Osaka: Getting there and around

Getting around

Osaka has two major city centers and four major train stations. The two city centers are nicknamed Kita ("North") around Osaka/Umeda Station and Minami ("South") around Namba Station. While Kita is a large shopping and business area, Minami is Osaka's most famous entertainment district.

JR Osaka Station is located in the center of the Kita district. Two other railway companies and three subway lines have their own stations in the vicinity of JR Osaka Station. Note that some of them are named after the Umeda district rather than Osaka. The shinkansen trains stop not at Osaka Station, but at Shin-Osaka Station, one station north of Osaka Station by JR train.

In the Namba area (Minami), four railway companies (JR, Nankai, Kintetsu and Hankyu) and three subway lines have their separate stations, all named Namba Station. The fourth of Osaka's major railway stations is Tennoji Station in the southeast of central Osaka. It is served by JR, Kintetsu Railway, the Hankai Tramway and two subway lines.

The city of Osaka is served by over seven different railway and subway companies. Most relevant to foreign visitors of Osaka are the subway lines and the lines operated by JR West. The lines operated by the other private railway companies are useful for accessing neighboring cities and regions.

• JR West operates a dense network of local train lines in the Osaka area. The most prominent line is the Osaka Loop Line, the equivalent to Tokyo's Yamanote Line. JR also operates lines to Kansai Airport, Kobe, Kyoto, Nara and to the Universal Studios. The shinkansen (bullet trains) stop at Shin-Osaka Station.
• Subways are often the most convenient means of getting around central Osaka. The city has eight subway lines that cover especially the area inside the Osaka Loop Line. The subway offers the quickest connection between Osaka's two main districts Kita and Minami and is of great value to foreign visitors in general.
• Nankai Railway connects Namba to Kansai Airport, Wakayama and Mount Koya (Koyasan).
• Hankyu Railway connects Osaka-Umeda Station with northern Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto.
• Kintetsu Railway connects Osaka with many destinations in the southern Kansai Region, including Nara, Kyoto, Asuka, Yoshino, Ise and Nagoya. Lines start at Namba (Osaka-Namba Station), Tennoji (Osaka-Abenobashi Station) and Nagata stations.
• Hanshin Railway connects Osaka with Kobe. The lines start at Osaka-Umeda and Osaka-Namba stations.
• Keihan Railway connects central Osaka with central Kyoto and Uji. The lines start at Yodoyabashi and Nakanoshima stations.

Passes and Tickets

See also our separate page about the various passes available for the Greater Osaka Region.

The prepaid IC card available in Osaka is called Icoca. It does not give you any discounts over regular tickets, but it makes the process of taking trains easier, as you do not always need to buy a ticket before riding a train. Icoca cards can be purchased through ticket machines at JR stations. Local non-JR railway companies offer their own IC card, called Pitapa; however, Pitapa is a postpaid card that works more like a credit card and cannot be used by tourists.

Icoca can be used on most trains and buses in the Greater Osaka region (and many other major cities in Japan). Additionally, eight other IC cards from other major cities of Japan can also be used on the trains and buses of Greater Osaka, including Suica, Pasmo, Kitaca, Toica, Manaca, Sugoca, Nimoca and Hayakaken.

The Kansai One Pass is a special version of Icoca exclusively for foreign tourists that additionally qualifies for discounts at various attractions in the Kansai Region. It is available for sale at Kansai Airport and major railway stations in the Kansai Region.

Furthermore, the following 1-day passes are available for the Osaka area:

• Osaka Amazing Pass (1-day: 3300 yen, 2-day: 5500 yen)
  The Osaka Amazing Pass provides unlimited use of subways, non-JR trains and city buses within Osaka City on one or two consecutive calendar days, plus free admission to selected tourist attractions. It is a digital pass using QR codes and needs to be purchased online.
• Osaka 1-Day Enjoy Eco Card (820 yen on weekdays, 620 yen on weekends and holidays)
  Unlimited use of subways, city buses and the New Tram (but excluding the OTS Line) on one calendar day. The pass also provides discounts on admission to selected sightseeing spots. It can be purchased at subway stations and kiosks. The pass is a good value and easily pays off, especially on weekends and if visiting spots with discounted admission.
• Osaka Metro Pass (1-day: 820 yen, 2-day: 1500 yen)
  Available only to non-Japanese passport holders, this pass also provides unlimited use of subways, city buses and the New Tram (but excluding the OTS Line) on one or two calendar days. It also provides discounts on admission to selected sightseeing spots. It can be purchased through Klook.

The following passes cannot be used on transportation, but they provide discounted admission to selected sightseeing spots in Osaka:

• Klook Pass Osaka (from 3900 yen)
  The Klook Pass Osaka allows for discounted admission to selected attractions in Osaka. Users can select 2-4 attractions from a list of attractions, which includes the Abeno Harukas observatory, teamLab Botanical Garden and Umeda Sky Building. The pass is valid for 30 days from the first selection, and the selections do not have to be made at the time of purchase. As its name suggests, the Klook Pass Osaka is sold through Klook.
• Osaka e-Pass (1-day: 2400 yen, 2-day: 3200 yen)
  The Osaka e-Pass is a digital ticket, which gives its holder access to over 25 selected tourist attractions in Osaka on one calendar day or two consecutive calendar days. Among the attractions are Tsutenkaku Tower, Shitennoji Temple, the Umeda Sky Building and several boat cruises, but note that some of the attractions cannot be used during certain times. The ticket can be purchased on various websites, including Klook. It can also be paired with a 1-day Metro Pass for an additional 800 yen or a 1-day bike share pass.