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.
- Kansai Area Pass
- Kansai Wide Area Pass
- Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass
- Sanyo Sanin Area Pass
- Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass
- Hokuriku Arch Pass
- Takayama Hokuriku Area Touirst Pass
- Northern Kyushu Sanyo Sanin Area Pass
I will show you JR train network in downtown Osaka in this post.
JR lines in downtown Osaka
Please see the map below:
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)
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)
- Hankyu Railway (to Arashiyama, Gion, Kobe-Sannomiya, Takarazuka, Ikeda, Minoo),
- Hanshin Railway (to Kobe-Sannomiya)
- Osaka Metro (to almost everywhere in Osaka)
- Kyobashi – Keihan Railway (to Gion, Kyoto)
- Tsuruhashi – Kintetsu Railway (to Osaka-Namba, TennojiNara, Nagoya)
- Tennoji
- JR Kansai Airport line (to Kansai airport)
- JR Yamatoji line (to Nara)
- JR Hanwa line (to Wakayama)
- Kintetsu Railway (to Yoshino)
- Osaka Metro (to Namba, Tanimachi)
- Shin-Imamiya – Nankai Railway (to Namba, Kansai airport)
- Bentencho – Osaka Metro Chuo line (to Osaka Kaiyukan aquarium)
- Nishikujo
- Hanshin Railway (to Osaka-Namba, to Kobe-Sannomiya)
- 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
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
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
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?
Hi Yanna.
14 days pass is too expensive for your trip.
You may use 7 days pass for Tokyo-Osaka/Kyoto-Tokyo. There are lots of other deals for Narita-Tokyo access and subway pass combo deal. You can use one of these deals.
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/airport_bus/index.html
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/travel/index.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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?
Hi Sung san,
Please see the link below. You will get some idea.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/visit-kyoto-osaka-nara-and-kobe-for-5-to-7-days-sample-itinerary.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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
Hi felicia,
You can take any JR trains in the cities, like Osaka. But some places in the cities cannot be accessed by JR trains. In this case, you need to pay extra. Please see the links below to find the info:
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-kyoto-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kansai-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-osaka-how-to-choose-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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!
Hi Indriyati san,
You may use Kansai thru pass for day 1, 5 and 7.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-use-kansai-thru-pass-compare-pass-and-single-fare.html
For day 2, 3 and 7, please refer the links below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-osaka.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-kyoto.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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
Hi Sarah,
JR Pass does not work. You may use local deals in Osaka and Tokyo. And use single fare or Platt Kodama for Osaka to Tokyo. Please see the links below to fine more details.
Osaka
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-choose-the-deals-for-access-tofrom-kansai-airport.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-osaka.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/how-to-choose-discount-railway-ticket-and-pass-in-kansai-area.html
Platt Kodama
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/platt-kodama-one-way-deal-among-tokyo-nagoya-kyoto-and-shin-osaka-by-shinkansen.html
Tokyo
https://jprail.com/destinations/kanto-area/tokyo-kanto-area/guide-to-take-trains-in-tokyo-how-to-choose-the-best-deal-and-the-best-route-by-train-to-get-the-major-spots.html
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/index.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi-san,
We’re travelling to Tokyo on the 18th for 3 days, then to Osaka for 3 days, then Hakone for 3 days and back to Tokyo for another 3 days. Should I be getting a JR pass for 3 people?
Thank you,
Joaquin
Hi Joaquin san,
Yes, you can use JR Pass 7 days for Tokyo-Osaka-Odawara (Hakone)-Tokyo. But you may need to add other deals when you are in Osaka and Hakone. Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/japan-rail-pass-user-guide-how-to-use-jr-pass-to-its-maximum.html#How_to_use_JR_pass_in_major_cities_and_tourist_spots
In Tokyo, you can add other deal. Please see the link below:
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/airport_bus/index.html
http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/travel/index.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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?
Hi Christina,
JR pass is a bit more expensive than single fare from Tokyo to Osaka and local deals. But you may have convenience and try to use as much as you can to try to get the worth.
You can get Kyoto from Shin-Osaka directly. I usually recommend local train or rapid train. But you will be in Shin-Osaka which is Shinkansen station. So you can use Shinkansen for round trip to Kyoto. If you pay single fare for this only 10 minutes Shinkansen ride, it costs more than 2000 yen for one way. So you should use it.
You may get Arashiyama, Nijo and Fushimi Inari by JR pass. And you may need to add some fare to get other places in Kyoto. All day bus pass is 500 yen for one day. It’s recommended additional:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/how-to-choose-the-best-train-pass-for-sightseeing-in-kyoto.html
You can use JR pass in Osaka as you see the above. You can use ICOCA or Kansai one pass. Kansai one pass gives you some discount at many attractions. It’s recommended but 2500 yen may be too much for just Osaka. If you use Kansai one pass, you can use it in Kyoto instead of all day bus pass.
http://kansaionepass.com/en/about.html?info=1
I don’t think you have any extra time but if you change your mind, you can get other places from Osaka to maximize using JR pass, such as day trip to Hiroshima or Himeji and Kobe:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1-day/day-trip-to-hiroshima-and-miyajima-from-osakakyoto.html
https://jprail.com/destinations/world-heritage-destinations/how-to-access-to-himeji-and-kobe-from-osaka.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Sorry I didn’t reply to your helpful comments earlier. We just returned from our Japan trip and I must say everything you suggested was extremely useful! I’ll be sure to refer to your website again next time when we explore Hokkaido and region.
Thanks so much!
Hi Christina,
I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed your trip.
Hope you will visit Japan again near future.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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
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!!!
Hi Ling Ling,
Please see the link below to find the info about the deal and how to build your plan in Osaka.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/how-to-build-the-itinerary-and-choose-the-deals-for-osaka-stay-5-to-7-days.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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
Hi Joey,
You can use JR pass to reach Kyoto and Nara from Osaka. Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/how-to-transfer-among-kyoto-osaka-and-kobe-compare-japan-railway-and-private-lines.html
You can take Shinkansen from Osaka to Tokyo. It’s covered.
But actually Shinkansen cost from Osaka to Tokyo is almost half of 7 days pass, around 15000 yen. Train trips between Osaka and Kyoto/Nara is not much, less than 1000 yen for one way. If you leave from Tokyo, 7 days pass will not be paid off. Local deals, such as subway pass and single fare to Tokyo may be cheaper.
If you come back to Osaka after staying in Tokyo, it’s paid off.
If you leave from Tokyo and want to get the worth of 7 days pass, try to add one long trip. For example, Hiroshima and Miyajima can be done as day trip from Osaka. If do this or same type of trip, you will get the worth of 7 days pass.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1-day/day-trip-to-hiroshima-and-miyajima-from-osakakyoto.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you very much for your detailed help. looking forward to explore japan soon
No worries, Joey.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
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!!!
Hi Juls,
I recommend you to stay in Shin-Osaka, Umeda (JR Osaka) or Namba in Osaka. These places are very accessible to outside Osaka and moving in downtown Osaka. Please see the links below to find more info:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/tips-for-japan-rail-pass/how-to-transfer-among-kyoto-osaka-and-kobe-compare-japan-railway-and-private-lines.html
In Kyoto and Nara, just stay near Kyoto station and Nara station. These places are most accessible.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com