Osaka is a busy and vibrant city featuring complex transportation systems. Many of the main stations are part of an “integrated station complex,” sharing the same or similar names, which could be confusing for your elderly parents.
Get to Osaka City from KIX
Buy the tickets
Arrive at Terminal 1, the arrivals hall is on the first floor. First, find the escalator to go up to the second floor. From there, cross the bridge to Kansai Airport Station (関西空港駅). Then go to Nankai Electric Railway (南海電鉄) to buy tickets. The ticket machines for JR and Nankai are situated next to each other, marked in blue and orange, respectively.
Get to the train car
Enter the station opposite the ticket counter, take the escalator downstairs, and board the ‘Airport Express Namba’ (空港急行 なんば). Do not get on a train going in the wrong direction!!! The destination is Nankai Namba (南海なんば).
From Namba to the accommodation
Upon arriving in Osaka via the Nankai Railway, you will reach Nankai Namba Station (南海なんば駅). In this area, there are six stations that use the name “Namba.” Depending on your knowledge of Japanese, you’ll notice that some station names are written in Hiragana and others in Kanji. The six stations are as follows:
- Nankai Namba (南海なんば駅): The station you will arrive at or use to travel to KIX airport.
- Osaka-Namba Station (大阪難波駅): Two train lines intersect at this station
- Kintetsu Line (近鉄線): To Nara, Kyoto, Nagoya
- Hanshin Line (阪神線): To Koshien, Kobe
- Midosuji Line Namba Station (御堂筋線なんば駅): Osaka Metro
- Yotsubashi Line Namba Station (四つ橋線なんば駅): Osaka Metro
- Sennichimae Line Namba Station (千日前線なんば駅): Osaka Metro
- JR Namba Station (JR難波駅)
I usually prefer accommodations near major attractions and public transportation to minimize the distance of carrying luggage, especially after a long flight. This time, I booked Hotel UNIZO (https://www.unizo-hotel.co.jp/en/osaka.s/) through booking.com. The hotel is conveniently located close to Shinsaibashi Station (心斎橋駅) on the Shinsaibashi Suji (心斎橋筋), a vast shopping street.
To reach Shinsaibashi Station (心斎橋駅, M19), you need to take the Midosuji Line from Namba Station (御堂筋線なんば駅, M20).
Before you start your trip in Kansai, I suggest purchasing the “Kansai Thru Pass” (https://www.surutto.com/tickets/kansai_thru_english.html). I usually buy “pass tickets” from klook.com (a Hong Kong-based company) or kkday.com (a Taiwan-based company). You can choose between a 2-day and a 3-day version, depending on your plans. This time, I got three 3-day passes for each of my parents, covering 9 days of their trip. With the pass, you can take designated trains or buses without having to repeatedly buy tickets, and you also get great discounts at many major attractions.
Now, you’re all set to start exploring the wonderful city of Osaka!
Block 1: Fly-in day
I agree that on your fly-in day, extensive travel can be exhausting. It’s often more relaxing to choose activities close to where you’re staying. A leisurely shopping trip, for example, could be a great option. Shinsaibashi Suji (心斎橋筋) and Dotombori District (道頓堀) are ideal spots for this. It’s a place where tourists can find a wide variety of items all in one location. Since there’s already an abundance of information available online about Shinsaibashi Suji, I won’t go into details here.
Block 2: Major attractions (🎟 marks the ones that have a Kansai Thru Pass discount)
- Osaka Castle (大阪城) 🎟: Opens from 09:00 to 17:00, the park has maple and ginkgo trees. Inside the castle tower is a museum, which displays the history of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Japanese Warring States period, and Osaka Castle. Additionally, there is an observation deck for viewing the streetscape of Osaka.
- Osaka Tenmangu (大阪天満宮): Opens from 09:00 to 17:00, dedicated to the god of learning, “Sugawara no Michizane.”
- Osaka City Central Public Hall (大阪市中央公会堂): Opens from 9:30 to 21:30. There are guided tours available for participation, but the days of the week vary each month. The website for booking the guided tours is entirely in Japanese.
- Tsūtenkaku (通天閣) 🎟 and Shinsekai Hondori Shopping Street: Opens from 09:00 to 21:00. Shinsekai Shopping Street is the birthplace of ‘kushikatsu’ (skewered fried food), with Daruma (達摩) and Yaekatsu (八重勝) being the most famous. The wait for the Tsutenkaku observation deck might be a bit long; the entrance displays the waiting time for lining up, which you can check for reference.
