Source: Pexels
Osaka runs on two lines and two tickets. Midosuji runs by distance from ¥190, the JR Loop Line rings the same centre from ¥140, so a pass for one means cash on the other. Namba is five stations under one name, Umeda hides three, and the airport a ¥700 call between express and limited express.
- ¥190
- Cheapest metro singleAnything up to three kilometres
- ¥140
- Cheapest JR singleOne to three kilometres, Loop included
- ¥820 / ¥620
- Enjoy Eco CardWeekday / weekend and holiday
- ¥3,500
- Osaka Amazing PassOne day, about 40 attractions
1The two lines that reach the sights
The Midosuji Line is the spine: Esaka, Shin-Osaka, Umeda, Yodoyabashi, Hommachi, Shinsaibashi, Namba, Dobutsuen-mae and Tennoji, north to south, ending at Nakamozu. It links the shinkansen station, both downtowns and the south, so it feels busier than the rest of the network.
Source: Pexels
The JR Loop Line is a circle on the other company's tracks: Osaka Station, Temma, Sakuranomiya, Kyobashi, Osaka Castle Park, Morinomiya, Teradacho, Tennoji, Shin-Imamiya, Imamiya, Taisho, Bentencho, Nishi-Kujo, Noda and Fukushima, with the Yumesaki Line branch from Nishi-Kujo to Universal City. The castle, the Keihan line at Kyobashi and the theme park are Loop Line work; the metro won't reach them.
Source: Wikimedia Commons · Mr.ちゅらさん, CC0
Fares divide the same way: Osaka Metro charges by distance in five fare ranges, JR West a flat urban table with a station-accessibility fee since 1 April 2025.
| Journey | Distance | Adult fare | Child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osaka Metro | Under 3 km | ¥190 | ¥100 |
| Osaka Metro | 3 to 7 km | ¥240 | ¥120 |
| Osaka Metro | 7 to 13 km | ¥290 | ¥150 |
| Osaka Metro | 13 to 19 km | ¥340 | ¥170 |
| Osaka Metro | Over 19 km | ¥390 | ¥200 |
| JR West, in the city | 1 to 3 km | ¥140 | ¥70 |
| JR West, in the city | 4 to 6 km | ¥170 | ¥85 |
| JR West, in the city | 7 to 10 km | ¥190 | ¥95 |
Both take the same IC cards, so an ICOCA or a Suica works on either. The passes: each belongs to one company.
2Osaka Station, Umeda, and the five Nambas
Osaka Station and Umeda Station are different stations side by side, and the signs follow whoever owns the platform. JR's Osaka Station, the metro's Umeda, the Hankyu and Hanshin terminals both styling themselves Osaka-Umeda, and the metro's Higashi-Umeda and Nishi-Umeda are close but separate stations on a map. The metro treats Umeda, Higashi-Umeda and Nishi-Umeda as one for transfers outside the ticket gates, deciding whether a change there costs a second fare.
Source: Wikimedia Commons · Sakai Yayoi, CC0
Namba is worse: five stations carry the name. Nankai's Namba is the airport terminus under the department stores; the metro's Namba carries the Midosuji, Yotsubashi and Sennichimae lines; JR's Namba sits on the Yamatoji line a few minutes north; Kintetsu and Hanshin sign theirs Osaka-Namba. Google picks one for you, so read the company name on the sign, not the destination.
Source: Wikimedia Commons · Ogiyoshisan, Public domain
3The station for each sight
Almost every first-trip mistake in Osaka is a station mistake, not a routing one: learn these pairs before you land.
| What you're going to | Nearest station | Line to use |
|---|---|---|
| Osaka Castle and the park | Osaka Castle Park or Morinomiya | JR Loop Line |
| Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi | Namba or Shinsaibashi | Osaka Metro Midosuji Line |
| Tsutenkaku and Shinsekai | Dobutsuen-mae or Shin-Imamiya | Midosuji Line, or the JR Loop Line |
| Abeno Harukas | Tennoji | Midosuji Line and the JR Loop Line both stop here |
| Universal Studios Japan | Universal City | JR Loop Line to Nishi-Kujo, then the Yumesaki Line |
| Kaiyukan and the bay | Osakako | Osaka Metro Chuo Line |
| The shinkansen | Shin-Osaka | Midosuji Line for Umeda, Shinsaibashi and Namba |
Shin-Osaka catches people out on arrival: it feels like the centre and isn't. It's three stops from Umeda and five from Namba on the Midosuji Line, and a Shinsaibashi or Namba hotel is 15 minutes away for ¥240. Trip.com Klook KKday
4Four ways in from Kansai Airport
Kansai Airport Station sits at the end of Terminal 1, JR and Nankai platforms side by side. The Nankai Airport Express is the cheap way in, at ¥970; the Rapi:t is the same line with a reserved seat for ¥1,670. The JR trains are the fast way to Shin-Osaka and Kyoto, and the bus wins on a heavy suitcase.
