How to Get to Osaka
As Japan’s third largest city, Osaka is a huge metropolis with a big reputation. A city of shopping, eating and nightlife, Osaka is a bit more brash than Tokyo and a lot less refined than Kyoto. Thriving, lively and friendly, Osaka should definitely be on your list of must-do destinations in Japan! On this page you will find the following information:
— Where to Stay When Visiting Osaka
— 40 Things to Do in Kyoto, Nara & Osaka
— Private Charter & Tours in Central Japan
In close proximity to Kyoto and Nara, Osaka is one of Japan’s true metropolises and third largest city, behind Tokyo and Yokohama. With a reputation for being more brash and loud than Tokyo, Osaka has long been a merchant city and one of the few areas of Japan that maintained some contact with the outside world through trade during the country’s long, self-determined isolation.
A thriving city, Osaka is all about having a good time boasting some of Japan’s best food, shopping and nightlife. Though it may not have the historic attractions of nearby Kyoto and Nara, if you’re asking whether it’s worth visiting, the answer is definitely yes!
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day walking tour in Osaka：Castle, temples and Ukiyoe | |
|
| |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:00 – 17:00 |
| Meeting Place | Shin-Osaka Station / Osaka Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥18,000 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,500 |
Join our 1- Day Walking Tour in Osaka and let our experienced tour guides take care of everything for you. You can simply relax and enjoy everything Osaka has to offer. Book your tour today and experience the history, culture, and food of Osaka.
The following information is intended for international visitors, most of whom will have a Japan Rail (JR) Pass. For that reason, this page focuses on train travel and only uses buses in the absence of a good option to use the train network. Most but not all services are covered by the full JR Pass. Let’s start with the obvious question:
WHERE IS OSAKA?
Osaka is Japan’s third largest city located in the west of the main island of Honshu, on Osaka Bay. It lies within close proximity of Kyoto – around 45KM – and Nara – around 40KM – both of which are easy to reach using train services running from Osaka. Osaka is huge and as such, has multiple major train stations – including Osaka, Namba, Umeda and Shin-Osaka – with numerous lines running between them. For visitors using the Shinkansen network, Shin-Osaka Station is serviced by the Sany’yo Shinkansen running west to destinations including Okayama, Hiroshima and Hakata (and then connecting to lines running to Kyushu) and the Tokaido Shinkansen running east into Central Japan including Kyoto, Nagoya and Tokyo. The city is also serviced by Kansai International Airport which lies around 55KM to the south of the central city on a reclaimed island on Osaka Bay. As one of Japan’s largest cities, Osaka offers plenty to entertain you for multiple days with shinkansen and other express train lines making it a convenient launching point from where to head west, east or into Central Japan.
HOW TO GET TO OSAKA
In this section you will find information on how to reach Osaka from the following starting points:
KANSAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – KYOTO – NARA – NAGOYA – TOKYO – NARITA AIRPORT – HANEDA AIRPORT – KANAZAWA – TOYAMA – NAGANO CITY – JIGOKUDANI MONKEY PARK – MATSUMOTO – KAMIKOCHI – TAKAYAMA – SHIRAKAWA-GO & GOKAYAMA – TATEYAMA-KUROBE ALPINE ROUTE
We endeavour to keep this information as up-to-date as possible and in recognition that most international visitors will be using the train network to move around Japan, most directions are for using the trains. If there is alternative option i.e. express or local bus, that is notably faster or economical, we also include that information.
FROM KANSAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT / approx. 50 minutes
From the Kansai Airport, take the Limited Express Haruka service bound for Osaka. The train includes both reserved and non-reserved seating and takes just under 50-minutes / JPY2910 (res.) and JPY2380 (non-res.) to reach Shin-Osaka Station.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day walking tour in Osaka：Castle, temples and Ukiyoe | |
|
| |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:00 – 17:00 |
| Meeting Place | Shin-Osaka Station / Osaka Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥18,000 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,500 |
Join our 1- Day Walking Tour in Osaka and let our experienced tour guides take care of everything for you. You can simply relax and enjoy everything Osaka has to offer. Book your tour today and experience the history, culture, and food of Osaka.
