Japan (Lonely Planet, 11th Edition) - Chris Rowthorn [308]
Alternatively, you can take the private Keihan main line between Sanjō, Shijō or Shichijō Stations in Kyoto and Keihan Yodoyabashi Station in Osaka (tokkyū to Sanjō ¥400, 51 minutes). Yodoyabashi is on the Midō-suji subway line.
KŌBE
The shinkansen is the fastest way to travel between Kōbe and Osaka (¥2810, 13 minutes, from Shin-Kōbe Station to Shin-Osaka Station). The second-fastest way between Kōbe and Osaka is a JR shinkaisoku train between JR Osaka Station and Kōbe’s Sannomiya and Kōbe Stations (¥390, 24 minutes).
There is also the private Hankyū line, which takes a little more time but is cheaper and usually less crowded/more comfortable. It runs from Osaka’s Hankyū Umeda Station (Map) to Kōbe’s Sannomiya Station (tokkyū, ¥310, 29 minutes).
NARA
The JR Kansai line links Osaka (Namba and Tennō-ji Stations) and Nara (JR Nara Station) via Hōryū-ji (yamatoji kaisoku, ¥780, 42 minutes).
The private Kintetsu Nara line also connects Osaka (Kintetsu Namba Station) with Nara (Kintetsu Nara Station). Kyūkō (express) and futsū services take about 36 minutes and cost ¥540. Tokkyū trains do the journey in five minutes’ less time but at almost double the cost, making them a poor option.
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GETTING AROUND
To/From the Airport
OSAKA ITAMI AIRPORT
There are frequent limousine buses (Osaka Airport Transport Co; 6844-1124; www.okkbus.co.jp/eng/index.html) running between the airport and various parts of Osaka. Buses run to/from Shin-Osaka Station every 20 minutes from about 8am to 9pm (¥490, 25 minutes). Buses run at about the same frequency to/from Osaka and Namba Stations (¥620, 25 minutes). At Itami, buy your tickets from the machine outside the arrivals hall. (Hint: you’ve got a better chance of getting a seat if you board at the South Terminal.)
KANSAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KIX)
The fastest way between KIX and Osaka is the private Nankai express Rapit, which runs to/from Nankai Namba Station on the Midō-suji subway line (¥1390, 35 minutes). The JR Haruka limited airport express runs between KIX and Tennō-ji Station (¥2070, 29 minutes) and Shin-Osaka Station (¥2780, 45 minutes).
Regular JR express trains called kankū kaisoku also run between KIX and Osaka (¥1160, 63 minutes), Kyōbashi (¥1160, 70 minutes), Tennō-ji (¥1030, 49 minutes) and JR Namba (¥1030, 56 minutes) Stations.
The Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT), in JR Namba Station, allows passengers on Japanese and some other airlines to check in and deposit baggage before boarding trains to the airport. Check with your airline for details.
There are a variety of bus routes between KIX and Osaka. Limousine buses (Kansai Airport Transportation Enterprise; 0724-61-1374; www.kate.co.jp/pc/index_e.html) travel to/from Osaka Umeda, OCAT Namba, Uehonmachi and Nankō (Cosmo Sq) Stations. The fare is ¥1300 (¥880 OCAT) for most routes and the journeys take an average of 50 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.
Bus
Osaka does have a bus system, but it is nowhere near as easy to use as the rail network. Japanese-language bus maps are available from the tourist offices.
Train & Subway
Osaka has a good subway network and, like Tokyo, a JR loop line (known in Japanese as the JR Kanjō-sen) that circles the city area. In fact, there should be no need to use any other form of transport while you are in Osaka unless you stay out late and miss the last train.
There are eight subway lines, but the one that most short-term visitors are likely to find most useful is the Midō-suji line, which runs north to south, stopping at Shin-Osaka, Umeda (next to Osaka Station), Shinsaibashi, Namba and Tennō-ji Stations. Most rides cost between ¥200 and ¥300. This book contains a full Osaka subway/tram map; Click here.
If you plan a lot of subway rides, consider buying a ‘one-day free ticket’ (kyōtsū ichinichi jōsha ken). For ¥850 (or ¥600 on Fridays and the 20th of every month) you get unlimited travel on