Source: Wikimedia Commons · NatsuTV, CC0
| Route | Company | Arrives | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Express | Nankai | Namba | 43 min | ¥970 |
| Rapi:t α / β | Nankai | Namba | 34–39 min | ¥1,670 |
| Kansai Airport Rapid | JR West | Osaka | About 65 min | JR fare |
| HARUKA limited express | JR West | Shin-Osaka or Osaka | About 50 min | ¥1,800 visitor ticket |
| Limousine bus | Airport Transport Service | Umeda | 50–60 min | ¥1,800 |
The Rapi:t fare is the ¥970 ride plus a ¥700 limited-express charge, raised from ¥520 on 1 April 2026, so older guides quote ¥1,490 for the same seat. Super Seat adds ¥910 instead of ¥700, buying on board costs ¥300 more, and Nankai's ticketless service takes ¥150 off.
JR's HARUKA takes the other side of the city, and the visitor ticket is where the value sits: ¥1,800 to Osaka or Shin-Osaka, ¥1,300 to Tennoji, ¥2,200 to Kyoto, sold only to foreign-passport holders or an exchange order. Landing late and staying in Namba, the bus drops you at the hotel end of Umeda, not a platform.
5Itami, for domestic flights
Osaka's second airport handles the domestic network and has no train station. The Osaka Monorail runs from Osaka Airport station to Senri-chuo, where the Kita-Osaka Kyuko line continues into the metro at Esaka and on to Umeda. Monorail singles are ¥200 to Hotarugaike, ¥340 to Senri-chuo and ¥380 to Yamada or Expo Memorial Park.
Source: Wikimedia Commons · MaedaAkihiko, CC0
Expo Memorial Park is why the airport's version of the Amazing Pass exists: at ¥3,800 for one day and ¥5,400 for two it adds the monorail, the Kita-Osaka Kyuko line, the Hankyu sections out there and the park. It isn't valid at Kansai Airport. The airport also runs limousine buses to Umeda, Shin-Osaka and Namba, easier with luggage.
6The 2026 passes, and what each one covers
Four tickets matter for a normal trip: covers for different days, not alternatives.
| Ticket | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Enjoy Eco Card | ¥820 weekday, ¥620 weekend and holidays | All Osaka Metro lines and the Osaka City Bus, with discounts at city attractions on the day |
| Osaka Amazing Pass, 1 day | ¥3,500 | The same transport plus free entry at about 40 attractions, and the New Tram |
| Osaka Amazing Pass, 2 days | ¥5,000 | Two consecutive days of the same |
| Itami version | ¥3,800 / ¥5,400 | The pass plus the monorail, the Kita-Osaka Kyuko line and Expo Memorial Park |
| Kansai Airport version | ¥5,300 | 28 hours of the pass plus one Nankai ride from Kansai Airport to Namba |
Beyond the metro, the Amazing Pass adds the Hankyu, Hanshin, Keihan, Kintetsu and Nankai networks inside Osaka city, which is why it works for a castle-and-observatory day. It's a calendar ticket, not 24 hours: a day runs 3:00 a.m. to 2:59 a.m. the next morning, so a midnight start wastes the first night, and the two-day version must run on consecutive days. Sales for the 2026-27 season run 25 March 2026 to 31 March 2027, there's no child price, and up to four can be bought at once.
The Kansai Airport version is new, on sale since 1 October 2026, and it is not a saving: ¥5,300 against ¥4,470 for a one-day pass and a ¥970 Airport Express bought separately. The ¥830 buys the clock — 28 hours from first use, where the plain pass runs a calendar day to 2:59 a.m., so a morning landing has already spent part of it.
| Ticket | For | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Osaka Amazing Pass | ¥3,500 one day, ¥5,000 two days | Trip.com Klook |
| Osaka Metro pass | The metro-and-bus day on its own | Trip.com |
| Nankai Rapi:t | The reserved seat from Kansai Airport | Trip.com Klook |
7Six things that cost money
Watch The two-day pass is two consecutive calendar days, not 48 hours: land Monday, start Tuesday, you have Tuesday and Wednesday, nothing else.
Watch No pass here covers the Loop Line. The Amazing Pass is a metro, bus and private-railway ticket; Osaka Castle Park, Kyobashi, Universal City and JR Namba are JR West, at JR's ¥140 to ¥190.
Watch The Enjoy Eco Card is cheaper at the weekend: ¥620 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays against ¥820 on a weekday — the opposite of most city passes, and ¥200 in your pocket if plans move.
Watch The city buses to Universal Studios Japan are excluded from the Eco Card, so the park is a JR trip: the Loop Line to Nishi-Kujo, then the Yumesaki Line to Universal City.
Watch Yumeshima station, out on the bay, is outside the Eco Card's cover — the metro says so on the ticket page, not the gate.
Watch The airport version of the pass can't be swapped for the other one: the Itami ticket isn't valid at Kansai Airport and the Kansai ticket isn't valid at Itami, so buy for the airport you're flying into.
