Kintetsu Rail Passes- Explore Kansai and Chubu with a premier rail network!

If your stay or vacation in Japan will be limited to Nagoya, Nara, Asuka, Yoshino, Kyoto, Osaka and nearby areas such as the Kii Peninsula, Kumano Kodo, Iga-Ueno, Toba and Ise Jingu, you may well be advised to purchase one of Kintetsu Railway's rail passes rather than the Japan Rail Pass.

Kintetsu Rail Passses

*Adults are travelers 12 years and older

**Children are travelers 6-11 years and younger; children 5 years or younger ride for free. 

Kintetsu Rail Pass 5-Day

This pass is valid for five consecutive days of travel on Kintetsu's local, rapid and express trains. The price is 4,900 yen, with the child ticket for children aged 6-11 priced at 2,450 yen. Children 5 years and under travel for free. 

Kintetsu Rail Pass 5-Day Plus

This pass is basically like the Kintetsu Rail Pass 5-Day but with coverage for buses within the Mie/Nara area also included. Five consecutive days of travel on Kintetsu's local, rapid and express trains, plus free travel on Mie Kotsu Bus and Toba City 'Kamome' (sea gull) buses. The price is 6,700 yen for adults and 3,350 yen for children. Children 5 years and under travel for free. 

Kintetsu Rail Pass 1-Day and the Kintetsu Rail Pass 2-Day 

Both of these passes offer travel on Kintetsu local, rapid and express trains between Osaka, Nara and Kyoto in addition to travel on Nara Kotsu buses as far as Horyuji Temple for a period of either 1 day or 2 days. 1-day passes go for 1,900 yen for adults and 950 yen for children. 2-day passes are 3,700 yen for adults and then 1,850 yen for children.  Children 5 years and under travel for free. 

Validity and Usage

The Kintetsu Rail Pass is only available for foreign tourists or Japanese permanent residents overseas.

It can be purchased online from Kintetsu International and official affiliated travel agencies, such as Japan Experience. The Kintetsu Rail Pass comes in the form of an e-ticket, in which pass holders will simply scan a QR code on their phones to get through the gates at the station. 

Be aware that, in order to use the Kintetsu Rail Pass, an internet connection is required, as the valid QR code for the pass will change once every 5 minutes. 

In Japan, Kintetsu Rail Passes can be purchased at a number of select locations, such as Kansai International Airport, Chubu International Airport, and the Kansai Tourist Information Centers in Shinsaibashi and Kyoto Tower 3F, as well as the BIC Camera store in Namba, BIC Camera Kyoto Station and BIC Camera Nagoya Station. The ticket will still come in the form of an e-ticket when purchased in Japan as well. 

The 1-Day Kintetsu Rail Pass and the 2-Day Kintetsu Rail Pass are also on sale at Miyako Hotels in Osaka and Kyoto.

For further information on all Kintetsu travel passes, visit the Kintetsu website in Japanese English, Chinese, Thai or Korean.

• A full list of venues to purchase the pass can be found on the official website here.

3-3-3 Digital Free Pass

Releasing in 2025, the 3-3-3 Digital Free Pass is a collaborative travel pass operated by Kintetsu, Nankai, and Meitetsu. The pass allows unlimited access to the railways of these three companies over the span of three days. 

The pass covers routes around the Kansai and Chubu regions, including access to major destinations such as Kansai International Airport, Chubu Centrair Airport, and high-grade historic and cultural sites (like Koya-san, Nara, Ise-Shima, and Inuyama), making it great for flexible sightseeing trips across multiple prefectures.

This pass is also a digital ticket that operates with a QR code, so it is easy to use and efficient!

• Take a look at the 3-3-3 Digital Free Pass at the official website here. 

What attractions can I see using the Kintetsu railways?

Some of the best destinations within these prefectures are accessible via the Kintetsu train lines and using the Kintetsu Rail Passes.

• Abeno/Tennoji, Osaka Prefecture

The third busiest city within Osaka, the Abeno Harukas building is here and is one of the most notable skyscrapers in Japan. Also in the area is Osaka Tennoji Zoo, home to over 1,000 varieties of animals. 

