basic information

How to travel between Osaka and Tokyo

By shinkansen:

Tokyo and Osaka are connected with each other by the JR Tokaido Shinkansen. Nozomi trains require about 155 minutes to reach Shin-Osaka Station from Tokyo. Hikari trains are roughly 20 minutes slower than the nozomi, while kodama trains take about four hours.

The regular one way fare from Tokyo to Osaka is 13,240 Yen by non-reserved seat on any train, around 13,500 Yen by reserved seat on kodama or hikari trains and around 13,800 Yen by reserved seat on a nozomi train. The Japan Rail Pass is valid on hikari and kodama trains, but not on nozomi trains.

With the "Hikari Hayatoku Kippu", you can travel from Tokyo to Osaka by reserved seat on a hikari train for only 12,000 Yen. You have to purchase the "Hikari Hayatoku Kippu" at least one week in advance of the departure date.

With the "Puratto Kodama Economy Plan", you can travel from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka by reserved seat on a kodama train for only 10,000 Yen and will receive one drink for free. The "Puratto Kodama Economy Plan" has to be purchased at least one day before departure.

Foreign tourists visiting Tokyo as a side trip from Osaka, should consider JTB's Free Plan Tokyo 2 Days tour package, which consists of a round trip from Osaka to Tokyo by hikari shinkansen and a one night stay at a hotel in Tokyo, starting at the amazing cost of only 22,500 Yen per person.

Likewise, the Free Plan Osaka 2 Days plan is available for foreign tourists visiting Osaka as a side trip from Tokyo for 23,100 Yen.

By local trains:

By local trains, the one way trip from Tokyo to Osaka takes about 9-10 hours and typically involves about four transfers of trains. The regular fare is a relatively expensive 8510 Yen, however, with a Seishun 18 Kippu you can do the trip for as little as 2300 Yen.

By bus:

The one way trip from Tokyo to Osaka by highway bus takes about 8 hours. There are daytime and overnight buses. The competition between bus companies on the Tokyo - Osaka route is fierce and has produced various discount offers.

The lowest one way fares start around 5000 Yen. Buses on this price level are usually standard buses which offer little comfort. The one way trip by more comfortable buses costs around 8500 Yen. Please visit our highway bus page for more details.

By airplane:

The regular one way fare between Tokyo and Osaka is about 19,000 Yen, however, few travelers pay more than 13,000 Yen thanks to the various discount offers on domestic flights.

The flight between Tokyo and Osaka takes about one hour. A majority of flights use Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Osaka's Itami Airport. A small number of flights also serve Tokyo's Narita Airport and Osaka's Kansai Airport.

Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current Yen exchange rate, click here.

 
Orientation

Osaka has two major city centers and four major train stations. The two city centers are nicknamed Kita ("North") around Osaka/Umeda Station and Minami ("South") around Namba Station. While Kita is a large shopping and business area, Minami is Osaka's most famous entertainment district.

JR Osaka Station is located in the center of the Kita district. Two other railway companies and three subway lines have their own stations in the vicinity of JR Osaka Station, however, these stations are named Umeda Station rather than Osaka Station. The shinkansen trains stop not at Osaka Station, but at Shin-Osaka Station. Shin-Osaka Station is located one station north of Osaka Station by JR train.

In the Namba area (Minami), three railway companies (JR, Nankai and Kintetsu) and three subway lines have their separate stations, all named Namba Station. The fourth of Osaka's major railway stations is Tennoji Station in the southeast of central Osaka. It is served by JR, Kintetsu Railways, the Hankai Tramway and two subway lines.

The city of Osaka is served by over seven different railway and subway companies. Most relevant to foreign visitors of Osaka are the subway lines and the lines operated by JR West. The lines operated by the other private railway companies are useful for accessing neighboring cities and regions.

 
Special Tickets

The following one day passes are available for the Osaka area:

	Osaka Unlimited Pass (2000 Yen)
	Unlimited use of subways, city buses and Hankyu, Hanshin, Nankai, Keihan and Kintetsu Railways within Osaka City on one calendar day, PLUS free and discounted admission to various tourist attractions. Available at tourist information centers and travel agencies.
	Osaka One-Day Pass (850 Yen)
	Unlimited use of subways, city buses and the New Tram, but excluding the OTS Line. On Fridays and on the 20th of each month (or the following day, if the 20th is a Sunday or public holiday), the One-Day Pass is called "No-My-Car-Day Discount Pass" and costs only 600 Yen. Available at subway stations and kiosks.

Prepaid cards don't give you any discounts, but they make the process of taking trains easier, as you do not always need to buy a ticket before riding a train. Prepaid cards can be purchased at vending machines.

	Icoca (From 1000 Yen)
	Icoca ("Shall We Go?") is a prepaid IC card that can be used on JR trains in the Kansai region, except shinkansen. Icoca can also be used in place of PiTaPa Cards (see below) on the Surutto Kansai network and in place of Suica on JR trains in the greater Tokyo and Sendai areas.
	A refundable 500 Yen deposit is applied when you initially get an Icoca card. Afterwards, you can re-charge it at vending machines. To use Icoca, you do not insert your card into the ticket gate slot, but only hold it close to the Icoca sensor, which is attached to the ticket gate. The required fee will then be automatically withdrawn.
	Surutto Kansai Card (1000, 2000, 3000 and 5000 Yen)
	The Surutto Kansai Card can be used on most trains and buses in the Kansai Region with the prominent exception of JR trains. To use the Surutto Kansai Card, insert it into the ticket gate slot. You cannot re-charge Surutto Kansai Cards.
	Note that the Surutto Kansai Card is also known under various alternative names, depending through which company you buy it (e.g. Lagare Card in case of Hankyu or Rainbow Card in case of the Osaka Subway).
	PiTaPa Card (postpaid card)
	The PiTaPa Card is the IC version of the Surutto Kansai Card, valid on many trains and buses in the Kansai region, although, it cannot be used as widely as the Surutto Kansai Card yet. Unlike the Surutto Kansai Card, however, the PiTaPa Card can also be used in place of the Icoca Card (see above) on JR trains.
	To use the PiTaPa Card, you do not insert it into the ticket gate slot, but only hold it close to the PiTaPa Card sensor, which is attached to the ticket gate.
	Rather than a prepaid card, the PiTaPa Card is actually a postpaid card, with charges being withdrawn from a registered bank account on a monthly basis. Therefore, acquiring a PiTaPa Card is a more complicated and time consuming process than getting a conventional prepaid card.

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hotels & ryokan

Kaneyoshi Ryokan A modern Japanese inn in Dotombori. the center of Osaka. 2 subway stations nearby. Close to many shops and Osaka Castle. Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport is located in Aeroplaza directly connected to the nearest station and Kansai International Airport. Weekly Mansion Osaka Furnished apartments in the middle of downtown Osaka for short and extended stays. Free In-Room Broadband.

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