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. Annie seah says:

    I like to know if passenger on wheelchair can travel bullet train

  2. rt says:

    Hi,
    Our hotel is at osaka station and we will ride shinkansen to Tokyo station.
    We already have reserved shinkansen tickets.
    when riding conventional train from osaka to shin osaka station to board the shinkansen, do we still need to pay for the fare (from osaka to shin osaka) using IC card? or is the shinkansen ticket enough?
    Thanks.

  3. Jamie says:

    I will be arriving Osaka from Nagoya & ticket I am going to use is departure 0923 ShinKs (Hiroshima) to Shin Osaka, transfer Special Rapid (Banshu-Ako). How do I transfer at Shin Osaka to Osaka? How to know which platform /track the arrival train are from the JRwest website?

  4. Zeepy says:

    Hello Takeshi san,

    Thank you for your very informative website. I’ve a some questions though:

    There are no more rooms during my time in Osaka and so I’ll stay at a hotel in Hineno for the 1st 2 nights. I intend to get a 2 day JR pass so I can visit Kyoto, Kobe and Nara.

    Then I intend to buy a Icoca Haruka card for use during my stay in Shinosaka for the remainder 2 nights whereby the Haruka pass will provide one way train service from Shinosaka to Kansai Airport (is this correct?)

    What do you think Takeshi San? Thank you and I look forward to your kind input.

    • Hi Zeepy,

      You intend to use ICOCA and Haruka one way ticket from Shin-Osaka to KIX, right? If so, you cannot unfortunately. ICOCA and Haruka can be used for departure from the airport only. You cannot use one way ticket to the airport.

      If you want to take Haruka from Shin-Osaka to KIX, you can use ICOCA and Haruka round trip ticket. My recommended itinerary is like the following:

      Day 1 Hineno-Kobe-Nara-Hineno (Kansai Area Pass)
      Day 2 Hineno-KIX (single fare) and then purchase ICOCA and Haruka round trip ticket for Kyoto from KIX. After that using ICOCA to get Shin-Osaka from Kyoto.

      Or simply give up using ICOCA and Haruka and find other deals to get KIX. You may use single fare for Haruka or other deals, like Nankai deals.
      https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-choose-the-deals-for-access-tofrom-kansai-airport.html

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  5. Rasidi says:

    Hi,

    I will be arriving at Shin Osaka station from Kansai airport via Haruka probably by afternoon. I’m traveling with my wife and 4 children. we plan to leave the luggage at the station and plan an half day tour at Osaka before depart to Nagoya. really appreciate if anybody can help.

    Which train/line should i used and which platform?

    1. From Shin Osaka to universal city.
    2. From Universal city to Kaiyukan Aquarium.
    3. From Kaiyukan to Osaka Castle.
    4. From Osaka Castle to Shin Osaka again.

    Best Regards,

    Rasidi

  6. AT says:

    Hi

    I’ve a flight to catch on 1130pm on 27 Dec at Kansai International Airport, I’ll be coming from Tokyo and planning to take Shinkansen for my son to experience it. I’ll be staying around Roppongi area in Tokyo and planning to book at 1 day hotel stay around Shin-Osaka station.

    Appreciate if you can advise.

    1. Which train station should I take the Shinkansen from Tokyo?
    2. Any specific Shinkansen line?
    3. Where can I purchase the ticket?
    4. Which hotel should I put up around Shin-Osaka station before I catch my 11.30pm flight if I’m arrive before noon?
    5. How do I go to Kansai airport from Shin-Osaka if I’ve 3 luggages?

    Look forward to your advise.

    Regards
    AT

  7. May says:

    How will I go to Osaka station from shin osaka station? How long will it take? Can i use my JR pass for this ride?

  8. Roza says:

    Hello ! I have my hotel in Shin-Osaka . I understand that only Limited Express Haruka is better way .Where I can to buy ticket for this train ? Ticket to round trip ? Card ICOCA and Haruka ?
    Thank you very much. Roza.

  9. Chris Allen says:

    Hello, I will be using my JR Pass to travel from Hiroshima to Kansai Airport (KIX). I understand there is a 10:53 Shinkansen Sakura to Shin-Osaka where I must change to catch the Ltd. Express Haruka to KIX Airport. The shinkansen arrives at Shin-Osaka track no.25 at 12:24 and Ltd. Express Haruka departs from track no.11 at 12:45. How long will it take me to walk to track no.11 and on which floor is it located in Shin-Osaka station? Hopefully the 20 mins connection time will suffice. Thank you for you kind help.

  10. Johncustody says:

    I will be arriving at Shin Osaka station from Kansai airport via Haruka. Our hotel is located at Osaka station. What is the most convenient train to ride on to go to Osaka Station from Shin Osaka? Or is it less complicated if I alight on Tennoji to ride a train to Osaka station? Thanks

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