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First time to Japan - Osaka-Kyoto-Nara

Carol75
Carol75
about 6 years ago
4 responses

Hi, its our first time visiting japan and we planned to go Osaka, Nara, Kyoto. Need help on these questions:

1) What is the difference between JR pass and Icoca+Haruka card? We planned to buy Icoca card+Haruka but is it workable for my itinerary as shown below:

Day 1 - Kansai Int'l Airport to Kuromon Ichiba Market

Day 2 - Kuromon Ichiba Market to Umeda, back to Nipponbashi

Day 3 - Kuromon Ichiba Market to Nara, back to Nipponbashi

Day 4 & 5 - Kuromon Ichiba Market to Kyoto, back to Nipponbashi.

Last day - Kuromon Ichiba Market to Kansai Int'l Airport

2) If we buy the Icoca+Haruka card, can we take the train directly from Shin-Osaka station to Kyoto Station and vice versa?

3) As we will be arriving at KIX airport and our accommodation is near Kuromon Ichiba Market, may i know what railway line should we take? Or is there an shorter route to reach Kuromon Ichiba Market from KIX airport? For example, Airport Limousine Bus.

Many thanks for your help in advance.

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
about 6 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

1.) I think this will work, no problem :)

2.) Yes.

3.) You can use the JR to JR-Namba station. It would be 5-10 min walk from there.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Carol75
Carol75
4 posts
about 6 years ago

Hi Daniel-san ,

Thanks for the reply.

Could you please advise us:

1) Can Icoca+haruka be use to travel on any JR railways like Keihan and Midosuji Lines?

2) As the travel route for Haruka line only have 3 stops (we searched online), if we want to travel to other places like shinsaibashi or Umeda, can we still use the icoca card to travel via the JR line?

Many thanks :)

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
about 6 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

1.) Yes! As well as nearly any kind of transport in Japan.

2.) Yes, you can use ICOCA instead :)

Carol75
Carol75
4 posts
about 6 years ago

Thanks, Daniel-san.

1) I'm puzzled with the haruka discounted ticket. Could you please advise is it necessary to buy haruka and Is it only a discounted ticket for express train to/fro KIX airport?
if we do not take haruka express train and take JR to JR Namba (as per your reply), can we still use on JR to JR Namba? And also for the rest of our journey (osaka/Kyoto/Nara), can we still use it? or just use Icoca ic card will do?

2) We thought of taking KIX airport limousine bus to Kuromon fish market, do you think it is wise and worthwhile? Heard the that trains will be very packed (peak hour? as we reached KIX airport ard 6pm+) ,we are all female and carry bulky luggage on train think it will not be easy for us :(

But if we take limousine bus, we will alight at either Namba (OCAT) or Kintetsu Uehommachi (Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka). Then we need to walk (ard 18mins) or take a taxi to our accommodation (near Kuromon fish Market). Could you please give us some advice?

Many thanks.

avatar
Daniel-san
18835 posts
about 6 years ago
Expert

Hi there,

1.) Correct, the Haruka is an fast train between Kansai Airport and Kyoto. You might as well just buy a normal ICOCA card.

2.) I have no experience with the limousine bus, as the rail system is really good and my preference. Kansai Airport is the first station on the route and you should have no issues getting on. My advice, just use the JR or Nankai rail into Osaka.

Hope this helps,
Daniel

Carol75
Carol75
4 posts
about 6 years ago

Hi Daniel-San,

thanks, i will use the JR-Namba.

thank you.


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