Osaka Getting there & around

Getting around

Bus & tram

Bus

Osaka does have a bus system, but it is nowhere near as easy to use as the rail network. Japanese-language bus maps are available from the tourist offices.

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Train

Train & subway

Osaka has a good subway network and, like Tokyo, a JR loop line (known in Japanese as the JR Kanjō-sen) that circles the city area. In fact, there should be no need to use any other form of transport while you are in Osaka unless you stay out late and miss the last train.

There are seven subway lines, but the one that most short-term visitors are likely to find most useful is the Midō-suji line, which runs north to south stopping at Shin-Osaka, Umeda (next to Osaka station), Shinsaibashi, Namba and Tennō-ji stations. Most rides cost between ¥200 and ¥300.

If you’re going to be using the rail system a lot on any day, it might be worth considering a ‘one-day free ticket’ (kyōtsū ichinichi jōsha ken). For ¥850 (‘no-my car free ticket’ ¥600 on Fridays and the 20th of every month only) you get unlimited travel on any subway, the New Tram line and all city buses (but not the JR line). Note, however, that you would really have to be moving around a lot to save any money with this ticket. These tickets can be purchased from some of the ticket machines in most subway stations; push the button for ‘one-day free ticket’ (kyōtsū ichinichi jōsha ken) then press the illuminated button reading ‘¥850’.

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