How to use JR Pass in downtown Osaka. Find how much you can use Japan Rail Pass in Osaka.

323series on Osaka Kanjo lineNetwork of JR trains
Dotonbori is one of most popular spots.

If you use JR Pass and visit Osaka, you should know how much you can use JR Pass in Osaka. I forcus on using JR Pass in downtown Osaka. If you use the following passes, you have same coverage.

I will show you JR train network in downtown Osaka in this post.

JR lines in downtown Osaka

Please see the map below:

Click to view large

The above map shows you all JR lines in downtown Osaka. I will explain you the line of JR one by one.

In this post, I explain you only JR trains. If you want to know whole part of train system in downtown Osaka, please see the link below:

I also explain this topic in YouTube movie too. Please watch it instead of reading the post:

Osaka Kanjo line (Osaka loop line)

323series on Osaka Kanjo line
Osaka Kanjo line train

This line encircles downtown Osaka. You will use this line often when you stay in Osaka. This line is started from Osaka station which is the biggest station in Osaka. It is located in Umeda area and JR Osaka station and other railway’s Umeda stations are same location.

This line go through Kyobashi, Tsuruhashi, Tennoji, Shin-Imamiya, Bentencho, Nishikujo and come back to Osaka again. All these stations are transfer points to other lines and railways.

  • Osaka (Umeda)
    1. Hankyu Railway (to Arashiyama, Gion, Kobe-Sannomiya, Takarazuka, Ikeda, Minoo),
    2. Hanshin Railway (to Kobe-Sannomiya)
    3. Osaka Metro (to almost everywhere in Osaka)
  • Kyobashi – Keihan Railway (to Gion, Kyoto)
  • Tsuruhashi – Kintetsu Railway (to Osaka-Namba, TennojiNara, Nagoya)
  • Tennoji
    1. JR Kansai Airport line (to Kansai airport)
    2. JR Yamatoji line (to Nara)
    3. JR Hanwa line (to Wakayama)
    4. Kintetsu Railway (to Yoshino)
    5. Osaka Metro (to Namba, Tanimachi)
  • Shin-Imamiya – Nankai Railway (to Namba, Kansai airport)
  • Bentencho – Osaka Metro Chuo line (to Osaka Kaiyukan aquarium)
  • Nishikujo
    1. Hanshin Railway (to Osaka-Namba, to Kobe-Sannomiya)
    2. JR Yumesaki line (to Universal city)

Tennoji is the biggest JR terminal station in south side of Osaka. All trains that go to Wakayama, Kansai airport and Nara stop at this station. But many train run on Osaka Kanjo line and then go through the line to Nara, Kansai airport and Wakayama.

Yamatoji line

This line connects JR Namba and Nara. Many rapid train go through Osaka Kanjo line and it connects Kyobashi, Osaka, Nishikujo, Bentencho, Tennoji and Nara. This rapoid train is called Yamatoji Rapid. Please see the link below to find more information about Yamatoji Rapid:

Many local train of Yamatoji line train depart from JR-Namba station. JR-Namba is only JR station in Namba. But this is a bit away from the center of Namba. Please see the link below to find the information about Namba stations:

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.

Kansai airport line and Hanwa line

Many trains go through from Osaka Kanjo line to Kansai Airport and Wakayama. These trains are called Kansai Airport Rapid and Kishuji Rapid.

You can get Kansai airport and Wakayama from Osaka without a transfer.

The limited express Haruka connects Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and Kansai airport. The limited express Kuroshio connects Shin-Osaka and Wakayama, Shirahama, Shingu. You may take these trains between Shin-Osaka and Tennoji if you like.

Yumesaki line

This line starts from Nishikujo station on Osaka Kanjo line and goes to Sakurajima. Universal City station is located on this line and it is the gateway to Universal Studio Japan.

JR Tozai line

This line connects Amagasaki and Kyobashi. Kitashinchi station is 10 minutes away from Osaka station on foot.

Kobe/Kyoto line

If you go to Kobe or Kyoto, you take this line from Osaka station. Special Rapid run on this line and stop at major stations only. It is very fast train service. Please find more information about Special Rapid in the link below:

And also when you take the Shinkansen, you have to go to Shin-Osaka station by Kyoto line. It is 4 minutes away from Osaka by any trains.

The places where you can go by JR Pass

You may get these following places by JR Pass and other JR train passes without any extra charge:

  • Umeda, Umeda Sky Building (at JR Osaka station)
  • Osaka Castle (at Osakajokoen station)
  • Abeno Harukas (at Tennoji station)
  • Tennoji Zoo (at Tennoji station)
  • Shitenno-ji temple (at Tennoji station)
  • Shinsekai, Tsutenkaku (at Shin-Imamiya station)
  • Namba, Shinsaibashi, Dotonbori (at JR-Namba station)
  • USJ (at Universal City station)

The places where you can NOT go by JR Pass

You have to pay a regular fare to take subway or non JR trains to visit the following places:

Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium and Tenpozan Market Place

Click to view large.

You have to take Osaka Metro Chuo line to get Osakako station. You may take subway from Namba or Umeda.

Cup Noodle Museum and Minoo Falls

Click to view large

These are located outside downtown Osaka. You must take Hankyu Railway.

