So are buses and other cheapo alternatives. What companies run services between Tokyo, Japan and Osaka, Japan? series: [2.5, 3.5, 6.5, 8.5] We break down the best options for your future travels. Pro tip: If you have a lot of luggage, or even one huge bag, consider sending it on ahead with a luggage delivery service. The shinkansen (bullet train) takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes and costs Y13,620. Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do. Osaka Walking Tour Book a private tour of Osaka with a knowledgeable English-speaking guide to explore the city’s most fascinating districts. The ride from Tokyo to Osaka is a reasonable 2.5-3 hours, with no transfers required. Osaka is Japans third-largest city. You have to buy a Platt Kodama ticket at least one day in advance, and numbers are limited. Expat Communities. Finding the Right Travel Insurance for Japan, Sustainable Travel in Japan: From Sushi to Single-use Plastic, Tokyo to Osaka: Fast and Creative Ways of Getting There, Summary of options (with comparison table), sending it on ahead with a luggage delivery service. This line is the most heavily travelled high-speed rail route in the world, with has a length of 515 km (320 miles), and offers the fastest and smoothest way for travelling between Tokyo station, and Shin-Osaka or Kyoto stations. Discounted Shinkansen tickets are worth considering. There are night buses and day buses, with the former departing around midnight and rolling into Osaka at the crack of dawn. In the opposite direction, if I’m coming from Kyoto and want to switch to the Narita Express, I sometimes switch at Shinagawa, because it’s a short walk from the shinkansen platforms to the Narita Express platforms at Shinagawa and it’s LONG hike at Tokyo Station. Whether you’re heading from Tokyo to Osaka to chow down, check out Universal Studios Japan, or you’re on a secret mission, here are the fastest and cheapest ways of getting there. Here’s a quick comparison, in table form: You can also rent a car and drive from Tokyo to Osaka, but the highway tolls and speed limits make this a less-than-fun journey. The Yamanobe-no-Michi which literally translates to "the path alongside the mountain", is one of these ancient walking routes. Cost labels: ['Shinkansen', 'Airplane*', 'Car', 'Bus'], Walk the 11th century Kumano Kodo pilgrim’s trail through rural Japan, or the Nakasendo Trail through the central mountains to experience an array of Japanese history, culture, and cuisine. If you travel with an airplane (which has average speed of 560 miles) from Tokyo to Osaka, It takes 0.44 hours to arrive. Going the other way: Traveling from Osaka to Tokyo We have a dedicated guide to the Osaka to Tokyo route—give it a quick read. A great place … Pro tip: Here are a few ideas on what to do in Osaka once you’re there. You can do this in advance. One-way Fare 49 Tokyo to Osaka tour packages with 1,077 reviews View Map. Tickets cost ¥12000 - ¥17000 and the journey takes 2h 27m. If you’ve got weeks at your disposal and a good pair of walking shoes, you could hoof it hobo style (although to be honest, we wouldn’t). The route is popular, served by multiple Shinkansen every hour. Travelers who are happy going nowhere slowly might want to consider the ultra-cheap Seishun 18 Pass, available three times a year (coinciding with university holidays). Some buses have toilets, some don’t, but they all stop regularly for loo and smoke breaks. You’re looking at at least nine hours of travel time, with at least seven transfers. You rarely have to wait more than 10 minutes for a train. A comprehensive guide for getting from the plane to your accommodation. Japan's Travel Bubble: What Is It, and Who's Included? Additionally, content such as tours and tickets, hotels and apartments are commercial content. The easy 1.5-hour flight is complicated by the transfers to either Haneda or Narita Airport (most likely the latter), as well as from Kansai International Airport into Osaka. From Osaka to Tokyo: Take the Sunrise Izumo overnight train which leaves Osaka Station at 00:34 (Reserve tickets early!) Discounted Shinkansen tickets are worth considering. ¥2,000–¥10,000, see rates for your dates The speediest bullet train, the Nozomi, will get you from Tokyo Station to Shin-Osaka Station in just 2 hours 30 minutes.Taking the Hikari will add an extra 30 minutes or so to your travel time. Bus/coach This gets you a one-way ticket for between ¥10,700 and ¥12,300, depending on the time of year. Our Osaka accommodation guide might come in handy, too. Description. The sluggish Kodama, the oldest in the fleet, takes closer to four hours, and is generally avoided except by last-minute riders and super discount-seekers. The best way to travel between Tokyo and Osaka is the shinkansen (bullet