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Osaka Free Travel Pass “Osaka Amazing Pass”

October 27, 2023 125 Views

When traveling in Osaka, tourists can make use of a free travel pass called the Osaka Amazing Pass, written in English as “Osaka Amazing Pass” (大阪周遊パス). This pass allows unlimited use of the Osaka Metro, buses, and offers free or discounted entry to major tourist attractions in Osaka.

Osaka Free Travel Pass, Osaka Amazing Pass

With the Osaka Amazing Pass, travelers can enjoy unlimited use of public transportation and gain free or discounted access to major tourist attractions in Osaka. It’s an excellent card for those with tight travel schedules, planning to visit multiple places.

There are two types of passes: a 1-day pass and a 2-day pass, with the following prices:

  • 1-day pass: 2,800 yen (approximately 28,000 won)
  • 2-day pass: 3,600 yen (approximately 36,000 won)

Choosing the 2-day pass is slightly more economical, but note that there’s a difference between the two. The 1-day pass allows the use of major subway and bus lines in Osaka city, including Hankyu and Keihan lines. On the other hand, the 2-day pass excludes the use of private railway lines.

52 Free Admission Facilities with the Pass

The Osaka Amazing Pass provides free entry to 52 tourist destinations in Osaka, though some places may limit visitors to one facility at a time. (The list of free-entry facilities may change slightly.)

Representative attractions include Osaka Castle’s Chūjōkaku, Nishinomaru Garden, Umeda Sky Building Floating Garden Observatory, Osaka Museum of History, HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel, Osaka Museum of Housing and Living, Tenpozan Giant Ferris Wheel, Osaka Prefectural Government Sakishima Building Observatory, Tsutenkaku, Shitenno-ji, Tennoji Zoo, Dotonbori River Cruise, and Santa Maria Cruise. For more details on facilities available for free, you can check the official website here.

Given the abundance of places you can enter for free, efficiently planning your travel itinerary is crucial to making the most of the Osaka Amazing Pass.

Where to Purchase Osaka Amazing Pass

For the best deals, it’s recommended to purchase the Osaka Amazing Pass online before your trip. However, you can also buy it locally in Japan, but you won’t get a discount. Here are the purchase locations in Japan:

For 1-day/2-day passes:

  1. Osaka Visitor Information Center Shin-Osaka (JR Shin-Osaka Station East Exit): 9:00 – 18:00
  2. Osaka Visitor Information Center Umeda (JR Osaka Station Central Ticket Gate): 8:00 – 20:00
  3. Osaka Visitor Information Center Namba (Nankai Building 1F): 9:00 – 20:00
  4. Osaka Visitor Information Center Tennoji (JR Tennoji Station Central Ticket Gate): 9:00 – 18:00
  5. Kansai Airport Travel Desk
  6. Various hotels, including ANA Crown Plaza Hotel, APA Hotel Midosuji Honmachi Ekimae, City Route Hotel, Dotonbori Hotel, Hotel Crossover, and Hotel Villa Fontaine Shinsaibashi.

For 1-day passes:

  1. Stationmaster’s offices and shops at each station, regular ticket sales offices, city transportation guidance corners.
  2. Major subway stations for Hankyu, Hanshin, Keihan, Kintetsu, Nankai lines.
  3. Hotels like ANA Crown Plaza Hotel, APA Hotel Midosuji Honmachi Ekimae, City Route Hotel, Dotonbori Hotel, Hotel Crossover, and Hotel Villa Fontaine Shinsaibashi.

Making the Most of the Osaka Amazing Pass

During my 2018 trip, I utilized the Osaka Amazing Pass for an economical journey. By purchasing the pass in advance and using it during the trip, excluding meal expenses, my overall costs were minimal. Efficiently planning your route on Google Maps before your trip, marking locations, and checking opening hours allows you to utilize the pass effectively. Areas labeled as “Juyu” are places where you can enter for free with the pass, and the darker the shade, the later in the day you can still enter.

For the Osaka & Kyoto travel map with areas where the Osaka Amazing Pass is valid, you can check this map.

While visiting multiple places might be physically demanding, even exploring 4-5 major areas is enough to get your money’s worth with this pass. If your focus is on Osaka tourism, considering purchasing and utilizing the Osaka Amazing Pass is a great idea.

Osaka Amazing Pass

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