What Pass to Buy? (rail pass questions)
Jun 6, 2017, 1:34 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SF Eastbay
Programs: AA Plt-Lite 2MM,HH Gld, MR Plat
Posts: 613
What Pass to Buy? (rail pass questions)
Will be flying into and out of KIX next April. We will be staying at the Marriott by Tennoji station for 7 nights. We picked this hotel since we are using an 7 night MR travel certificate and they allow 3 in a room. Here's our initial itinerary:
Day 1: Arrived KIX 6 PM and limited express to hotel.
2: Tour Osaka
3: Kyoto
4: Kyoto
5: Nara
6: Mt Koya
7: Osaka
8: Fly home out of KIX
Another option we are considering:
7: Train to Hiroshima(Stay overnight)
8: Fly home out of HIJ
Based on our itinerary, here are some questions:
1. What pass or passes to purchase?
2. Local transportation options?
3. Is good website to use for a specific pass?
4. We are flying JAL home. What time to arrive at airport with checkin luggage?
Day 1: Arrived KIX 6 PM and limited express to hotel.
2: Tour Osaka
3: Kyoto
4: Kyoto
5: Nara
6: Mt Koya
7: Osaka
8: Fly home out of KIX
Another option we are considering:
7: Train to Hiroshima(Stay overnight)
8: Fly home out of HIJ
Based on our itinerary, here are some questions:
1. What pass or passes to purchase?
2. Local transportation options?
3. Is good website to use for a specific pass?
4. We are flying JAL home. What time to arrive at airport with checkin luggage?
Last edited by sbc94523; Jun 6, 2017 at 2:51 pm
Jun 6, 2017, 3:45 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SF Eastbay
Programs: AA Plt-Lite 2MM,HH Gld, MR Plat
Posts: 613
What I trying to get handle on is it there a type of pass(ie Kansai wide area) good for going back and forth between Osaka(Tennoji station) and Kyoto/Nara etc.. Or is it better just purchase individual tickets?
Jun 6, 2017, 3:48 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,435
Pass may not save you much.
Considering your first option of flying out of KIX, then there is ICOCA+Haruka discount ticket. Haruka will take you between KIX and Tennouji, which this discount ticket is 2,200 yen.
Then you will be visiting Kyoto for two days, which means two round trips Tennouji-Kyoto which is 3,680 yen.
Then round trip to Nara is 940 round trip.
For Mt. Koya you will take Nankai Line, not JR.
The minimum JR cost total will be 6,820 yen, which will be cheaper than any JR West passes available.
If you take Subway-Keihann Line combo to get to Kyoto, not JR Line, then two round trips to Kyoto will be 2,560 yen, saving of 1,120 yen.
If you decide to fly out of Hiroshima then:
1,110 yen (Haruka discount)
3,680 yen (two days to Kyoto)
940 yen (a day trip to Nara)
10,440 yen (Shinkansen to Hiroshima)
Total of 16,170 yen, where Kansai-Hiroshima Pass is 13,500 yen but valid only for 5 days. Then buying one way ICOCA+Haruka discount 1,110 yen plus Kansai-Hiroshima Pass of 13,500 yen will be 14,610 yen and using the pass will save you about only 1,560 yen. However, with Kanasai-Hiroshima Pass you can only use non-reserved seating.
It is your call, minimal difference if you use a pass or buy tickets individually as you ride.
Considering your first option of flying out of KIX, then there is ICOCA+Haruka discount ticket. Haruka will take you between KIX and Tennouji, which this discount ticket is 2,200 yen.
Then you will be visiting Kyoto for two days, which means two round trips Tennouji-Kyoto which is 3,680 yen.
Then round trip to Nara is 940 round trip.
For Mt. Koya you will take Nankai Line, not JR.
The minimum JR cost total will be 6,820 yen, which will be cheaper than any JR West passes available.
If you take Subway-Keihann Line combo to get to Kyoto, not JR Line, then two round trips to Kyoto will be 2,560 yen, saving of 1,120 yen.
If you decide to fly out of Hiroshima then:
1,110 yen (Haruka discount)
3,680 yen (two days to Kyoto)
940 yen (a day trip to Nara)
10,440 yen (Shinkansen to Hiroshima)
Total of 16,170 yen, where Kansai-Hiroshima Pass is 13,500 yen but valid only for 5 days. Then buying one way ICOCA+Haruka discount 1,110 yen plus Kansai-Hiroshima Pass of 13,500 yen will be 14,610 yen and using the pass will save you about only 1,560 yen. However, with Kanasai-Hiroshima Pass you can only use non-reserved seating.
It is your call, minimal difference if you use a pass or buy tickets individually as you ride.
Jun 6, 2017, 4:10 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SF Eastbay
Programs: AA Plt-Lite 2MM,HH Gld, MR Plat
Posts: 613
Pass may not save you much.
Considering your first option of flying out of KIX, then there is ICOCA+Haruka discount ticket. Haruka will take you between KIX and Tennouji, which this discount ticket is 2,200 yen.
Then you will be visiting Kyoto for two days, which means two round trips Tennouji-Kyoto which is 3,680 yen.
Then round trip to Nara is 940 round trip.
