Contactless payment, which allows passengers to board trains and buses by simply tapping their JCB card, is now becoming popular in Japan! The Nankai Electric Railway Group, which connects Osaka, Kansai International Airport, and Wakayama Prefecture, has also begun to incorporate this service on its travel lines. Try out this handy 2-day/1-night itinerary that explores the best areas on the Nankai Electric Railway while making use of the convenient contactless payment system!
*Contactless payment at ticket gates not applicable for some cards
JCB contactless card now available on the Nankai Electric Railway!
Buying tickets from complicated and unfamiliar ticket machines, fumbling to recharge IC cards, trying to communicate with the station attendant for clear instructions…not to mention the frenzied dash to catch the train! It’s safe to say, travelling around in a foreign country can be highly stressful.
Thankfully, contactless payment is here to alleviate all these issues! This useful service allows JCB cardholders to glide through ticket gates and get to their destinations smoothly, simply by tapping a JCB contactless payment compatible card or smartphone over a payment terminal.
Dedicated payment terminals have been installed at Nankai Electric Railway Group railway ticket gates and on buses and ferries, making contactless payments possible throughout the region! This service has made it easier for passengers to get on and off public transportation without any confusion and without the inconvenient time loss from buying tickets from ticket machines. Let's take a fun trip along the Nankai Railway line making full use of the contactless payment system!
Day 1 Morning: Take the Airport Express from Kansai International Airport to Namba
After landing at Kansai International Airport, take the Nankai Railway to Namba, the center of Osaka. The Airport Express train speeds along, arriving at Nankai Namba Station in just 44 minutes! There are special payment terminals installed at the ticket gates of Kansai Airport, so contactless payment can be used to get on the train.
One of the attractions of contactless payment is that there is no need to go through any extra procedures when entering the country as long as you have a compatible card or smartphone. Since you can use Contactless payment from the moment you enter Japan, you can move smoothly and comfortably right from the beginning of your trip! An easy start to what will surely be a great vacation♪
Please note - the Airport Express Rapi:t train requires a special express ticket. Although a separate express fee is required, it is definitely worth it for those who want to save time.
Day 1 Afternoon: Eat, relax and have fun in Namba
The famous Minami area of central Osaka City is just around the corner from Nankai Namba Station. After disembarking the train, sights such as the Dotonbori area with its famous neon signs and bridges are just a stone's throw away. Take lots of photos, eat delicious food and enjoy the city's fun vibe!
The area around Nankai Namba Station is full of tourist attractions and unique places such as Namba Yasaka Shrine, with its huge sacred lion head building, and Kuromon Ichiba Market, known as "Osaka's kitchen”.
For dinner, Kuromon Ichiba Market is highly reccommended. Kushikatsu, okonomiyaki, and other regional dishes are all a major hit with the local Osaka foodies. No matter which restaurant you choose, you can't go wrong!
Shinsaibashi, a shopping street lined with luxury brand stores, is also within walking distance. Be sure to stay the night at W Osaka in Shinsaibashi for the most stylish experience. This luxury hotel only opened recently, but its chic interior is already pulling in a fashionable crowd.
・3 New Talk of the Town Hotels in Kyoto and Osaka
Day 2 Morning: From Namba to Koyasan! Moving around made seamless with contactless payments
On day two, wake up and depart for Koyasan, a World Heritage site! To get to Koyasan, first go from Nankai Namba Station to Gokurakubashi Station. Nankai Namba Station is of course equipped with contactless payment terminals, so you can easily pass through the ticket gate by tapping your JCB contactless card .
To get to Gokurakubashi Station, take the Limited Express Koya train on the Nankai Koya Line. All seats on the Limited Express Koya are reserved seats, so please purchase your ticket from the limited express ticket vending machine on the platform before boarding the train. There are also rapid express and express trains available that require only a regular ticket, so choose your option according to the time of day.
Enjoy the scenery from the train window as the bustling city of Osaka fades away and the picturesque Wakayama countryside comes into view. After the train rolls into Gokurakubashi Station, take a cable car to the foot of Koyasan. Gokurakubashi Station is said to be the boundary between the sanctuary of Koyasan and the outside world. It's easy to see why - everything about Koyasan radiates seclusion and peace – even the station itself. The ceiling scroll depicting the bird of paradise and animals and plants associated with Koyasan is a true masterpiece!
After a five-minute cable car ride, you will arrive at Koyasan Station. The ticket gate at Koyasan Station is also easy to operate with its contactless payment terminals.
Bus transportation is essential in Koyasan. Enjoy easy contactless payments on the Nankai Rinkan Bus!
There is a Nankai Rinkan Bus rotary in front of the station, so simply hop on the bus and enjoy the ride to the center of Koyasan. Koyasan is made up of an entire mountain of temples, so if you want to visit all the sights on a day trip, it’s best to take the bus.
Nankai Rinkan Buses are also compatible with contactless cards, so getting on and off the bus is simple! Just tap your card when boarding, and again when exiting the bus in order to complete the payment. In Japan, buses charge different fares depending on the distance, so you usually need to take a ticket when you get on the bus. With contactless payments, you can forgo this entire system and simply tap on and off the bus whenever you like! Now you can tour around Koyasan stress-free!
Koyasan is a sacred site of Japanese Buddhism, founded by Kobo Daishi during the Heian period (794-1185). Various famous sites are scattered throughout the spacious, nature-rich precincts, including the 25.1-meter-high Daimon Gate at the entrance and the Danjo Garan Temple at the central part of Koyasan.
Kongobu-ji Temple, the head temple of the Koyasan Shingon Sect of Buddhism, is a temple where Yoshino and weeping varieties of cherry trees bloom in April and May. During this special season, visitors can enjoy the peaceful harmony of the historic architecture and picturesque cherry blossoms.
The grand inner sanctuary is where Kobo Daishi is enshrined. The approach to this temple is lined with more than 200,000 tombstones and memorials of various generals. The air is quiet and serene, and the path is surrounded by majestic cedar trees, some over 1,000 years old.
Lunch is simple but delicious Buddhist vegetarian cuisine. Since the food here is made only with vegetable, tofu, and other plant-based ingredients, 'Buddhist Cuisine' has recently been gaining popularity as a health food in Japan.
After enjoying Koyasan to the fullest, head back to Osaka. Even during peak times when many people are boarding the trains back to the city, the contactless payment system makes the trip easy and smooth. The trip to Koyasan, which involves several train and bus rides, can be made stress-free from start to finish with a JCB contactless card.
To use contactless payments, A JCB contactless card is needed. The contactless function is depicted by the symbol on the right in the above image. (The symbol will be shown on the front or back of the card.) For more details, please click here.
JCB Contactless
https://www.global.jcb/en/products/payment-solution/contactless/index.html
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