JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass

The JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass is a rail pass for exclusive use by foreign tourists, which provides five consecutive days of unlimited travel on JR trains (including shinkansen and limited express trains) in the Kansai Region and along the Sanyo Coast as far as Hiroshima.

Purchase the Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass

Validity

1. Unlimited use of local, rapid and limited express JR trains in the coverage area shown on the map above.
2. Unlimited use of the Sanyo Shinkansen (including Nozomi and Mizuho) between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima. However, the Tokaido Shinkansen between Kyoto and Osaka is not covered.
3. Seat reservations can be made for free (see details below).
4. Unlimited use of JR ferry to Miyajima.
5. Unlimited use of the Kyoto Tango Railway, which provides access to Amanohashidate.
6. Unlimited use of the Wakayama Railway.
7. Unlimited use of local JR buses around Kyoto and Hiroshima.
8. Free use of rental bicycles at designated Ekirin Kun outlets within the covered area.
9. The pass is valid on five consecutive calendar days (midnight to midnight).
10. Only foreign visitors to Japan (with temporary visitor status) can use the pass. It cannot be used by residents of Japan.
11. The pass can be used only by a single person. It cannot be transferred between multiple persons. The pass holder has to carry his/her passport at all times.

Points of sale

The JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass can be purchased online through various websites, including the official JR West website, and at selected travel agents outside of Japan. The actual pass has to be picked up at a major station in the area covered before use. An advantage of purchasing the pass through the official website is that you can make seat reservations online, while others can make seat reservations only at ticket machines and ticket offices.

Purchase the Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass

Seat reservations

Seat reservations can be made at no additional cost at ticket offices. The first six reservations can alternatively be made at ticket machines, but subsequent reservations can be made only at ticket offices. Furthermore, those who purchased their pass through the official JR West website can also use the JR West website to make seat reservations, but the website is not very easy to use.

Assessment

The JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass can be a very good value for travelers visiting the Kansai Region and Sanyo Coast as far as Hiroshima, such as visiting Hiroshima in a side trip from Osaka. Those not traveling as far as Hiroshima should consider the JR Kansai Wide Area Pass.