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I supposed to write about the transfer among Kobe (神戸), Osaka (大阪) and Kyoto (京都). But I should explain about JR (Japan Railway) lines in downtown Osaka. I believe the information about the location of JR stations and rail system let you understand the rail system outside of Osaka easily.

And this post may help the tourists who will start the trip from Osaka. Some of you are not sure to buy 7 days pass or 14 days pass for your trip. You may learn how much you can use Japan Railway line when you stay in Osaka. For example, if you travel in Japan for 10 days and stay in Osaka for the first 3 days, you may not use Japan Railway line when you stay in Osaka. As a result, you can buy 7 days pass.

Anyway I show you JR line in downtown Osaka and I compare JR lines and Osaka subway lines.

JR lines in downtown Osaka

View JR line in downtown Osaka in a larger map

The above map shows you all JR lines in downtown Osaka. I put some placemarks on all major stations. I would like to explain about each lines.

Osaka Kanjo line (Osaka loop line=大阪環状線)

This line encircles downtown Osaka. You may use this line very often when you stay in Osaka. This line is started from the biggest station in Osaka, Osaka station. You maybe confused because JR station is called Osaka. And some of other stations nearby are called Umeda (梅田). JR Osaka station is located at same location as other Umeda stations.

This line go through several terminal stations. Kyobashi (京橋) is the junction of Keihan Railway (京阪=private company to Kyoto) and JR Tozai line. Tsuruhashi (鶴橋) is the place to catch Kintetsu Railway (近鉄=private company to Nara, Kyoto, Ise and Nagoya).

Tennoji (天王寺) is the biggest JR terminal station in south side of Osaka. All trains that go to Wakayama (和歌山), Kansai airport (関西空港) and Nara (奈良) stop at this station. But all limited express train to Kansai airport or Wakayama and to the south of Wakayama depart from Shin-Osaka (新大阪). Most of rapid trains to Nara, Wakayama and Kansai airport depart from Osaka. So basically you don’t need to change the train at Tennoji. If you need more information about these trains, please read the following posts.

• Limited Express Haruka (Kansai airport access train)
• Limited Express Ocean Arrow / Kuroshio
• Kansai Airport Rapid Service and Kishuji Rapid Service
• Yamatoji Rapid Service (to Nara)

Kansai line (関西本線)

Kansai line is called Yamatoji line (大和路線) as well. This line connects JR Namba (JR難波) with Nara. As probably you know, Namba is one of the tow biggest downtown core. You can access Namba by JR line. And also you can access from another huge downtown core, Umeda by JR only. But You need to take Osaka Kanjo line to Imamiya and transfer the train to JR Namba. It is not shortest way. Osaka subway Midosuji line (大阪地下鉄御堂筋線) is much faster and more convenient. I tell you about Osaka subway later.

Yumesaki line (ゆめ咲線)

This line starts from Nishikujo (西九条) station on Osaka Kanjo line and goes to Sakurajima (桜島). One of most popular attraction, Universal studion Japan (USJ) is on this line. Many trains are operated from Tennoji via Kyobashi and Osaka. If you go to USJ, you may not need to change the train at Nishikujo.

JR Tozai line (JR東西線)

This line connects Amagasaki (尼崎) with Kyobashi. Kitashinchi station is 10 minutes away from Osaka station on foot. I don’t think you take this line very often.

Kobe/Kyoto line (神戸線/京都線)

If you go to Kobe or Kyoto, you take this line from Osaka station. And also when you need to take Shinkansen, you need to go to Shin-Osaka station by Kyoto line. It is 4 minutes away from Osaka by any trains.

Osaka Subway (大阪地下鉄)

Please refer this map in Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau website. Osaka subway operate 8 lines. The subway is more convenient than JR lines when you transfer from north to south. For example, if you go to Namba from Umeda by Osaka subway Midosuji line, it takes only 8 minutes and costs 230 yen. If you take JR lines, it takes 17-20 minutes and you need to change the trains at Shin-Imamiya or Imamiya. If yo buy a single ticket, it costs 190 yen. It is cheaper, but not big difference. And also JR Namba is not located in the center of Namba. Which one do you want?

By the way, Osaka subway have three stations near JR Osaka station, Umeda (梅田/Midosuji line=御堂筋線/to Shinsaibashi, Namba, Tennoji), Nishi-Umeda (西梅田/Yotsubashi line=四つ橋線/to to Nanba) and Higashi-Umeda (東梅田/Tanimachi line=谷町線/to Uehonmachi, Tennoji). All three statione are only 5 minutes away from Osaka station. So don’t worry about the location in Umeda.

