How to get from Kyoto to Osaka by train
- japansophy
- 1 day ago
- 8 min read
It's basically just a hop, skip and a jump from Kyoto to Osaka but the variety of train lines and routes throws many a traveller into a bit of a tizzy. We break your options down for you and tell you why you shouldn't take the Shinkansen!
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JR Kyoto Line
JR offers the fastest route between Kyoto and Osaka, especially if you are based in the south of Kyoto. JR Kyoto Station is the Kyoto terminus and JR Osaka Station in the Umeda district is the terminus at the other end. The fastest train is the Special Rapid (Shin-Kaisoku) and takes 28 mins. The other trains on the route stop at more stations along the way and are slower. They all cost around 580 yen (one-way adult prices as at November 2025; subject to change). There is another option: the Limited Express Thunderbird runs between JR Osaka Station and Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture, stopping in Kyoto. It has reserved seating, which requires a surcharge of 1090 yen, so is similar in terms of ticket price to the Shinkansen.
The Special Rapid between Kyoto and Osaka can get very full, especially during morning and evening rush hours. You'll see a symbol (triangle or circle) on the platform announcement board beside the next Special rapid to leave for Osaka (or Kyoto, if you're in Osaka). Match this symbol to the symbols on the edge of the platform to find out where you should queue up, so you can be one of the first in to grab a seat.
Travel on through to JR Osaka station if you want to explore the northern Osaka hub of Umeda. If you are planning to start your Osaka adventure in the southern hub of Namba/Dotonbori, you can get out in Shin-Osaka and change there to the Midosuji subway. You can change to the Midosuji Line in JR Osaka Station, too, though.
Hankyu Kyoto Line
The Hankyu trains are a slower (45 minutes) but cheaper (around 400 yen one-way as at November 2025; subject to change) alternative to JR on the Osaka-Kyoto route. The end station in Osaka is Umeda Station, which is right beside JR Osaka Station and connected to the Midosuji subway line. You will change to the Midosuji line if you want to travel on down to Namba/Dotonbori.
In Kyoto, the Hankyu's end terminal is Kawaramachi but you can also get on or off at a few other stations in central Kyoto, especially Karasuma (a handy junction on the west-east and north-south subway lines and also a stop for even the Rapid Limited Express trains to/from Osaka). This makes the Hankyu Kyoto Line very practical for those based in midtown Kyoto, since you won't have to make your way first to JR Kyoto Station. Be aware, though, that the Rapid Limited Express trains can get very full indeed and you have a better chance of getting a seat for the 45-minute trip to Osaka if you get on in Kawaramachi.
If you are travelling between Arashiyama and Osaka, you won't have to go into the centre of Kyoto at all. The Hankyu Arashiyama Line connects Arashiyama Station with Katsura, which is a Rapid Limited Express stop on the Kyoto Line.
Another advantage of taking the Hankyu Line is that Umeda and Kawaramachi Stations are the end stations and your chances of getting a seat for the 45 minute journey are very good indeed. In contrast, the JR train from Osaka to Kyoto is already coming from the direction of Kobe and Himeji and will already be quite full by the time it gets to Osaka. Of course, lots of people will alight there but even so you might struggle to get a seat. Travel time of 28 minutes can seem like an eternity if you're standing on legs that have just put in 20,000 steps!
Hankyu special sightseeing train "Kyo-train GARAKU"
The Kyo-train GARAKU is a beautiful Hankyu train that runs 4 times a day on the Hankyu Kyoto line between Osaka Umeda and Kyoto Kawaramachi on weekends and public holidays. The interior of each carriage is decorated to reflect the arts, culture and atmosphere of Kyoto throughout the seasons. And the best bit: it doesn't cost any more than the regular train. It is very popular, though, and reservations are not possible (you just need the regular Hankyu ticket), so we recommend getting to the station early and queuing up in good time. You'll find the timetable on Hankyu's special Kyo-train GARAKU webpages.
Keihan Kyoto Line
The Keihan railway is a sometimes overlooked alternative for travelling to Osaka to Kyoto or vice versa. At just under an hour and around 490 yen one-way (as at Nov. 2025; subject to change), the Keihan train is a little slower and a little more expensive than the Hankyu but offers passengers the advantage of being to get on in Kyoto's Sanjo Station (like Hankyu Kawaramachi, much more central in the city) and get off at either Temmabashi (very close to Osaka Castle) or Yodoyabashi in Osaka. Yodoyabashi Station is also on the Midosuji Subway Line, giving easy access to both Namba/Dotonbori and Umeda.