train). transfers) If you are planning a road trip, you might also want to calculate the total driving time from Tokyo, Japan to Osaka, Japan so you can see when you'll arrive at … Bus facilities and features differ depending on the service. During the day, there are several shinkansen every hour between Osaka and Kyoto. Kyoto is just half an hour off by regular train, or the next bullet train stop over (15 minutes away). Alternatively, JR Bus Kanto operates a bus from Tokyo Station Yaesu Exit to Osaka Station Bus Terminal every 4 hours. Here’s a quick comparison, in table form: If you’re making a quick trip from Tokyo to Osaka, then popping down to Hiroshima, for example, the pass will more than pay for itself. The fastest, easiest and most convenient option is the Shinkansen, especially if you have a Japan Rail Pass or are looking to arrive quick-fast. HINT: If you have unreserved tickets and you find that the unreserved cars are full on the next train heading out, just stand in line at the boarding spot for the next train so you can board it first – this will usually guarantee a seat and you probably won’t have to wait more than 15 minutes. Join the official Osaka Free Walking Tour! To cover more ground, there are a few train journeys, including one on a super-fast bullet train, considered a must-do experience by many tourists. You could also put pedal to the metal and roll that mamachari across the country. The fastest type of shinkansen, which is called the Nozomi, takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes and costs Y13,620 for a one-way trip in an unreserved seat. There are various operators, but try Willer Express and Kosoku Bus for reasonably-priced bus tickets—it’s pretty standard to find a night bus for ¥3,000 or under one-way. It’s mainly due to the fact that Tokyo is a larger city with a larger population of … This highway bus connects Asakusa, Ueno and Yokohama with Kyoto and Osaka, and operates once a day. For first-timers, 10 days in Japan across Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto is the perfect introduction to this amazing country. These buses take around 8 hours and cost about Y7,000. Time. 20 Osaka to Tokyo tour packages with 146 reviews View Map. You have to buy a Platt Kodama ticket at least one day in advance, and numbers are limited. Or you could travel with a sense of class and ride that discount unicorn you found at Donki. You will learn about the unique Otaku culture and will travel back in time to the beginning of the 20th century visiting the old New World of Osaka. Explore Japan's foodie capital with us & find out why Osaka is called the “Kitchen of Japan”. Avail of the free seat reservation that comes with your JR Pass. It’s a few hundred yen cheaper the rest of the year. Tokyo => Kansai Look up a company called JR Tokai Tours for more information. Trips from Tokyo to Osaka are most popular in April, with the most tours doing this route then. ¥4,456 (US$44) I like to get on at Tokyo Station because it’s the first station so I can usually get a seat. Osaka/Kyoto-Tokyo Flying Sneaker Liner Bus Facility. Sunrise Izumo: The train has private bedrooms which you can pay a top up fee but the … Tickets cost ¥12000 - ¥17000 and the journey takes 2h 30m. You can use the rail route planning sites Hyperdia or Jorudan to plot your trip. Photo by iStock.com/suriya silsaksom Osaka Free Walking Tour Join the official Osaka Free Walking Tour and you will find out why Osaka is called the “Kitchen of Japan”, you will learn about the unique Otaku culture and will travel back in time to the beginning of 20th century visiting the old New World of Osaka. Japan Express: Osaka to Tokyo. In comparison, Tokyo is much bigger and offers more number of tourist attractions such as Tokyo Tower, Asakusa Se… Saitama may be a commuter’s prefecture, but it’s got its own charm with a Little Edo town, natural havens, and even a bonsai village. There are various operators, but try Willer Express and Kosoku Bus for reasonably-priced bus tickets—it’s pretty standard to find a night bus for ¥3,000 or under one-way. Flights So are buses and other cheapo alternatives. While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Here’s an overview of current flight prices: Nov 30, 2020 - Whether you are a local or a tourist, get to know the area even better while on foot with the best Osaka walking tours on Tripadvisor. Thinking of a northern getaway? You can use the rail route planning sites Hyperdia or Jorudan to plot your trip. And if so, what does that mean for travel to Japan during COVID-19? That’s ¥2,410 per day of travel. With a Japan Rail Pass, you can make reservations at any JR ticket window, up to one month in advance of your travel. Over a thousand years ago, Nara - or Heijokyo as it was known then - was the capital