Getting around Kansai

JR West's main line between Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and Himeji – signposted as the JR Kyoto Line and JR Kobe Line – carries frequent special rapid trains that link the city centres quickly. The Osaka Loop Line circles central Osaka through Osaka Station, Tennoji and Osaka Castle, and the Yumesaki Line branches off to Universal Studios Japan. From Kyoto, the Nara Line runs past Fushimi Inari to Uji and Nara, and the Sagano Line heads west to Arashiyama.

The Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen stop at Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and Shin-Kobe; Shin-Osaka is north of the city centre, a few minutes from Osaka Station. JR lines accept the Japan Rail Pass and the regional JR Kansai passes.

Each private railway has its own character and territory. Their Osaka terminals are at Umeda in the north and Namba and Tennoji in the south, and several run through onto each other's tracks or onto Osaka Metro lines. In Kyoto, the private lines reach areas that JR does not: Hankyu to Shijo-Kawaramachi downtown, Keihan along the Kamo River through Gion.

Osaka's subway, operated since 2018 by the city-owned Osaka Metro company, has eight lines plus the automated New Tram to the bay area. The red Midosuji Line is the spine of the city, running from Shin-Osaka through Umeda, Shinsaibashi and Namba to Tennoji; the Chuo Line runs east–west to the waterfront and the artificial island of Yumeshima.

Many visitors need little more than the Midosuji Line and the JR Loop Line. Visitor passes offering unlimited rides for a day are sold for the Osaka Metro, some including admission to sights.

Kyoto's two subway lines form a cross: the Karasuma Line runs north–south through Kyoto Station, the Tozai Line east–west past Nijo Castle towards Yamashina. Most temples, however, lie on the edges of the city, and the dense city bus network is the main way to reach them. Buses to popular areas such as Kiyomizu-dera, Gion and Kinkaku-ji are often very crowded; combining subway, train and a short walk, or setting out early, is usually faster.

Two small railways add character: the Randen (Keifuku) tram line crosses western Kyoto to Arashiyama, and the Eizan Railway climbs from Demachiyanagi to Kurama and Kibune in the northern hills. On city buses, IC cards are touched on the reader; signs at the doors show which door to board by.

The largest hubs are sprawling complexes where several companies' stations are linked by underground passages. Knowing which operator's station is meant – for example JR Osaka versus Hankyu Osaka-Umeda – avoids long walks.

ICOCA, issued by JR West, is the region's main prepaid card and is interchangeable with Suica, PASMO and the other major cards, so a card bought in Tokyo works in Kansai. PiTaPa, a postpay card, requires a Japanese credit check and is mainly used by residents.

For day trips, compare the options: from Kyoto, JR is quickest to Nara's JR station, while Kintetsu arrives closer to Nara Park. From Osaka to Kyoto, JR is fastest to Kyoto Station, Hankyu and Keihan to the downtown and Gion areas.