JR Special Rapid Service, most useful train among Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Himeji.

Kobe, Himeji
2011.04.24
Many passengers are waiting for Special Rapid Service in Osaka station. Special Rapid is very popular for both commuters and the travelers.

Special Rapid Service is the fastest local train that is operated between Tsuruga (=敦賀) and Kamigori (=上郡) via Kyoto (=京都), Shin-Osaka (=新大阪), Osaka (=大阪), Sannomiya (=三ノ宮), Kobe (=神戸) and Himeji (=姫路). Especially JR West compete with Hankyu (=阪急) and Keihan (=京阪) between Kyoto and Osaka, with Hankyu and Hanshin (=阪神) between Osaka and Kobe. So JR West have to offer fast and good quality of services. As a result, the time required by this train is faster than Shinkansen between Osaka and Kyoto. Since Shinkansen do not have a station in downtown Kobe, this trains is faster than Shinkansen between Osaka and Kobe too. Of course this train is fully covered by Japan Rail Pass. Let’s see the details.

Route, schedule and travel time

Special Rapid Service runs the route and stop at these stations in the map below:

Operation route map (Click to view large)

In day time, Special Rapid Service train runs every 15 minutes between Yasu and Himeji. Some of this train services are extended service to Mabara, Nagahama, Tsuruga to east, and Banshu-Ako, Aboshi and Kamigori to west.

Find your hotels in 218 cities throughout Japan!!!

Hotels in Kobe
Hotels in Himeji

When you move between Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and Himeji, this train service is a primary choice. If you take Shinkansen from Kyoto to Shin-Osaka, it takes only 13 minutes. It seems to be much faster than Shin-Osaka. But you have to change trains at Shin-Osaka if you go to somewhere in Osaka. You have to spend 10 more minutes to transfer at Shin-Osaka. Unless your destination is Shin-Osaka, Special Rapid is more convenient.

If you go to Kobe, it takes 15 minutes by Shinkansen. But Shin-Kobe station on Shinkansen is not located in downtown. You need to take subway to Sannomiya.

Shin-Kobe station guide. How to change the Shinkansen and Kobe city subway.
If you access to Kobe or leave from Kobe by the Shinkansen, this post shows you everything you need. You can find how to change the Shinkansen and subway with lots of photos.
jprail.com
2017.08.12

Even in case of going to Himeji, it may be very close. It takes 30 minutes by Shinkansen and takes 1 hour by Special Rapid. But if you take Shinkansen, you must get Shin-Osaka first. And Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Himeji does not run very frequently. It depends on your schedule in this case. If Shinkansen’s timetable fits in your schedule, take Shinkansen. Otherwise take Special Rapid Service.

Accommodation

Special Rapid Service is operated by 223 or 225 series. 225 is newer but the seat layout and the interior are same.

Images

Interior
Seat layout
The washroom is equipped in this train set.
Information screen is equipped and it is shown in a few languages.

In these above photos, the train is empty. But please see the photo below. This is the real shot. This is not the morning and evening peak times. It is a daytime scene. But this train is very busy even other than the peak hours.

Comments

  1. Charlotte says:
    August 20, 2016 at 6:45 am

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    I would like to ask for your advice on what type of JR pass to get. My friends and I will be travelling to Japan on Nov 6-12, 2016. We’ll be staying in Osaka and Kyoto and planning to have a one-day side trip to Hiroshima. We will arrive in Kansai Airport on Nov 6 at around 7:55 pm and will be staying in Kyoto first. Given our general itinerary and length of stay, what JR pass will you recommend. Thank you.

    Confused,
    Charlotte

  2. Jennifer says:
    July 23, 2016 at 6:50 pm

    Hi Takeshi San
    Planning a 7 days holiday to Kyoto and Osaka.
    First to Kyoto then back Osaka.
    Arriving Kansai Airport at 21:20 est. time.
    Please advise the best and easier transport to Kyoto.
    Thank you.

  3. Helen says:
    June 20, 2016 at 11:36 pm

    We are going to Osaka on July 1 to 6. We are planning to go to Hiroshima and Miyajima on Day 3 day tour only. Day 4 Kobe and Higemi. Is it advisable to buy JR pass. .?

  4. Steven Tan says:
    June 15, 2016 at 1:22 am

    Hi! Takeshi-san,

    I’ll planning a trip to Japan and my first stop will be Osaka. Can you advise me how to go from JR Osaka Station to Saga Arashiyama Station?

    I’ll be getting a JR Kansai Area pass. This pass is also know as JR West pass, correct?

    Thanks.

    Best Regards,
    Steven

  5. Farzanah Begum says:
    June 13, 2016 at 10:26 pm

    Hi Takeshi San, I am planning to travel to Japan from 2nd Sept to 9th Sept. I will be arriving at Kansai Airport. My estimated itneary is: Kansai Aiprot to Kyoto. Kyoto to Hiroshima. Hiroshima to Tokyo (Lake Kawaguci). And back to Osaka. Can you please advice me which pass is suitable to purchase? &I do JR Pass covers everything? Thank you once again.

  6. Etaine says:
    June 5, 2016 at 8:23 pm

    Hello! Can I ask if the JR Kansai Area Pass covers the Special Rapid Service? Or do I have to purchase a separate pass? Thank you!

  7. Abel says:
    June 4, 2016 at 4:43 pm

    Ohayo Takeshisan,

    Thanks a lot for
    Which pass can you recommend for my trip to Osaka area?
    I will arrive at KIX on Tuesday at 18h.
    My hotel is situated close to Shin imamiya.
    On wednsday I want to go to Himeji.
    On thursday I want to visit Kobe.
    On friday, will spend the morning at Osaka Castel and afternoon at Universal Studios.
    On saturday Umeda and Namba.
    On sunday night I’m going back to the airport.

    Which pass would you recommend?

    Thanks a lot

  8. Samuel says:
    June 3, 2016 at 5:51 am

    Hi Takeshi San,

    I am planning to travel to various locations via Osaka from 15 to 17 Oct. Most likely Kyoto a day and Nara the next. I would be staying around Namba area in Osaka. So after each place I would return back to Namba. Not sure if its too rush, 1st time travelling to Japan.

    I would be getting the JR National Pass. I read that there is this Special Rapid Service that saves more time? Is it covered by the JR Pass? And lastly I would like to head to Lake Kawaguchi from Osaka would you kindly recommend the most efficient way to get there. Thanks in advance for your advice!!

    Regards,
    Linda

  9. Elroy says:
    April 4, 2016 at 11:23 pm

    Hi Takeshi, i am planning to visit MT Fuji on the 11th of april, can you please guide me on the best way and price of going to MT Fuji.

    Regards,
    Elroy

  10. Linda Chew says:
    April 4, 2016 at 8:14 am

    Hi Takeshi San,

    I am planning to travel on 17 April from Osaka to Osaka central fish market to himeiji and staying my night at Kobe. I would return to Osaka the next day 18 April.

    Could you kindly reommend if I should buy the JR West Rail pass ? Appreciate your advice as this is my first time traveling to Japan 🙂 thank you!

    Regards,
    Linda

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