Shin Osaka station guide. How to change Shinkansen, Haruka, Thunderbird and local train access to Osaka, Umeda and Namba

Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara
Conventional lines platform (front), Shinkansen terminal (back) (C) Outside view of the Shin Osaka station/Ariake

Shin-Osaka station is the place where you change to/from Shinkansen. If you travel in Osaka, you may use this station at least once. All Shikansen trains stop at this station and many limited express trains on conventional lines stop or depart from this station, Shin-Osaka.

In this post, I would like to show you some images and explain about this station. You will get the information about transfer among trains.

Overview

Click to view large.

Shin-Osaka station is composed of four levels, Shinkansen tracks on 4th floor, fare gate and concourse on 3rd floor and conventional line’s tracks on ground floor. On 2nd floor, there are some shops and restaurants. But as long as you transfer the trains in this station, you don’t see 2nd floor.

Shin-Osaka station is one station and three minutes away from Osaka station (Umeda area). But the atmosphere in Shin-Osaka is totally different from Osaka station, Umeda area. Shin-Osaka station has lots of restaurants and shops but it is much fewer than Osaka and Umeda stations.

On the other hand, the average hotel rate is cheaper than Umeda area. It takes only 3 minutes by a local train. If your budget is tight, Shin-Osaka may suit your trip plan.

You can find everything you need about Shin-Osaka station in the movie below too:

Ticket gate/Exit

Shinkansen ticket window is located beside Shinkansen ticket gate. If you use non reserved seat by Japan Rail Pass, you don’t need anything. But if you want to book reserved seat in last minutes, you can do it here. (C) JR Shin-Osaka Station / Hyougushi

There are three ticket gates, East, South and Central on 3rd floor.

If you want to exit from conventional line’s platform, you can use East exit only. Other two exit, South and Central are located in Shinkansen concourse. You cannot access to these two exits without Shinkansen ticket. If you use Japan Rail Pass, you can go through Shinkansen concourse without any extra charge. You don’t need to exchange any Shinkansen ticket. All you have to do is showing your Japan Rail Pass at Shinkansen

There is Shinkansen ticket gate in the concourse. When you transfer to/from Shinkansen, you need to go through this gate. You must have Shinkansen ticket, Japan Rail Pass, JR West Sanyo Area Pass, JR West Sanyo-Shikoku-Kyushu Pass or JR West Kansai WIDE Area Pass to access to Shinkansen platform/concourse. JR West Kansai Area Pass do NOT cover Shinkansen trains.

Tracks and platforms

There are 10 tracks / 5 platforms for conventional lines on ground floor and 7 tracks / 4 platforms for Shinkansen on 4th floor.

Shinkansen on 4th floor

There are seven tracks, #20-#27.

Track#Name of line / Destination
20-22The Sanyo Shinkansen and the Kyushu Shinkansen for Okayama, Hiroshima, Hakata, Kumamoto, Kagoshima-Chuo
23-27The Tokaido Shinkansen for Kyoto, Nagoya, Tokyo

Conventional lines on Ground floor

Conventional lines platforms (C) JP Rail

You can get on a local commute train, a rapid service train and a limited express train on the conventional lines at track #1-10.

Track#Name of line / Destination
1,2■ Osaka Higashi line local train for Hanaten, Kuhoji
The limited express Haruka and The limited express Kuroshio for Kyoto
3The limited express Haruka for Kansai Airport
The limited express Kuroshio for Wakayama, Shirahama, Shingu
4The limited Express Thunderbird for Fukui, Kanazawa, Wakura-Onsen
The limited express Wide View Hida for Gero, Takayama
Special Rapid / Rapid train for Takatsuki, Kyoto (during peak hour only)
5,6■ Kyoto line local train, rapid and Special Rapid for Takatsuki, Kyoto, Maibara, Tsuruga
7,8■ Kobe line local train, rapid and Special Rapid for Sannomiya, Kobe, Himeji
■ Takarazuka line for Takarazuka, Shin-Sanda, Sasayamaguchi
9,10The limited express Konotori for Fukuchiyama, Kinosaki-Onsen
■ The limited express Super Hakuto for Himeji, Tottori, Kurayoshi
Special Rapid / Rapid train for Sannomiya, Kobe, Himeji (during peak hour only)

Access to/from Osaka station and minimum connecting time at Shin-Osaka station

If you access to/from Osaka station (Umeda area), you can take any trains on conventional lines, the limited express, special rapid, rapid or local. All trains stop at Shin-Osaka and takes only 3 minutes to get Osaka station. Special rapid, rapid and local trains run very frequently. You can hop on the train to get Osaka.