FROM KYOTO / between 13 to 30 minutes
Reaching Osaka from Kyoto is quick and easy as both are stops on the Tokaido Shinkansen running from Tokyo Station to Shin-Osaka Station, including stops at Kyoto and Nagoya among others. The fastest services on the Tokaido Shinkansen line will get you from Kyoto Station to Shin-Osaka Station in just 13 minutes / JPY1440. Alternatively, the JR Special Rapid service bound for Nagahama from Kyoto Station takes just under 28-minutes / JPY570 to reach Osaka Station (rather than Shin-Osaka Station).
1 Day Tour
| Kyoto Heritage Path – From Fushimi Inari’s Mystery to Kiyomizu Temple Majesty | |
| Period | All year round |
| Time | 09:00-17:00 |
| Meeting Place | JR Kyoto Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥13,000 |
Staying in Kyoto? Book a tour with us and let our guides help you explore this historic city. You can experience beautiful Japanese gardens, shinto shrines and buddhist temples, and traditional arts and crafts. Join our tour today and create memories for a lifetime.
FROM NARA / between 40 to 50 minutes
When travelling from Nara to Osaka, you have two options with a couple of important points to note. Two lines connect the two cities – the Kintetsu Nara Line to/from Kintetsu-Nara Station and the JR Yamatoji Line to/from JR Nara Station. Of the two, the Kintetsu Nara Line is faster and Kintetsu-Nara Station is closer to the city’s most popular attractions including Todai-ji, Nara Park and the Kasuga Grand Shrine. This Kintestsu Nara Line is not however covered by any Japan Rail (JR) Pass. Taking a little longer and heading to Osaka Station from Nara Station, the Yamatoji Rapid Service is covered by the JR Pass. For that reason, we have included both options below:
1 / Starting from Kintetsu-Nara Station (fastest/most convenient): take the rapid express service on the Kintetsu Nara Line – approx. 40-minutes / JPY560 – bound for Osaka-Namba Station*.
2 / Starting from JR Nara Station (covered by JR Pass): take the Yamatoji Rapid Service bound for Osaka Station – approx. 50-minutes / JPY800*.
*Please note, Osaka Namba Station and Osaka Station are not stops on the Tokaido or any other shinkansen line. To access the shinkansen network you will need to transfer to Shin-Osaka Station.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Walking Tour in Nara: Palace, Deer and Inkstick | |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:15 – 16:30 |
| Meeting Place | JR Nara Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥19,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥15,500 |
Nara is a special place where you can experience Japan’s ancient history and culture, surrounded by museums displaying art and historical materials, including world heritage sites, national treasures, and important cultural properties. Discover this city with us and experience its charm for yourself.
FROM NAGOYA / approx. 50 minutes
Nagoya Station is another stop on the Tokaido Shinkansen line, as you head from Tokyo to Osaka. From Nagoya, the fastest services take only 50-minutes / JPY5940 to reach Shin-Osaka Station. There are numerous services each day. For more information about everything on offer in and around Nagoya, see our ‘Nagoya & Kii Peninsula’ destination page.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour from Nagoya: Hida Takayama and World Heritage Site Shirakawa-go | |
|
| |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 8:30-18:30 |
| Meeting Place | JR Nagoya Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥24,900 |
| Child Rate | ¥12,900 |
Experience the enchantment of Shirakawa-go and delve into the village’s traditional way of life with the unique chance to enter one of these picturesque homes. Step into the past and savor the views of the Japanese countryside as you are led by an experienced, English-speaking guide on this full-day tour from Nagoya.
