The Hamakaze is a limited express service operated by JR West that connects the cities of Osaka and Kobe with the northern Hokuriku region on the Japan Sea coast. This train is particularly useful for those who wish to travel to Kinosaki Onsen from the city of Kobe and it is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
The Limited Express Hamakaze
Key Destinations
There are three Hamakaze services (trains #1, #3, and #5) that depart from Osaka Station each day, and three services (trains #2, #4 and #6) that return to Osaka Station. However, the northern terminus stations for these services are different. Trains #3 and #6 travel to and from Kasumi Station, trains #1 and #4 travel to and from Hamasaka Station, and trains #5 and #2 travel to and from Tottori Station. The following stations are on the route of the Hamakaze. Stations in brackets [] are not served by all trains.
Osaka – Sannomiya – Kobe – Akashi – [Kakogawa] – Himeji – Fukusaki – Teramae – [Takeda] – Ikuno – Wadayama – Yoka – Ebara – Toyooka – Kinosaki Onsen – Takeno – [Satsu] – Kasumi – Hamasaka – Iwami – Tottori
Only trains #1 and #4 stop at Takeda Station. Between early November to mid-March, some trains also stop at Kakogawa and Satsu stations. Below are the key destinations on this route, with fares given from Osaka Station. For train times check the timetables below.
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.
Train fare: 1,060 yen
Kobe Station
This station is convenient for the Kobe Harborland shopping and entertainment district.
Train fare: 1,060 yen
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.
Train fare: 2,460 yen
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.
Train fare: 5,080 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 for the Amarube Bridge; a famous trestle bridge that the Hamakaze crosses.
Hamakaze Limited Express crossing the Amarube Viaduct. Image by Rsa.
Train fare: 5,610 yen
Hamasaka Station
Hamasaka Station serves the town of Shin’onsen in the Mikata district of Hyogo Prefecture. This town is best known for the Zen temple of Antaiji, Yumura Onsen hot spring resort, and the San’in Kaigan Geopark Center.
Train fare: 5,940 yen
Tottori Station
Among Tottori city’s many attractions are its castle ruins, the Jinpukaku – a French style mansion, Tottori Hot Spring, and Hakuto Beach. The city is most famous for its ancient sand dunes however, which cover a huge area on the coast and feature camel rides and a sand museum.
Train fare: 6,470 yen
A carriage flag for the Hamakaze #3
Route Map
Timetables
These timetables are correct at the time of writing. Please use the JR West Timetable and Fare Finder to confirm your journey times.
| Stations | Hamakaze #1 | Hamakaze #3 | Hamakaze #5 |
| Osaka | Departs 9.38 | Departs 12.22 | Departs 18.04 |
| Sannomiya | Arrives 9.57 | Arrives 12.41 | Arrives 18.26 Departs 18.27 |
| Kobe | Arrives 10.00 Departs 10.01 |
Arrives 12.44 Departs 12.45 |
Arrives 18.30 Departs 18.31 |
| Akashi | Arrives 10.13 Departs 10.14 |
Arrives 12.57 Departs 12.58 |
Arrives 18.43 Departs 18.44 |
| Himeiji | Arrives 10.38 Departs 10.44 |
Arrives 13.20 Departs 13.25 |
Arrives 19.08 Departs 19.21 |
| Fukusaki | Arrives 11.02 | Arrives 13.42 | Arrives 19.38 Departs 19.41 |
| Teramae | Arrives 11.13 Departs 11.14 |
Arrives 13.53 Departs 13.54 |
Arrives 19.53 Departs 19.55 |
| Ikuno | Arrives 11.28 Departs 11.29 |
Arrives 14.08 | Arrives 20.11 Departs 20.13 |
| Takeda | Arrives 11.43 | – | – |
| Wadayama | Arrives 11.49 Departs 11.50 |
Arrives 14.28 Departs 14.29 |
Arrives 20.34 Departs 20.35 |
| Yoka | Arrives 12.01 | Arrives 14.39 Departs 14.40 |
Arrives 20.46 |
| Ebara | Arrives 12.08 | Arrives 14.46 Departs 14.47 |
Arrives 20.53 Departs 20.54 |
| Toyooka | Arrives 12.16 Departs 12.18 |
Arrives 14.57 Departs 14.59 |
Arrives 21.02 Departs 21.03 |
| Kinosaki Onsen | Arrives 12.27 Departs 12.28 |
Arrives 15.08 Departs 15.09 |
Arrives 21.12 Departs 21.13 |
| Takeno | Arrives 12.36 Departs 12.37 |
Arrives 15.18 | Arrives 21.21 Departs 21.22 |
| Kasumi | Arrives 12.51 Departs 12.52 |
Arrives 15.33 | Arrives 21.36 Departs 21.37 |
| Hamasaka | Arrives 13.09 | – | Arrives 21.54 Departs 21.55 |
| Iwami | – | – | Arrives 22.08 Departs 22.09 |
| Tottori | – | – | Arrives 22.25 |
| Stations | Hamakaze #2 | Hamakaze #4 | Hamakaze #6 |
| Tottori | Departs 6.00 | – | – |
| Iwami | Arrives 6.16 Departs 6.16 |
– | – |
| Hamasaka | Arrives 6.30 Departs 6.30 |
Departs 13.30 | – |
| Kasumi | Arrives 6.48 Departs 6.49 |
Arrives 13.47 Departs 13.48 |
Departs 16.51 |
| Takeno | Arrives 7.03 Departs 7.04 |
Arrives 14.02 Departs 14.02 |
Arrives 17.05 Departs 17.06 |
| Kinosaki Onsen | Arrives 7.12 Departs 7.13 |
Arrives 14.11 Departs 14.14 |
Arrives 17.15 Departs 17.17 |
| Toyooka | Arrives 7.22 Departs 7.24 |
Arrives 14.24 Departs 14.26 |
Arrives 17.26 Departs 17.28 |
| Ebara | Arrives 7.32 Departs 7.33 |
Arrives 14.34 Departs 14.35 |
Arrives 17.37 Departs 17.38 |
| Yoka | Arrives 7.39 Departs 7.40 |
Arrives 14.47 Departs 14.47 |
Arrives 17.44 Departs 17.44 |
| Wadayama | Arrives 7.51 Departs 7.51 |
Arrives 14.58 Departs 14.59 |
Arrives 17.55 Departs 17.56 |
| Takeda | – | Arrives 15.04 Departs 15.05 |
– |
| Ikuno | Arrives 8.11 Departs 8.12 |
Arrives 15.19 Departs 15.20 |
Arrives 18.16 Departs 18.17 |
| Teramae | Arrives 8.27 Departs 8.27 |
Arrives 15.35 Departs 15.35 |
Arrives 18.31 Departs 18.32 |
| Fukusaki | Arrives 8.37 Departs 8.38 |
Arrives 15.46 Departs 15.46 |
Arrives 18.42 Departs 18.43 |
| Himeiji | Arrives 8.54 Departs 8.59 |
Arrives 16.03 Departs 16.07 |
Arrives 19.00 Departs 19.06 |
| Akashi | Arrives 9.22 Departs 9.23 |
Arrives 16.30 Departs 16.30 |
Arrives 19.30 Departs 19.30 |
| Kobe | Arrives 9.36 Departs 9.36 |
Arrives 16.43 Departs 16.43 |
Arrives 19.43 Departs 19.43 |
| Sannomiya | Arrives 9.39 Departs 9.40 |
Arrives 16.46 Departs 16.47 |
Arrives 19.46 Departs 19.47 |
| Osaka | Arrives 10.01 | Arrives 17.05 | Arrives 20.05 |
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.
