talk
The Kansai dialect é¢è¥¿å¼ Kansai-ben is Japan's largest dialect group after Tokyo's dialect group collectively. There are many subdialects, ranging from the elegant and effete Kyo-kotoba 京è¨è of Kyoto's courtiers to the gruff but imaginative gangster slang of Osaka, much favored by Japanese comedians. Some notable features include the copula ya instead of da, the negative ending -hen instead of -nai and the use of akan instead of dame for "No way!".
That said, most Kansaites are perfectly conversant in standard Japanese, so knowledge of the local dialect is by no means necessary, but even a few words will be appreciated. The typical Osakan greeting is MÅkarimakka? "Making money?", to which the typical reply is Bochi-bochi denna "Well, so-so"; trying this out on a friend or acquaintance is guaranteed to produce a surprised smile, and make you look like a kettai strange, aho idiot and omoroi funny guy.
English is taught at all schools in Japan, and while it is less commnonly spoken than in Tokyo you will find that younger people will often know enough English to communicate, especially those residing in the cities. Still, learning even a few important phrases in Japanese will be appreciated and not as difficult as many Westerners think.
tickets and passes
Most of Kansai's regional transportation companies have tied up to offer the ICOCA tickets, which can be used on pretty much any train, subway, monorail, cable car or bus in the region. The Nankai and JR trains from Kansai Airport are also included, and you can buy your card or pass at the airport's train station.
The ICOCA card (http://www.jr-odekake.net...) is a contactless smart card that can be used on JR West, JR East Tokyo and most private rail and bus companies in Kansai and Chugoku Okayama, Hiroshima. Cards are available at ticket vending machines in train stations for ¥2000, including a refundable ¥500 deposit. More money can be added at the same machines.
The Surutto Kansai magnetic card is similar to ICOCA, but it doesn't work on JR and is not rechargable, making it pretty much obsolete.
The Kansai Thru Pass (http://www.surutto.com/co...) can be purchased as a two-day ¥3800 or a three-day ¥5000 pass. It is valid for two/three separate days within the validity period which is printed on the back usually a couple of months. It can be used on most non-JR trains and buses and even some cable cars in Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and Nara with the notable exception of JR trains. The service area extends south to the Kansai International Airport and the city of Wakayama and southeast to Mount Koya Check the Area Map on the webpage for details. In addition to free transport, these tickets offer a series of small discounts to temples, museums and other attractions in the region. Be aware that you'll have to travel quite a bit to make them pay off. Note: You might be asked to show your passport when you purchase this card.
JR-West also offers the Kansai Area Pass (http://www.westjr.co.jp/e...), which costs ¥2000/¥4000/¥5000/¥6000 for 1/2/3/4 days respectively and is valid for unlimited travel on JR standard and Haruka limited express trains non-reserved seats only. The area covered is approximately the same as for the Kansai Thru Pass above. There is also a more complicated route-based JR 4-day pass for different routes in the Kansai area called the Kansai Passport (http://www.kippo.or.jp/tr...).