• Nara Park, Nara Prefecture

One of the most famous attractions in all of Japan, this park, located in one of the historic capitals of Japan, is home to wild-roaming, sacred deer that can be fed by park visitors. The park is also host to historically significant shrines and temples.

• Iga Ninja City, Mie Prefecture

Located in Mie Prefecture, Iga City is the birthplace of the ninja warriors of Japanese history. Delve into the history of their practices and learn more about their significance and story. There’s even a special “ninja-train” that goes in and out of the city.

• Toba Area, Mie Prefecture

This coastal area is home to a rich and unique culture. It is here that pearl cultivation was revolutionized and can be experienced firsthand on Mikimoto Pearl Island. There is also the Toba Aquarium that hosts local sealife as well as the Ama, all-female divers who practice their craft without modern equipment.

Kintetsu Special Limited Trains

Kintetsu Railways boasts some of the most standout locomotives in all of Japan. Their fleet of Special Limited Trains are signature offerings that feature different themes and luxurious facilities that make traveling throughout the Chubu region of Japan both efficient and enjoyable! 

Premium Express Shimakaze Train

Connecting Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya to the Ise-Shima Region, the Shimakaze provides a one-of-a-kind railway experience, themed after the area it services. Shimakaze translates to “island wind,” a fitting name for the picturesque coasts it rides along.

The train is outfitted with a sleek yet eccentric interior, large windows for viewing the natural scenery, and even on-train dining, with a menu that features a luxurious seafood pilaf, Matsuzaka beef curry, and a variety of local refreshments. 

Ise-Shima consists of the eastern islands of Mie Prefecture that are home to the cities of Ise, Toba, and Shima. Here, visitors can stay at a luxurious resort or ryokan, enjoy beach and water activities, and visit the iconic Ise Jingu Shrine, said to be the home of Amaterasu, the Shinto Goddess of the Sun and overseer of all of Japan.

Sightseeing Express Blue Symphony Train

The Blue Symphony Train (青の交響曲) operates between Osaka-Abenobashi and Yoshino in Nara, a historic location right by the mountain of the same name. This town is famous for its gorgeous views of sakura blossoms during spring and remnants of the Japan of yesteryear, home to a collection of traditional artwork, artifacts, and an array of traditional shrines and temples. 

The train also stops at a number of stations in between, such as Shakudo, Asuka, and Shimoichiguchi for you to explore. 

Riding the Blue Symphony is like stepping back in time, designed as it is to be reminiscent of the most luxurious trains of the last century with an elegant, traditional interior. There’s even a bar and lounge inside for you to relax and enjoy a drink as you travel. 

Hinotori Limited Express Train

For those traveling between the major cities of Osaka and Nagoya, the Hinotori Limited Express Train is the ultimate means of transportation. Hinotori in Japanese translates to “phoenix,” and the train interior is modeled after the legendary bird, with a sleek white, beige, and red design. 

Outside the train, passengers can see the full extent of the amazing views that central Japan has to offer, passing through major metropolitan areas with rows of skyscrapers as well as nature-rich regions with forests and mountains abounding. 

Osaka is the largest city in Kansai and boasts a lively and eccentric atmosphere with a strong nightlife. Head to Nagoya to see history firsthand at Nagoya Castle, as well as indulge in the city’s rich food culture with delicacies such as unagi hitsumabushi (grilled eel on rice), tebasaki (peppery chicken wings), and a variety of red miso-based dishes. Between the two destinations, travelers can even stop in Nara to enjoy time in one of Japan’s oldest cities. 

Sightseeing Limited Express Aoniyoshi Train

The Aoniyoshi Train was created specifically for riders to take in the sites and attractions of Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara. Leisurely traveling between the three cities with a number of smaller stops on the way, the Aoniyoshi is the ultimate way to get around Kansai and take in 1,300 years of the nation’s history. 

Each destination represents Kansai and the whole of Japan in a unique way. Osaka’s vibrance and warmth with its lively areas like as Umeda and Dotonbori, Kyoto’s long-lasting history with 17 different UNESCO sites, and Nara’s tranquility with its famous deer park and countless shrines and temples.  

With a royal purple design on the exterior with gold and green accents on the outside and interior, the train exudes elegance and class. The sales counter inside sells snacks from Nara Prefecture, along with a number of goods limited to sale on the train.