You may also like these posts:

• How to use JR West Kansai Area Pass. Compare pass and single fare.
• How to access to Nara by Japan Rail Pass. If you don’t use JR Pass, Kintetsu Railway is more convenient.
• How to access from Kansai airport to downtown Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe
• How to choose discount railway ticket and pass in Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara) area
• How to use Kansai Thru Pass. Compare pass and single fare.

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35 Comments to “How to use and how much can we use Japan Rail Pass in downtown Osaka?”

1. Sophie says:

   April 7, 2013 at 8:21 pm

   Dear Takeshi,

   Thank you so much for these helpful informations about the JR Pass and also all the tips to travel around Japan.

   I am planning on going to Japan for 10 days starting from Osaka / Kobe / Kyoto / Fuji / Tokyo / Osaka.

   I will stay for a day in Osaka and Kobe.
   Kyoto : 2 days
   Fuji : 2 days
   Tokyo : 2 days

   I wanted to know if the JR Pass is worth buying in this trip and which one should I take.
   I was checking the schedule and train tickets fee on Hyperdia and I was wondering if you could explain to me a little bit of it? When I do a research, the informations about the trip shows up then the train fee appear (don’t have to pay in case of JR Pass?) and then a seat reservation fee appears too. Are these fees for the seat reservation have to be paid in additional of the JR Pass?

   Thank you a lot for the helping.

   Sincerely,

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     April 7, 2013 at 9:04 pm

     Hi Sophie,

     JR Pass includes basic fare, express/limited express surcharge and seat reservation fee. As long as you take JR trains except Nozomi and Mizuho on Shinkansen, you don’t need to pay any more.

     Basically 7 days pass price is almost same value as Osaka-Tokyo round trip fare and Shinkansen surcharge. So if you use 7 days pass for last 7 days of your trip, it will work.

     When you stay in Kobe, Osaka or Kyoto, you don’t have to pay so much single fare. It’s very reasonable. Please see the following post:
     http://jprail.com/destinations/how-to-transfer-among-kyoto-osaka-and-kobe-compare-japan-railway-and-private-lines.html

     If you arrive in KIX, you can use ICOCA and Haruka.
     http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/travel-information/pass/icoca-haruka/
     ICOCA e-money 1500 yen value is included in this deal. This 1500 yen will cover your trip in Osaka and Kobe. You can use this e-money for not only JR trains but also Osaka subway, Kyoto subway and another private companies trains.

     My choice is ICOCA and Haruka + JR Pass 7 days.
     You may have to pay a bit more in Kyoto. But this combination will cover most part of your trip.

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
     • Sophie says:

       April 10, 2013 at 8:01 am

       Hello Takeshi San,

       Thank you for the quick answer.
       I wanted to know for the JR Pass when we buy a 7 days pass it is a date to date pass right ? For exemple if I am arriving on the 18th of April, it will work until the 24th of April ? What about getting a 2 weeks visa as I will have to buy my return ticket from Osaka to Tokyo on the 10th day in Japan?

       Thank you,

       Sincerely,

       Sophie

       Reply
       • JPRail says:

         April 10, 2013 at 10:19 pm

         Hi Sophie,

         The validity of a pass starts from 12 O’clock at night. So as you said, if you start to use pass on Apr 18, Apr 24 is the last day to use.

         As long as you have only round trip between Osaka and Tokyo plus some local trip in Tokyo and Osaka, 7 days pass is the best. 14 days pass is too much and too expensive. If you have another long trip, 14 days pass may be okay. The price difference between 7 days and 14 days is about 17000 yen. Please see the following link to see the sample fares:
         http://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/compare-japan-rail-pass-with-regular-fare.html

         If you go somewhere from Osaka, you have to visit Hiroshima or farther.

         Cheers,

         Takeshi / JP Rail

         Reply
2. Debbie Sugawara says:

   March 8, 2013 at 8:06 pm

   Dear Takeshi,

   We will be starting out in Saitama (4 days) and then going to Tokyo (2 days) and then going to Osaka (5 days) and then back to Tokyo (3 days). From Osaka we plan on taking day trips to Kyoto, Hiroshima and Yamaguchi. Our total stay in Japan will be 19 days. Our last 5 days will be spent in Hokkaido. Would it be worth it to purchase the 14 day JR pass?

