Railways in Osaka

JR network in central Osaka

Osaka (大阪) is the central city in western Japan.
It forms a metropolitan area with Kyoto and Kobe.

JR have many railway lines in this area, and a lot of commuter trains are operated frequently.
Like Yamanote Line in Tokyo, there is Osaka loop line in the central Osaka.

Because of JR, Japan Rail Pass is available.

The trains of most lines are operated from around 5:00 in the morning to around 0:00 late at night.

Osaka Loop Line

Osaka Loop Line is a loop line running around the center of Osaka.
It is called "Osaka Kanjo-sen" in Japanese.

The shape of the line is a crooked circle, but the diameter is about 7 km.
The size of loop is a little more than half of Yamanote Line in Tokyo.

The total length of the line is about 20 km, and there are 19 stations.

Both clockwise and counterclockwise trains are operated.

The trains are operated every 3 to 7 minutes.
It takes about 45 minutes to go around the whole line.

The trains going around the loop line and terminated on the way are operated.
And, the rapid trains and limited expresses from the other lines runs on the line.

Therefore, you must check the destinetion and the type of the coming train.

Main stations of this line are Osaka, Kyobashi, Osakajo-koen, Tsuruhashi, Tennoji, Imamiya and Nishi-Kujo, clockwise.

Yumesaki Line

Yumesaki Line is a short branch line of Osaka loop Line.

The line extends westward from Nishi-Kujo station on the west side of Osaka loop Line.
There is a popular amusement park Universal Studios Japan by the line.

The train is operated frequently.

Tozai Line

Tozai Line runs under the ground just south of Osaka station in the east-west direction.

The western terminal is Amagasaki to the west of Osaka city and it goes to the eastern area of Osaka city.

There is Kita-Shinchi station near Osaka station, and the line crosses Kyobashi station of Osaka Loop Line.

There may not be many opportunities for the tourists to use this line.

Subway in Osaka

The area inside and around Osaka loop line is the central Osaka.

Subway lines are arranged closely in a grid pattern in the area, so the network is easy to understand.

There are 9 lines of subway in the area.
These lines are operated by Osaka Metro.

This company are not JR.
Therefore, "Japan Rail Pass" is not available for subway.

By the way, "Osaka station" is the central station of JR in Osaka city.
But, the other railway companies name the stations near it Umeda which is the original place name.

Osaka Metro

Line color, Line symbol and Station number

For foreign passengers, each line is assigned with a specific color, and each station is given a specific line code (one alphabetic character) and station number.

Of course, it is very good that you can memorize the station name in Japanese.
But when a station name is alphabetized, mostly it is a long word.
This numbering is very convenient for you.

Lines of Osaka Metro

• Midosuji Line ●M
  Esaka, Shin-Osaka, Umeda, Yodoyabashi, Honmachi, Shinsaibashi, Nanba, Tennoji, Nagai, Abiko, Nakamozu
• Tanimachi Line ●T
  Dainichi, Tenjinbashisuji 6-chome, Higashi-Umeda, Tenmabashi, Tanimachi 4-chome, Tanimachi 9-chome, Tennoji, Hirano, Yao-minami
  
• Yotsubashi Line ●Y
  Nishi-Umeda, Honmachi, Yotsubashi, Nanba, Kishinosato, Suminoe-koen
• Chuo Line ●C
  Nagata, Midoribashi, Morinomiya, Tanimachi 4-chome, Sakaisuji-Honmachi, Honmachi, Awaza, Bentencho, Osakako, Cosmosquare, Yumeshima
• Sennichimae Line ●S
  Nodahanshin, Awaza, Nishi-Nagahori, Nanba, Nipponbashi, Tanimachi 9-chome, Tsuruhashi, Imazato, Minami-Tatsumi
• Sakaisuji Line ●K
  Tenjinbashisuji 6-chome, Minamimorimachi, Kitahama, Sakaisuji-Honmachi, Nagahoribashi, Nipponbashi, Dobutsuen-mae, Tengachaya
• Nagahori Tsurimi-ryokuchi Line ●N
  Taisho, Nishi-Nagahori, Shinsaibashi, Nagahoribashi, Tanimachi 6-chome, Morinomiya, Osaka Business Park, Kyobashi, Tsurumi-ryokuchi, Kadoma-minami
• Imazatosuji Line ●I
  Itakano, Taishibashi-Imaichi, Shigino, Midoribashi, Imazato
• New Tram ●P
  Cosmosquare, Trade Center-mae, Nakafuto, Ferry Terminal, Suminoe-koen

Railways to the suburbs of Osaka

JR Lines connect between Osaka and popular cities

There are historical cities such as Kyoto, Nara, Kobe around Osaka.
JR Lines connect Osaka and these cities.

