The JR Tokaido Shinkansen requires 15 minutes and costs 1450 yen for an unreserved seat between not so centrally located Shin-Osaka Station and Kyoto Station. A reserved seat costs about twice as much. The Japan Rail Pass covers Hikari and Kodama trains between Shin-Osaka and Kyoto, but not Nozomi trains.
"Special rapid" trains on the JR Kyoto Line require about 30 minutes and cost 580 yen between centrally located Osaka Station and Kyoto Station. Stopping at a few more stations along the way, "rapid" trains require about 40 minutes and "local" trains about 45 minutes, but they are often less crowded. The one way fare is also 580 yen. All trains are covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
Limited express trains are more expensive but not much faster than special rapid trains; however, they tend to be less crowded. As a result, they can be a comfortable alternative to special rapid trains for Japan Rail Pass holders.
Limited express trains on the Hankyu Kyoto Line get you from Osaka-Umeda Station (next to JR Osaka Station) to Karasuma and Kyoto-Kawaramachi stations in central Kyoto in roughly 40 minutes and for 410 yen. They are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
Limited express trains on the Keihan Main Line get you from Yodoyabashi Station in central Osaka to Sanjo Station in central Kyoto in roughly 50 minutes and for 490 yen. They are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
Above fees and schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check current yen exchange rates.
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. Note that some of them are named after the Umeda district rather than Osaka. 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), four railway companies (JR, Nankai, Kintetsu and Hankyu) 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 Railway, 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.
See also our separate page about the various passes available for the Greater Osaka Region.
The prepaid IC card available in Osaka is called Icoca. It does not give you any discounts over regular tickets, but it makes the process of taking trains easier, as you do not always need to buy a ticket before riding a train. Icoca cards can be purchased through ticket machines at JR stations. Local non-JR railway companies offer their own IC card, called Pitapa; however, Pitapa is a postpaid card that works more like a credit card and cannot be used by tourists.
Icoca can be used on most trains and buses in the Greater Osaka region (and many other major cities in Japan). Additionally, eight other IC cards from other major cities of Japan can also be used on the trains and buses of Greater Osaka, including Suica, Pasmo, Kitaca, Toica, Manaca, Sugoca, Nimoca and Hayakaken.
Furthermore, the following passes are available for the Osaka area:
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