Taking the Shinkansen between Kyoto and Osaka
We'll be honest: we're slightly puzzled by the number of tourists on social media posting about their journeys between Kyoto and Osaka by Shinkansen. Of course, having travelled down from Tokyo to Kyoto in the first place and paying around 90 euro/dollars for the pleasure, the 9 euro/dollar Shinkansen ticket from Kyoto to Osaka will seem like a real bargain. But as you can see above, tickets for the "normal" trains between Osaka and Kyoto are only about a third of the price – that's a whole 1000 yen or so right there that you could be spending on a matcha latte or some pretty premium ramen.
So we say no to taking the Shinkansen from Kyoto and Osaka (or the other way around). Not only is it much more expensive, but it's also not that much quicker and we don't know about you but we'd rather have that matcha latte than shave 5-10 mins off our journey. The regular trains are also more frequent and easier to just hop on, especially if you are based in the more downtown Karasuma/Kawaramachi or Sanjo areas of Kyoto. There's another reason why taking the Shinkansen isn't ideal: it doesn't actually stop in Osaka proper. Shin-Osaka, the Osaka's Shinkansen station, is quite far outside the city centre, so you'll have to switch to another train or take a taxi to take you from there into Umeda or Namba, Osaka's northern and southern hubs. Read our article on taking the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka for more info about Shin-Osaka Station and how to get from there to Osaka city centre.
Now, there are a few exceptions to our anti-Shinkansen bias. If you have a Japan Rail Pass and therefore don't have to splash the cash for a Shinkansen ticket, you may as well take advantage of that and reserve a seat for yourself for the 14 minute trip (which is not possible on the regular trains, with the exception of the Thunderbird express). If a seat reservation isn't possible (peak travel time or you've left it too late), it's really not worth taking the Shinkansen even if you do have a Japan Rail Pass, since it will take you more time getting to and going through the Shinkansen gates, finding your platform number and queuing up than you would save on the actual journey.
Another reason you might think about taking the Shinkansen would be if you have a lot of luggage. The ordinary trains don't have any luggage compartments, so reserving a seat at the end of the carriage on the Shinkansen with a luggage storage space behind it might make travelling between Kyoto and Osaka more comfortable. Remember, though, that you'll have to get out in Shin-Osaka and then either transfer to another regular train/metro or take a taxi: Shin-Osaka is well outside the city centre. If this is your reason for taking the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Osaka, we suggest having your luggage sent from your hotel in Kyoto to your new hotel in Osaka. You can expect to pay around 2000 yen per bag but you'll be able to travel hands-free and explore Osaka right away without having to go and check into your hotel first.
Lastly, if you really want to ride the Shinkansen just one time and won't get the chance anywhere else on your Japan trip, then go for it!
FAQs on Kyoto to Osaka by train
Is there space for luggage on the regular trains?
The regular trains have overhead luggage rails but these won't be suitable for larger suitcases. Otherwise, there is no dedicated luggage space and these trains are regular commuter trains and can get pretty full. Consider having your bags sent from your hotel in Kyoto to your new hotel in Osaka. You'll be able to travel hands-free and spend more time exploring Osaka without having to drop your luggage off first at your hotel. Read our article about luggage forwarding in Japan for more details.
What do I do if the special GARAKU train is full?
It's true that the Kyo-train GARAKU is very popular, especially since it only runs on weekends and public holidays, so it can full up very quickly. Unfortunately, reservations are not possible: you only need a regular ticket to ride the Kyo-train GARAKU. If the GARAKU is too full, don't worry: the Hankyu trains between Kyoto and Osaka leave every 10 minutes or so, so you won't be stuck.
Do I have to buy tickets in advance for the regular trains?
No, not at all. You can either buy your ticket at the station before you board or simply tap your Suica/Pasmo card at the ticket gate and walk on through. If you buy a physical ticket, don't lose it: you'll need it to exit the ticket gates at the other end!
Can I take the Kintetsu Railway from Kyoto to Osaka?
The Kintetsu is very handy if you are throwing Nara into the mix. You could, for example, travel from Kyoto to Nara in the morning, spend a few hours there and then travel from Nara to Osaka in the afternoon. But there is no direct Kintetsu connection between Kyoto and Osaka.
How do I get from Osaka to Kyoto by train?
Naturally you have the same options as you do for travelling from Kyoto to Osaka: you will take either the JR Kyoto Line, the Hankyu Kyoto Line or the Keihan Kyoto Line. If you are taking JR, you can start your journey in JR Osaka station or take the Midosuji subway line to Shin-Osaka and get on the JR Kyoto Line there (we don't particularly advise this, though, because the train is likely to be very full by the time it reaches Shin-Osaka; your best chance of getting a seat is if you get on in JR Osaka, where lots of people will also be getting off). The end station is JR Kyoto Station. If you are taking Hankyu, you will get on at Hankyu Umeda station and get off at either the Kawaramachi terminus or Karasuma Station, which is one stop before the last and is on the Kyoto subway. To take the Keihan Line, get on in Osaka at Yodoyabashi or Temmabashi Station and get off at Sanjo in Kyoto.
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