Osaka Travel Guide

Getting There By Air

Kansai International Airport(KIX)
Tel: (072) 455 2500.
Website: www.kansai-airport.or.jp

Kansai International Airport is situated 50km (33 miles) south of Osaka city center and is the main airport in the Kansai region.

Facilities include currency exchange offices, ATMs, car rental, a large number of shops of all kinds and a wide choice of bars and restaurants. There is also a business center, as well as wireless Internet access and Internet access via coin-operated computer terminals, several airline lounges and two VIP rooms. Other facilities include showers, medical and dental clinics, a nursery and a play room for children.

Regular train services connect the airport with the city. The JR ‘Haruka’ Kansai Airport Limited Express train links the airport to Shin-Osaka station (journey time - 50 minutes). By car (whether rental car, taxi, limousine or van) it takes 50-60 minutes to get to central Osaka, depending on traffic. Taxis can be booked on arrival at the airport. Driving to Osaka from the airport is straightforward - cross the airport access bridge and then turn towards the north at the Rinku Junction on Hanshin Expressway and then follow the signs to Osaka.

Getting There By Road

Osaka is extremely well connected by expressways from the eastern and western regions of Honshu. Traffic drives on the left and the minimum driving age is 18 years old. Speed limits vary considerably so pay attention to speed limit signs. Foreign drivers can use an international license for up to one year and it is advisable to take out car insurance. The Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) (tel: (03) 3578 4910; www.jaf.or.jp/e/index_e.htm) provides an English-language 'Rules of the Road' booklet and JAF Road Service offers 24-hour breakdown assistance for both members and non-members. In the case of an accident, the police must be informed (tel: 110).

Emergency breakdown services
JAF (tel: 8139).

Routes to the city
The Sanyo and Chugoku Expressways both run from the west towards Osaka. The Meishin Expressway from Kyoto (and, ultimately, Tokyo and Nagoya) is to the northeast of the city. The Kinki, Hanwa and Nishimaihan Expressways emanate from the south.

Driving times to the city
From Tokyo - 8 hours; Kyoto – 1 hour 30 minutes; Nagoya - 3 hours.

Coach services
There are regular highway bus services running between Osaka and Kyoto, Nagoya and Tokyo to the east, and Hiroshima and Fukuoka to the west. The trip from Tokyo to Osaka by highway bus takes eight to nine hours. Both daytime and overnight buses are available. JR Bus Kanto (tel: (03) 3844 1950; www.jrbuskanto.co.jp/bus_route_e) operates regular coach services between Osaka and Tokyo. JR Tokai (tel: (052) 563 0489; www.jrtbinm.co.jp) runs coach services between Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and several other cities. JR Chugoku (tel: (082) 261 5489; www.chugoku-jrbus.co.jp) operates services from Hiroshima and Okayama to Osaka. Willer Express (tel: (050) 5805 0383; http://travel.willer.co.jp/index.html) has direct coaches from Osaka to Sendai in northern Japan, as well as Hiroshima in the west and Nagasaki in the south.

Getting There By Rail

Osaka is well connected to national and regional rail networks.

Rail Services
The main hub for JR lines is Osaka Station in the city's north. The shinkansen trains stop at Shin-Osaka Station, which is located one station north of Osaka Station on the JR line. Private rail lines run through the north and south of the city. The JR Tokaido Shinkansen line connects Osaka with Tokyo, in the east, as well as Hiroshima in the west and Fukuoka in the south. The fastest of the Shinkansen trains, the nozomi, takes 155 minutes to reach Shin-Osaka Station from Tokyo (note that the Japan Rail Pass is not valid on nozomi trains). With hikari trains, the journey takes 20 minutes more, and the kodama trains take about four hours.

Rail Operators
West Japan Railway Company (tel: (06) 375 8981; www.westjr.co.jp/english/global.html) runs the Shinkansen services as well as local trains between Osaka and Kobe, Kyoto, Nara and Kansai Airport. The Hankyu line (tel: 0570 089 500; http://rail.hankyu.co.jp/en) and Keihan line (tel: (06) 6945 4590; www.keihan.co.jp) also offer services to Kyoto and Kobe. The Hanshin line (tel: (06) 6457 2258; www.hanshin.co.jp/global/en) runs between Kobe and Namba, as well as Nara, while the Kintetsu line (tel: (06) 6775 3636; www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/index.html) runs to Kyoto, Nara and Nagoya.

Connections
From Tokyo – 2 hours 35 minutes (with fastest Shinkansen); Nara – 57 minutes; Kyoto – 28 minutes; Kobe – 24 minutes.

Getting Around in Osaka, Japan

Public Transport

The subway and train networks in Osaka are excellent. The Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau (tel: (06) 6582 1400; www.kotsu.city.osaka.jp/foreign/english/index.html) operates the city's nine subway lines, providing the fastest and easiest way to get around Osaka. Japan Railways West (tel: (06) 375 8981; www.westjr.co.jp/english/global.html) operates a dense train network in the Osaka region, including a loop line around the city connecting with major terminals. Hankai Railway (tel: (06) 6671 5170; www.hankai.co.jp) operates a streetcar on the Hankai Tramway Uemachi Line from Tennoji to Sumiyoshikoen or Abikomichi in the south of Osaka. One-day passes for the subway, city buses and the New Tram are available, except on the so-called 'No-My-Car-Days' when a special discount ticket is available instead. These are days (every Friday and on the 20th of every month) when people are encouraged to use the subway rather than their cars. The prepaid Rainbow Card is convenient for use on the subway, private rail lines, city buses and the New Tram. The fare is deducted when exiting ticket gates and there is no set time limit for use. The one- or two-day Osaka Unlimited Pass is valid for the subway, private rail lines and buses. It includes free admission to 26 popular tourist sites.

Taxis

Taxis are plentiful on the streets of Osaka, and generally offer a good, reliable service. Most taxi drivers don't speak much English, so it's a good idea to have the details of your destination written down in Japanese. Tipping is not expected. To pre-book a taxi call Aozora Kotsu (tel: (06) 6793 8180), Osaka Kojin Taxi Rengokai (tel: (06) 6771 1437) or Toho Taxi Co Ltd (tel: (06) 6659 2523).

Car Hire

All foreign visitors need an international driver's license in order to hire a car in Osaka. The minimum age for driving in Japan is 18 years old. There are numerous car hire companies operating in Osaka, including Hertz (tel: (06) 6363 8000; www.hertz.com), Toyota Rent-A-Car (tel: 0120 921 758; http://rent.toyota.co.jp/en/index.html) and Nippon Rent-A-Car (tel: (06) 6232 0919 or (03) 3485 7196 for English service desk; www.nipponrentacar.co.jp). Travelers can also make discounts with car hire and train fare package deals by booking at JR Eki Rent A Car; just look for the travel centers in every JR station (www.ekiren.co.jp).

Bicycle Hire

Cycling in Osaka is a good idea for enjoying some of the inner city's pleasant waterways and parks. Cycling on the footpath is permitted and main roads often have specially designated cycling lines. Bicycle hire is available from several hotels and hostels in Osaka, as well as Umeda Dormitory Rentacycle, 1-6-13 Oyodonka, Kita-ku (tel: (06) 6451 2009; www.ne.jp/asahi/umeda/dormitory), Uemachi Rental Bicycle, 6-17-43 Tanimachi, Chuo-ku (tel: 070 5664 8184; www.uemachi.net/chari.html) and Hankyu Rentacycle (tel: (06) 6219 3196; http://rail.hankyu.co.jp/service/rental02.html), with pickup spots near Hankyu train stations.