The Hankyu Kobe Main Line is an important commuter line linking the two cities of Osaka and Kobe. The line runs between Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station in Osaka and Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station in Kobe.
Because it is run by the private Hankyu Railway company, it is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. However, if you do not have a Japan Rail Pass, Hankyu Railway is usually cheaper than JR for travel between Osaka and central Kobe. This line also provides useful access to Mount Rokko.
A Limited Express Train bound for Kobe
Access – Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station
Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station is north east of Osaka Station
The Hankyu Kobe Main Line does not connect directly to Osaka Station, but to the nearby Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station. Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station is situated north east of Osaka Station and is connected to Osaka Station City by a raised walkway and by underground tunnels. The Umeda and Osaka station area is large, so follow signs for “Hankyu Railway” or “Hankyu Osaka-Umeda” rather than looking for a JR platform.
Key Destinations
In Osaka-Umeda Station Kobe Line trains use platforms 7, 8 and 9; check the departure boards for your train
Below are the main stations you are likely to visit on the Hankyu Kobe Main Line. Fares and train times are given from Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station. Times vary by train type and transfer, so check the current timetable before you travel.
Juso Station
At Juso Station you can transfer between the three main Hankyu railway lines. Passengers for Kobe who are traveling via the Kyoto Line or Takarazuka Line should transfer here to the Kobe Line.
Train fare: 170 yen
Train time: about 3-4 minutes
Rokko Station
Exit here for the popular sightseeing and hiking area of Mount Rokko. From Hankyu Rokko Station, Kobe City Bus Route 16 runs to Rokko Cable Shita, the lower station of the Rokko Cable Car. The bus ride from Hankyu Rokko takes about 14 minutes in the daytime, and the cable car then takes you up Mount Rokko. At the top you can enjoy views from Rokko Garden Terrace and Rokko Shidare Observatory, terrace dining, the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden and the ROKKO Forest Sound Museum.
Train fare: 330 yen
Train time: about 33-38 minutes
Oji-Koen Station
Oji-Koen Station is convenient for Kobe city’s Oji Zoo, Oji Park and the Suidosuji shopping area. Oji Zoo is undergoing phased renewal while remaining open, so check current zoo information before visiting if there is a particular exhibit you want to see.
Train fare: 330 yen
Train time: about 31-35 minutes
Kobe-Sannomiya
Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station is the main terminal for people visiting Kobe City, as it gives immediate access to Kobe’s main area of business, shopping and entertainment. Kobe itself is an attractive cosmopolitan port city. Its main attractions are Chinatown, Kobe Harborland, Meriken Park, and the Ijinkan, an area of foreign houses built in the 19th century.
Train fare: 330 yen
Train time: about 27 minutes by Limited Express
Alternative Routes
In addition to the Hankyu Kobe Main Line there are two other competing rail lines that connect Osaka with Kobe: the JR Kobe Line and the Hanshin Main Line. All three of these lines have stations both in Umeda and Sannomiya that are within a short walking distance of each other. The best choice depends on your pass, your budget and which side of Sannomiya you want to reach.
The JR Kobe Line provides the fastest service between Osaka Station and JR Sannomiya Station at about 22 minutes by Special Rapid train. It is also the most expensive ordinary option at about 420 yen. However, this line is covered by the Japan Rail Pass. Because the Hankyu and Hanshin railways are private railway companies, you cannot use the Japan Rail Pass on their lines.
A Limited Express on the Hanshin Main Line will get you from Hanshin Osaka-Umeda Station to Hanshin Kobe-Sannomiya Station in approximately 33 minutes for about 330 yen. This is cheaper than the JR service and close in price to a Limited Express on the Hankyu Kobe Line, which covers the Osaka-Umeda to Kobe-Sannomiya journey in about 27 minutes for about 330 yen. There is not much to choose between the two private lines on price, but in Kobe the Hanshin station is slightly better positioned for areas to the south of Kobe-Sannomiya, while the Hankyu station is a little more convenient for areas to the north.
An inside view of Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station
Discount Tickets
As the Hankyu Railway is a private company it is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. For ordinary short trips, regular tickets and compatible IC cards such as ICOCA and PiTaPa are usually the simplest option. If you plan to use Hankyu repeatedly in one day, a pass may be worth checking.
The Hankyu One-Day Pass is a digital ticket for unlimited one-day travel on Hankyu Railway lines, excluding the Kobe Kosoku Line. The 2026 adult price is 1,300 yen, so it is mainly useful if you will make several Hankyu trips between Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe in the same day.
The Hankyu-Hanshin 1day Pass is a digital ticket covering all Hankyu Railway, Hanshin Railway and Kobe Kosoku Line services for one day. The 2026 adult price is 1,600 yen, which can be useful if you want to compare or combine the Hankyu and Hanshin sides of Kobe.
Visitors planning wider non-JR travel around Kansai can also check the KANSAI RAILWAY PASS LITE. The 2026 digital pass costs 5,200 yen for two days or 6,500 yen for three days. It covers many private railways and metro systems in Kansai, but it does not cover JR lines, buses, Kyoto City Subway, Randen, or the Keihan Otsu lines.
For Mount Rokko or Mount Maya, the seasonal Rokko & Maya Leisure Ticket (Hankyu Edition) can be better targeted. The 2026 adult price is 3,500 yen, and the ticket bundles a Hankyu round trip, selected Kobe City Bus access, either the Rokko Cable Car or Maya Viewline round trip, and Rokko Sanjo Bus travel. It is sold and valid from 11-Apr-2026 to 30-Nov-2026.
Route maps in Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station clearly show the destinations and fares. The Kobe Main Line is color coded blue
Hankyu Trains, Maps and Timetables
The Hankyu Railway is served by a variety of train types. Local trains stop at all stations, while faster services such as Limited Express trains skip some stations. You should be careful to get on the right train for your stop, or know where to make an appropriate transfer. To get to Rokko Station or Oji-Koen Station, for example, you may need to transfer en route between a faster train and a Local train.
The official Hankyu website has current information for Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station, the Hankyu route map and station list, and Kobe Line timetables from Osaka-Umeda toward Kobe-Sannomiya on weekdays and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. You can also find transfer routes using English-language online route finders such as Jorudan or Navitime.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 02-Aug-2026.
