JR Pass validity

Hi Prathiba,

It may sounds strange at first but I would recommend buying normal tickets for your travel. Travel within Kansai is not expensive at all, Kansai is the area where Nara, Osaka and Kyoto are located. A JR Pass would be better used if you use the bullet train to travel in Japan.

My advise would be to buy a Haruka + ICOCA card instead:
https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/travel-information/pass/icoca-haruka/

This ticket gives you a discount of the Haruka Express to Osaka and you can use to ICOCA card for all your other travel.

Hope this helps!
Daniel

HI Daniel,
Thanks a lot for the suggestion. I looked into this Haruka+ICOCA card and looks most suitable for our stay of six days. Thankful if you can clarify a couple of doubts:
-So I need to buy the return ticket for Yen 4060 which is valid for 14 days for return journey -The Haruka ticket is for use on Haruka express+Kansai Airport Rapid Service ONLY to reach my hotel and back to airport after six days.
-My hotel is in Sakai and presume the Haruka express or Kansai Airport Rapid Service stops there and this ticket is valid for both to Sakai and return journey after six days. -Then I will have the ICOCA card which i can use for extensive travel in Osaka city/Namba/Tennojii/Shin osaka/ Sakai and any other places of interest in Osaka/outskirts by subway/bus
-The same ICOCA card can be used for my day trips to Kyoto/Nara/Kobe also ? -Presume i need to check the balance in my ICOCA ticket and keep recharging it depending on my plans. -Will this still be cheaper than a seven day JR pass as i will not be using any long distance tranins other than going to Kobe/kyoto/Nara? Is my above understanding correct.
Too many question, pardon me
Regards
Prathiba

Hi Prathiba,

Yes the ICOCA card is a very nice option and will cover all your transport within Kansai. The JR Pass would be a great option if you visited cities a little further away, such as Tokyo. However for the above itinerary the ICOCA + Haruka ticket would be perfect.

Thanks a lot Daniel.
Will go for ICOCA+Hakura ticket.
Not sure if the Hakura express or Kansai Airport Rapid Service stops at Sakai station No. NK 11( like the Nankai express). This apart, certainly the ICOCA card is perfect.
Thanks for the help again.
Prathiba

Hello,
Just one last question. Can i use ICOCA card to travel from osaka to kyoto/kobe/nara and back also or
it is just for internal transport in sub ways/busess of these cities.
Regards
Prathiba

Hi there,

The ICOCA card can be used for travel between all those places, in addition to all other kinds of transport.

Hi Daniel,
Thanks a lot again. Your info is very clear. Will manage with Nankai train or bus for airport/hotel/airport as hotel is in Sakai station. For all other travel will take ICOCA card.
Regards
Prathiba