2 Regional Passes for Central Japan


Which area would you like to focus on when exploring Central Japan?  Your focus determines what Pass you should pick, which is a very crucial decision to budget your travel.  For international travelers, there are TWO best Passes available depending on your sight-seeing and feeling-Japan destinations.  Both are valid for 5 consecutive days, but some part of the routes are different.

1) Kintetsu Rail Pass Plus by Kintetsu Railway Company: 5 consecutive days for 4800 yen (adults) and 2400 yen (children)

2) Ise-Kumano-Wakayama Area Tourist Pass by Japan Railway Company: 5 consecutive days for 11000 yen (adults) 5500 yen (children)

Note 1: When both of the Passes are purchased in Japan, the prices (for adults) are 200 yen more and 1000 yen more for the Kintetsu Pass and the JR Tourist Pass, respectively. 
Note 2: the JR Tourist Pass is more expensive, but covers more areas.  If you have enough time to thoroughly explore Central/Kansai (Osaka area) Japan, such as Kumano, where you want to hike in the ancient pilgrimage routes called Kumano Kodo, we strongly recommend this Pass.  With this Pass, you can visit other places which the Kintetsu Pass takes you to, too. 

About These Passes; Kintetsu Rail Pass Plus and JR Tourist Pass

1) Kintetsu Rail Pass Plus:

Kintetsu Nagoya Station
If your time is limited and your focus is on Nara, Nara Prefecture, where you can see the oldest wooden temple called Horyuji Temple and other historical temples and shrines, you should take trains of Kintetesu Line (which covers the Central area and Kyoto/Osaka area).  With this Kintetsu Rail Pass Plus, you can travel from Nagoya to Nara, and Kyoto and Osaka.  Five days are enough for your excursion including travel time.   On the way to Nara, you can first visit Ise Shrine and Unique rocks called Meoto Iwa (English: the Married Couple Rocks) in Ise Shima Region.  You can also visit Iga City, which is very famous for Ninjya.  More importantly, bus ride in Nara is included.  Avoiding complicated rules about the bus ride,  you just show your Pass and visit almost all the famous historical places in Nara.

2) JR Ise-Kumano-Wakayama-Area Tourist Pass: 

JR Lines Sakuradori Entrance, Naoya Station
If you have time available and interest in exploring this sacred region in Kii Hantou (English: Kii Peninsula) by hiking along ancient pilgrimage routes called Kumano Kodo, this JR Ise-Kumano-Wakayama Area Tourist Pass is the best option.  From Nagoya Station, you can go south to reach Shingu Station and take a bus operated by Kumano Kotsu Bus.  This bus ride is covered by this Pass.  A lot of beautiful MUST spots to visit (explained more in another post) in this Ise Kumano Area are also easy access by Kumano Kotsu Bus.  You can, of course, visit Nara and explore Osaka area.  This Pass is really convenient and cost-effective (see the note below), but unfortunately, you have to separately buy a one-day Pass to explore Nara (for 1000 yen).  Like Kintetsu Rail Pass Plus, you can visit Ise Shrine and Unique rocks called Meoto Iwa, and Iga City, which is very famous for Ninjya as well. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: This Pass is valid for Limited Express, Express, Rapid trains as well as local trains; Unlimited rides for all the local trains covered by this Pass, but you should take advantage of up-to-four-time rides on Limited Express and Express trains, such as 'Wide View Nanki", "Kuroshio", "Mie" trains.  These express trains save you a lot of time in traveling one region to another.   Timetable for these trains are shown at "JR Trains" section of this link.

Places to visit with both Kintetsu and JR Passes

Mie Prefecture:


Recommended Places with Kintetsu Rail Pass Plus

Focused Area: Nara Prefecture;


Recommended Places with Ise-Kumano-Wakayama-Area Tourist Pass

Focuse Area: Kumanao and Wakayama;

  • Kawayu Onsen and Katsuura Onsen (Katsuura and Katsuura Hot Springs)

For more detailed information about these MUST places to visit with the Passes, see our next post.  

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