When we visit various attractions in Hyogo Prefecture, we usually consider going to Kobe first, which is the Sannomiya area, and then from there, we can go to Arima Onsen, Himeji, Akashi, and other places. Therefore, the transportation from Osaka to Kobe is particularly important. However, for beginners who are traveling to the Kansai region for the first time, it is recommended to first understand the important transportation hub in Kobe, which is the Sannomiya and Motomachi areas. You can refer to the article on Kobe’s Sannomiya area, which will be easier to grasp!
Transportation Routes from Osaka to Kobe
There are five main railway routes from Osaka to Kobe that you can use:
1. JR West Japan – Kobe Line
2. Hankyu Railway – Kobe Line
3. Hanshin Electric Railway – Hanshin Main Line and Hanshin Namba Line
4. Sanyo Shinkansen Among them, Hanshin Electric Railway has two routes, connecting Osaka to the Umeda area and Namba area. Below, I will explain in detail the differences between these five routes, and finally provide some route selection recommendations!
JR West Japan – Kobe Line
Common Starting and Ending Locations
Osaka: JR Osaka Station (Umeda area) ↔ Kobe: JR Sannomiya Station (Sannomiya area)
Attention!! In the Kobe area, it is called “Sannomiya” (三ノ宮 or 三之宮) instead of “Sangū” (三宮), but the pronunciation is still “sannomiya”.
The recent Osaka subway station
Midosuji Line – Umeda Station, Yotsubashi Line – Nishi-Umeda Station, Tanimachi Line – Higashi-Umeda Station
Train Types
Common types include: New Rapid, Rapid, Ordinary trains.
Additionally, there are also Express trains: Express Hamakaze, Express Super Hakuto.
Fare and Time
The general fare from Osaka Station to Sannomiya Station is ¥420. However, if you take the limited express train, you will need to purchase an additional limited express ticket. In addition, the limited express train takes 18 minutes, while the new rapid train only takes 22 minutes, and the rapid train only takes 28 minutes. Since the limited express train is not significantly faster, there is no need to spend extra money to take it.
Hankyu Railway – Kobe Line
Common Starting and Ending Locations
Osaka: Hankyu Umeda Station (Umeda area) ↔ Kobe: Hankyu Kobe Sannomiya Station (Sannomiya area)
The recent Osaka subway station
Midosuji Line – Umeda Station, Yotsubashi Line – Nishi-Umeda Station, Tanimachi Line – Higashi-Umeda Station
Train Types
Express, Commuter Express, Rapid Express, Rapid, Commuter Rapid, Local
Fare and Time
The fare from Osaka Umeda Station to Hankyu Kobe Sannomiya Station is ¥330. The journey takes approximately 28 minutes on the Hankyu Express train. There is no need to purchase an additional express ticket.
Hanshin Electric Railway – Hanshin Main Line and Hanshin Namba Line
Common Starting and Ending Locations
Hanshin Main Line: Osaka Umeda Station (Umeda area) – Hanshin Kobe Sannomiya Station (Sannomiya area)
Hanshin Namba Line: Osaka Namba Station (Namba area) – Nishinomiya Station
Explanation: The Hanshin Namba Line refers to the section of the route between Osaka Namba and Nishinomiya stations. However, when taking the Hanshin train from Osaka Namba, both the rapid express and local trains will merge with the Hanshin Main Line at Nishinomiya station, and can travel as far as Kobe Sannomiya station.
The recent Osaka subway station
Umeda: Midosuji Line – Umeda Station, Yotsubashi Line – Nishi-Umeda Station, Tanimachi Line – Higashi-Umeda Station
Osaka Namba: Midosuji Line – Namba Station, Yotsubashi Line – Namba Station
Train Types
Umeda~Kobe Sannomiya: Direct Express, Express, Local
Osaka Namba~Kobe Sannomiya: Rapid Express, Local
Osaka Namba~Amagasaki: Semi-Express, Local
Fare and Time
The fare from Osaka Umeda Station to Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station is ¥330. The journey on the limited express train takes approximately 33 minutes. The fare from Osaka Namba Station to Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station is ¥420. The journey on the limited express train takes approximately 45 minutes.
When riding the Hanshin Electric Railway’s direct limited express and express trains, there is no need to purchase an additional limited express ticket.
Sanyo Shinkansen
Common Starting and Ending Locations
Osaka: Shin-Osaka Station (Shin-Osaka area) – Kobe: Shin-Kobe Station (Shin-Kobe area)
The Shinkansen line in Kobe is called “Shin-Kobe” station, which is not close to the Sannomiya area. You need to transfer to the subway to get there.
The recent Osaka subway station
Midosuji Line – Shin-Osaka Station
Train Types
Mizuho, Nozomi, Hikari, Sakura, Kodama
Fare and Time
Take the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Shin-Kobe, which is only one stop away. The journey takes approximately 12 minutes. The fare for a non-reserved seat is ¥1530, while the fare for a reserved seat is ¥3270.
How to choose a route?
Here are some general route suggestions, without considering any transportation ticket combinations or subsequent itineraries! If you have other subsequent itineraries and want to save money, you should consider them together to know how to save money.
Osaka Umeda Area → Kobe Sannomiya Area
1. Take the JR Kobe Line from JR Osaka Station to Sannomiya Station.
No transfers required.
