How To Get To All 5 Umeda Stations From JR Osaka Station!

The Difference between Umeda and Osaka

In Osaka, there are two major stations used for sightseeing. Namba Station is one, and the other is Osaka Station/Umeda Station.

Umeda is the name of the area around Osaka and Umeda Stations. It is also a transportation hub for sightseeing in Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe, which are all located in the Kansai Region.

Osaka Station and Umeda Station are located very close to each other but have different station names. To make things more complicated, there are five Umeda Stations. This is because different railroad companies, such as Hankyu and Hanshin, operate in this area.

This article is about the routes to the five Umeda Stations from JR Osaka Station, and the accessibility to sightseeing locations from each station.

About the Umeda Area

Photo by Pixta
The Umeda area contains a wide variety of department stores and shopping malls. The total size of this shopping space is the largest in Japan—even more than Tokyo's Shinjuku .

A massive underground shopping mall ("chikagai" in Japanese) lies beneath Umeda. Osaka Station is connected to the Umeda Stations via mall, and passengers are able to transfer trains by walking through.

Restaurants, gift shops, apparel shops, and department stores are lined up between the stations, so visitors can enjoy shopping along the way. However, the streets of the Umeda underground mall are complicated and often compared to a maze.

Read on to learn about how to reach various Umeda Stations from JR Osaka Station.

The Shortest Route to Each Umeda Station

Please take a look at the table below. (To check a route, click the station title.)

Station	Nearest JR Osaka Station Gate (*)	Access to
1. Hankyu Umeda Station	Midosuji Gate	Kawaramachi (Kyoto) and Sannomiya (Kobe)
2. Midosuji Line Umeda Station	Midosuji Gate	Namba, Dotonbori, Shinsaibashi and Tsutenkaku
3. Hanshin Umeda Station	Sakurabashi Gate	Sannomiya (Kobe)
4.Yotsubashi Line Nishi-Umeda Station	Sakurabashi Gate	Namba and Dotonbori
5.Tanimachi Line Higashi-Umeda Station	Midosuji-Minami Gate and Midosuji Gate	Osaka Castle

* There are five ticket gates at JR Osaka Station. (Central, Midosuji, Sakurabashi, Midosuji-Minami and Renrakubashi.) All the gates are located on the first floor, except for Renrakubashi, which is on the third floor.

As you can see, there are five stations containing the Umeda name. The table indicates the closest JR Osaka Station Gate, and how to navigate to various sightseeing spots from each of these stations.

Before going into details, please check the points listed below.

Things to Watch Out

There are many information boards at the station, but they may only indicate either a railroad line or a station title. Be sure to check what is written on these signs.

Keep in mind that most stations have their own own color.

If you happen to use a different gate from the one listed in this article, re-check the information boards, stay calm, and head for your destination.

Let's move on to the details.

1. The Route to Hankyu Umeda Station

The first station is the Hankyu Railway Umeda Station (Hankyu Umeda Station). From this station you can take a direct train to Kawaramachi, a major shopping area in Kyoto, and Sannomiya in Kobe. The station color is brown with a wine-red shade.

Midosuji Gate

The route to Hankyu Umeda Station is above ground.

Start from JR Osaka Station Midosuji Gate. With your back to the gate, go left.

A stairway and an escalator, shown in the photograph above, will come into view.

Go up, and turn right. Walk towards the red Ferris wheel of HEP FIVE, and you will reach Hankyu Umeda Station.

Most of the nearby pedestrians will be heading for the Hankyu Station, so you don't worry about becoming lost.

These are the ticket gates. The area is filled with shopping spots, including the Hankyu Department Store. A restaurant arcade is located underground so you can also enjoy dining here.

Hankyu Railway Umeda Station

Access: Five-minute walk from JR Osaka Station Midosuji Gate.
Station Color: Brown, with a wine-red shade.
Offers Access to:
Kawaramachi Station (Kyoto)/About 45 minutes via limited express. The fare is 400 yen.
Sannomiya Station (Kobe)/About thirty minutes via limited express. The fare is 320 yen.

2. The Route to Midosuji Line Umeda Station

Midosuji Line runs through various stations such as Namba Station, which is near Dotonbori and shopping arcades, Shinsaibashi Station and Dobutsuen-mae Station, near Tsutenkaku. This is a convenient line for Osaka sightseeing.

The route to Midosuji Line starts at the Midosuji Gate of the JR Osaka Station.

With your back to the gate, go diagonally to the right. An udon restaurant, shown in the photograph above, will come into view, along with an escalator on its right-hand side.

Ride the escalator down, and you will reach the Midosuji Line ticket gates.

Midosuji Line Umeda Station

Access: Three-minute walk from JR Osaka Station Midosuji Gate.
Station Color: Red
Offers Access to:
Shinsaibashi/Seven-minute ride to Shinsaibashi Station. The fare is 230 yen.
Dotonbori and Namba/Nine-minute ride to Namba Station. The fare is 230 yen.
Tsutenkaku and Shinsekai/Thirteen-minute ride to Dobutsuen-mae Station. The fare is 230 yen.

