- Traveling to Osaka -
Osaka is located in the center of the famous "Kansai" region and is a convenient travel hub. There are two airports - Kansai Airport to the South and Osaka/Itami Airport to the North. Shinkansen (bullet trains) stop at Shin-Osaka station 15 minutes North of Osaka station, which is the route for most people coming by train from distant places like Tokyo, Nagano & Hiroshima. Famous Kyoto, Kobe, Nara and Wakayama are less than an hour away by train. Buses are available also, including cheap but tiring night-buses to Tokyo and ski destinations like Nagano & Nigata.
Osaka has two famous centers - Umeda in the North (where Osaka station is) and Namba in the South.
Below are images showing travel times to some common destinations outside Osaka, plus a map detailing common routes into Osaka, so that you can start to picture the city and your journey into it.
PRO TIP - It’s easy to plan trips in Japan via train & subway. Go to www.hyperdia.com or use another online planning website/app. Enter your departure & destination station, your departure or arrival time and click “search” and it’ll tell you what trains to catch, when and where to change, how long your journey will take and how much it’ll cost! Super helpful.
PRO TIP - Nozomi, Mizuho & Hayabusa bullet trains aren’t covered by the JR Rail Pass! Click “more options” then deselect that box in the search conditions to avoid paying a surcharge.
PRO TIP - Kyoto, Kobe & Nara are super close to Osaka! Osaka is right in the middle of Kansai, so its easy to spend your evenings surrounded by the best shopping, restaurants & nightlife and just day-trip to Kyoto, Kobe & Nara instead of staying there.
- Travel to Osaka by train
There are loads of different trains and train line combinations, depending on where you’re coming from. Travelers coming from far destinations will usually be traveling via JR and arrive at Osaka Station or Shin-Osaka station where the bullet trains stop. The good news for them and for everyone else is that planning train journeys are easy using hyperdia.com ! You can plug in your departure station, destination station then either your arrival or departure time and it’ll tell you exactly how long your journey will take, where to change trains and how much it will cost! So convenient, much efficiency, very Japan! :D
Click the following link for information about travel inside Osaka once you arrive.
- Travel from the Airports to Osaka City -
Wait - which airport are you coming from? Kansai Airport is the most common for international flights, but be aware that Osaka/Itami Airport is a different place! Here’s information about getting to Osaka from Osaka/Itami Airport - http://www.osaka-airport.co.jp/en/access/
- Travel from Kansai Airport to Osaka/Namba -
Travel from Kansai Airport to the city takes between 45 to 60 minutes, depending on your route and type of train/bus. But given time to land, taxi, go through immigration, collect your luggage then catch a train or bus, you should allow for at least 2 hours after landing before you reach Osaka city.
Travelers going to the Umeda area are probably best taking a JR train to Osaka station, while guests going to Namba have a choice between JR trains, Nankai trains or limousine buses to Namba OCAT bus terminal. Which of those options is best for you will depend on which station your accommodation/subway line change is close to. Namba’s a big place, don’t make the mistake of assuming that the various Namba stations are all in the same place! See the Which Namba Station? section for more information.
There are two terminals at Kansai Airport, and both the train lines and buses depart from outside the main terminal, Terminal #1. Terminal #2 is a little further away, so factor in the time it takes to catch the free shuttle bus 10 minutes to where Terminal #1 is.
Buses and trains run regularly until around 23:30. After that there are a series of late-night buses that go to Namba, several locations in Osaka, and Kyoto too. Here are some useful links:
Access information for Kansai Airport - http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/access/index.html
Nankai Trains Kansai Airport schedule - http://www.howto-osaka.com/en/traffic/train/timetable.html
JR Trains Kansai Aiport schedules - http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/timetable/
Namba OCAT bus to Kansai Airport schedule - http://www.kate.co.jp/en/timetable/detail/OC
- Late arrivals at Kansai Airport -
Buses and trains run regularly until around 23:30. After that there are a series of late-night buses that go to Namba, several locations in Osaka, and Kyoto too. Late buses to & from Kansai Airport - http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/morning-midnight/index.html
Click the following link for information about travel inside Osaka once you arrive.