Is JR West’s 30-Day ‘Unlimited Ride’ Pass Worth It? Calculating How Many Trips to Kinosaki Onsen Cover the Cost [Column]

JR West is launching the “JR West Infinite Pass,” which allows unlimited rides for 30 days within the ICOCA area (excluding the Nanao Line and Johana Line). The price is set at a hefty 50,240 yen, which begs the question: is it worth the cost?

What Exactly is the “JR West Infinite Pass”?

The “JR West Infinite Pass” requires pre-registration with the “KANSAI MaaS” app. Once you initiate the pass use, your ICOCA card (including “SMART ICOCA” and “Mobile ICOCA – Apple Pay’s ICOCA”) will debit the fare for rides within the ICOCA area, but the equivalent amount will be refunded entirely as WESTER points (for charging use only).

Unlimited access is provided to ordinary car non-reserved seats on local trains, as well as rapid and special rapid services. However, a separate express fee is required for limited express trains, and a reservation fee for reserved seats is also necessary.

Regarding the unlimited ride options, whether the Shinkansen is available becomes a concern, but ICOCA cannot be used for Shinkansen journeys (with certain exemptions for ICOCA with commuter passes). Remember that the pass does not cover Shinkansen rides.

However, the ICOCA area of JR West spans widely from Tsuruga, Maibara, and Kameyama in the east to Shimonoseki in the west, covering regions like the San’in and Kii Peninsula. Typically, ICOCA usage is within 200 kilometers, but by exiting and entering through ticket gates at intermediate stations, it can be used over virtually unlimited distances.

How Many Trips to Kinosaki Onsen Are Needed to Cover the Cost?

Given these facts, it’s only natural to wonder if the Infinite Pass pays off. Daily round trips between Kyoto and Sannomiya Station result in a total fare of 66,600 yen, saving over 10,000 yen. However, a monthly commuter pass for this section costs 31,880 yen, making the pass a bad deal for those only commuting there.

So, how many trips to the beloved Kinosaki Onsen in Kansai are necessary to make it worthwhile?

The fare between Osaka and Kinosaki Onsen Station is 3,410 yen one way. This means eight round trips over 30 days would cover the cost. This translates to weekend day trips to Kinosaki Onsen. Annually, it amounts to about 96 trips. One might grow tired of this…

Note that additional charges apply for express trains and reserved seats. Even if you opt for the Green Car with an extra charge, it diminishes the value. Remember that the amount spent (the debited fare) is refunded in points, meaning pretending to travel won’t yield anything and could be a waste. Those inclined towards such behavior should be cautious.