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Sanyo-San'in Area Pass

Matcha
Matcha
12 days ago
1 answer

Hello,

We plan to buy the Sanyo-San'in Area Pass.
Our travel idea is such after staying a few days in fukuoka first.
Day 1 Fukuoka -> Hiroshima
Day 2 Hiroshima(Miyajima Island) -> Hiroshima
Day 3 Hiroshima -> Okayama
Day 4 Okayama -> Himeji
Day 5 Himeji -> Shin-Kobe(Maybe) -> ?

Then we wish to visit Nara, Uji and Kyoto. Before spending a few days in Osaka to then travel up to Tokyo.
What I'm wondering is how to plan the Nara, Uji and Kyoto to most effecitvely use the pass.

Preferably we would go to Kyoto first but I'm confused by this statement; "The Tokaido Shinkansen between Kyoto and Shin-Osaka is not included, local trains can be used instead."
Can we not take a shinkansen directly from Himeji to Kyoto? Do we need to change train somewhere?
And if so would it be better to for example go to Nara first, then Uji by day to Kyoto to finish it off?

Option 1.
Day 5 Himeji -> Kyoto
Day 6 Kyoto
Day 7 Kyoto ->Uji -> Nara

Option 2.
Day 5 Himeji -> Nara
Day 6 Nara
Day 7 Nara -> Uji -> Kyoto

Truly appreciate any help as I'm confused as to what bulltrains I can actually take with this pass and what would be the most worth/less travel time to take.
Open for any suggestions to reprioritize what to visit the most.

avatar
mariko
535 posts
3 days ago
Expert

Hello,

The Sanyo-San'in Area Pass does not include the Shinkansen line between Shin-Osaka and Kyoto. To travel from Himeji to Kyoto using the Sanyo-San'in Area Pass, you can take the following route (total travel time is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes):

  1. Sanyo Shinkansen (e.g., Nozomi): From Himeji to Shin-Osaka.
  2. JR Local/Rapid Line (Special Rapid Service): Transfer at Shin-Osaka to head to Kyoto.

Option 1 is definitely the better and more efficient route! For train timetables compatible with the Sanyo-San'in Area Pass, I highly recommend using NAVITIME.

I hope this helps with your planning!

Kind Regards,

Mariko


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