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How to travel between Osaka and Tokyo
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By shinkansen
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Direct, 155-175 minutes, about 13,500 yen one way, multiple connections per hour
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Tokyo (Tokyo and Shinagawa Stations) and Osaka (Shin-Osaka Station) 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 about three hours and kodama trains about four hours.
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The regular one way fare is 13,240 yen by non-reserved seat on any train, around 13,700 yen by reserved seat on hikari or kodama trains and around 14,000 yen by reserved seat on a nozomi train. A 7-day Japan Rail Pass costs about the same as regular round trip tickets. The Japan Rail Pass is valid on hikari and kodama trains, but not on nozomi trains.
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With the "Hikari Hayatoku Kippu", you can travel between Tokyo and Osaka by reserved seat on a hikari train for only 12,000 yen, but the ticket has to purchased at least one week in advance.
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With the "Puratto Kodama Economy Plan", you can travel between Tokyo and Osaka by reserved seat on a kodama train for only 10,000 yen, but the plan has to be purchased at least one day in advance.
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Japanican's Shinkansen Tour travel package combines a round trip from Tokyo to Osaka and accommodation in Osaka from 26,000 yen. In the opposite direction, i.e. for a side trip from Osaka to Tokyo, the similar Tokyo Train & Hotel Package is available from 25,000 yen.
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By highway bus
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Direct, 8 hours, 2,000-10,000 yen one way, multiple daytime and overnight connections per day
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The one way trip from Tokyo to Osaka by highway bus takes about 8 hours. There are daytime and overnight buses. Fierce competition on the Tokyo-Osaka route has produced a wide variety of comfort levels (from no-frills to super premium buses) and an abundance of discount offers.
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Typical one way fares are around 5000 yen for no-frills buses and around 9000 yen for premium buses, while fares by discount bus operators, such as Willer Express, start from around 4000 yen. If used effectively, the Japan Bus Pass can reduce the cost for the bus trip to around 3000 yen!
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By air
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2-3 transfers, 3 hours, 10,000-20,000 yen one way, multiple flights per day
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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 various discount fares. Flight duration is one hour. A majority of flights use Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Osaka's Itami Airport, but a small number of flights also serve Tokyo's Narita Airport and Osaka's Kansai Airport. |
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By car
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6 hours without breaks, around 10,000 yen one way in expressway tolls
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Driving between Tokyo and Osaka via the Tomei and Meishin Expressways takes about six hours without breaks and traffic jams. The expressway toll is around 10,000 yen one way.
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By local trains
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4 transfers, 9-10 hours, 2300-8510 yen one way
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By local trains, the one way trip from Tokyo to Osaka takes nine to ten 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 could theoretically do the trip for as little as 2300 yen.
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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, 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.
JR West
JR West operates a dense network of local train lines in the Osaka area. The most prominent line is the Osaka Loop Line, the equivalent to Tokyo's Yamanote Line. JR also operates lines to the Kansai Airport, Kobe, Kyoto, Nara and to the Universal Studios. The shinkansen (bullet trains) stop at Shin-Osaka Station.
Subway
Osaka has eight subway lines that cover especially the area inside the Osaka Loop Line. The subway offers the quickest connection between Osaka's two main districts Kita and Minami and is of great value to foreign visitors in general.
Nankai Railways
Nankai connects Namba to Kansai Airport, Wakayama and Mount Koya (Koyasan).
Hankyu Railways
Hankyu connects Umeda Station with northern Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto.
Kintetsu Railways
Kintetsu connects Osaka with many destinations in the southern Kansai Region, including Nara, Kyoto, Asuka, Yoshino, Ise and Nagoya. Lines start at Namba, Tennoji and Nagata Stations.
Hanshin Railways
Hanshin connects Osaka with Kobe. The lines start at Umeda and Namba Stations.
Keihan Railways
Keihan connects central Osaka with central Kyoto. The lines start at Yodoyabashi and Nakanoshima Stations.
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Special Tickets
The following one day passes are available for the Osaka area:
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Osaka Unlimited Pass (2000 yen)
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Unlimited use of subways, city buses and Hankyu, Hanshin, Nankai, Keihan and Kintetsu Railways within Osaka City on one calendar day, plus free or discounted admission to various tourist attractions. Available at tourist information centers and travel agencies.
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Osaka One-Day Pass (800 yen on weekdays, 600 yen on weekends and public holidays)
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Unlimited use of subways, city buses and the New Tram (but excluding the OTS Line) on one calendar day. The pass also provides discounts on admission to designated sightseeing spots. Available at subway stations and kiosks.
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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.
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Icoca (From 1000 yen)
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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, Sendai and Niigata areas.
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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.
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Surutto Kansai Card (1000, 2000, 3000 and 5000 yen)
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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.
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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).
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PiTaPa Card (postpaid card)
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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.
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Rather than a prepaid card, the PiTaPa Card is 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, and not an option for short term visitors.
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Any Questions? Ask them in our question forum.
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Hotels and Ryokan
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Hotel Ichiei
A comfort modern Japanese hotel located in the center of Osaka. 3 train stations of Namba within a walking distance.
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Osaka Yamatoya Honten
Japanese style budget ryokan. From 5,775yen. Right next to Dotonbori in Osaka.
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Japan Osaka Ryokan Association
For business or pleasure, search by area for the perfect traditional Japanese ryokan to match your Osaka accommodation needs.
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Kaneyoshi Ryokan
A modern Japanese inn in Dotombori. the center of Osaka. 2 subway stations nearby. Close to many shops and Osaka Castle.
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Japan Ryokan Association Kinki
We provide a wealth of information on ryokan in the Kinki area (Osaka, Kyoto and Nara) and offer direct reservations on our site!
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Tours and Packages
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Osaka Tours
Various tours and travel packages for Osaka and surroundings.
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