8What I'd buy
An IC card for the ordinary days: nearly every ride is under ¥300 and it saves the fare-map conversation. Then an Amazing Pass day around Osaka Castle, an observatory and a river cruise, where the free entries carry the ¥3,500. Then the Enjoy Eco Card for the eating-and-walking day, ¥620 at a weekend. Around the castle and the theme park everything is paid to JR as you go.
9Questions and answers
The Osaka transport questions people actually ask, answered with the 2026 fares.
Is the Osaka Amazing Pass worth it?
For a sightseeing day, yes: 3,500 yen for one day, 5,000 for two consecutive days, about 40 attractions free, and unlimited rides on Osaka Metro, the city buses, the New Tram and five private railways inside the city, sales to 31 March 2027. A day of markets and food streets is cheaper on the Enjoy Eco Card, 820 yen or 620 at the weekend.
Does the Osaka Amazing Pass cover the JR Loop Line?
No. The pass covers Osaka Metro, the Osaka City Bus, the New Tram and the Hankyu, Hanshin, Keihan, Kintetsu and Nankai networks inside Osaka city. The Loop Line is JR West, so Osaka Castle Park, Kyobashi, Universal City and JR Namba are paid separately at JR's fares, from 140 yen for a short hop.
How much is the Osaka Metro?
Singles are 190, 240, 290, 340 or 390 yen for adults by distance, and about half for children. The Enjoy Eco Card gives unlimited metro and city bus rides for 820 yen on a weekday and 620 on a weekend or holiday, so it pays from the fourth or fifth ride.
Is Osaka Station the same as Umeda Station?
They're two different stations next to each other. JR's Osaka Station and the metro's Umeda are a short walk apart, Hankyu and Hanshin have their own Osaka-Umeda terminals, and the metro also has Higashi-Umeda and Nishi-Umeda, counted as one station with Umeda for transfers outside the ticket gates.
How do I get from Kansai Airport to Osaka?
Nankai's Airport Express reaches Namba in 43 minutes for 970 yen, and the Rapi:t limited express takes 34 to 39 minutes for 1,670 yen with a reserved seat. JR's Kansai Airport Rapid takes about 65 minutes to Osaka Station and the HARUKA about 50 to Shin-Osaka on the 1,800 yen visitor ticket; the limousine bus to Umeda is 1,800 yen and 50 to 60 minutes.
Which station is nearest to Dotonbori?
Namba, on the Osaka Metro Midosuji, Yotsubashi and Sennichimae lines, puts you at the canal in a few minutes on foot. Read the company name on the sign: Nankai Namba, Metro Namba and JR Namba are three separate buildings sharing the name.
How do I get to Universal Studios Japan without a car?
Take the JR Loop Line from Osaka Station to Nishi-Kujo and change to the Yumesaki Line for Universal City, one stop from the park gate. It's a JR trip: the Osaka Metro passes don't cover it, and the city buses to the park are excluded from the Eco Card.
Can I use one IC card on the metro and on JR?
Yes. ICOCA, Suica and the other nationwide IC cards work on Osaka Metro, JR West, Nankai and the city buses, fares calculated automatically. ICOCA carries a 500 yen deposit, refunded when you hand the card back.
Keep reading
Sources
- Osaka Metro — the ¥190 to ¥390 distance fares and the child fares, the Enjoy Eco Card at ¥820 weekday and ¥620 weekend and holiday, the Yumeshima and Universal Studios bus exclusions, and the three-station Umeda transfer rule (subway.osakametro.co.jp)
- Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau — Osaka Amazing Pass at ¥3,500 and ¥5,000, the ¥3,800 and ¥5,400 Itami version, the ¥5,300 Kansai Airport 28-hour ticket on sale from 1 October 2026, the line coverage and the 3:00 a.m. day (osaka-amazing-pass.com)
- Nankai Electric Railway — the Rapi:t limited-express charge of ¥700 from 1 April 2026, the ¥910 Super Seat, the ¥300 on-board charge and the ¥150 ticketless discount (nankai.co.jp)
- Kansai Airports — journey times from Kansai Airport Station on the Nankai, JR rapid and HARUKA services, and the Umeda limousine bus at ¥1,800 (kansai-airport.or.jp)
- JR West — the Kansai urban fare table effective 1 April 2025, including the ¥10 station accessibility fee, and the HARUKA One-way Ticket for visitors at ¥1,300 to Tennoji, ¥1,800 to Osaka and Shin-Osaka and ¥2,200 to Kyoto (westjr.co.jp)
- Osaka Monorail — singles from Osaka Airport station: ¥200 to Hotarugaike, ¥340 to Senri-chuo, ¥380 to Yamada and Expo Memorial Park (osaka-monorail.co.jp)
- Fares and times are current as of 17 October 2026.
- Ticket links on this page are affiliate links (Klook and Trip.com through Travelpayouts) and cost you nothing extra.