of Japan, and there were many walking routes leading to Nara. Transport Note: Shin-Osaka Station is actually a couple of stops away from Osaka Station proper—but your bullet train ticket will cover the additional fare on the JR Line. Details Osaka: cheaper, dirtier and a whole lot friendlier than Tokyo. | Photo by iStock.com/vichie81 You can get Shinbashi, Higashi-Ginza, Asakusa and Oshiage (Tokyo Skytree) directly without changing the trains. The Shinkansen (bullet train) stops at Shin-Osaka Station, which is not located in this area. In Tokyo, you can catch the shinkansen at Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station. Route The gritty, unreserved, business-savvy gourmand cousin of Tokyo, Osaka is a fun prefecture to explore, as well as a gateway to Kyoto, Nara and the rest of the Kansai region. If you’re coming from outside Japan, it’s recommended that you take advantage of a Japan Rail Pass. Bullet train You can also share the tickets with friends—for example, one set of the five tickets could get five of you down to Osaka (that would use them all up). It ends in Osaka, Japan. Summary of transport options from Tokyo to Osaka Distance from Tokyo to Osaka. ¥10,700– ¥14,920, cheaper with discount passes ¥2,410 with the Seisun 18 Pass, otherwise about ¥9,000 Regular trains If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. Looking to explore the sun-kissed islands of southern Japan? With over 750,000 readers each month, Tokyo Cheapo is the site of choice for value hunters who want their yen to go further in Tokyo. If you are traveling with kids, have big bags or aren’t comfortable being on your feet for hours, it’s best to book a reserved seat (shiteiseki). This gets you a one-way ticket for between ¥10,700 and ¥12,300, depending on the time of year. In this case, you can use 14-day pass from day 4 to 17. Taking the Hikari will add an extra 30 minutes or so to your travel time. The route is popular, served by multiple Shinkansen every hour. Booking Time: Pro tip: Here are a few ideas on what to do in Osaka once you’re there. | Photo by Gregory Lane With blankets and pillows included, this is a comfortable and relaxing way to travel from city to city. After you have arrived in Tokyo, it is time to start exploring. It’s modern, vibrant and has a lot to offer the visitor. It takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes and costs Y13,620 between Tokyo and Osaka (non-reserved seat). On the other hand, 14-day pass is too expensive to cover Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto-Tokyo-Narita. Unfortunately, there is no English-language site for JR highway buses. Scroll down for English-language shinkansen timetables. Not a vlog, no intrusive faces or talking, pure Japan only.Directly from Nara I went to Nanba station in Osaka for Dotonbori area. Our guides are friendly and patient with children so feel free to bring your young ones and teenagers! If your schedule is flexible and you’re cool with four hours on an older model of bullet train, you could use the Puratto (Platt) Kodama Economy Plan and ride down to Osaka on the Kodama. Rapidly becoming one of the most popular routes among visitors to Japan, a Tokyo to Osaka trip offers the chance to see the country from two quite different perspectives. Day – 1 arrive in Tokyo. New Shinkansen luggage rules from May 2020 dictate that luggage with dimensions of over 160cm but under 250cm will require special reservations (included in your JR Pass), and bags over 250cm won’t be allowed onboard the bullet train at all. Find tours that start in Tokyo and then finish in Osaka. In addition, there are night buses between Tokyo and Osaka if you want to save money. The vibe and culture of Tokyo and Osaka are very different, even if you’ve already spent time in Tokyo you’ll find Osaka well worth a visit and spending some time in. You can take Keihin Kyuko railway to Shinagawa or Monorail to Hamamatsucho. });*-includes shortest embarkation/disembarkation and travel time to/from airportJump to: Price: Taking to the sky is also an option, but it’s not always the most convenient way to travel between Tokyo and Osaka. Click the name of the place in the list. There are a few cheaper ways to take the bullet train. Whilst this is nice, for me it means it is very similar to other capital cities purely on an appearance level. This discount rail ticket allows virtually unlimited bullet train rides for 7, 14 or 21 days. Disclosure: insideosaka.