For Mt. Koya you will take Nankai Line, not JR.
The minimum JR cost total will be 6,820 yen, which will be cheaper than any JR West passes available.
If you take Subway-Keihann Line combo to get to Kyoto, not JR Line, then two round trips to Kyoto will be 2,560 yen, saving of 1,120 yen.
If you decide to fly out of Hiroshima then:
1,110 yen (Haruka discount)
3,680 yen (two days to Kyoto)
940 yen (a day trip to Nara)
10,440 yen (Shinkansen to Hiroshima)
Total of 16,170 yen, where Kansai-Hiroshima Pass is 13,500 yen but valid only for 5 days. Then buying one way ICOCA+Haruka discount 1,110 yen plus Kansai-Hiroshima Pass of 13,500 yen will be 14,610 yen and using the pass will save you about only 1,560 yen. However, with Kanasai-Hiroshima Pass you can only use non-reserved seating.
It is your call, minimal difference if you use a pass or buy tickets individually as you ride.
Considering your first option of flying out of KIX, then there is ICOCA+Haruka discount ticket. Haruka will take you between KIX and Tennouji, which this discount ticket is 2,200 yen.
Then you will be visiting Kyoto for two days, which means two round trips Tennouji-Kyoto which is 3,680 yen.
Then round trip to Nara is 940 round trip.
For Mt. Koya you will take Nankai Line, not JR.
The minimum JR cost total will be 6,820 yen, which will be cheaper than any JR West passes available.
If you take Subway-Keihann Line combo to get to Kyoto, not JR Line, then two round trips to Kyoto will be 2,560 yen, saving of 1,120 yen.
If you decide to fly out of Hiroshima then:
1,110 yen (Haruka discount)
3,680 yen (two days to Kyoto)
940 yen (a day trip to Nara)
10,440 yen (Shinkansen to Hiroshima)
Total of 16,170 yen, where Kansai-Hiroshima Pass is 13,500 yen but valid only for 5 days. Then buying one way ICOCA+Haruka discount 1,110 yen plus Kansai-Hiroshima Pass of 13,500 yen will be 14,610 yen and using the pass will save you about only 1,560 yen. However, with Kanasai-Hiroshima Pass you can only use non-reserved seating.
It is your call, minimal difference if you use a pass or buy tickets individually as you ride.
Jun 6, 2017, 7:22 pm
#6
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
There actually IS a JR route to the beginning of the funicular at Koya-san, but it requires changing trains in out-of-the-way places a couple of times.
The private line from Nankai-Namba is an easier option.
Be sure to reserve your temple space in advance, especially if you are going in early April. When I was there, you couldn't choose your temple but the central booking office chose it for you.
Expect a vegan dinner and breakfast, accommodations like a ryokan, and getting up at the crack of dawn to attend the 6:00AM chanting of sutras.
The private line from Nankai-Namba is an easier option.
Be sure to reserve your temple space in advance, especially if you are going in early April. When I was there, you couldn't choose your temple but the central booking office chose it for you.
Expect a vegan dinner and breakfast, accommodations like a ryokan, and getting up at the crack of dawn to attend the 6:00AM chanting of sutras.
Jun 7, 2017, 4:33 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405
Personally I'm not sure if it makes sense to get one of those passes. It would be differently if you traveled longer distances.
Jun 7, 2017, 10:16 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
I would like to clarify one point about Mt. Koya.
If you're not going to stay overnight, don't bother. It's a scenic place, but the walk around the cemetery and to the grave of Kukai is interesting mostly to people who are well-versed in Japanese history and/or Shingon Buddhism.
The night in the temple is a worthwhile experience, though.
If you're not going to stay overnight, don't bother. It's a scenic place, but the walk around the cemetery and to the grave of Kukai is interesting mostly to people who are well-versed in Japanese history and/or Shingon Buddhism.
The night in the temple is a worthwhile experience, though.
Jun 7, 2017, 10:54 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SF Eastbay
Programs: AA Plt-Lite 2MM,HH Gld, MR Plat
Posts: 613
I would like to clarify one point about Mt. Koya.
If you're not going to stay overnight, don't bother. It's a scenic place, but the walk around the cemetery and to the grave of Kukai is interesting mostly to people who are well-versed in Japanese history and/or Shingon Buddhism.
The night in the temple is a worthwhile experience, though.
If you're not going to stay overnight, don't bother. It's a scenic place, but the walk around the cemetery and to the grave of Kukai is interesting mostly to people who are well-versed in Japanese history and/or Shingon Buddhism.
The night in the temple is a worthwhile experience, though.
Jun 7, 2017, 1:21 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
Programs: Former UA Premex, now dirt
Posts: 6,531
If the cost is even close to even money, possession of a Rail Pass of some sort is definitely worth it. The convenience of not having to figure out how to buy tickets for each train, and instead just walking onto the platform and on the train is worth something.
Jun 7, 2017, 2:20 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SF Eastbay
Programs: AA Plt-Lite 2MM,HH Gld, MR Plat
Posts: 613
Since this will be our first time in Japan, convenience is important.
Jun 7, 2017, 3:26 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: LH SEN; BA Gold
Posts: 8,405