The Sennichimae Subway Line

Osaka Municipal Subway’s Sennichimae Line runs between Nodahanshin Station in Osaka’s north west and Minami-Tatsumi Station in the south east. On its route, this line passes through the popular shopping and entertainment districts of Namba and Nipponbashi, and it also intersects with all seven of the other municipal subway 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.

Key Destinations & Transfers

Within the subway system the Sennichimae Line is color-coded pink. The 14 stations on the Sennichimae Line are:

Nodahanshin > Tamagawa > Awaza > Nishi-Nagahori > Sakuragawa > Namba > Nippombashi > Tanimachi Kyuchome > Tsuruhashi > Imazato > Shin-Fukae > Shoji > Kita-Tatsumi > Minami-Tatsumi

Here, listed from Nodahanshin Station, are the key destinations with transfer points included. Fares and times are given from Nodahanshin Station.

Nodahanshin Station

Nodahanshin Station is the northern terminus of the Sennichimae Line and is located in Osaka’s Fukushima Ward. Two other stations are located nearby. These are Hanshin Noda Station, where transfers can be made to the Hanshin Main Line, and Ebie Station, where transfers can be made to the JR Tozai Line.

Tamagawa Station

This station is a ten minute walk from Osaka Central Fish Market. It is also close to JR Noda Station where you can transfer to the Osaka Loop Line.

Awaza Station

Transfer here to the Chuo Subway Line.

Nishi-Nagahori Station

Transfer here to the Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Subway Line.

Sakuragawa Station

Transfer here to the Hanshin Namba Line.

Namba Station

The Namba area is a major shopping and entertainment district in the Minami (or “South”) area of Osaka. Famous sites here include the Glico running man image and the Kani Doraku crab image by the Dotonbori canal. Attractions include the leafy Namba Parks shopping mall, the Shin-Kabukiza Theater, and Hozen-ji Temple. Close by Hozen-ji Temple is Hozen-ji Yokocho, a celebrated stone flagged alleyway full of bars, cafes and eateries. You can download a map of the entire Minami area (including Namba, Nipponbashi and Shinsaibashi) from the Osaka Info website.

Osaka Municipal Subway’s Namba Station is very close to three other stations: JR Namba Station, Osaka Namba Station and Nankai Namba Station. Transfers are as follows:

From Osaka Municipal Subway’s Namba Station you can transfer to the Yotsubashi Line and the Midosuji Line.

At JR Namba Station transfer to the JR Yamatoji Line which links Namba to Nara and Kyoto prefectures.

At Osaka Namba Station transfer to the Kintetsu Namba Line and the Hanshin Namba Line.

At Nankai Namba Station transfer to the Nankai Main Line and the Koya Line. The Nankai Main Line runs between Namba Station in Osaka and Wakayamashi Station in Wakayama City. The Koya Line links Osaka with the mountain temple retreat of Koya-san in Wakayama Prefecture.

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 Sakaishuji Subway Line. At nearby Kintetsu Nippombashi Station transfer to the Kintetsu Namba Line.

Tanimachi Kyuchome Station

Exit here for Ikukunitama Shrine, Kozu-gu Shrine, and the Sheraton Miyako Hotel. Transfer here to the Tanimachi Subway Line. At nearby Osaka Uehommachi Station transfer to the Kintetsu Namba Line and the Kintetsu Osaka Line.

Tsuruhashi Station

Tsuruhashi is best known for Osaka’s Korean Town and in particular Miyukimori Shopping Street where there are many Korean restaurants and Korean stores. There are actually three Tsuruhashi Stations but they are very closely connected. At the JR Tsuruhashi Station transfer to the Osaka Loop Line, and at the Kintetsu Tsuruhashi Station transfer to Kintetsu Nara Line and the Kintetsu Osaka Line.

Imazato Station

Transfer here to the Imazatosuji Subway Line.

Minami-Tatsumi Station

Minami-Tatsumi Station is the southern terminus of the Sennichimae Line and is located in Osaka’s Ikuno Ward.

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 Navitime.

For more detailed information about using the subway system in Osaka, check the Osaka Metro website. This website has a downloadable route map, as well as information on special discount tickets and how to use ICOCA prepaid IC cards.

Some recommended multi-use discount passes that can be used on Osaka’s subway system are the Kansai Thru Pass, the Enjoy Eco Card, the Yokoso! Osaka Ticket and the Osaka Amazing Pass.

---

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.