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.

It is possible to walk to Katsura Imperial Villa in 15 minutes, however a bus from the east exit of the station will get you there in 3 minutes and cost you only 160 yen. Take City Bus 33 or Keihan Kotsu Bus 14 or 2. Visits to Katsura Imperial Villa must be booked in advance with the Imperial Household Agency.

To go to the Katsura Campus of Kyoto University take City Bus 6 or Keihan Kotsu Bus 20 or 20B from the west exit of this station. These take 12 minutes and cost 240 yen.

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 operate 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 here for Kinkakuji (The Golden Temple). The bus takes 16 minutes 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 the Marui and Takashimaya department stores. Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line is located 5 minutes walk away across the Kamo River.

Train fare: 400 yen
Train Time: 44 minutes by Limited Express

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 around 40 minutes and cost you only 400 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 29 minutes for a fare of 560 yen. This route is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

Discount Tickets

As the Hankyu Railway is a private company it is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. However, a Hankyu Tourist Pass is available for 1 or 2-day travel. This might be worth your while if you are planning to use Hankyu Railways between Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. Check the Hankyu Railway website for details.

Visitors from overseas can also get a Kansai Thru Pass (also called the Surutto Kansai Pass) for two or three days. This covers not only the Hankyu Railway but many of the private railways, buses and subway systems in Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara and Shiga. This pass cannot be used on JR Railways however. Visit the Kansai Thru Pass website to find out more.

Local residents can get a PiTaPa Pass which also covers many of the private railways, buses and subway systems in the Kansai Region. These are available from the stations of participating companies, however you will need a Japanese bank account to get one.

Hankyu Trains, Maps and Timetables

The Hankyu Railway is served by a variety of train types. The main ones are the Local trains, the Semi-Express, the Rapid Service, the Rapid Express and the Limited Express. The Local trains are the slowest because they stop at all stations, and the Limited Express trains provide the fastest 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. Fortunately the official Hankyu website has a clear and simple English language PDF guide to all the train types on the Kyoto Line. This includes a color-coded route map showing exactly which stations each train stops at.

You can also get a bilingual map of the complete Hankyu Railway network. On this map the Kyoto Main Line and its branch lines are colored green.

There are also PDF timetables for trains running from Umeda to Kyoto-Kawaramachi on weekdays, and on weekends. Return trip timetables from Kawaramachi to Umeda are available for both weekdays, and weekends too. However, the quickest and easiest way to find a suitable train quickly is to use an English language online route finder like Jorudan or Hyperdia.

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.