Information on rail passes, buses, and other means of transportation in Japan
The JR West Kansai Area Pass is a rail pass that allows foreign tourists (on “Temporary Visitor” visa status) unlimited travel on JR trains and local JR buses in designated areas within the Kansai region for one to four consecutive days.
The Kintetsu Rail Pass is a rail pass offering foreign tourists unlimited travel on trains (except limited express trains) by Kintetsu Railways. It covers travel to parts of Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Mie prefectures in the Kansai region, and to Nagoya in the Chubu region.
The JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass is a rail pass that allows foreign tourists unlimited travel in the Kansai region (and a few neighboring prefectures) for five consecutive days. It’s similar to the Kansai Area Pass, but offers a wider coverage area.
Just two hours south of Osaka, getting to Mount Koya is a breeze thanks to Japan’s efficient rail network. The Koyasan World Heritage Ticket – a convenient travel pass that offers savings on transportation, meals, souvenirs, and temple admissions – makes the trip even more seamless and affordable.
More than just a means to get you from point A to point B, the Hakone Loop is an extensive network of trains, funiculars, ropeways, buses, and cruise ships that take visitors on a sightseeing trip around the Hakone area. Designed to make the journey as scenic and enjoyable as possible, it offers stunning views of Hakone’s mountainous landscape, steaming volcanic vents, and, on clear days, the iconic silhouette of Mt Fuji.
There are a few rail passes you can use to explore the Kanto region and nearby areas but one of the most popular is the JR Tokyo Wide Pass. In this deep dive, we’ll talk about what the pass is and where it can take you. Most importantly, we’ll discuss whether the pass is worth the investment based on your personal travel plans.
The Takayama Hokuriku Pass is a rail pass that allows foreign tourists (on temporary visitor status) unlimited travel in the western part of the Chubu region for five consecutive days. It’s designed to promote tourism to the Hokuriku region, a sub-region of Chubu, and its surrounding areas.