Namba stations guide. How to change the trains among Nankai, Kintetsu, Hanshin, subway and JR.

Namba is one of two downtown cores with Umeda in Osaka. This is popular spot to shop and sightseeing. And also some of you may transfer trains at Namba. But there are many railways and stations in Namba. You may be overwhelmed to understand the location and station structure.

In this post, I would like to show you the locations of each Namba stations. And you will learn how to change the trains in Namba.

Overview

First of all, please find the map below:

As you see the map above, there are six stations in Namba.

• Nankai Railway
• Osaka Subway Midousuji line
• Kintetsu Railway / Hanshin Railway (Osaka-Namba station)
• Osaka Subway Sennichimae line
• Osaka Subway Yotsubashi line
• JR (JR-Namba station)

JR’s station is called “JR-Namba”. Kintetsu and Hahisn Railway’s station is Osaka-Namba. The names are a bit different from other four stations, but the location is same in Namba.

All six stations are connected underground path as you see the map below. And also five of six stations are located underground. Only Nankai Railway’s station is located above the ground, second and third floor. There are three subway lines in Namba, Midousuji, Sennnichimae and Yotsubashi. These three subway lines are connected inside ticket gate. You can transfer among subway trains without exit station. But you need to exit when you transfer to Kintetsu, Hanshin, JR or Nankai.

Nankai Railway’s station is the biggest station in Namba and this is located in the heart of Namba. Subway Midousuji line’s Namba station is located next to Nankai Railway’s Namba station. And then east exit of Kintetsu / Hanshin’s Osaka-Namba station and Subway Sennnichimae line’s Namba station are located beside Midousuji line’s station. These stations are located in the center of Namba. This area is very busy.

On the other hand, west exit of Kintetsu / Hanshin’s Osaka-Namba station and Subway Sennichimae line station, Yotsubashi line’s Namba station and JR-Namba station are very quiet. This area is not located in the heart of Namba. JR-Namba station used be called Minatomachi station before Kansai airport opened.

Next I would like to tell you about all Namba stations one by one.

Nankai Railway Namba station

Nankai Railway is one of major private railway companies. It has lines to Kansai Airport (KIX), Wakayama and Gokurakubashi (Mt. Koya / Koyasan). This station is one of the biggest stations in all private railway companies. It has 8 tracks and 9 platforms. All trains to Kansai Airport, Wakayama and Koyasan depart from this station.

Tracks and platforms

You may find the detailed information and the map of this station at the link below:

Nankai Railway Namba station guide

There are three ticket gates/exits in this station, South, Central and North. But most of you use North gate where is the closest gate to other railway’s Namba station. It is located at same level as platforms on third floor. Central gate is located on second floor under platforms level. Nankai Railway’s travel center is located beside this gate. If you need to purchase special deal, please use this gate.

 

Hotels in Shin Osaka station / Osaka airport
Hotels in Kansai airport
Hotels in Osaka

You can take escalator to go down. You will find the underground path. Subway Midousuji line’s Namba station is located ahead.

Osaka Metro Midosuji line Namba station

Midousuji line is the busiest train line in Osaka. It is always crowded because this route connects major spots in Osaka, such as Shin-Osaka, Umeda (JR Osaka), Shinsaibashi, Namba and Tennoji. There are several ticket gates in underground path between Nankai Railway’s Namba station and Kintetsu/Hanshin Railway’s Osaka-Namba station.

The station has only two tracks and two platforms. You can find the direction easily.

Tracks and platforms

When you transfer among subways, you can transfer inside ticket gate. You do not need to exit the gate. There are some connection paths inside the gate to Yotsubashi line and Sennichimae line.

Kintetsu Railway / Hanshin Railway Osaka-Namba station

Kintetsu Railway and Hanshin Railway are major railway companies but it’s different companies. But these railways lines are connected at Osaka-Namba station. Both railway companies trains run each other. So Kintetsu Railway train from Nara goes to Kobe-Sannomiya station of Hanshin Railway. Hanshin Railway trains from Kobe-Sannomiya goes to Kintetsu-Nara. In Japan, many train companies operate trains together and run each other. This makes oversea tourist be confused.

