The Tanimachi Subway Line

Osaka Municipal Subway’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 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 and Transfers

Within the subway system the Tanimachi Line is color-coded purple. The line has 26 stations between Dainichi Station in the city of Moriguchi and Yaominami Station in the city of Yao. These are as follows:

Dainichi > Moriguchi > Taishibashi-Imaichi > Sembayashi-Omiya > Sekime-Takadono > Noe-Uchindai > Miyakojima > Tenjimbashisuji Rokuchome > Nakazakicho > Higashi-Umeda > Minami-morimachi > Temmabashi > Tanimachi Yonchome > Tanimachi Rokuchome > Tanimachi Kyuchome > Shitennoji-mae Yuhigaoka > Tennoji > Abeno Fuminosato > Tanabe > Komagawa-Nakano > Hirano > Kire-Uriwari > Deto > Nagahara > Yaominami

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 Rokuchome Station is close to Tenjinbashisuji Shotengai, Japan’s longest covered shopping street. Transfers can be made here to the Sakaisuji Subway Line and the Hankyu Senri Line.

Higashi Osaka-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. You can find maps for the Umeda area at the Umeda Connect website and at the Osaka Info website.

Higashi-Umeda Station is one of three subway stations serving the Umeda area. The other stations are Umeda Station for the Midosuji Line, and Nishi-Umeda Station for the Yotsubashi Line. All three of these subway stations are closely connected by underground walkways and transfers between them are easy. 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 west bound JR Kobe Line for Kobe and Himeji, the JR Kyoto Line for Kyoto, and the JR Takarazuka Line for northern Kyoto Prefecture. There are also limited express services for Hokuriku, Tottori, 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.

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

Temmabashi Station

Transfer here to the Keihan Main Line and the Keihan Nakanoshima Line.

Tanimachi 4-chome Station

Tanimachi Yonchome Station is convenient for Osaka Museum of History and Osaka Castle. Transfer here to the Chuo Subway Line.

Tanimachi 6-chome Station

Tanimachi Rokuchome Station is convenient for Karahori Shotengai, a historical shopping street that has recently seen a resurgence in popularity for its fashionable boutiques and cafes. Transfer here to the Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Subway Line.

Tanimachi 9-chome Station

Tanimachi Kyuchome Station is convenient for Ikukunitama Shrine, Kozu-gu Shrine, and the Sheraton Miyako Hotel. Transfer here to the Sennichimae Subway 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 Japan’s oldest Buddhist temple.

Tennoji Station

Tennoji Station is convenient for Tennoji Park, Tennoji Zoo and Osaka Municipal Museum of Fine Art. You can download a map of the Tennoji area from the Osaka Info website.

Transfer here to the Osaka Loop Line, the JR Hanwa Line, the JR Yamatoji Line and Osaka Municipal Subway’s 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.

Yaominami Station

This station in the city of Yao, is the southern terminus of the Tanimachi Line. It is close to Yao Airport.

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.

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.