2016/04/12

West Japan Railway Company
Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
Hankyu Corporation
Keihan Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
Kintetsu Corporation
Nankai Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau
Kobe Municipal Transportation Bureau
Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau
Kansai Airports
Kansai Economic Federation

　Six private railway companies (JR-West, Hanshin, Hankyu, Keihan, Kintetsu, and Nankai), three municipal transportation bureaus (Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto), and one airport operating company in the Kansai region (Kansai Airports), together with the Kansai Economic Federation (Kankeiren) announced today the launch of trial sales of its KANSAI ONE PASS common transportation ticket on Friday, April 8, 2016 as a part of the Kansai area's region-wide efforts to further develop tourism infrastructure for greater convenience to foreign visitors visiting this popular tourist destination.

　In Kansai, Kankeiren took the initiative to compile the Kansai Area-Wide Tourism Strategy in February 2015, and a variety of projects are being implemented accordingly. As one of the core projects of the strategy for advancing tourism infrastructure, KANSAI ONE PASS is a brand new service designed to enhance convenience for foreign tourists. A working group, including the aforementioned six companies and three bureaus, has been preparing for the launch of the service since last year.

　KANSAI ONE PASS is a rechargeable IC transportation card based on JR-West's ICOCA IC train pass that allows foreign tourists to use trains, subways, and buses in areas covered by ICOCA, as well as in the PiTaPa area. Holders of KANSAI ONE PASS can take advantage of special offers at 150* shopping facilities, including 41 shops at Kansai International Airport (KIX), and tourist spots.

　Priced at 3,000 yen with an initial circulation of 30,000, the card may be purchased at 19 places, including the Kansai Airport Station and the key stations of each railway/subway operator in Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe. Cardholders will receive a complimentary user guide that includes a Kansai region train map. Information on partner facilities and tourism in Kansai may be viewed on the special mobile site (http://kansaionepass.com).

　The card features an illustration of Astro Boy by legendary manga artist and Kansai native Osamu Tezuka, as well as the "Hanayaka Kansai: The Flower of Japan - Kansai" logo for greater visibility of the Kansai brand among foreign tourists.

　The six private railway companies, three municipal transportation bureaus, Kansai Airports, and Kankeiren will join together to utilize KANSAI ONE PASS to promote greater ease of traveling, more active purchasing behaviors, and better communication of tourism information. It is hoped that these initiatives will help to further boost foreign tourism to Kansai by bringing visitors to such attractions as "The Flower of Japan, Kansai," a wide-area tourism excursion route registered with the national government and under development through cooperation with the Kinki District Transport Bureau. KANSAI ONE PASS is also one of the key projects for the Kansai International Tourism Organization, established on March 24, 2016, which is comprised of sixty regional bodies, including Kankeiren, the Union of Kansai Governments, and the Foundation for Kansai Region Promotion. It aims to attract foreign tourists to the Kansai region by enhancing their convenience and sending out more tourism information.

* As of March 24, 2016

Attached: Overview of KANSAI ONE PASS

End

1.	Designation	KANSAI ONE PASS
2.	Price	3,000 yen (500 yen deposit + 2,500 yen e-money) Charge limit: 20,000 yen
3.	Circulation	30,000 cards
4.	Eligibility	Sold to foreign visitors to Japan (passport check required at point of sale) (Those with a non-Japanese passport and visa status of "Temporary Visitor" are eligible to purchase)
5.	Front design	Illustration of Astro Boy by Kansai-born manga artist Osamu Tezuka "Hanayaka Kansai: The Flower of Japan - Kansai" logo
6.	On sale	Friday, April 8, 2016
7.	Demonstration	Friday, April 8, 2016 through Friday, March 31, 2017
8.	Sold at	19 places including main railway/subway stations
9.	Service areas	Railways and buses in the ICOCA area, PiTaPa area, and other ICOCA usage areas.
10.	Features (Numbers of partner facilities and Kansai tourism tips are current as of March 24, 2016.) Rechargeable IC transportation card based on JR-West's ICOCA Special offers are available at 150 shopping facilities, including 41 shops at KIX, and tourist spots A user guide, as well as information on the 150 partner facilities and 300 Kansai tourism tips, may be viewed on the special mobile site. Such information will be made available from Monday, April 4, 2016 on the exclusive mobile site (http://kansaionepass.com). The card comes with complimentary user guide including a train map and a QR code linked to the special mobile site. The special mobile site and user guide with train map are available in four languages (English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Korean).

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