FROM TOKYO / approx. 2.5 to 3 hours
From Tokyo Station, take the Tokaido Shinkansen, between 150 to 170-minutes / approx. JPY14,000 (depending on which service you choose). For more information about everything on offer in the capital, see our ‘Tokyo’ destination page.
FROM NARITA AIRPORT / approx. 4 to 4.5 hours
Narita Airport is connected to Tokyo by two rapid services – the Narita Express (NEX) and Keisei Skyliner. Travelers heading directly to Osaka from the airport should use the NEX to Tokyo Station and once there, switch to the Tokaido Shinkansen bound for Shin-Osaka Station.
The NEX takes around 55-minutes / JPY3070 to travel from Narita to Tokyo Station. Once in Tokyo, follow the directions above to reach Kyoto.
FROM HANEDA AIRPORT / approx. 3 to 3.5 hours
It is faster to reach Osaka from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport than Narita Airport. Haneda is serviced by two rail lines – the Tokyo Monorail and Keikyu Line. When heading directly to Osaka from Haneda Airport, it is best to use the Keikyu Line to Shinagawa Station and then switch to the Tokaido Shinkansen bound for Shin-Osaka Station. – a total journey time of 170 to 200-minutes / JPY14,170.
FROM KANAZAWA / approx. 2.5 hours
Reaching Osaka from Kanazawa Station is very straight-forward. From Kanazawa, take the Limited Express Thunderbird – 150 to 155-minutes / JPY7260. For more information about everything on offer in around Kanazawa, see our ‘Kanazawa’ destination page.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour from Kanazawa: Samurai, Matcha, Gardens and Geisha | |
|
| |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:00 – 17:30 |
| Meeting Place | Kanazawa Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
Staying in Kanazawa? Why not join our tour which includes the Nagamachi Samurai District, Kanazawa Castle, Kenroku-en Garden, and the Higashi-chaya Tea District. On this tour, you will be led by an experienced, English speaking guide through Kanazawa along a route we have devised and tested to ensure you enjoy your time in this amazing city.
FROM TOYAMA / approx. 3.5 hours
From Toyama Station, take any service on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to nearby Kanazawa – 20 to 25-minutes / JPY2860 – and then follow the directions above. For more information about everything on offer in around Toyama, see our ‘Alpine Route & Toyama’ destination page.
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Tour from Kanazawa & Toyama: Snow Wall and Mysterious Valley | |
| Period | April to June |
| Time | 08:00 – 19:00 |
| Meeting Place | Kanazawa Station / Toyama Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥30,000 |
| Child Rate | ¥23,800 |
Join our 1 Day tour in Toyama! This route stretches across a mountain range and goes over magnificent gorges, charming lakes and seemingly endless highlands. During the winter time this area is transformed into a white paradise, with snows walls that can stretch as high as 20 meters(60 feet).
FROM NAGANO CITY / approx. 4 to 5 hours
When travelling from Nagano Station to Osaka, visitors have a choice of three routes – via Nagoya, Kanazawa or Tokyo – each taking between 4 to 5-hours. We recommend making the journey via either Nagoya or Kanazawa, allowing you to incorporate other destinations in Central Japan into your travel itinerary. Here are your three options:
1 / via Nagoya (recommended): from Nagano Station, take the Limited Express Shinano. Operating approximately once per hour, the journey takes around 3 hours and costs JPY6930. Much of the line takes you through a particularly beautiful part of Japan and stopping at Matsumoto and Kiso-Fukushima, allowing you to visit Matsumoto Castle, the Kiso-Ontake Mountain Range and/or the Nakasendo Trail on the way. Once in Nagoya, follow the directions above.
2 / via Kanazawa: take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Nagano to Kanazawa Station – between 65 to 90-minutes / JPY8920 to JPY8590 (depending on which service you use). Once in Kanazawa, follow the directions above.
