The Hamakaze is a limited express service operated by JR West that connects Osaka, Kobe and Himeji with the Sea of Japan coast of northern Hyogo and eastern Tottori. It runs toward destinations such as Toyooka, Kinosaki Onsen, Kasumi and Tottori, and is particularly useful for travelers who want a JR-only route to Kinosaki Onsen or Tottori. Because it runs on JR lines, the Hamakaze is generally covered by the Japan Rail Pass, but ordinary cars use reserved seating only, so pass holders should reserve a seat before boarding.
The Limited Express Hamakaze
Key Destinations
There are a small number of Hamakaze services each day, with operating days and final destinations varying by train and season. Some services run through to Tottori, some terminate at Kasumi, and some terminate at Toyooka. Always confirm your date of travel with JR West before relying on a departure time or final destination.
The following stations are on the Hamakaze route. Stations in brackets [] are not served by all trains.
Osaka – Sannomiya – Kobe – Akashi – [Nishi-Akashi] – [Kakogawa] – Himeji – Fukusaki – Teramae – [Takeda] – Ikuno – Wadayama – Yoka – Ebara – Toyooka – Kinosaki Onsen – Takeno – [Satsu] – Kasumi – Hamasaka – Iwami – Tottori
Only some trains stop at Takeda, Nishi-Akashi, Kakogawa and Satsu. The key destinations below are listed from Osaka, but the Hamakaze is not usually the best choice for short hops between Osaka and Kobe. For those journeys, frequent rapid and special rapid trains are usually cheaper and easier. The Hamakaze is most useful when you are continuing beyond Himeji toward northern Hyogo or Tottori.
The Hamakaze #3 is bound for Kasumi
Sannomiya Station
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, Mount Rokko, and the Ijinkan, an area of foreign houses built in the 19th century.
Kobe Station
This station is convenient for the Kobe Harborland shopping and entertainment district.
Himeji Station
The city of Himeji is most famous for its spectacular white castle. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Himeji Castle is one of only 12 original medieval castles to have survived the last World War. Nicknamed “White Heron Castle,” it is renowned for its beauty.
Kinosaki Onsen Station
Kinosaki is a charming hot spring resort town on the Japan Sea coast with 1400 years of history. The town is incredibly picturesque, with beautifully preserved traditional architecture and a river lined with willows and cherry trees that runs through its center. One of Japan’s best known spas, the town is also known for its seafood cuisine, particularly crab when in season, and for the local variety of black Wagyu beef, called Tajima beef.
Regular adult one-way ordinary reserved-seat fare from Osaka in the normal season: 6,140 yen.
Kasumi Station
Kasumi Station serves the town of Kami in the Mikata district of Hyogo Prefecture. This town is known for the scenic rice terraces of Ojiro Village, the Yoshitaki Waterfalls, the Tajima Plateau Botanical Gardens and the Amarube Bridge area.
The old Amarube Railway Bridge was a famous trestle bridge on the San’in Main Line. It was replaced by a new concrete bridge in 2010, but three old piers and part of the former track have been preserved as Amarube Railway Bridge “Sky Station.” Hamakaze passengers now cross the newer bridge, while the preserved old bridge structure remains a major sight in the area.
Hamakaze Limited Express crossing the Amarube Viaduct. Image by Rsa.
Hamasaka Station
Hamasaka Station serves the town of Shin’onsen in the Mikata district of Hyogo Prefecture. This town is known for Yumura Onsen hot spring resort, Antaiji temple, and the Shin’onsen Town San’in Kaigan Geopark Center, which introduces the geology and landscapes of the San’in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark.
Regular adult one-way ordinary reserved-seat fare from Osaka in the normal season: 7,020 yen.
Tottori Station
Among Tottori city’s many attractions are Tottori Castle Ruins and Kyusho Park, Tottori Onsen, Hakuto Beach, and the famous Tottori Sand Dunes. The dunes cover a huge area on the coast, and nearby attractions include camel photo and riding experiences, when operating, and the Tottori Sand Dunes Sand Museum. Jinpukaku, the French-style mansion near the castle ruins, is closed for conservation and repair works until around 2029, though parts of the surrounding grounds remain available.
Regular adult one-way ordinary reserved-seat fare from Osaka in the normal season: 7,460 yen.
For travel between Osaka and Tottori, also compare the Limited Express Super Hakuto. The Super Hakuto is faster and more frequent, but it uses non-JR Chizu Express tracks, so nationwide Japan Rail Pass holders need to pay a supplement for that route. The Hamakaze is slower and much less frequent, but it stays on JR lines.
A carriage flag for the Hamakaze #3
Route Map
Train Time and Service Pattern
JR timetables and operating days can change, and not every Hamakaze service runs to the same destination. Please use the JR West route and ticket search to confirm the train for your exact date.
Train time: current JR West timetable pages show Hamakaze #1 running from Osaka to Tottori, with Osaka departure at 07:48 and Tottori arrival at 12:07 on the weekday timetable. Hamakaze #3 runs from Osaka to Kasumi, with Osaka departure at 12:23 on the current timetable. Hamakaze #5 runs from Osaka to Toyooka, with Osaka departure at 18:04 and Toyooka arrival at 21:04 on the weekday timetable.
For inbound services, Hamakaze #2 runs from Kinosaki Onsen to Osaka, with Kinosaki Onsen departure at 07:13 and Osaka arrival at 10:01. Hamakaze #4 runs from Tottori to Osaka, with Tottori departure at 12:56 on the current timetable. Hamakaze #6 runs from Kasumi to Osaka, with Kasumi departure at 16:52 and Osaka arrival at 20:05. Operating days vary by train, and JR West warns that sudden cancellations or time changes may occur, so confirm your journey before travel.
Tickets and Seat Reservations
To ride the Hamakaze, you need a base fare ticket and a limited express reserved-seat ticket. Ordinary cars use reserved seating only, and fares can vary by season, seat type and ticket product. Japan Rail Pass users can generally ride the Hamakaze because it uses JR lines, but they should reserve a seat before boarding.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 04-Aug-2026.