   Thank you.

   Debbie Sugawara

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     March 9, 2013 at 5:59 am

     Hi Debbie,
     If you go to Hokkaido by train, 14 days pass gives you the best deal.
     If you take a flight to Hokkaido, use 7 days pass for Tokyo-Osaka-Tokyo trip. Even if you have only Tokyo-Osaka round trip, 7 days pass is still fine. And you will go to Hiroshima when you stay in Osaka. 7 days pass is perfect fit.

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
3. wan says:

   March 4, 2013 at 2:39 am

   hi ..
   i will visit japan osaka fron 2nd april to 9 apr.any suggestion for sakura hot spot during this period by using jr pass.thanks

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     March 4, 2013 at 9:52 pm

     Hi wan,

     How about Yoshino and Arima onsen. Please see the following post:
     http://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/kansai-thru-pass-sample-itineraries.html

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
4. Shubham says:

   March 3, 2013 at 10:07 pm

   Hi i am travelling from Singapore to Tokyo Narita Airport between 11May2013 to 18May 2013.From Nartia i am planning to go to Osaka and i booked hotel Chisun Inn Umeda. In Osaka going to stay 4 days after that go back to Tokyo on 15th May and leave Tokyo on 18th May. Is it worth to buy a JR Pass ? And usually how much need to pay from OSAKA to higobashi station.

   Thanks in advance for help.

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     March 3, 2013 at 10:14 pm

     Hi Shubham,

     As long as you complete round trip between Tokyo and Osaka in 7 days, 7 days pass is the best choice.
     It is only 200 yen to Higobashi from Nishi-Umeda by subway. You can even walk.
     http://www.kotsu.city.osaka.lg.jp/foreign/english/subway/index.html

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
5. Aki says:

   January 16, 2013 at 9:30 pm

   Dear Sir/Madam

   My friend and I will be visiting Japan in Mar 2013. We are going to buy the 7 days JR pass and planning to stay at Osaka for 5 days which serve as our transit point to go Nara and Kyoto. We are planning to stay at Hotel Nikko Osaka which is located at Shinsaibashi. From what I search through the internet, there is no JR station at Shinsaibashi and have to take the metro (Midōsuji Line) from JR Namba to Shinsaibaishi. I was wondering can we use the JR pass from JR Namba to Shinsaibaishi taking the metro? Because since we will need to get to the JR station quite often, if we have to pay for the metro to get to JR Namba, it will be not worth it. We are looking at Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka too which is just next to JR Namba station. Thanks.

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     January 16, 2013 at 10:51 pm

     Hi Aki,

     JR pass do not cover any subway lines. So you have to pay whenever you move between Namba and Shinsaibashi.

     Apart from that, how many days are you going to stay in Japan. Are you going to stay in only Kansai area? If so, JR Pass is too much. You may find other deals at the following post:
     http://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/how-to-choose-discount-railway-ticket-and-pass-in-kansai-area.html

     You can find the comparison between single fare and pass price at the following post:
     http://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/compare-japan-rail-pass-with-regular-fare.html

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply
6. K N Low says:

   August 21, 2012 at 3:34 am

   Dear Sir/Madam
   My husband and I will be travelling fm Singapore to Haneda in early Nov. We are planning Hokkaido as our main area of visitation and if have time, Osaka.
   I cannot get in to Skyward? airline in English. to travel fm Haneda to Hakodate.
   Please advise how we travel from Haneda, which ones to travel first? is it straight to Hakodate/Sapporo and then Osaka and back Haneda?

   Would you recommend JRP all the way for us? Would you recommend taking the JRP from Haneda to Hakodate? Would you recommend that we return from Osaka to Haneda by JRP?

   This is my first time to Japan on our own which we would like to do on our own pace. We have only 12 days and would appreciate your advice on how many days in Hokkaido and Osaka and maybe just a day trip to Kyoto, if have time.

   Most appreciated.

   Sincerely,

   Reply
   • JPRail says:

     August 21, 2012 at 7:25 am

     Hi K N Low,

     If you save your cost, JR pass is the best choice. But it takes a long time to get Hokkaido from Tokyo. I put several links below. I hope those posts help you to think about your itinerary.

     http://jprail.com/destinations/hokkaido-tohoku-7-days.html
     http://jprail.com/destinations/kyoto-and-hokkaido-7-days.html
     http://jprail.com/destinations/how-to-get-sapporo.html

     Cheers,

     Takeshi / JP Rail

     Reply