Osaka station is the northern terminal.

• JR Kyoto Line : Osaka - Kyoto
• JR Kobe Line : Osaka - Kobe - Himeji

These lines are connected at Osaka station, and many trains run on the both lines directly.

Shin-Osaka station on JR Kyoto Line is next to Osaka station.
It is the transfer station to Shinkansen.

Tennnoji station is the southern terminal.
The trains to Nara, Kansai Airport and Wakayama depart from here.

• JR Yamatoji Line : Tennoji - Nara
• JR Hanwa Line : Tennoji - Wakayama, Kansai Airport

There is a short branch line from JR Hanwa Line to Kansai Airport.

From Kansai Airport, limited expresses are operated and go to Tennoji, Osaka and Kyoto.

In addition, Nankai Railway is also operated the limited express from Kansai Airport to Nanba.

To Kyoto, Kobe - Hankyu Railway

Hankyu is a railway company with the lines to Kyoto, Kobe, etc.

The terminal station is Umeda, and it is just located near JR Osaka station.

Both Hankyu Kyoto and Kobe lines run on the nothern side of JR.
These compete with JR lines.
Hankyu is a commuter railway, but the high-grade and comfortable cars are popular.

In Kyoto city, the line runs underground from west to east, and the terminal station is Kyoto-kawaramachi near Gion area.

Hankyu Railway

To the popular area in Kyoto - Keihan Railway

Keihan is a railway company with the lines to Kyoto, Uji.

The terminal station in Osaka is Yodoyabashi.
It is located about 1 km south of JR Osaka station and is in a traditional business area in Osaka.

And, it crosses Kyobashi station of Osaka Loop Line.

The line runs near Fushimi Inari Taisha and Tofukuji in the south of Kyoto city.
And, it runs underground along the eastern side of Kyoto.
Kiyomizu-dera, Gion, Kyoto Imperial Palace, etc. are close to the stations.

The terminal station in Kyoto is Demachiyanagi.
From here, Eizan Railway to the northern area of Kyoto is connected.

Keihan Railway Eizan Railway

Railway running along a waterfront area between Osaka and Kobe - Hanshin Railway

Hanshin is a railway company with the lines to Kobe.

The terminal station is Osaka-Umeda, and it is underground near JR Osaka station.
Another terminal station is Nanba, and it is connected by Kintetsu Railway.

From both stations, the trains are operated to Kobe.

So, JR, Hankyu and Hanshin are competing between Osaka and Kobe.

In the eastern area of Kobe, Hanshin railway passes through Nada area which has the famous Sake breweries.

Hanshin Railway

To Koyasan, Kansai Airport - Nankai Railway

Nankai is a railway company with the lines to Wakayama, Kansai Airport and Koyasan which is a sacred town of Buddhism.

The terminal station is Nanba, and all trains to above destinations depart from there.

The limited express to Kansai Airport is called "Rapi:t", and it takes about 40 minutes.
Many trains by commuter cars are also operated.

The terminal station of Koyasan is "Gokurakubashi" station.
Only a few expresses to Gokurakubashi are operated in a day.

But, there is "Hashimoto" city station at the foot of Koyasan mountain.
The express trains to Hashimoto are operated twice an hour, and the local climbing trains are available from there.

Nankai Railway

To Nara, Yoshino, Ise-Shima area and Nagoya - Kintetu Railway

Kintetsu is the largest railway company except JR.

There are many lines in Osaka and Nara Prefectures, and there is also a line between Nara and Kyoto.

In addition, the main line runs in the center of Nara Prefcter, goes over the eastern mountains and enter Mie Prefecture.
Ise-Shima area and Nagoya are also the destinations.

The terminal stations are Osaka-Nanba and Osaka-Abenobashi near JR tennoji station.
Osaka-Nanba station is underground and Hanshin railway is connected.

From Osaka-Nanba, many trains are operated to Nara and the mainline.

The long-distance limited expresses to Ise-Shima and Nagoya are also operated frequently.
Between Kyoto and Ise-Shima, the limited expresses are operated.

From Osaka-Abenobashi, the trains to Yoshino are operated.
Yoshino is the sacred mountain famous for the cherry blossoms.

Kintetsu Railway

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