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Shinkansen, Subway, Train Lines, and Monorail in Osaka, Japan

As part of our list of resources for visitors to Osaka City, we present this guide to the different train systems in Osaka, including high-speed shinkansen train service on the JR lines, the Hankyu lines, the Hanshin lines, the Keihan lines, the Kintetsu lines, Nankai lines, as well as the local Osaka City Subway lines, and the Monorail system.

There are Eight Different Train Systems in Osaka

Osaka’s various train systems are interconnected, with two or more systems providing service to the most popular stations in Osaka. Visitors to Osaka will often have many choices of which system to use.

The eight different train systems in Osaka are:

— JR lines
— Osaka Metro Subway lines
— Nankai lines
— Hankyu lines
— Hanshin lines
— Keihan lines
— Kintetsu lines
— Osaka Monorail line

It is also true that a trip across the city may require the rider to transfer from one system to another (typically pay a fare for both systems).

Below we provide descriptions of each of Osaka train systems.

Japan Railways (JR Line)

The Central Japan Railway Company (known as “JR”) provides train service in many cities in Japan. In Osaka, the JR lines provide both local service throughout Osaka, as well as high-speed shinkansen service in Osaka and to other destinations such as Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, Kyoto, and more.

There are six different JR lines in Osaka:

— JR Tokaido Shinkansen High-Speed Train to Osaka

JR Tokaido Shinkansen is high-speed railway line, operated by JR Central, connecting Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka. The Tokaido Shinkansen is a popular choice for both business and leisure travelers, offering a fast and efficient way to travel between major Japanese cities.

— JR Osaka Loop Line

JR Osaka Loop Line (or Osaka Kanjo-sen) is a circlar line running through the metropolis of Osaka carrying over 300,000 passengers on a daily basis.

The Jr Loop Line in Osaka services 19 stations and the trains run in both directions, clockwise and counter-clockwise.

— JR Yumesaki Line

JR Yumesaki Line has four stations from Nishikujo to Sakurajima. The most important station is Universal City Station, which serves as a transfer point for Universal Studios Japan (USJ). Visitors to USJ arrive at Nishikujo Station, and transfer to the JR Sakurajima (Yumesaki) Line – which connects directly to Universal City Station.

— JR Yamatoji Line

JR Yamatoji Line runs between JR Namba Station in the Minami or “South” area of Osaka, and Kamo Station in Kyoto Prefecture. Because the line passes through JR Nara Station it is very useful for traveling between Osaka and Nara. Technically this line is also part of the Kansai Main Line which connects JR Namba Station with Nagoya Station in Aichi Prefecture.

— JR Hanwa Line

The JR Hanwa Line runs between Tennoji Station in Osaka and Wakayama Station in the city of Wakayama.

— JR Kansai-airport Line

JR Kansai Airport Line runs between Kansai Airport Station and Hineno Station, with just one stop at Rinku Town Station (Rinku Premium Outlets). Two important JR trains make use of this line: the Limited Express Haruka and the Kansai Airport Rapid Service.

Osaka Metro

Osaka Metro is the “subway” system for Osaka, a major rapid transit system in the Osaka metropolitan area of Japan (operated by the Osaka Metro Company, Ltd). Osaka Metro Subway has nine lines including automated people mover line known as the New Tram line.

The nine lines in the Osaka Metro Subway system are:

— Midosuji Line

Midosuji Line has 20 stations and is an important railway service running north-south in Osaka City. On subway maps and signage this line is color-coded red.

Main Stations: Shin-Osaka Station, Umeda Station, Yodobashi Station, Honmachi Station, Shinsaibashi Station, Namba Station, Dobutsuenmae Station, Tennoji Station

— Chuo Line

Chuo Line has 15 stations and runs from the west to the east between Yumeshima Station and Nagata Station. On subway maps and signage this line is color-coded green.

