Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Day 1 - Osaka/Kyoto/Kobe Trip 2017 - How to travel from Kansai International Airport to Kyoto Train Station by Haruka Train

Our plane landed in Kansai International Airport Terminal 1, so we need to take the shuttle train from terminal 1 to another terminal for immigration procedures and collecting our luggages.

Just follow the signs to board the shuttle train.

We were one of the few last passengers cause we used the restrooms, so the shuttle train was very empty.

After clearing immgiration and collecting our luggages, followed the signs that lead to the railway station.

The railway station is on Level Two.

On level two, just follow the crowd and crossed the bridge over to the railway station.

Proceed to JR Ticket Office to purchase the ICOCA Card (just like our Singapore EZ Link Card for MRT,Bus,etc) and Haruka Train Tickets.

"ICOCA & HARUKA" is a set containing an "ICOCA" IC card (pre-charged with 1,500 yen) and a discounted ticket for the Kansai-Airport Express "HARUKA." The ICOCA can be used on JR, subway, private railway and bus transportation and for shopping in the Kansai Area and beyond. The Kansai-Airport Express "HARUKA" provides direct access from Kansai-airport Station to Tennoji, Shin-Osaka and Kyoto Stations.

There are so many different types of tickets for the ICOCA and Haruka tickets, one way or round trip. As I have decided to go direct to Kyoto Station from Kansai International Airport but on return I will go to Osaka Station from Kyoto Station and from Namba Station to Kansai International Airport. So is a one way ticket that I will purchase.

To enjoy the discounted Haruka Train Ticket, need to buy the combined ICOCA and Haruka ticket together but use the Haruka Ticket to board the train for the airport to kyoto sector only while the ICOCA Card(IC Card) keep to use for other train or bus rides.

To understand more about the ICOCA and Haruka Tickets, please view the official website.

Can purchase the ticket online but I decided to purchase only on the day of arrival.

So my ticket costs 3600 YEN (1500YEN for the ICOCA Card 500 YEN for Deposit for the ICOCA Card can claim back the deposit but need pay 220 YEN for handling fee for the refund and 1600 YEN for the Haruka Train one way ticket from Kansai Airport to Kyoto Station.

Dont worry if all seems confusing, ask around, they can speak English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese at the JR Ticket Office.

After all the purchasing of the ticket, proceed to the blue colour JR Line Gate B, slot the Haruka Train ticket into the gate gantry and collect it after slotting (keep the ticket for train warden to check when inside the train).

Proceed to Platform 4 to board the Haruka Train, please remember to queue, there's lines drawn on the platform floor, so queue accordingly. No need to buy reserved seat as the airport is the terminal so no problem getting any seats but just need to queue. Train Cars 4, 5 and 6 are meant for non reserved seats passengers so dont queue at the wrong end of the train.

I was in queue number 2(only 1 person infront of me in the queue), so plenty of empty seats , even when everyone goes up the train, there's still about few more empty seats but were quickly filled at the next train station. As the discounted Haruka Train Tickets are meant for foreigners only so most of the locals dont take this Haruka Train cause is the most expensive if not for the discount.

After more than 70 minutes, we finally arrived at Kyoto Train Station.

Video showing how to travel from Kansai International Airport to Kyoto Train Station by Haruka Train

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