Osaka Travel: Access, Orientation and Transportation

How to travel between Osaka and Tokyo

By shinkansen
Direct, 155-175 minutes, about 13,500 yen one way, multiple connections per hour
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

By highway bus
Direct, 8 hours, 2,000-10,000 yen one way, multiple daytime and overnight connections per day
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.
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!

By air
2-3 transfers, 3 hours, 10,000-20,000 yen one way, multiple flights per day
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.

By car
6 hours without breaks, around 10,000 yen one way in expressway tolls
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.

By local trains
4 transfers, 9-10 hours, 2300-8510 yen one way
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.

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

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.

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.