Your Osaka Station Guide
- Published on : 26/06/2016
- by : Japan Experience
- Youtube
Track 3 and 4 of the Osaka Station
© Romeo A, Unsplash
A major hub for travel in Osaka
Here's our easy guide to finding your way around Osaka station, one of the largest in the world.
Osaka's huge station, renovated in 2012, is a major hub for travel in Kansai. It can quickly become complicated to find your way around, as large stations in Japan are often made up of different stations and are mixed in with large shops and shopping centres.
All the Lines at Osaka station
Osaka station is located in the Umeda district and is the fourth-busiest station in the world. It is served by the following JR lines :
- JR Fukuchiyama Line to Amagasaki, Fukuchiyama
- JR Kyoto Line to Kyoto
- JR Yumesaki Line to Universal Studio Japan (USJ)
- JR Kobe Line to Kobe and Himeji
- Hanwa Line to Kansai airport and Wakayama
- Osaka Loop Line
In addition, several express trains linking various major cities also pass through Osaka Station, including the Super Hakuto and night trains (Sunrise Seto, Sunrine Izumo).
Osaka Loop Line train in Osaka Station
© Cheng-en Cheng, Wikimedias
Osaka station sign
© そらみみ, wikimedias
As the Umeda district is central, several other private lines pass through it, via other stations. These are linked by underground shopping streets and pedestrian bridges.
- Umeda: Misudoji Line (Osaka metro)
- Nishi-Umeda : Yotsubashi Line (Osaka metro)
- Higashi-Umeda : Tanimachi Line (Osaka metro)
- Osaka-Umeda : Hanshin lines, Hankyu lines
Osaka station is the main JR station, but it does not include the Shinkansen. If you use your Japan Rail Pass to take the high-speed train, make sure you go to Shin-Osaka Station. There is an express train (both the Kyoto Line Rapid Service and the Special Rapid Service) linking Osaka and Shin-Osaka stations, with just one stop between them, so the journey is very quick!
Shopping in Osaka Station
Station City takes its name from the brand-new shopping and entertainment areas springing up all around the station. Here are just a few of the places you can find:
Grand Front Osaka : A beautiful new curved building that opened in 2013 and offers everything from fashion to food to shops for big tech companies showcasing their latest wares.
Daimaru : This luxury shopping centre chain also has a presence not far from Osaka Station and spans over fifteen floors.
Lucua : A seven-storey shopping centre linked to the station with over 500 shops. You'll find Lucua Osaka and Lucua 1100.
Hankyu Department Store : You're sure to pass this department stores' on your way to the Hankyu line.
