The Kintetsu Namba Line and Osaka Namba Station

The Kintetsu Namba Line is a short rail line with just three stations that connects both the Kintetsu Osaka Line and the Kintetsu Nara Line to Osaka-Namba Station. Osaka-Namba Station is easy to reach from the Namba area and is a convenient place to board Kintetsu services for those lines. From this station you can board Kintetsu trains bound for destinations in Nara and Mie prefectures as well as Limited Express services for Nara, Nagoya, and the Ise-Shima area.

A Kintetsu train at Osaka Namba Station

You can also board Hanshin Namba Line trains bound for Amagasaki and Kobe. In this article we will take a detailed look at Osaka-Namba Station before looking at the other two stations on the Kintetsu Namba Line. Kintetsu services are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, but there are other discount passes which we will examine at the end of this article.

Osaka-Namba Station

Osaka-Namba Station is a shared station run by two private rail companies: Kintetsu Corporation and Hanshin Electric Railway.

In the blue section on the left are the Kintetsu ticket machines. In the orange section on the right are the Hanshin ticket machines

Whether you buy a Kintetsu or a Hanshin ticket, you pass through the same ticket gates.

The ticket gates at Osaka Namba are very busy

Trains for the Hanshin Namba Line depart from Platform 3.

A Local train for Amagasaki at Platform 3 of Osaka Namba Station

Kintetsu trains bound for destinations on the Kintetsu Osaka Line and Kintetsu Nara Line depart from Platforms 1 and 2. Limited Express services bound for Nara, Nagoya, and Shima also depart from this station. All seats on Kintetsu Limited Express trains are reserved, and you need a Limited Express ticket in addition to the basic fare. Adult fares below include the basic fare and the required Limited Express or special-train charge.

Trains	Train time	Adult fares
Limited Express for Kintetsu-Nara	34 minutes	1,200 yen
HINOTORI Limited Express for Kintetsu-Nagoya	around 2 hours and 10 minutes	4,990 yen for a Standard seat; 5,690 yen for a Premium seat
Shimakaze Limited Express for Kashikojima (Shima)	2 hours and 23 minutes	5,460 yen

A Limited Express train bound for Nara

Travelers to Nara should note that it is also possible to take a Rapid Express from Osaka-Namba Station to Kintetsu-Nara Station that takes about 40 minutes and is considerably cheaper at 680 yen. Use English language route finders like Navitime or Jorudan to find the best train time and service for your destination.

A cheaper Express train for Nara at Osaka Namba Station

Access to Osaka-Namba Station

Osaka-Namba Station is part of a major transportation hub in the Namba area of Osaka and is easily accessed either directly by the Hanshin or Kintetsu lines or indirectly via three other nearby stations. These are: JR Namba Station, Osaka Metro Namba Station, and Nankai Namba Station.

JR Namba Station is accessed by the JR Yamatoji Line. The normal transfer time from the center of the Osaka-Namba platform is about 9 minutes.

Nankai Namba Station is accessed by the Nankai Main Line and Nankai Koya Line. The normal transfer time from the center of the Osaka-Namba platform is about 11 minutes.

And Osaka Metro Namba Station is accessed by the Midosuji, Sennichimae, and Yotsubashi lines. The normal transfer time from the center of the Osaka-Namba platform is about 5 minutes to the Midosuji Line, 4 minutes to the Sennichimae Line, and 6 minutes to the Yotsubashi Line.

Around Osaka-Namba Station

The Namba area is a major commercial district in central Osaka. Among many local sites of interest are the famous Glico running man image by the Dotonbori canal, the Namba Parks shopping mall, and Hozenji Temple. Close by Hozenji Temple is Hozenji Yokocho, a celebrated stone-flagged alleyway full of bars, cafes and eateries.

A Local train bound for Higashi-Hanazono on the Kintetsu Nara Line at Osaka Namba Station

Osaka-Namba Station Location Map

Kintetsu-Nippombashi Station

This station is convenient for the National Bunraku Theatre, the Kuromon Ichiba food market, and the cheap electronics stores of Denden Town. Eastbound trains for the Kintetsu Nara Line and westbound trains for the Hanshin Namba Line stop at this station. However, Limited Express trains and trains bound for the Kintetsu Osaka Line do not stop at this station. Osaka Metro Nippombashi Station is nearby and there transfers can be made to the Sakaisuji Line and Sennichimae Line.

Osaka-Uehommachi Station

This station is convenient for the Shinkabukiza Theater, the Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka, and the information exchange center at International House Osaka. Osaka-Uehommachi is the eastern terminus of the Kintetsu Namba Line and the western terminus of the Kintetsu Osaka Line. Transfers can also be made here to trains bound for the Kintetsu Nara Line. At nearby Tanimachi Kyuchome Station transfers can be made to the Tanimachi Line and the Sennichimae Line.

Discount Tickets

Kintetsu services are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, but there are a number of discount options which can be used to visit Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Nagoya, and the Ise-Shima region. The main visitor passes are the KINTETSU RAIL PASS 1day, 2day, 5day, and 5day plus tickets. These are digital tickets that can be bought online and used with a QR code at compatible ticket gates.

The KINTETSU RAIL PASS 1day costs 1,900 yen for adults and 950 yen for children. This pass is designed for travel around the Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto areas.

The KINTETSU RAIL PASS 2day costs 3,700 yen for adults and 1,850 yen for children. This pass is also designed for travel around the Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto areas.

The KINTETSU RAIL PASS 5day costs 4,900 yen for adults and 2,450 yen for children. This pass covers all Kintetsu Railway lines for 5 consecutive days.

The KINTETSU RAIL PASS 5day plus costs 6,700 yen for adults and 3,350 yen for children. This pass covers all Kintetsu Railway lines for 5 consecutive days and adds selected bus coverage in the Nara and Ise-Shima areas.

These passes cover basic fares on eligible routes. If you ride a Kintetsu Limited Express train, you still need to buy a separate Limited Express ticket. For more details, route coverage, and purchase conditions, visit the official Kintetsu Railway ticket page.