Block 3: Day trip to Himeji and the Umeda area
Similar to the stations named Namba, there are five stations with ‘Umeda’ in their names, which are as follows:
- Midosuji Line Umeda Station (御堂筋線梅田駅): Osaka Metro
- Tanimachi Line Higashi-Umeda Station (谷町線東梅田駅): Osaka Metro
- Yotsubashi Line Nishi-Umeda Station (四橋線西梅田駅): Osaka Metro
- Hankyu-Osaka-Umeda Station (阪急電鉄大阪梅田駅): A private railway company operates a line extending westward to Kobe and eastward to Kyoto
- Hanshin-Osaka-Umeda Station (阪神電鉄大阪梅田駅): A private railway company operates a line extending westward to Himeji and eastward to Nara
- JR Osaka Station: Also situated within the expansive Umeda Station complex.
Upon reviewing this list, you’ll understand why I chose accommodation along the Midosuji Line at Shinsaibashi Station. Its proximity to Umeda makes traveling to nearby cities convenient. Later, when we decide to head to Kyoto, we also plan to take the Hanshin Railway from Umeda Station.
Numerous travel options are available from Osaka to Himeji. We will list those that begin at Umeji Station, including:
- JR Osaka Station to JR Himeji Station: Suitable for those with a JR Pass.
- Hanshin-Osaka-Umeda Station to Sanyo-Himeji Station: Suitable for those with a Kansai Thru Pass. Choose the “Direct-Limited Express” (直通特急).
- Additionally, there are options to travel via the Shinkansen (新幹線). To access this, you’ll need to reach Shin-Osaka Station, which is three stops north on the Midosuji Line from Umeda Station on the same line. However, it’s important to note that this is the most expensive option.
For a list of transportation options supported by the Kansai Thru Pass, please refer to the following URL: https://www.surutto.com/images/ticket/kansai_thru_pass/english/en_map.pdf?230401
Himeji Castle
To visit the renowned Himeji Castle (姫路城大天守) 🎟, arriving early is strongly recommended. You must obtain both the “Entry Passport for Main Keep” and the entrance ticket to gain access inside the castle; without these, you can only explore the castle’s surroundings. The Entry Passport is limited to a daily distribution of about 15,000. Each ticket features a QR code that you can scan to check your designated entry time to the castle.
Before exploring the inside of the castle, you have sufficient time to appreciate its external beauty. Here are some recommended spots for photography: Himeji Castle’s Diamond Gate (菱之門), Himeji Castle Sannomaru Plaza (三の丸広場), Shiromidai Park (城見台公園), Shirotopia Memorial Park (シロトピア記念公園), Himeji Station Second Floor Observation Deck.
Kokoen Garden (好古園) is another destination worth visiting. You can purchase a combined ticket that includes both Kokoen Garden and Himeji Castle.
The Kassui-ken restaurant (活水軒) located within Kokoen offers a delightful dining experience with delicious food and a beautiful view. My parents mentioned it was one of the best meals they had during their entire trip in the Kansai region.
Night view
The Kuchu Teien Observatory (梅田スカイビル 空中庭園展望台)🎟 (https://www.skybldg.co.jp/en/#s-ticket) comes highly recommended and is open until 22:30. After returning from Himeji to Hanshin-Umeda Station, you’ll need to walk towards JR Osaka Station. Once inside JR Osaka Station, follow the signs to Grand Front Osaka (グランフロント大阪). After exiting Grand Front Osaka, head towards the “Umeda Sky Building Ground Passage.” Simply follow the crowd as it’s a one-way route and you won’t get lost. There will be a section through an underground passage, and once you emerge, you’ll be at your destination. The ticket office for the Kuchu Teien Observatory is on the 39th floor, and you can take a dedicated elevator directly there.
The Osaka Prefectural Government Sakishima Building Observatory (大阪府咲洲庁舎展望台) offers another unique perspective of this magnificent city. It’s an excellent alternative for those staying multiple nights in Osaka.
I believe I failed to mention one major attraction earlier—Universal Studios Osaka. Given that the trip is tailored for my parents, who are not particularly interested in amusement parks, we didn’t include it in our plans. However, if you wish to visit, it would be advisable to set aside a full day.
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