In regards to transfer, the minimum transfer time is 10 minutes according to JR West. But if you will plan to purchase the Shinkansen ticket on the spot, you may spend another 10 minutes. If you really worry to miss the train, expect to spend another 5 minutes, total 15 minutes. However you can purchase the Shinkansen ticket at any major JR stations in advance.

Access to/from Namba station by Osaka Subway Midosuji line

Midousuji line can be seen from Shinkansen platform. It is subway line but it does not run underground in Shin-Osaka. Midousuji line station is located just under Shinkansen platforms.
Midosuji line can be seen from Shinkansen platform. It is subway line but it does not run underground in Shin-Osaka. Midosuji line station is located just under Shinkansen platforms.

If you go to another downtown core, Namba, Osaka Subway Midosuji line is the best way to get there. You can access to Namba by JR lines. But it is a detour and JR Namba station is not located at the center of Namba area. Midosuji line Shin-Osaka station is located at 2nd level. Shinkansen Central ticket gate is the closest to subway station. I show you how to transfer between Shinkansen and subway Midosuji line below.

If you transfer to subway from Shinkansen train, minimum transfer time is 10 minutes. But if you transfer from the conventional line trains, you might spend another 5 minutes to transfer. T

How to transfer to/from Subway Midosuji line

Use Central exit.

2015 spring Japan trip 1280
2015 spring Japan trip 1281

Once you get out from Central exit, you will find the sign of subway on your left hand.

2015 spring Japan trip 1282

Follow the signage and go down.

2015 spring Japan trip 1285

There are many signage and just follow.

2015 spring Japan trip 1286
2015 spring Japan trip 1287

You will find subway ticket gate soon.

2015 spring Japan trip 1289

It takes 5 minutes to transfer from ticket gate to ticket gate. It is quite easy.

Comments

  1. star says:

    hi. Im coming from Osaka station to Hiroshima. I need to make a transfer at Shinosaka station. I plan to have a bento breakfast at the shinkansen train. where would it be more convenient to buy, at Osaka or Shinosaka station?

  2. Olver says:

    I will be arriving at Shin Osaka station Shinkansen terminal mid-March and would like to know the best way to get to JR Namba Rail Station or Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT).

    Thank you and best regards,

    Oliver.

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Oliver,

      You have two options:
      1) Shin Osaka (local train) Osaka (Osaka Kajo line) Imamiya (local train) JR Namba.
      2) Shin Osaka (Subway Midousuji line) Namba (walk 10-15 mins) JR Namba

      If you don’t want to walk, take options 1.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

      • Oliver says:

        Thanks for your quick response Takeshi. The information was exactly what I needed.

        Best regards,

        Oliver.

  3. Deity says:

    Hi, we will travel to Osaka on February. Please advise the best way to get to Consort Hotel by JR train. Where is the taxi stand and how many minutes is the travel time from Shin Osaka Station to the hotel. Thanks.

  4. deane says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    What a good website!
    You did a good job.

    I also have a question here.
    My friend and i will meet somewhere in Shin-osaka station. She will take train from kansai airport and i ask her to stop at shin osaka station. Because we booked a hotel around shin osaka. Where do you think the best spot for us to meet?
    Im a newbie in Japan though..

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Deane,

      Thanks for your comment about my website.

      I think East ticket gate is the best place. This ticket gate is the nearest from the platform where Haruka (train from Kansai airport) arrive at.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  5. Susanna says:

    1. Where is the best place to meet friends arriving on the Shinkansen at Shin-Osaka?
    2. As they exit the Shinkansen would the Tourist Information Centre be easy for them to find?
    3. Where exactly is the Tourist Information Centre? What level?
    4. Which floor is the Midosudji line on for transferring to Ikoma etc?

    Thank you in advance.

  6. Angel No. 2 says:

    Hi Takeshi san,

    Your site is currently my most used site in my favourites folder.