Osaka Metro

As you have been reading this post, JR Pass covers many places. But you still may need to take subway. Please see the link below to find all train system in Osaka.

I hope you have got an idea to build your trip by this post.

Comments

  1. Yanna says:

    Hi there!

    My family is going to Japan and it’s our first time. We are arriving from Narita and will go directly to Osaka. We’ll be going to Osaka > Kyoto (half day in Nara) > Tokyo (in this order ) for three days each. For Kyoto & Osaka our base is Osaka. Then we will stay in Tokyo after visiting Osaka and Kyoto.

    Should we get the 14 day JR pass and will we need something else for travel within the cities?

  2. Sung says:

    Hi Takeshi San,

    I will be staying at kyoto near Jr nijo for 6 days
    and Osaka near shinsaibashi for 5 days.
    Not sure whether should to get an area pass or get ic pass?

  3. felicia says:

    hello takeshi, im planning to go to japan this june. my route is:
    kyoto-tokyo-osaka. im planning to buy 7 days jr pass. and wondering what can JR pass offer to me beside the shinkansen? because reading your post and comments, it seems a little useless on the city? do i need to buy local deals? or just go on without buying the local deals? hoping u could help me out since i dont really know about this stuff. thankyou

  4. Indriyati says:

    Hi Takeshi San,

    Please help to recommend the best option of transportation pass for my itinerary as follow :
    Day 1 : arrive KIX in the morning and stay at Shin Imamiya Hotel. Plan to visit Kobe as a day trip.
    Day 2 : going around Osaka
    Day 3 : going around Osaka
    Day 4 : visit USJ
    Day 5 : visit Kyoto and stay in there
    Day 6 : visit Kyoto and stay in there
    Day 7 : visit Nara as a day trip and back to Osaka

    Thanks a lot!

  5. Sarah jane mantua says:

    Hello Takeshi,
    I’ll be traveling with my husband and 2 kids (aged 11&12) this month of April. Will be in Osaka for 3 days, Tokyo for 4 days and leave for Narita airport on our 8th day. Do you think it’s worth buying the JR pass for all of us? Pls advise on how can we save this trip. by the way, I got a hotel in tennoji area in Osaka and an apartment at ta tantoi-ku in Tokyo.

    Warm regards,
    Sarah

  6. Christina says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    Your blog is really informative; I just wish I had found it before I rashly bought the JR 7 Day Rail Pass. My family and I will be arriving in Tokyo for Day 1 at Disneyland before taking the Tokaido Shinkasen Hikari Line to Osaka. We are staying near Shin-Osaka Station Day 2 and 3 for Kyoto day trip and near Tennoji Station for Namba/Dotonburi Days 4-6 and finalizing with Nara day trip Day 7. We then depart from Kansai Airport. Now I know that our JR Rail Pass is not very useful in downtown Osaka and I should not have bought it…. Please let me know if you have any thoughts about this? Thanks!

    I was also wondering if I can use a prepaid card for the non-JR lines around downtown Osaka? Instead of buying a single ticket every time we travel from Tennoji Station to Dotonburi?

  7. Mia says:

    Hello Takeshi…
    I am planning to buy JR Pass for my trip 7 days in mainland Japan. So for first 2 days I will getting around Kansai(kyoto, nara or so), next 2 days will be spent in Tokyo and rest I plan to explore Aomori and Hokaido than back to Osaka by plane.I don’t think that JR pass will paid off all my itinerary… do i have to buy another thru pass cards while in Osaka or Tokyo (such as kansai thru pass or tokyo wide pass) to get subways and buses there.

    • Hi Mia,

      If you take train to Aomori from Tokyo, you can use 7 days pass. If you go up to Sapporo after Aomori by train, even 14 days pass will work for Osaka-Tokyo-Aomori-Hokkaido.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  8. LingLing says:

    Hello Takeshi,
    I’ll be spending 11 days in Osaka in coming end of March Im planning to use Osaka as a base, and traveling to Nara, Kyoto and Kobe for day trip only (3 different day) rest of the time will be spent in Osaka.

    I’ll be staying in Taisho-ku, Osaka-shi. as checked from website, nearest station will be Taisho station JR line.

    would like to seek for your advice on what passes you would recommend to save the cost/ to fully utilised the passes.

    Thank you so much!!!

  9. Joey says:

    Hi im flying to Osaka this friday for 7 days and will be staying in osaka for 4 days. I will be staying in Osaka as my base and explore Nara and kyoto during my stay. I have already bought a 7 day pass. I was just wondering if Can i really use the Japan rail pass everywhere? like going to nara and kyoto from osaka and osaka to tokyo? your reply will be much appreciated

  10. Juls says:

    Hello,
    I’ll be spending 12 days in Osaka and planning to use Osaka as a base, and traveling to Nara for 2 nights, Kyoto for 3 nights, do a day trip to himeiji and Kobe, rest of the time will be spent in Osaka. Might add in a day trip to wakayama.

    I’m so very confused with the train lines and stations! Which area would you recommend i stay, considering I will be traveling with a toddler and luggages, so would prefer minimal walking/transfers?

    Thank you so much!!!

Copied title and URL