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. Lily says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I am travelling to Japan next month. I have been doing a lot of research about JR pass and train fares. I am not sure if the way my trip has been planned will suit a JR pass. Can you kindly help check if it’s worth for me buying a JR pass? If I do get a JR pass, when is the best day to activate it?

    Thank you very much for your help!

    20/4/19 – Osaka 6 nights
    Some sight seeing places: Osaka Castle, Osaka Castle Park, Shitennjoi Temple, Osaka Aquarium, Nara, Todai-J Temple and possibly Universal Studios.

    26/4/19 – Kyoto 5 nights
    Sight seeing places: Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine, Kinkaku-ji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Tenryu-ji Temple, Monkey Park

    1/5/19 – Takayama 2 nights

    3/5/19 – Tokyo 4 nights
    Some sight seeing places: Shibuya, Tokyo DisneySea

  2. Queenie says:

    Hi,

    I am travelling to Japan with my family soon and would like to know whether it will be worthwhile to get a JR pass or not (considering we need to get the Hakone pass too). The itinerary is as follows:
    Day 1: Day trip from Tokyo to Aomori to see the cherry blossoms
    Day 2: Tokyo to Mt Fuji then overnight stay at Hakone
    Day 3: Hakone to Osaka. We plan to stay here for 3-4 days and plan to do a day trip to Kobe and Hiroshima.
    Day 7: Osaka to Kyoto. We plan to stay here for 3-4 days and plan to do a day trip to Nara.
    Day 11: Kyoto to Tokyo. We plan to stay here for a few days before heading back home.

    Thank you so much in advance!
    Kind regards
    Queenie

  3. Laura says:

    Hi,
    I hope you can help me out here. I am travelling with 2 children in April. We will arrive Narita and overnight in Hakone, then to Osaka for 5 nights. During this 5 nights stay, we are hopping to Hiroshima or Kobe/Nara and Kyoto for day trips but spending 2 days in Osaka for sightseeing and USJ before heading back to Tokyo for 4 nights. We are thinking of getting the JR Pass, to have it activated on arrival so that it will end on the day we get into Tokyo. Is it worthwhile to get the JR Pass as I read more of information here, I got confused. If JR pass is a yes, which passes would be good to supplement when I am touring within Osaka and also in Tokyo?

  4. Gene Liew says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I would like to get some transportation advice from you. My friends and I will be travelling to Japan in June 2019. Below is the detail of our itinerary:

    Day 1: Kansai Airport to Osaka (Nishinari Ward)
    Day 2: Osaka to Kobe, to Himeji (if time permitted)
    Day 3: Osaka to Kyoto (Arashiyama Bamboo grove, Tenryuji Temple,Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle)
    Day 4: Osaka to Kyoto (Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, Kenninji Temple, Gion, Yasaka Shrine)
    Day 5:Osaka to Nara (Todaiji Temple, Nara Park, konfukuji)
    Day 6: USJ
    Day 7: Osaka Sight Seeing ( Osaka Castle, HEP Wheel, Umeda Sky buidling, dotonbori River)
    Day 8: Osaka to Kansai Airport

    We will stay at Osaka for the whole trip. I am thinking of getting Kansai thru pass for day 2,3,4 but what pass should we be using for getting around at Kyoto and Kobe.
    I would also like to know whether ICOCA card be using for using train/bus in Nara, Kobe, Kyoto and Osaka?
    For Day 7, we will be getting Osaka Amazing pass.

    Your help and support is much appreciated.

    Many thanks
    Gene

  5. Cheryl says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I will be going Japan in May but I really have no idea whether I should get a JR pass or not. Or if I did, how can I fully utilize it.

    16 May – 23 May: Arrive in Narita Airport T2 > Osaka and Kyoto
    (Osaka Airbnb is located in Ebisu nishi, Naniwa-ku)
    24May – 26 May: From Osaka > Tokyo
    (Tokyo Airbnb is located in Okubo, Shinjyuku)
    27 May 10am Flight: Narita Airport

    We will be spending the first part of the week exploring Osaka and Kyoto (2-3 days), but will only be staying in Osaka. Means we will be travelling back and forth to Kyoto.
    The later part of the week, we will be going to Tokyo Disneyland and exploring part of Tokyo. Should I be getting the JR pass or just get the tickets individually?
    Kindly advise and thanks for your time 🙂

  6. Chandi says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    With JR Pass, kindly assist us to plan out the latter part of the route
    Narita Terminal 2 -> Tokyo Station: On Narita Express
    Tokyo Station -> Shin Osaka : On Hikari Shinkansen
    Shin Osaka -> Osaka ???? (Not sure about the train and the schedules)
    Osaka -> Kyobashi Osaka : Local train on Osaka Loop line (not sure about the times)
    From there to reach Monterey La Seour Hotel Osaka on foot.

    Please advise.

    • Hi Chandi,

      There are lots of commute trains running, such as Special Rapid train, rapid train and local train from Shin-Osaka to Osaka. Train comes every 5 minutes or even less. Just hop on the train to get Osaka in 5 minutes.

      On Osaka Loop line, it’s same. Train comes every 3 to 5 minutes. Just hop on the train to get Kyobashi.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  7. Hi Takeshi,

    I would like to know if there are JR buses running around metro Osaka. I was able to book a hotel near the Ōsaka-Uehommachi Station but found out that only kintetsu rail lines are available in this station. I’m looking for ways to use my JR pass by using a JR bus in going to Osaka station.

    Thank you so much for your time.

    Regards,
    Bing

    • Hi Bing,

      JR bus does not run in downtown Osaka. You have to pay a regular fare to take subway or Kintetsu railway. Tsuruhashi is the nearest JR station.
      Osaka Metro Subway Tanimachi 9-chome is same location as Osaka-Uehonmachi.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  8. Roldan M. Salalila says:

    Sir / Ma’am,
    Me and my wife will visit Osaka this coming March 21 to March 30…we are planning also to visit Kyoto, Kobe and Nara…Kindly advise what JR Pass are we going to buy…
    Regards,
    Roldan

  9. Kevin Wu says:

    Hi,
    First time in Japan or Osaka from April 1-8. I would love to visit Kyoto and maybe Tokyo tome permitted. Would it be a good idea to get 7-day jr pass vs buying individually. Also, would you recommend taking the rail system from KANSAI airport to downtown Osaka?

  10. Cindy Tran says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I Have a round trip flight from Narita Airport for 10 Days. I’m planning to purchase the 7 Day JR Pass, but I’m not sure if it’s worth it. My itinerary is:
    3/21: arrived at Narita, activate the JR pass and take it to Osaka
    3/22-3/23: explore Osaka
    3/24-3/25: explore Kyoto
    3/25: Shinsaken to Tokyo
    3/35-3/29: explore Tokyo
    3/30: flight home
    I know I will need to buy additional metro pass for Tokyo, since the 7-Day JR pass will expired when I’m there, but I’m still unsure of which pass to get. Please recommend one to me.

    Thank you so much for your time.
    Cindy

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