    I will be going to Osaka and Tokyo this end November and pardon my questions but here goes.
    I’m fine with Tokyo but, it’s my first time to Osaka so I’m a bit freaked out about travel plans and stuff.

    My Itinerary as of right now is simple

    22 – Reach Osaka
    23 – Depart for Tokyo (AM)
    24 – Tokyo
    25 – Tokyo
    26 – Get back to Osaka
    27 – Osaka
    28 – Osaka
    29 – Osaka
    30 – Leave Japan

    I’m intending to take the Nozomi Shinkansen to depart for Tokyo on 23rd. Since I have time on 22nd, am I able to
    – buy the Shinkansen ticket on 22nd?
    – buy both the basic fare ticket and the shinkansen ticket?
    – buy the Shinkansen ticket to come back on 26th as well?
    – basic fare ticket will be from the point that I board the train or from Shin-Osaka station?

    I will base my next question based on your answer for the above questions.

    Sorry and please help me! =S

  7. SOO SY says:

    Hi, I will be staying in Chinsun Shin Osaka Hotel and which line is best to take to travel to (1) Osaka City , (2) Kobe city. , (3) Kyoto city

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Soo,

      As long as you stay in Shin Osaka, you can go anywhere by JR trains without any transfer. Osaka is just one station away. Kyoto is within 30 minutes by Rapid train. And Kobe is within 25 minutes ride by Rapid train as well.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  8. Gigi Angelo says:

    Hi, this is my first time to travel to Japan wiht my family. We will be using the Puratto Kodama Train becasue w eare trying to save as we are 5. I believe I need to take this train at Shin Osaka? Is it the Tokaido Shinkasen Line track no. 23-26. Many thanks for your help.

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Gigi,

      If you go to Tokyo or Nagoya, you are right.
      I don’t know where you are going. But if you travel from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo, Puratto Kodama is 10000 yen. If you take round trip, total fare is 20000 yen. Japan Rail Pass 7 days is 28300 yen. 8300 yen difference will be able to cover your trip in Tokyo and Osaka maybe. And also you can take Hikari that is faster than Kodama. You can save your time too.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  9. simon says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    From Osaka Station by any conventional line to Shin-Osaka Station and change to Shinkansen line,
    from 1F (East Gate) to 3F or is it to 4F?

    Thanks

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Simon,

      Technically conventional line is located at ground level (1F), Shinkansen gate at 3F and Shinkansen platform at 4F. But you will feel 1F, 2F and 3F. Because there is second floor outside of ticket gate. There are some stores. You can’t see it when you transfer.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

      • Simon says:

        Hi Takeshi,

        Thanks for the info.So from Osaka Station to Shin-Osaka Station arrive at 1F goes up to 3F and move one up to 4F that is the Shinkansen platform level.

        On the return if transfer to Midosuji subway line, then goes down to 2F and walk to the Midosuji Line, am I right?

        Best regards
        Simon

        • JPRail says:

          Hi Simon,

          That’s right. Exit to Midousuji line is at other side of conventional line transfer gates.

          There are lots of sign anyway. You can’t miss it.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JP Rail

  10. JAyre says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I actually really like staying at hotels around Shin-Osaka. Between it, Umeda and Kyoto, Shin-Osaka is my favourite because of the convenience of getting on the Shinkansen (or any of the limited express trains) and moving around within Osaka. Since it is still on the Midousuji Line, there are still good connections for people who want to go to Koyasan through Namba. There’s three Toyoko Inn chain hotels within walking distance of Shin-Osaka, and there is a surprisingly large amount of restaurants inside the station building to suit any taste.

    The only limited express in the area I can think of that doesn’t stop at Shin-Osaka is Hamakaze. You still have to go to Osaka to get on. However, you can just catch up to that particular service at Himeji if you need to go to Wadayama or Kinosaki Onsen by that route.

    Best regards,

    Jonathan Ayre

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Jonathan,

      Shin-Osaka is the best location to catch the trains. I agree with it.
      I was afraid some readers mixed up Osaka (Umeda) with Shin-Osaka. Shin-Osaka is very popular for local business travellers because of transportation as you mentioned. Hotels are cheaper than Umeda. As long as travellers don’t expect huge downtown core, Shin-Osaka is a good location to stay.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

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