The Yotsubashi Subway Line

Osaka Municipal Subway’s Yotsubashi Line runs north to south between Nishi-Umeda Station and Suminoekoen Station. From Nishi-Umeda Station to Daikokucho Station this line runs parallel to the Midosuji Subway Line and the two lines share several stations. 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 Yotsubashi Line is color-coded blue. The 11 stations on the Yotsubashi Line are:

Nishi-Umeda > Higobashi > Hommachi > Yotsubashi > Namba > Daikokucho > Hanazonocho > Kishinosato > Tamade > Kitakagaya > Suminoekoen

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

Nishi-Umeda Station

Nishi-Umeda Station is one of many stations in Umeda, Osaka’s most popular shopping district. Here you can find many 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.

Nishi-Umeda Station is one of three subway stations serving the Umeda area. The other stations are Umeda Station for the Midosuji Line, and Higashi-Umeda Station for the Tanimachi 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.

Higobashi Station

Higobashi Station is a five minute walk from the National Museum of Art, the Osaka Science Museum and Osaka Festival Hall. Transfer here to the Keihan Nakanoshima Line at Watanabebashi Station.

Hommachi Station

Hommachi Station is close to Utsubo Park and the Minami-Mido and Kita-Mido temples. Transfer here to Osaka Municipal Subway’s Midosuji Line and Chuo Line.

Yotsubashi Station

Yotsubashi Station is a short distance from the popular Shinsaibashi shopping area and from Shinsaibashi Station. At Shinsaibashi Station you can transfer to the Midosuji Line and the Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi 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 Sennichimae 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.

Dakokucho Station

Transfer here to Osaka Municipal Subway’s Midosuji Line.

Suminoekoen Station

This is the last stop on the Yotsubashi Line. Transfer here to the Nanko Port Town Line which runs between Suminoekoen and Cosmosquare.

Timetables and 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.