Main Stations: Yumeshima Station, Bentencho Station, Honmachi Station, Sakaisujihonmachi Station, Tanimachi 4-chome Station

— Yotsubashi Line

Yotsubashi Line has 11 stations and runs north to south between Nishi-Umeda Station and Suminoekoen Station. From Nishi-Umeda Station to Daikokucho Station this line runs parallel to the Midosuji Subway Line and the two lines share several stations. On subway maps and signage this line is color-coded blue.

Main Stations: Nishi-Umeda Station, Honmachi Station, Yotsubashi Station, Namba Station, Daikokucho Station, Suminoekoen Station

— Sennichimae Line

Sennichimae Line runs between Nodahanshin Station in Fukushima-ku and Minami-Tatsumi Station in Ikuno-ku. On its route, this line passes through the popular entertainment and shopping districts of Namba and Nipponbashi. On subway maps and signage this line is color-coded pink.

Main Stations: Awaza Station, Namba Station, Nipponbashi Station, Tsuruhashi Station

— Sakaisuji Line

Sakaisuji Line runs north to south between Tenjimbashisuji Rokuchome Station and Tenchagaya Station. There are 10 stations. The line is color-coded brown on the subway map.

Main Stations: Tenjinbashisuji 6-chome Station, Minamimorimachi Station, Sakaisujihonmachi Station, Nipponbashi Station, Tengachaya Station

— Tanimachi Line

Tanimachi Line has 26 stations between Dainichi Station in the city of Moriguchi and Yaominami Station in the city of Yao. On subway maps and signage this line is color-coded purple.

Main Stations: Higashi-Umeda Station, Minamimorimachi Station, Tanimachi 4-chome Station, Tennoji Station

— Imazatosuji Line

Imazato Line has 11 stations from Itakano Station to Imazato Station, and on subway maps and signage this line is color-coded orange.

Main Stations: Shigino Station, Midoribashi Station, Imazato Station

— Nagahoritsurumiryokuchi Line

Nagahoritsurumiryokuchi Line runs from Taisho Station to Kadoma-minami Station in Kadoma City, which is just north-east of Osaka City. There are 17 stations on the Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line. Within the subway system they are color-coded light green.

Main Stations: Dome-mae chiyozaki Station, Nagahoribashi Station, Shinsaibashi Station, Kyobashi Station

— New Tram

New Tram runs between Cosmosquare Station to Suminoekoen Station. The tram system is self-driving, unmanned transportation. There are 10 stations and they are color-coded on the map as light blue.

Main Stations: Cosmosquare Station, Trade Center Mae Station, Suminoekoen Station

Nankai Line

Nankai Line is an important line that connects Kansai International Airport to the rest of Osaka. Two important through services make use of this line: The Nankai Airport Express and the Limited Express Rapi:t. Both of these services connect Kansai Airport with Namba Station, which is an important transportation hub.

Hankyu Line

Hankyu Railway has three main lines and several branch lines: the Kobe Line, the Takarazuka Line, and the Kyoto Line. These main lines are further supplemented by branch lines, such as the Senri Line, Arashiyama Line, Itami Line, Imazu Line, and Koyo Line.

Hanshin Line

The Hanshin Main Line is an important commuter line that runs between Hanshin Osaka-Umeda Station in Osaka and Motomachi Station in the city of Kobe. There are 33 stations on the Hanshin Main Line between Hanshin Osaka-Umeda Station and Motomachi Station in Kobe.

Keihan Line

The Keihan Main Line is a railway line in Japan operated by Keihan Electric Railway. The line runs between Sanjō Station in Kyoto and Yodoyabashi Station in Osaka. There are through services to the Keihan Ōtō Line and the Keihan Nakanoshima Line.

Kintetsu Line

Kintetsu Railway Co. Ltd. (officially Kinki-Nippon Railway), referred to as Kintetsu, connects Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Nagoya, Tsu, Ise, and Yoshino.

Osaka Monorail Line

Osaka Monorail Main Line is a monorail route of the Osaka Monorail which connects Osaka Itami Airport Station in Toyonaka City, Suita City, Ibaraki City, Moriguchi City, and Kadoma City.