Fastest Cheapest Routes and Tickets from Tokyo - Osaka


Fastest Cheapest Routes and Tickets from Tokyo - Osaka

If you are planning to go on a budget tour to Japan, of course you will be a little 'surprised' by the price of JR Japan Rail Pass train transportation which is expensive, ¥50,000 (more than 5 million rupiah).


Well, actually, not everyone needs to buy the complete and expensive JR Rail Pass, that's why the Japanese government deliberately increases the price so that you look for other alternatives. Yes, the Tokaido Shinkanshen route is already too full in terms of capacity.


If you want to know more details, I have made a more complete article about Shinkansen trains and the Japan Rail Pass.


This time I will discuss the comparison of train tickets bought individually (one way) and also domestic plane tickets.


One-Way Tokyo-Osaka Ticket via Tokaido Main Line

This is the main and fastest route from Tokyo to Kyoto - Osaka or vice versa from Osaka - Kyoto to Tokyo. If time is your concern, then taking the Tokaido Shinkansen is the most recommended choice.


Tickets for the fastest type of train, namely Nozomi, are ¥14,520 (reserved seat), for a journey of 2 hours 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the slightly slower Hikari Reserved seat is 2 hours 54 minutes for ¥14,200. So it's best if you buy a one-way ticket, buy the Nozomi one straight away. The best holiday package

Domestic flights from Tokyo to Osaka are cheap too

If you want a non-train method, taking budget airlines could be an option. First, consider using Haneda airport in Tokyo because airport transportation is cheaper. However, most budget airlines operate from Tokyo Narita Airport (it costs around 1200-3000 yen for the train).

For Osaka, you can choose Kansai Airport (KIX), Itami (closer to Osaka and easier to Kyoto), or Kobe Airport (UKB). All have train access to the city.

There are quite a lot of Low Cost Airlines in Japan: Jetstar, Peach, Skymark. One-way tickets without luggage can be around ¥4,000-¥6,000 (around 500-600 thousand rupiah). The important thing is to pay attention to the weight and size limits for cabin and check-in baggage because they are quite strict.

There is also ANA Airlines' child, StarFlyer. Just search for cheap tickets using Skyscanner or similar, you will get lots of choices for these 1 hour flights.


If you want to try taking domestic Japan Airlines, they have a secret ticket for tourists, called the Japan Explorer Pass. The cheapest JAL domestic plane ticket is around 1.1-1.2 million per pax, including baggage.

Oh yes, for domestic routes, Japan is very on-time and you can check in 30 minutes before the plane takes off, even 20 minutes before if you don't have luggage. So your time can be very efficient if you can plan your train ride correctly, you don't need to arrive at the airport 2-3 hours before departure like in other countries.

Conclusion

Well, if you are still comparing it with buying a Japan Rail Pass for 5 million rupiah, it's certainly a loss, right? Unless you take the Shinkanshen train very often, you can get your investment back.

Consider buying a Rail Pass that is more specific or has a smaller area because it is cheaper, of course you need to research first where you want to travel while in Japan and your budget for traveling to Japan.

Happy Traveling!

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