The Kintetsu Nara Line for Ikoma, Yamato-Saidaiji, and Nara

The Kintetsu Nara Line is a private railway operated by Kintetsu Corporation that runs between Fuse Station in Osaka and Kintetsu Nara Station in the historic city of Nara.

This line is one part of a connected series of rail lines linking Nara, Osaka, Amagasaki, and Kobe, and there are Rapid Express services that run between all four cities. For practical purposes this means that you can board a train bound for Kintetsu Nara Station at Kobe-Sannomiya Station, Hanshin Amagasaki Station, or Osaka Namba Station.

If you are traveling from Osaka, then Osaka Namba is the most convenient station from which to board a Rapid Express to Kintetsu Nara Station. In this article we will look at the key destinations on the Kintetsu Nara Line proper and then look at Rapid Express through train services from other lines.

Because the Kintetsu Nara Line is a private railway line, it is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. However, there are other discount passes available that we will examine at the end of this article.

Key Destinations

Technically the Kintetsu Nara Line starts at Fuse Station, but for most Osaka-based journeys services on this route begin at Osaka Namba Station on the Kintetsu Namba Line. Trains will stop at the following stations before reaching Fuse:

Osaka Namba > Kintetsu Nippombashi > Osaka Uehommachi > Tsuruhashi > Imazato > Fuse

There are 19 stations on the Kintetsu Nara Line proper and these are as follows:

Fuse > Kawachi-Eiwa > Kawachi-Kosaka > Yaenosato > Wakae-Iwata > Kawachi-Hanazono > Higashi-Hanazono > Hyotan-yama > Hiraoka > Nukata > Ishikiri > Ikoma > Higashi-Ikoma > Tomio > Gakuen-mae > Ayameike > Yamato-Saidaiji > Shin-Omiya > Kintetsu Nara

Key destinations and transfer points are given below with fares and train times from Osaka Namba Station.

Osaka Namba Station

The Namba area is a major commercial district in central Osaka, famous for Hozen-ji Temple and Hozen-ji Yokocho, a celebrated stone-flagged alleyway full of bars, cafes, and eateries. 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.

Nankai Namba Station is accessed by the Nankai Main Line and Nankai Koya Line.

Osaka Metro Namba Station is accessed by the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, Osaka Metro Sennichimae Line, and Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line.

Kintetsu Nippombashi Station

This station is convenient for the National Bunraku Theatre, Kuromon Ichiba food market, and the electronics stores of Den Den Town. Eastbound trains for the Kintetsu Nara Line and westbound trains for the Hanshin Namba Line stop at this station. Osaka Metro Nippombashi Station is nearby, and transfers can be made there to the Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line and Osaka Metro Sennichimae Line.

Osaka Uehommachi Station

This station is convenient for the Shinkabukiza Theater, the Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka, and International House, Osaka / Osaka Conference Center. Osaka Uehommachi is the eastern terminus of the Kintetsu Namba Line and the western terminus of the Kintetsu Osaka Line. At nearby Tanimachi 9-chome Station, transfers can be made to the Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line and the Osaka Metro Sennichimae Line.

Tsuruhashi Station

Exit here for Miyuki-dori Shopping Street (also known as Korea Town) and the famous Korean yakiniku, or grilled meat, restaurant Ajiyoshi. There are three closely connected stations here which are run by Kintetsu, JR West, and Osaka Metro. Transfers can be made to the JR Osaka Loop Line, the Osaka Metro Sennichimae Line, and trains bound for the Kintetsu Osaka Line.

Imazato Station

Trains bound for the Kintetsu Nara Line and Kintetsu Osaka Line both make stops at this station.

Fuse Station

Transfers can be made here to the Kintetsu Osaka Line. Though this is officially the western terminus of the Kintetsu Nara Line, many through train services from Nara run beyond Fuse to Osaka Namba Station, Hanshin Amagasaki Station, and Kobe-Sannomiya Station.

Kawachi-Eiwa Station

Transfers can be made at nearby JR Kawachi-Eiwa Station to the Osaka Higashi Line.