3 / via Tokyo: take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Nagano to Tokyo Station – between 80 to 110 minutes / JPY8000 to JPY9000 (depending on which service you use). Once in Tokyo, follow the directions above to reach Osaka.
For more information about everything on offer in around Nagano City, see our ‘Nagano’ destination page.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake in Nagano | |
|
| |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:35 – 17:35 |
| Meeting Place | Nagano Station Hakuba (winter only) |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
Take in some of the highlights of Nagano on this engaging tour starting with a visit to Zenkoji – one of the oldest and most important Buddhist temples in Japan – followed by sake-tasting and lunch at a nearby restaurant. It’s then time to head to the Snow Monkey Park and its world-famous hot spring-bathing monkeys!
FROM THE JIGOKUDANI MONKEY PARK / approx. 6 hours
To reach Osaka from the Jigokudani Monkey Park takes time but is relatively straight-forward when done via Nagano Station. From the park, you have the option of: 1. a direct express bus from the park to Nagano Station or 2. a local bus to Yudanaka Station followed by an express train to Nagano Station.
Starting from the park, the express bus costs JPY1500 each way and takes 55 minutes to reach Nagano Station. In comparison, taking the local bus from the park to Yudanaka Station followed by the train, takes 15 minutes and costs JPY310 before the limited express train to Nagano takes 45 minutes and costs JPY1290 – a total journey of around 60 to 70 minutes and costing JPY1600.
Once at Nagano Station, choose your preferred route to Osaka following the directions above – please note, public transport to and from the monkey park is not covered by any Japan (JR) Pass.
For more information about everything on offer in around the park, see our ‘Explore Yamanouchi – Home of the Snow Monkeys’ page.
FROM MATSUMOTO / approx. 3.5 to 4 hours
Take the Limited Express Shinano from Matsumoto Station to Nagoya Station – approx. 130-minutes / JPY5610. Once in Nagoya, follow the directions above to reach Osaka. For more information about everything on offer in around the city, see our ‘Matsumoto’ destination page.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour from Nagano and Matsumoto: Experience Matsumoto Castle and Narai-juku | |
|
| |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 08:15 – 18:15 |
| Meeting Place | Nagano Station Matsumoto Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥23,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,900 |
Join this engaging one-day tour which takes you to Matsumoto Castle – one of the few remaining original castles in Japan and a registered National Treasure – before heading to the beautifully preserved, 1-km long post town known as Narai-juku, located on the Nakasendo road.
FROM KAMIKOCHI / approx. 6 hours
Reaching Osaka from Kamikochi is a 3-step journey via Takayama and then Nagoya. From the Kamikochi Bus Terminal, take the bus to the Hirayu Onsen Bus Terminal – 25 to 30 minutes – and then switch to the bus headed to Takayama – another 60 minutes. Once in Takayama, follow the directions below to reach Nagoya and then onto Osaka. Kamikochi is one of Japan’s most spectacular natural landscapes. For more information about what’s on offer there, see our ‘Kamikochi’ activity page.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour from Nagoya: Kamikochi – Enchanting Landscapes & Seasonal Beauty | |
| Period | May – mid-November |
| Time | 8:00-19:30 |
| Meeting Place | JR Nagoya Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥28,900 |
| Child Rate | ¥24,000 |
Join our tour in Kamikochi today! Our guide will take you to a vibrant flower park, a charming mountain farm, and the iconic Kamikochi region of the Chubu Sangaku National Park. Hike the well-maintained trails to Kappa-bashi—as your guide points out unique flora and fauna along the way—and capture stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
FROM TAKAYAMA / approx. 4 hours
To reach Osaka from the historic town of Takayama, take the Limited Express Hida service from Takayama Station bound for Nagoya Station – approximately 145-minutes / JPY5610. Once in Nagoya, follow the directions above. For more information about everything on offer in around the city, see our ‘Takayama’ destination page.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour from Takayama: Explore Scenic Old Japan in Takayama and Shirakawa-go | |
|
| |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:00 – 18:30 |
| Meeting Place | Takayama Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥20,800 / 22,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥12,000 / 14,000 |
Join our Takayama tour today! Takayama will mesmerize you with its beautiful woodwork and traditional streets that offer a more relaxed beauty than cities such as Kyoto and Kanazawa. Shirakawa-go, on the other hand, offers a great example of the village-life experienced by Japanese farmers of ages past.
