Traveling on a Budget in the Kansai region
By carole goldsmith | Monday, Mar 23, 2009
By Carole Goldsmith Copyright 2009 ã All Rights Reserved
Most tourists to Japan, whom I meet when I am traveling Japan, have a two or three week Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) that they use to speed around the country on the Shinkansen, or bullet train as it is widely known. The traditional JR Pass, that enables you to travel across Japan on all JR lines (except on the Nozomi Shinkansen) is really handy and economical if you are travelling from say Osaka to Tokyo and then up north to Hokkaido. A day or so there and you are off again on the Shinkansen, to travel back to Osaka, Kyoto and then down to Kyushu. It is really great value if you are travelling long distances every day, as the JR Pass covers consecutive days of travel.
But do tourists really need to start their JR Pass when they fly into Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka and plan to spend a few days in the Kansai region, including Kyoto?
I usually fly into KIX when traveling to Japan and explore the Kansai region for a few days before scooting off to the West or East of Kansai. The real secret of traveling on a budget in Kansai is to use the Kansai Thru Pass, a special ticket for tourists visiting Japan.
From the Thru Pass website
This Pass excludes JR lines. Check out the map on
http://www.surutto.com/conts/ticket/3dayeng/ ‘from Kyoto to Osaka, Kobe, Mt. Hiei and Himeji. Get on and off the train or bus bound for Wakayama, Nara and Koyasan as you like during the period of validity.http://www.surutto.com/conts/ticket/3dayeng/map.html and find out where and how far you can travel plus on which rail lines and busses you can use the Kansai pass. You can go all the way to Himeji on the Pass which is really handy when you are traveling to Okayama, further West.There are two types of tickets - Adult: 3day ticket - 5000 yen, Children (Ages 7 to 12) 2day ticket - 2,500 yen and 2day ticket 3,800 yen (Adults) 1,900 yen (Children)
You can buy the ticket at Kansai International Airport KAA Travel Desk (1st Floor / 07:00 – 22:00) and many other places in Kansai as listed here.
For budget accommodation in the Kansai region, check out Seek Japan’s excellent budget accommodation website
So if you are going to spend a few days in Osaka, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Mt. Hiei and Himeji and explore Wakayama, Nara and Koyasan, invest in a Kansai thru pass and get moving on your discoveries. With the Pass, you receive a map where you can travel and a little booklet with complimentary discount promotions that you can use at 350 major tourist facilities along the railway lines.
Have fun traveling and keep smiling.
http://www.seekjapan.jp/budget-accommodationhttp://www.surutto.com/conts/ticket/3dayeng/#buyyou can travel
carole goldsmith's Profile
Hello, I am an international journalist and trainer, teaching journalism, cross culture / business culture, customer service and leadership. I live near the beach in Melbourne, Australia and I travel around Japan for around 4 - 6 weeks each year. Also I have been visiting Japan for over 20 years and I write articles about Australian and Japanese business plus other Asian businesses for Australian, New Zealand Jpaanese and other Asian media. I do editing and proofreading of Japanese company's and individual's written English too. I teach adults in Australia how to travel Japan on a budget and also teach them how to do business with Japanese and other cultures, plus worklife balance, recreation activities, how to lose weight and keep fit and healthy. My website is www.goldsmith-international.com and email is goldor8@iprimus.com.au Have fun, take time for you,work hard but do not be a workaholic and let work consume you. Enjoy every day and laugh every day. cheers Carole Goldsmith
Interests: Yoga, pottery, learning Japanese, swimming, ikebana, movies, traveling Japan, walking with my friends along the beach.
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