Higashi-Hanazono Station

Exit here for Hanazono Central Park, which contains the Dream 21 Planetarium and Higashiosaka Hanazono Rugby Stadium. The stadium, which opened in 1929, is Japan’s first dedicated rugby stadium and has a close relationship with the station, which was originally called Rugby Ground Station. Considered a spiritual home of Japanese rugby, this stadium is still a major venue for national and international games and holds historical exhibits in the Rugby Library. The home team are the Hanazono Kintetsu Liners.

Ishikiri Station

About 15 minutes’ walk from this station in Higashi-Osaka will take you through an old-fashioned shopping street to Ishikiri-Tsurugiya Shrine. The shrine, which is said to date from 658, is dedicated to the god of healing, so many people come here to pray for relief from illness.

Ikoma Station

Ikoma is a city in Nara Prefecture and its best known tourist attractions are Mount Ikoma and Hozanji Temple. At Ikoma Station transfer to the Kintetsu Keihanna Line, the Kintetsu Ikoma Line, and the Kintetsu Ikoma Cable Line, which takes passengers to Hozanji Temple and up Mount Ikoma.

Yamato-Saidaiji Station

Exit here for the Heijo Palace Site and Nara Palace Site Museum. The large temple complex of Saidaiji Temple, which dates from 765, is also nearby. Transfers can be made here to the Kintetsu Kyoto Line and the Kintetsu Kashihara Line.

Kintetsu Nara Station

The city of Nara is famous for its many shrines and temples, many of which date back to the 8th century when Nara was Japan’s first permanent capital. The UNESCO World Heritage property Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara has eight component parts. Kintetsu Nara Station is convenient for Nara Park and Kofukuji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage component that is famous for its five-story pagoda. JR Nara Station is located about 13 minutes’ walk south-west of the Kintetsu station. Read our guide to Kintetsu Nara Station.

Through Train Services from Other Stations

The Kintetsu Nara Line is part of a connected series of rail lines that run between Kobe, Amagasaki, Osaka, and Nara. Rapid Express trains run through services between Kobe-Sannomiya Station and Hanshin Amagasaki Station on the Hanshin Main Line before switching to the Hanshin Namba Line and continuing on to Osaka Namba Station. From Osaka Namba, Rapid Express trains follow the Kintetsu Namba Line and then the Kintetsu Osaka Line before joining the Kintetsu Nara Line at Fuse Station. Here are the fares and train times to Kintetsu Nara Station from the major stations on this route.

Station	Train time	Train fare
Kobe-Sannomiya -> Kintetsu Nara	about 80 to 90 minutes	1,100 yen
Hanshin Amagasaki -> Kintetsu Nara	about 50 to 60 minutes	1,020 yen
Osaka Namba -> Kintetsu Nara	about 39 to 40 minutes	680 yen

Discount Tickets

A variety of discount passes are available for Kintetsu Railway travel around Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Nagoya, Ise-Shima, and nearby regions. For this route, the most relevant visitor passes are the digital KINTETSU RAIL PASS products.

The KINTETSU RAIL PASS 1day costs 1,900 yen for adults and 950 yen for children. The KINTETSU RAIL PASS 2day costs 3,700 yen for adults and 1,850 yen for children. These passes cover travel in the Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto area, so they are useful if you plan to make several Kintetsu journeys in that region.

The KINTETSU RAIL PASS 5day costs 4,900 yen for adults and 2,450 yen for children and covers Kintetsu train lines and the Iga Railway. The KINTETSU RAIL PASS 5day plus costs 6,700 yen for adults and 3,350 yen for children and adds designated bus travel to the wider rail coverage.

These passes cover ordinary Kintetsu train rides within their valid areas. To ride a Kintetsu Limited Express train, you need a separate Limited Express ticket in addition to the base fare or pass. One day or two day passes are also available for selected rail lines between Osaka, Nara, and Kyoto. For details, prices, and route coverage, visit the official Kintetsu Railway ticket page.

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 10-Aug-2026.