The Hankyu Kyoto Main Line for Katsura, Arashiyama, and Kawaramachi in Kyoto

The Hankyu Kyoto Main Line runs between Osaka-Umeda Station in Osaka and Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station in Kyoto. It is run by the private Hankyu Railway company and so it is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. However, it is a useful rail line when traveling from Osaka into Kyoto’s city center.

You can also use this line to visit Kyoto’s Katsura Imperial Villa or take a detour to the scenic Arashiyama district by transferring to the branch line at Katsura Station.

Access to Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station

The Hankyu Kyoto 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.

Key Destinations

Katsura Station

Change here for the Hankyu branch line that goes to Arashiyama. This is also a convenient stop for the gardens and palace buildings of Katsura Imperial Villa, and for students commuting to the Katsura Campus of Kyoto University.

Katsura Imperial Villa is about a 20 minute walk from Katsura Station. Bus access to Katsura Rikyu-mae by Kyoto City Bus or Keihan Kyoto Kotsu Bus is also possible, but the bus stop is still about a 15 minute walk from the villa, so check current routes before using it. Visits to Katsura Imperial Villa are managed by the Imperial Household Agency; advance application is recommended for most visitors, and same-day places may be available only if space remains.

To go to the Katsura Campus of Kyoto University, take City Bus Nishi 6, also shown as West No. 6, or Keihan Kyoto Kotsu Bus 20 or 20B from the west exit of Katsura Station. These take about 12 minutes. Fares vary by bus operator and stop, so check the current fare before boarding.

Hankyu Arashiyama Station (on the Hankyu Arashiyama Line)

This station gives access to the scenic Arashiyama and Sagano area, one of the major tourist attractions in Kyoto. Famous sites in this area include the Togetsukyo Bridge, Tenryuji Temple, the Arashiyama Monkey Park and the famous bamboo forest. Rickshaw rides and boating on the river are also popular activities.

Saiin Station

The lively area around Saiin Station is packed with shops, restaurants and bars. You can also use this as a transfer point to the Keifuku Randen tramline at nearby Sai Station. Keifuku Electric Railroad operates two tramlines that follow scenic routes in Kyoto’s western districts. See our article on the Keifuku Randen Tramline for more details. In addition, City Bus 205 departs from Nishioji Shijo, near Hankyu and Randen Saiin stations, for Kinkakuji, the Golden Temple. The bus ride takes about 16 minutes in normal traffic and costs 230 yen.

Karasuma Station (Kyoto)

This station is convenient for the financial district around Shijo and Karasuma. Daimaru department store is within easy walking distance. It also has direct underground access to the Karasuma Subway Line at Shijo Station. This subway line is very useful for getting from the center of the city to Kyoto Station.

Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station (Kyoto)

This station is very convenient for central Kyoto and gives access to the Shijo and Kawaramachi shopping districts. It also has direct underground access to Takashimaya and Kyoto Kawaramachi Garden. Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line is located 5 minutes walk away across the Kamo River.

Traveling to Kyoto

If you are traveling from Umeda to central Kyoto, the Hankyu Kyoto Main Line from Osaka-Umeda Station is a very good option. It will get you to Kyoto-Kawaramachi or Karasuma Stations in about 40 to 45 minutes and costs 410 yen. However, Hankyu Railway is a private railway company and so not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

An alternative route to Kyoto is to travel via the JR Kyoto Line from Osaka Station. The Special Rapid train on the JR Kyoto Line will get you to Kyoto Station in about 29 minutes for a fare of 580 yen. This route is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

Discount Tickets

As Hankyu Railway is a private company it is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. However, the Hankyu One-Day Pass FY2026 is available as a digital ticket for adult travelers. It costs 1,300 yen and covers all Hankyu Railway lines except the Kobe Kosoku Line for one day. Eligible Kansai Area Pass users can also check Hankyu’s Hankyu Kyoto Line 1-day pass. Ticket names, prices, purchase methods and eligibility can change, so check Hankyu’s official ticket pages before buying.

Visitors from overseas can also check the KANSAI RAILWAY PASS LITE. In 2026, this pass is sold as a 2-day adult pass for 5,200 yen or a 3-day adult pass for 6,500 yen during a limited sales and validity period. It covers many private railways and metro lines in Kansai, but it does not cover JR trains, buses, Kyoto City Subway, Randen, the Keihan Otsu Line, or some other excluded services. Check the official coverage map before buying.

Local residents can use a PiTaPa card, an IC fare card accepted by many private railways, buses and subway systems in the Kansai region. A Japanese bank account or domestic application process may be required. Common IC cards such as ICOCA, Suica and PASMO can also be used for ordinary fares on Hankyu Railway.

Hankyu Trains, Maps and Timetables

The Hankyu Railway is served by a variety of train types. On the Kyoto Line these include Local, Semi-Express, Rapid Service, Express, Semi-Limited Express, Commuter Limited Express, Limited Express and Rapid Limited Express Kyo-Train Garaku services. The Local trains are the slowest because they stop at all stations, and the Limited Express trains provide the fastest regular service, but they may not stop at your station. You should be careful to get on the right train for your stop, or know where to make an appropriate transfer.

Hankyu also operates the PRiVACE seat reservation service on the Kyoto Line. It is available on the fourth carriage of selected Limited Express, Commuter Limited Express and Semi-Limited Express trains, and requires a 500 yen seat reservation ticket in addition to the regular fare.

You can check the complete Hankyu Railway network on the official Hankyu lines and stations page. On this map the Kyoto Main Line and its branch lines are colored green.

For current departure times, use the official Hankyu station timetables for Osaka-Umeda toward Kyoto-Kawaramachi and the Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station page. However, the quickest and easiest way to find a suitable train quickly is to use an English language online route finder like Jorudan or Navitime.

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Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 28-Jul-2026.