Osaka Municipal Subway’s Sakaisuji Line runs north to south between Tenjimbashisuji Rokuchome Station and Tenchagaya Station. At the northern terminus of Tenjimbashisuji Rokuchome the line connects directly with the Hankyu Senri Line and via that to the Hankyu Kyoto Main Line and the Hankyu Arashiyama Line. Some through services run between these lines.
Osaka Municipal Subway is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. However, there are other discount passes that can be used on the subway and these are listed at the end of this article.
A Hankyu through train bound for Tengachaya
Key Destinations
Within the subway system the Sakaisuji Line is color-coded brown. There are 10 stations on the Sakaisuji Line and these are as follows:
Tenjinbashisuji Rokuchome > Ogimachi > Minami-morimachi > Kitahama > Sakaisuji-Hommachi > Nagahoribashi > Nippombashi > Ebisucho > Dobutsuen-mae > Tengachaya
Fares and train times below are given from Tenjinbashisuji Rokuchome.
Signs for the Sakaisuji line are color-coded brown
Tenjinbashisuji 6-chome Station
Tenjimbashisuji Rokuchome Station is close to Tenjinbashisuji Shotengai, Japan’s longest covered shopping street. Transfers can be made here to the Tanimachi Subway Line and the Hankyu Senri Line.
At Tenjimbashisuji Rokuchome the Sakaisuji Line and Hankyu Senri Line are directly linked and there are some through services
Ogimachi Station
Ogimachi Station is convenient for Kids Plaza Osaka, a museum dedicated to child education. This station is also close to the Tenjinbashisuji shopping street. Transfer here to nearby Temma Station for the Osaka Loop Line.
Train fare: 180 yen
Train time: 1 minute
Minami-morimachi Station
This station is close to Osaka Tenmangu Shrine which dates from 949 AD and is the home of the Tenjin Matsuri festival which takes place every July 24th and 25th. This is Osaka’s biggest festival and one of the three great festivals of Japan.
Transfers can be made here to the Tanimachi Subway Line, and at nearby Osaka-Temmangu Station to the JR Tozai Line.
Train fare: 180 yen
Train time: 2 minutes
Kitahama Station
Kitahama Station is convenient for Nakanoshima Park. Transfers can be made here to the Keihan Main Line.
Train fare: 180 yen
Train time: 4 minutes
Sakaisuji-Hommachi Station
Transfer here to the Chuo Subway Line.
Train fare: 180 yen
Train time: 6 minutes
Nagahoribashi Station
Exit here for the Crysta Nagahori underground shopping mall. Transfer here to the Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Subway Line.
Train fare: 240 yen
Train time: 7 minutes
Nippombashi Station
Nippombashi Station serves the popular shopping district of Nipponbashi. Exit here for Kuromon Ichiba Market, the National Bunraku Theater, and the Denden Town area which is famous for its cheap electronics shops. Transfer here to the Sennichimae Subway Line. At nearby Kintetsu Nippombashi Station transfer to the Kintetsu Namba Line.
Train fare: 240 yen
Train time: 9 minutes
Ebisucho Station
Exit here for Imamiya Ebisu Shrine, which hosts a lively “Toka Ebisu” festival on the 9th, 10th and 11th of January. Also nearby are the Tsutenkaku Tower and Shitennoji Temple, which dates from 593 and is Japan’s oldest Buddhist temple. Transfer here to the tramway Hankai Line which links the cities of Osaka and Sakai.
Train fare: 240 yen
Train time: 11 minutes
Dobutsuen-mae Station
This is a convenient stop for Tennoji Park, Tennoji Zoo and Osaka Municipal Museum of Fine Art. Spa World is also nearby.
Transfer here to the Midosuji Subway Line.
There are two more stations close to Dobutsuen-mae Station: Shin-Imamiya Station and Shin-Imamiya-Ekimae Station. At Shin-Imamiya Station transfer to the Osaka Loop Line, the JR Yamatoji Line, and to Nankai Electric Railway’s Nankai Main Line and Koya Line. At Shin-Imamiya-Ekimae Station transfer to the tramway Hankai Line.
Train fare: 240 yen
Train time: 12 minutes
Tengachaya Station
Tengachaya Station is the southern terminus of the Sakaisuji Line. Transfer here to the Nankai Main Line and the Nankai Koya Line.
Train fare: 280 yen
Train time: 16 minutes
Information alternates between Japanese and English
Timetables & Tickets
To find train times or to plan your route on the Osaka Municipal Subway system consult English language online route finders like Jorudan and Hyperdia.
An Osaka Municipal Subway train bound for Tengachaya
For more detailed information about using the subway system in Osaka, check the Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau website. Here you can find information on discount tickets such as the Osaka Amazing Pass, the Osaka Kaiyu Ticket, or how to use prepaid IC cards. You can also download PDFs of a complete subway system map and guide.
Other recommended multi-use discount passes are the Kansai Thru Pass, the Enjoy Eco Card and the Yokoso! Osaka Ticket.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.
