservation/booking online via this website
https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/? Or does one need a pass to reserve? Also - I assume I can book this train at the Station in person, correct? I'm currently in Hakata, so I can book here, right?
Here is what I'm trying to do:
Hakata to Okayama (13,770 Yen)
Okayama to Kyoto --> While in Kyoto (Kyoto to Himeji)
Kyoto to Tokyo
I guess I'm just trying to find out if any pass will help me save money. Upthread it seemed obvious that the Kyoto to Tokyo pass I should book direct. So just trying to ascertain if a pass helps me when doing the 1st 2/3 trains. It looks like it would - but - I'd have to be willing to transfer in Shin-Osaka 2x coming and going. But I do see direct shinkansen trains that don't require transfer... that's why I'm wondering.