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Read on for a full breakdown of options. If you want to contribute to or sponsor Tokyo Cheapo, get in touch. The map will then zoom in on its location. Only doing the Tokyo to Osaka route? (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Read on for a full breakdown of options. So, for inquiries and ticket purchase, go to any JR ticket window or any travel agent in Japan. How to experience the hotel version of a tiny house. The buses leave from major stations in Tokyo. how to get from Narita airport to Tokyo, which JR rail pass to choose, getting a SIM card and pocket wifi. If you were keen on using regular trains to get from Tokyo to Osaka without the Seishun 18 Pass, think twice: the cost of the trip is around ¥9,000 one way, making pretty much everything else more economical. Access from Tokyo is also good, being only 3 hours by shinkansen. For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my, Check Osaka accommodation availability and pricing on, Need tips on where to stay? Then you’re in luck! You can also share the tickets with friends—for example, one set of the five tickets could get five of you down to Osaka (that would use them all up). All shinkansen stop at both stations. Tokyo and Osaka are both very big cities and have countless tourist attractions including a large number of shops, museums, parks, temples, shrines, skyscrapers and so on. You may find more i… Here's how to save money on the way to Hokkaido. Regular trains Look up a company called JR Tokai Tours for more information. Photo by iStock.com/Tony Studio However, you cannot ride the Nozomi shinkansen with a Japan Rail Pass, but you can ride the next fastest type of shinkansen, which is called the Hikari. Dates & length Places Filters. 4 – 5 hrs (incl. Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are connected with by the Tokaido Shinkansen line, included with the Japan Rail Pass. In-depth Cultural. Tokyo has two airports, Haneda and Narita. Note: If this is not your only domestic trip while you’re visiting Japan, a Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass) will almost certainly work out to be the most economical option. For ¥12,050, you’ll get five (non-consecutive is fine) days of travel on any and all local JR trains, as well as rapid JR trains that don’t require seat reservations. There are a few cheaper ways to take the bullet train. During peak season (that’s spring and summer holidays, Golden Week and the New Year period), a regular one-way ticket costs about ¥14,920. Both are also home to amazing amusement parksTokyo Disney Resort (it’s actually located in Chiba Prefecture though..) and Universal Studios Japan. Video guide During peak season (that’s spring and summer holidays, Golden Week and the New Year period), a regular one-way ticket costs about ¥14,920. From about ¥4,500, plus transfers It depends on where you go. Exploring Toyosu—Tokyo's Revitalized Fish Market, It’s The Great Snoopy Museum, Charlie Brown, Visiting Okunoshima - Japan's Famous Rabbit Island, Bargain JR East 3-Day 2020 Rail Pass For Foreign Residents. It’s only 500km or so between Tokyo and Osaka. If you’ve got weeks at your disposal and a good pair of walking shoes, you could hoof it hobo style (although to be honest, we wouldn’t). Some buses have toilets, some don’t, but they all stop regularly for loo and smoke breaks. Last update: November 2, 2020. All the budget ways of getting into town. See my one page guide, Compare flight prices and timings to find the, If you're visiting more than one city, save a ton of money with the. Japan One Life Adventures - 10 Days. However, most visitors probably think of Nagoya as just one of many stops on the bullet train from Tokyo down to the Kyushu region. However, if you are traveling at rush hour (between 7am and 9am and 4pm and 7pm) or during peak travel seasons (31 Dec-3 Jan; the first week of May and mid-August), you should consider buying reserved tickets in advance. You might be able to snag a one-way ticket for ¥3,000 to ¥12,000 on a low-cost carrier like Peach or Jetstar, but you’ll need to factor in other expenses. Kyoto is just half an hour off by regular train, or the next bullet train stop over (15 minutes away). Alternatively, JR Bus Kanto operates a bus from Osaka Station Bus Terminal to Tokyo Station Nihonbashi Exit every 4 hours. This is not a good choice. Just be sure not take the slowest type of shinkansen (the Kodama) as it stops a lot and is much slower. Day 1 – Tokyo (Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya) This would also hold true in the opposite direction (ie, if you want to switch between the Narita Express and the shinkansen and go straight to Osaka, it’s easier to switch at Shinagawa). The snag? Another cheap option for traveling between Tokyo and Osaka is a JR night bus. You don’t need to reserve seats on the shinkansen if you travel outside of peak travel hours and outside of peak travel seasons. The route starts in Osaka and ends in Tokyo, with a four-day section in the rural Noto Peninsula in between. 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