The Tanimachi Subway Line

Osaka Metro’s Tanimachi Line runs north to south in Osaka Prefecture, connecting the cities of Moriguchi and Yao via the city of Osaka. The line is named after Tanimachi-suji, a major boulevard in central Osaka, under which the subway line passes for much of its course. This line also has a station at Higashi-Umeda which is very close to Osaka Station and convenient for transfers.

Osaka Metro is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. However, there are other tickets and discount passes that can be used on the subway, and these are listed at the end of this article.

Key Destinations and Transfers

Within the Osaka Metro system the Tanimachi Line is color-coded purple and represented by the letter T. The line has 26 stations between Dainichi Station in the city of Moriguchi and Yao-minami Station in the city of Yao. These are as follows:

Dainichi > Moriguchi > Taishibashi-Imaichi > Sembayashi-Omiya > Sekime-Takadono > Noe-Uchindai > Miyakojima > Tenjimbashisuji 6-chome > Nakazakicho > Higashi-Umeda > Minamimorimachi > Temmabashi > Tanimachi 4-chome > Tanimachi 6-chome > Tanimachi 9-chome > Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka > Tennoji > Abeno > Fuminosato > Tanabe > Komagawa-Nakano > Hirano > Kire-Uriwari > Deto > Nagahara > Yao-minami

Here, listed from north to south, are the key destinations with transfer points included. Fares and times are given from Dainichi Station.

Dainichi Station

Dainichi Station in the city of Moriguchi is the northern terminus of the Tanimachi Line. Transfer here to the Osaka Monorail Main Line.

Tenjimbashisuji 6-chome Station

Tenjimbashisuji 6-chome Station is close to Tenjimbashisuji Shopping Street, Japan’s longest shopping street, which runs for about 2.6 km. Transfers can be made here to the Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line and the Hankyu Senri Line.

Higashi-Umeda Station

Higashi-Umeda Station is one of many stations in Umeda, Osaka’s most popular shopping district. This station is located within the Whity Umeda underground shopping mall. Nearby you can find many more popular attractions and shopping areas such as the Umeda Sky Building, HEP Five, and Grand Front Osaka.

Higashi-Umeda Station is one of three Osaka Metro stations serving the Umeda area. The other stations are Umeda Station for the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, and Nishi-Umeda Station for the Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line. All three of these subway stations are connected by underground walkways. Transfers between Umeda, Higashi-Umeda and Nishi-Umeda outside the ticket gates must be completed within 30 minutes for the Osaka Metro through-fare rule. The following transfers can also be made in the Umeda area:

At Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station transfer to Hankyu lines for Kobe, Kyoto and Takarazuka, and at Hanshin Osaka-Umeda Station transfer to the Hanshin Main Line which also serves Kobe.

At Osaka Station transfer to the westbound JR Kobe Line for Kobe and Himeji, the JR Kyoto Line for Shin-Osaka and Kyoto, and the JR Takarazuka Line for Takarazuka, Sanda and the Fukuchiyama direction. There are also limited express services for Tsuruga, Tottori, Kurayoshi, Gifu, Gero and Takayama.

At Kitashinchi Station transfer to the JR Tozai Line which runs from Kyobashi Station, east-west through central Osaka and onward to Amagasaki Station in Hyogo Prefecture.

Minamimorimachi 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 Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line and at nearby Osaka-Temmangu Station to the JR Tozai Line.

Temmabashi Station

Transfer at Temmabashi Station to the Keihan Main Line and the Keihan Nakanoshima Line.

Tanimachi 4-chome Station

Tanimachi 4-chome Station is convenient for Osaka Museum of History and Osaka Castle. Transfer here to the Osaka Metro Chuo Line.

Tanimachi 6-chome Station

Tanimachi 6-chome Station is convenient for Karahori Shopping Street, a historic shopping arcade that has recently seen a resurgence in popularity for its boutiques, cafes and small shops. Transfer here to the Osaka Metro Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line.

Tanimachi 9-chome Station

Tanimachi 9-chome Station is convenient for Ikukunitama Shrine, Kozu-gu Shrine, and the Sheraton Miyako Hotel Osaka. Transfer here to the Osaka Metro Sennichimae Line. At nearby Osaka-Uehommachi Station transfer to the Kintetsu Namba Line and the Kintetsu Osaka Line.

Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka Station

This station is convenient for Shitennoji Temple, which dates from 593 and is one of Japan’s oldest Buddhist temples.

Tennoji Station

Tennoji Station is convenient for Tennoji Park, Tennoji Zoo and Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts, which reopened in March 2025 after renovation.

Transfer here to the Osaka Loop Line, the JR Hanwa Line, the JR Yamatoji Line and Osaka Metro Midosuji Line. The Limited Express Haruka for Kansai International Airport also stops at Tennoji Station.

Transfer also to nearby Tennoji-Ekimae Station for the tramway Hankai Uemachi Line. Osaka Abenobashi Station is also nearby, and here you can transfer to the Kintetsu Minami-Osaka Line which connects to Kashihara city in Nara Prefecture.

Abeno Station

Transfer here to the tramway Hankai Uemachi Line.

Komagawa-Nakano Station

This station is within walking distance of Harinakano Station and Imagawa Station which are both on the Kintetsu Minami-Osaka Line.

Yao-minami Station

This station in the city of Yao is the southern terminus of the Tanimachi Line. It is close to Yao Airport, which is about 20 minutes on foot from Osaka Metro Yao-minami Station.

Timetables & Tickets

To find train times or to plan your route on Osaka Metro, use the official Osaka Metro route and fare search and timetable search. English-language online route finders like Jorudan and Navitime are also useful for journeys that use several railway operators.

For more detailed information about using the subway system in Osaka, check the Osaka Metro website. This website has route maps, station information, fare information, special discount tickets, and details on using ICOCA prepaid IC cards. Eligible contactless payment cards and devices can also be used at Osaka Metro gates, with adult regular fares applied.

Useful discount passes for Osaka Metro journeys include the Enjoy Eco Card, which costs 820 yen for adults on weekdays and 620 yen on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, excluding Yumeshima Station and certain bus routes. For wider Kansai travel, compare the KANSAI RAILWAY PASS LITE, which covers participating private railways and metro systems but not JR lines, and the Osaka Amazing Pass, which is sold as 1-day and 2-day digital tickets.

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Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 08-Aug-2026.