See & Do
How to Visit the Main Attractions in Kyoto in Three Days with Kansai Area Pass
See & Do
How to Visit the Main Attractions in Kyoto in Three Days with Kansai Area Pass
Text / Luo Yi
When planning a trip to Japan, the task can be quite daunting and overwhelming. The first issue most people would face is not about the language but the traffic –- Should I buy a JR Pass? Can I take the subway with the JR Pass? Oh and there are so many one day passes of bus and subway, should I buy a day pass or a rechargeable transport card? Too complicated!
Ok, I decide to visit Kyoto. Here comes the second issue about itinerary: My time is limited, so how should I plan my itinerary wisely? How to avoid the crowds at those popular attractions?
Now, the newly released Kansai Area Pass can solve both of your issues with one stone. With this pass and the recommended itinerary, you can visit the main attractions in Kyoto in just three days.
1. Introduction to Kansai Area Pass
How to purchase :
Available on the official website or through Travel Agencies outside Japan
Validity Period: 1-4 days
Valid Trains:
⋅ Non-reserved seats on Kansai Airport Express HARUKA
⋅ Special Rapid Services, Rapid Services, and local trains on JR-WEST regular lines
⋅ Kyoto City Subway “One-Day Pass”
⋅ Keihan Railway “Kyoto Sightseeing Pass”
・Hankyu Railway ”Hankyu Tourist Pass 1 day” ＊2020.12～
・Hankyu Railway ”Hankyu Tourist Pass 1 day” ＊2020.12～
* Separate Express Tickets are required for
⋅ Reserved seats on Kansai Airport Express HARUKA
⋅ Both reserved and non-reserved seats on Express Trains excluding Kansai Airport Express HARUKA
*Cannot be used for “shinkansen” bullet trains
Prices:
*Adult: 12 or over 12 years old when an exchange order is issued or a rail pass is purchased
*Child: 6-11 years old when an exchange order is issued or a rail pass is purchased
Eligibility
A rail pass user must be holding a passport issued by a foreign government.
A rail pass user must be entering Japan as a “Temporary Visitor.”
* “Temporary Visitor” is a status of residence defined under Japanese immigration law.
☆☆☆ A Fast and Easy Guide to Purchasing and Exchanging a Pass ☆ ☆ ☆
Don’t be scared off! It's actually quite simple. You only need to know:
1. Purchasing a pass before you come to Japan is cheaper than getting it in Japan, so it is recommended that you purchase through a JR Pass agent and exchange your tickets when you come to Japan.
2. The Kansai Area Pass is actually a joint pass of JR, Kyoto City Subway and Keihan Railway, so you need to exchange three tickets at the stations of these three companies.
3. For example:
Step 1: Buy a pass through a JR Pass agent and keep the MCO;
Step 2: Arrive at Kansai Airport and exchange for a pass at Kansai Airport JR Station;
Step 3: Take the Haruka to Kyoto Station, transfer to the subway, and exchange for Kyoto City Subway "One-Day Pass" at the subway station;
Step 4: Exchange for "Kyoto Sightseeing Pass" at Keihan Railway Sanjo Station.
2. 3 Days in Kyoto Itinerary
Day 1
Kansai Airport → Arrive in Kyoto by Haruka (1 hour and 15 minutes) → Use the luggage delivery service at Kyoto Station to send your luggage to your hotel
→Take the subway (7 minutes, get off at Marutamachi Station) and visit Kyoto Gyoen
→Take the subway (6 minutes, get off at Nijojo-mae Station) and visit Nijo-jo Castle
Day2
Depart from your hotel (around 7:00) → Take Keihan Railway (get off at Kiyomizu Gojo Station) and visit Kiyomizu-dera Temple
→Have breakfast
→Take Keihan Railway (30 minutes, get off at Uji Station) and visit the Phoenix Hall at Byodo-in Temple
→Take Keihan Railway (25 minutes, get off at Fushimi Inari Station) to visit Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
→Take Keihan Railway (8 minutes, get off Gion Shijo Station), enjoy Gion at night
Day3
Departure from your hotel (in the morning) → Go to Kyoto Station and deliver your luggage to Kansai Airport. →Take JR (17 minutes, get off at Saga Arashiyama Station) , visit Arashiyama
→Take JR (17 minutes, get off at Kyoto Station)
→Arrive at Kansai Airport by Haruka (1 hour and 15 minutes)
☆☆☆ Why We Plan the Itinerary Like This ☆ ☆ ☆
1. Kiyomizu-dera Temple opens at 6:00 a.m., so you can visit it in the early morning before breakfast to avoid the crowds.
2. Gion is very busy during the day, therefore it’s recommended to visit it at night. You can walk around the dreamy historical neighborhood, Shirakawa, Hanami-koji Alley, Ishibe-koji Alley, Gion Corner, or have a cup of coffee at the world’s first Starbucks with tatami.
3. Using the delivery service to handle your luggage can save you the time going to your hotel, and also avoid the hassle of traveling on public transport with large luggage.
4. Traveling by bus in Kyoto usually takes more time than by subway and railway, and buses to popular attractions are often overcrowded. It is likely that you can’t even get on board. So it’s recommended to use JR, subway and Keihan Railway to save time, as well as to avoid the hassle of finding a bus station or taking a bus to the opposite direction which are frequently encountered problems of foreign tourists.