This station has ticket gates at two sides, east and west. Both ticket gates are located at one floor down from underground path. East ticket gate is located near one of Subway Midousuji line ticket gates. East gate is very busy but west gate is very quiet.

You can take both Kintetsu Railway trains (to Nara, Ise, Nagoya) and Hanshin Railway trains (to Kobe, Himeji) at this station, Osaka-Namba. You may take Kintetsu Railway Limited Express train to Ise and Nagoya here at Osaka-Namba station. Many trains arrive and depart from this station but the station is small. It has only two platforms and three tracks and you can find the direction very easily.

Tracks and platforms

Track #1 and #2 are same platform. These tracks are used for any types trains. Some limited express depart from #1 and some local trains depart from #2.

Surcharge and reservation are required to take Kintetsu Railway’s limited express train to Nagoya, Ise and Nara. But only base fare is required to take Hanshin Railway’s limited express trains. Hanshin Railway does not have any trains that is applied to supplement. Because all trains are sort of commute trains.

Osaka Metro Sennnichimae line Namba station

Sennnichimae line is one of subway lines that runs from east to west between Noda-Hanshin and Minami-Tatsumi in Osaka. Most part of this line runs side by side with Kintetsu/Hanshin Railway.

There are two ticket gates and both gates are located next to Kintetsu/Hanshin Railway’s Osaka-Namba station. The station has only two tracks and two platforms. You can find the direction easily.

Tracks and platforms

When you transfer among subways, you can transfer inside ticket gate. You do not need to exit the gate. There are some connection paths inside the gate to Yotsubashi line and Midousuji line.

Osaka Metro Yotsubashi line Namba station

Yotsubashi line is one of subway lines that runs from north to south between Nishi-Umeda and Suminoe-Koen in Osaka. Most part of this line runs side by side with Subway Midousuji line. But Midousuji line is much much busier than Yotsubashi line. You can use this line to get Umeda. Nishi-Umeda station is located in Umeda too. It is located within walking distance from JR Osaka station and Midousuji line Umeda station.

There are two ticket gates but only north side gate is connected in this underground path. This gate is located beside west gate of Kintetsu/Hanshin Railways Osaka-Namba station.

The station has only two tracks and two platforms. You can find the direction easily.

Tracks and platforms

When you transfer among subways, you can transfer inside ticket gate. You do not need to exit the gate. There are some connection paths inside the gate to Sennichimae line and Midousuji line.

JR-Namba station

JR-Namba is located in westernmost of Namba. It is actually not very convenient location to get downtown Namba. If you use JR deals, like JR Pass, Kansai Area Pass, Kansai Wide Area Pass, and you do not want to pay any extra, JR-Namba station is only choice to get Namba for you. Because JR deals do not cover any subway and private railway trains.

If you need to transfer to Nankai Railway, Shin-Imamiya station that is located between JR-Namba and Tennoji is much more convenient. Nankai and JR Shin-Imamiya station are located at exactly same place. If you transfer at Namba, it takes 15 minutes.

If you need to transfer to Subway Midousuji line, Tennoji or Shin-Imamiya stations is much better than Namba. Midousuji line does not have any Shin-Imamiya station. But Dobutsuenmae station is same location as Shin-Imamiya. If you come from Kansai airport, all trains stop at Tennoji. Tennoji is better station to transfer.

The ticket gate is connected to underground path. The station is located at OCAT (Osaka City Air Terminal). This place is also known as express bus terminal and shopping complex.

The station has four tracks and two platforms. The trains from this station go to Tennoji and Nara. There is no direct train service between JR-Namba and Kansai Airport. You have to transfer at Tennoji to get Kansai Airport.

Tracks and platforms

Minimum connection time and way to transfer

As you read above, three are six stations in Namba. I would like to show you the transfer time among these stations in Namba. I just walked among these station slowly. But you may spend longer than this connection time.

There are lots of stations in Namba. But there are lots of signs too. As long as you can follow the signs, you will get the place where you want to go.

I hope this post will help you to understand the location and direction of Namba.