FROM SHIRAKAWA-GO & GOKAYAMA / approx. 4.5 hours
When traveling from the World Heritage-listed villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama to Osaka, it will be fastest to do so via Kanazawa. The Hokuetsu Bus company operates regular services between the main village of Ogimachi (with some additional services to Suganuma from March until November) and Kanazawa Station. A one-way journey takes approximately 85 minutes and costs JPY1850. Once in Kanazawa follow the directions above to reach Osaka. For more information about one of Central Japan’s most remarkable destinations see our ‘Shirakawa-go & Gokayama’ activity page.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour from Nagoya: Hida Takayama and World Heritage Site Shirakawa-go | |
|
| |
| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 8:30-18:30 |
| Meeting Place | JR Nagoya Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥24,900 |
| Child Rate | ¥12,900 |
Step into the past with our Shirakawa-go tour! Hidden deep within the mountains of Central Japan, the historic towns of Hida-Takayama and Shirakawa-go provide an excellent retreat into the scenic countryside and an authentic example of life during Edo-era (1603-1868) Japan.
FROM THE TATEYAMA-KUROBE ALPINE ROUTE / approx. 5 hours
To reach Osaka from the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route it will fastest to descend to the Toyama-side of the mountain and do so from Tateyama Station. From Tateyama, take the Toyama Chiho Railway from Tateyama Station to Dentetsu Toyama Station – 60 minutes / JPY1230. Once in Toyama, walk the short distance to Toyama Station and follow the directions above onto Kanazawa and then onto Shin-Osaka Station. One of Japan’s most remarkable experiences, our ‘Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route’ page is a great place to start when planning your visit.
WHERE TO STAY WHEN VISITING OSAKA
Osaka offers travellers a huge range of accommodation dotted throughout the city. To make your time there as easy as possible, we recommend choosing a hotel or guesthouse nearby a major train station, allowing you to move around the city and beyond with ease. Our ‘Where To Stay In Osaka & Kansai International Airport?’ page listed the best areas including accommodation listings.
40 THINGS TO DO IN KYOTO, NARA & OSAKA
One of Japan’s great metropolises, Osaka is a confident and thriving city known for its mercantile character, friendly locals, great food, shopping and nightlife. Our ’40 Things To Do In Kyoto, Nara & Osaka’ page lists some of the most enjoyable attractions and activities in the city along with the nearby cities of Kyoto and Nara. We hope we can entice you to visit!
PRIVATE CHARTERS & TOURS IN CENTRAL JAPAN
Based in Nagano and operating all year round, we are a No.1-rated tour and charter operator, offering a range of services including group tours, private tours and charters. We can arrange transport including a private vehicle and driver, to transport you to, from and between any destination in Central Japan.
Our drivers and vehicles are fully certified, allowing us to transport you to and from your preferred destinations, in combination with any activity that suits your interests and schedule including transport to and from any destination in Central Japan. All vehicles are fitted with a protective screen – separating the driver from passenger and luggage area – and our drivers wear protective masks, allowing you to move between your destinations in comfort and safety.
We can arrange both private tours with an English-speaking guide or a private charter, including a private vehicle and driver but without a guide. We’d love to be part of that experience and help you discover even more!
Why choose us?
Awarded a 2022 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for our 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tour – recognised as one of the Top 10 Experiences in Japan – we have the local knowledge and experience to help you get the most out of your time in Japan.
Got a question about arranging a charter or tour in Central Japan? Contact us and let’s get planning together!