2. Take the Hankyu Kobe Line from Hankyu Umeda Station to Kobe Sannomiya Station.
No transfers required.
3. Take the Hankyu Main Line from Hankyu Umeda Station to Kobe Sannomiya Station.
No transfers required.
Osaka Umeda Area → Kobe Shin-Kobe Area
1. Take the JR Kobe Line from JR Osaka Station to Sannomiya Station. After exiting the station, transfer to the Kobe Municipal Subway – Seishin-Yamate Line and continue to Shin-Kobe Station.
Number of transfers: 1.
2. Take the Hankyu Kobe Line from Hankyu Umeda Station to Kobe Sannomiya Station. Transfer to the Kobe Municipal Subway Nishinomiya-Yamaguchi Line and get off at Shin-Kobe Station.
Number of transfers: 1.
3. Take the Hankyu Main Line from Hankyu Umeda Station to Kobe Sannomiya Station. Transfer to the Kobe Municipal Subway Seishin-Yamate Line and get off at Shin-Kobe Station.
Number of transfers: 1.
4. Take the JR Kyoto Line from JR Osaka Station to Shin-Osaka. After arriving at Shin-Osaka, transfer to the Sanyo Shinkansen and get off at Shin-Kobe Station.
Number of transfers: 1.
Kobe Shin-Kobe Area
1. Take the Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Shin-Kobe Station.
No transfers required.
2. From JR Shin-Osaka Station, take the JR Kyoto Line (towards Osaka Kobe direction) to Sannomiya Station. After exiting the station, transfer to the Kobe Municipal Subway – Seishin-Yamate Line and take it to Shin-Kobe Station.
Number of transfers: 1.
3. From Osaka Subway – Shin-Osaka Station, take the Midosuji Line to Umeda Station (M16), then transfer to Hankyu-Kobe Line or Hanshin-Hanshin Main Line or JR-Kobe Line. After arriving at Kobe Sannomiya Station (or Sannomiya Station), transfer again to Kobe Municipal Subway – Seishin-Yamate Line and get off at Shin-Kobe Station.
Number of transfers: 2.
Note: The third route is more complicated and not recommended.
Osaka Shin-Osaka Area → Kobe Sannomiya Area
1. From JR Shin-Osaka Station, take the JR Kyoto Line (towards Osaka, Kobe direction) to reach Sannomiya Station.
No transfers required.
2. Take the Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Shin-Kobe Station, then exit the station and transfer to the Kobe Municipal Subway. Take the West Kobe Line to Sannomiya Station.
No transfers required.
3. From Osaka Subway – Shin-Osaka Station, take the Midosuji Line to Umeda Station (M16), then exit and transfer to the Hankyu-Kobe Line or Hanshin-Hanshin Main Line or JR-Kobe Line to Kobe Sannomiya Station (or Sannomiya Station).
Number of transfers: 1.
Note: The third route is more complicated and not recommended.
Namba Area in Osaka → Sannomiya Area in Kobe
1. From Hankyu-Osaka Namba Station, you can take the Hankyu Namba Line directly to Kobe Sannomiya Station.
No transfers required.
2. From Hankyu Railway – Osaka Namba Station, you can take the Hankyu Namba Line to Nishinomiya Station, and then transfer to the Hankyu Main Line to reach Kobe Sannomiya Station.
Number of transfers: 1.
Note: Some trains only go to Nishinomiya, so a transfer is required. Most express trains can directly reach Kobe Sannomiya Station.
3. From the Namba Station (M20) on the Osaka Subway Midosuji Line, take the Midosuji Line to Umeda Station (M16), then exit and transfer to the Hankyu Kobe Line or the Hanshin Main Line or the JR Kobe Line to reach Kobe Sannomiya Station (or Sannomiya Station).
Number of transfers: 1.
Namba Area in Osaka → Shin-Kobe Area in Kobe
1. From the Hanshin Electric Railway – Osaka Namba Station, you can take the Hanshin Namba Line directly to Kobe Sannomiya Station. After exiting the station, transfer to the Kobe Municipal Subway – Seishin-Yamate Line at Sannomiya Station (S03). Take the Seishin-Yamate Line to Shin-Kobe Station (S02).
Number of transfers: 1.
2. From the Namba Station (M20) on the Osaka Subway Midosuji Line, take the Midosuji Line to Shin-Osaka Station (M13). Upon arrival, exit the station and transfer to the Sanyo Shinkansen at Shin-Osaka Station to reach Shin-Kobe Station.
Number of transfers: 1.
3. From Namba Station (M20) on the Osaka Subway Midosuji Line, take the Midosuji Line to Umeda Station (M16). Upon exiting the station, transfer to the Hankyu Kobe Line, Hanshin Main Line, or JR Kobe Line to reach Sannomiya Station in Kobe (or Sannomiya Station). From there, exit the station and head to Sannomiya Station (S03) on the Kobe Municipal Subway Seishin-Yamate Line. Take the Seishin-Yamate Line to Shin-Kobe Station (S02).
Number of transfers: 2.
Reference Materials
■ Hankyu Railway Official Website
■ Hanshin Electric Railway Official Website
■ JR West Japan Official Website
For more information on transportation in Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, and Nara, please refer to the Kansai Transportation Guide page.
『Original Source：https://nicklee.tw/1024/』
