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. Geraldine says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I’ll be arriving at Osaka (3~4 days) before heading to Kyoto (3~4days), then flying out from Tokyo. Is it advisable to buy a JR rail pass or just a single trip from Kyoto to Tokyo will suffice?

    Thanks in advance! ^^

  2. Wendy says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    May I seek your advice on below table is fully cover by JR pass right?

    16:44
    begin TAKAYAMA

    through
    LTD. EXP (WIDE VIEW) HIDA 18

    transfer NAGOYA

    through
    SHINKANSEN HIKARI 481

    transfer SHIN-OSAKA
    [ Arrival track No.21 / Departure track No.11 ]

    through
    LTD. EXP HARUKA 45
    Train timetable | Interval timetable

    overtransfer TENNOJI
    [ Arrival track No.15 / Departure track No.17 ]

    through
    JR Yamatoji Line Local for JR-NAMBA

    transfer JR-NAMBA

    through
    Walk
    20:51
    end OSAKA-NAMBA

    Thanks and Rdgs
    Wendy

  3. Jessie says:

    Hi Takeshisan
    i’ll traveling to Japan very soon, my flight will arrive at Haneda n depart from Haneda back to my country. Is a 11 days trip. I’ll travel from Haneda to Osaka on the 1st day and stay 5 nights in Osaka then only back to Tokyo. Within the 5 nights in Osaka, i will travel the city downtown of Osaka, Kyoto and maybe Nara (optional). I understand that some places in Osaka cant travel by using JR pass alone, so i’m planning to have a prepaid card, either rainbow card or ICOCA cd, which one is better since i ard have the JR pass? Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks in advance.

    Your sincerely
    Jessie

  4. Scarlet says:

    Hai,
    i wanna go to kawaguchiko from Tokyo . May i use JR Pass?
    can u let me know the step by step . or u can suggerst me any line that more cheaper .
    Thank you.

  5. Jerry Too says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I’ll be landing @ Haneda airport on 7am, going to Osaka straight and staying there for around 3d2n or 4d3n (Touring around in Osaka and Kyoto) then go to Tokyo for 6days. Should I buy the 7-days pass?
    Or is it better for me to land straight in Osaka, then after that buy a single trip Shinkansen ticket to Tokyo from Osaka?

    Is it very easy or troublesome to travel from Haneda airport to the station to catch the Shinkansen to Osaka?
    Thanks. 🙂

    Regards,
    Jerry Too

  6. Anna says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    My whole trip will be 10 days. I already bought the 7 days JR pass to travel in between cities, but I was wondering what the best way to travel within cities would be. I will be at Tokyo for 6 days , Osaka for 3 days and 1 day around at Narita Airport. I am planing to buy a 3 days Tokyo subway ticket to use when traveling around Tokyo. I will buy a one way N’EX from Nirita airport to Shinjuku. What kind of pass should I buy to travel around in Osaka?

    Thank you

  7. Aldi says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I have a JR Pass and am currently in Osaka. I would like to go to the aquarium and a shop near Yotsubashi station (or is it subway?). Do I need to purchase separate ticket? Can you suggest the best way to go to both?

    Thank you!

  8. xiaoyu says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    I have a very awkward schedule here. I leave from Nagoya to Osaka on 9th, so I’ll start to use my JP pass then, then stay in Osaka till 12th, then go to Kyoto for three days, and leave for Tokyo on 15th, also the last day for me to use my 7 day JR pass. Do you think it’s still a good deal to buy the 7 day JP Pass, or is it a waste of money? 28300yen is not cheap!

    Many thanks!

  9. Dian Dinar says:

    Hi Takeshi, I am going to Osaka next month, and so do i, this is my first time travel to Japan. I will arrive at Kansai Osaka Airport. I’m in Osaka only be 2 days. My itinerary schedule was to Osaka Castle, USJ, Namba Park and Tennoji Park. The next day I would go to Kyoto – Arashiyama. is there any advice regarding the purchase JR Pass? Thanks in advance.

  10. Angie Ho says:

    Hi Takeshi, I am going to Osaka next month, and this is my first time travel to Japan. I will be going for 8 days and all in Osaka only plan for day trip to Kyoto, Nara & Tokyo. So can you give me advise that how many days JR pass should i purchase? i am very confused with the JR line and subway line. Thanks.

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