🌸 Kansai Travel Guide, Japan | Ultimate Itinerary

When it comes to traveling in Japan, the most daunting task is navigating the complex transportation system ⬇️ 💳 Choice of Transportation Cards and JRPASS Ever since the #jrpass increased in price last year, it's hard to get your money's worth on 90% of tourist routes. Therefore, I recommend getting an #icoca card and using it for direct payments. Travel Tip 1⃣️: ICOCA can be linked to your iPhone wallet as an e-card, or you can get it at the Kansai Airport JR Ticket Office. Both counters and machines offer the service, but they "only accept cash"! Travel Tip 2⃣️: I recommend the #minipass, for 3000 yen you can ride freely around Osaka for 3 days, which is cost-effective for round trips to Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, and other places. Travel Tip 3⃣️: The complexity of Japanese transportation lies in the multitude of lines + differences between national and private railways, as well as the distinction between ordinary and reserved seats. My first trip there left me utterly confused. 🛬 Departing from Kansai Airport 📍 To Osaka: You can take the JR, Nankai Train, or an airport bus. Choose based on your specific drop-off location. The last Nankai train departs at 23:55. 📍 To Kyoto: Take the HARUKA, with the last departure at 22:16. 📍 To Kobe: Take the high-speed boat, with the last departure at midnight. 📍 To Wakayama: Take the JR. Travel Tip 4⃣️: You can leave Kansai Airport via public transportation before midnight. After midnight, it's recommended to stay in a nearby hotel or a capsule hotel at the airport. Never take a taxi, as the cost can be so high it makes you question reality. 🗺️ Transportation around Osaka 🚃 【Osaka → Kyoto】 ✅ JR Rapid: From Shin-Osaka Station/Shinjuku Station to Kyoto Station.this, it takes a little over 30 minutes and costs 580 yen (the king of cost-performance ratio). Shinkansen: From Shin-Osaka Station to Kyoto Station. Fast but expensive, not really necessary. HARUKA: From Shin-Osaka Station/Tennoji/Osaka Station to Kyoto Station. Expensive! Hankyu Railway, Keihan Electric Railway: Rich in pick-up and drop-off stations, but slow. 🚃 【Osaka → Kobe】 JR Rapid, Hanshin Line, Hankyu are all ok. It's recommended to follow navigation recommendations and avoid the Shinkansen. 🚃 【Osaka → Nara】 JR Yamatoji Rapid, Nara Kintetsu, choose one. 🚃 【Osaka → Wakayama】 JR or Kuroshio. If you're going to Shirahama, choose Kuroshio; otherwise, you'll have to transfer to the slow Kishu Train, and if you're only going to Wakayama, JR is also fine—it won't be more than 10 minutes slower, but it's cheaper. 🚄 【Osaka → Nagoya】 Shinkansen or JR. Choose between saving money or saving time. ✈️ 【Osaka → Tokyo】 Choose between Shinkansen and airplane. Prices are similar, but taking the Shinkansen offers a chance to see Mount Fuji. Travel Tip 5⃣️: For travel around Kansai, JR for the best cost-performance ratio. #KansaiTravel #KansaiTravelGuide #KansaiTransportationGuide