3. The Route to Hanshin Umeda Station

Hanshin Railway Umeda Station (Hanshin Umeda Station) offers access to the Kobe area and Namba. The station is located next to the Hanshin Department Store.

Sakurabashi Gate

JR Osaka Station Sakurabashi Gate is the closest to Hanshin Umeda Station.

With your back to the gate, look for the stairway located on the right-hand side. There is also an escalator, which can be used by those who have luggage.

Go down to a hallway filled with optical illusions, and head straight forward.

Turn left at Tully's Coffee, and you will arrive at the West Gate of Hanshin Umeda Station.

Hanshin Umeda Station neighbors the Hanshin Department Store. The station floor is connected to the food market section, so visitors can shop for souvenirs, as well.

Hanshin Railway Umeda Station

Access: Five-minute walk from JR Osaka Station Sakurabashi Gate.
Station Color: There is no particular color.
Offers Access to:
Sannomiya Station (Kobe)/About thirty minutes on a limited express. The fare is 320 yen.

4. The Route to Yotsubashi Line Nishi-Umeda Station

The route to Yotsubashi Line Nishi-Umeda Station is similar to the Hanshin Umeda Station route.

JR Osaka Station Sakurabashi Gate is the closest to Yotsubashi Line Nishi-Umeda Station.

Look for the stairway located on the right-hand side, with your back to the gate. Those who have luggage should use the escalator.

Head straight forward on a hallway filled with optical illusions.

Turn right at Tully's Coffee. (Turn left, and you will reach Hanshin Umeda Station.)

Keep on walking, go down a stairway, and Yotsubashi Line Nishi-Umeda Station will come into view.

Yotsubashi Line Nishi-Umeda Station

Access: Five-minute walk from JR Osaka Station Sakurabashi Gate.
Station Color: Blue
Offers Access to:
Namba/A seven-minute, direct ride to Namba Station. The fare is 230 yen.

5. The Route to Tanimachi Line Higashi-Umeda Station

Those who wish to visit Osaka Castle, a popular sightseeing destination in Osaka, should head for Tanimachi Line Higashi-Umeda Station.

This route may be the most complicated, as you will have go outside and also go underground. Let's take a look.

The closest gate is either the Midosuji-Minami Gate or the Midosuji Gate.

Take the pedestrian crossing outside the Midosuji-Minami Gate. From the Midosuji Gate, turn right, and the crossing will come into view.

Keep on walking.

Go down the stairs.

A huge underground shopping mall will appear. It will be crowded, so be aware of your surroundings, and walk diagonally to the left.

Walk straight through the Whity sign. This is the name of the mall.

Keep on walking, and a counter with a pink sign above, shown in the photograph, will appear on the right-hand side. Turn right at the first corner from the sign.

The Tanimachi Line Higashi-Umeda Station ticket gates will come into view.

Tanimachi Line Higashi-Umeda Station

Access: Ten-minute walk from JR Osaka Station Midosuji-Minami Gate and Midosuji Gate.
Station Color: Purple
Offers Access to:
Osaka Castle/A four- to six-minute ride to Tenmabashi Station (180 yen) or Tanimachi-yonchome Station (230 yen).

Taxi Area

The following is how to get to the taxi stand. With your back to the JR Osaka Station Skaurabashi Gate, turn right.

Keep walking, and a pedestrian crossing will come into view. Look to the left, and you should see the taxi stand.

There are many taxi stands at Osaka Station, but this stand is probably the easiest to locate.

Travel Service Center

There are many information centers at JR Osaka Station, but the most accessible is the one near the Central Gate.

The travel service center is located in front of the Central Gate, along with an exchange counter, and a Japan Rail Pass exchange booth. There is also a booth where visitors can make reservations for tours and hotels.

Two types of maps, for aboveground and underground, are handed out at this center. So if you exit from the Central Gate, it should come in handy. Be sure to also check the information signs along the way, as the routes still may be confusing, even with a map.

The Shinkansen Station

The Shinkansen (bullet train) stops at Shin-Osaka Station, which is not located in this area.

Shin-Osaka Station is the next stop from JR Osaka Station, and the ride takes about four minutes. It is also a six-minute ride from Midosuji Line Umeda Station.

Navigate through Umeda Station!

Five Umeda Stations are located around JR Osaka Station. There are many sightseeing spots such as the Umeda Sky Building, along with shopping spots and restaurants, so walking around should be fun.

Travel Tips for Osaka

Below are helpful services for those in Osaka. Click each link to learn more.

・Osaka Amazing Pass - transportation pass that includes discounts on attractions

・Private Osaka Castle and Dotonbori Tour

・Universal Studios Japan Tickets