The JR Kyoto Line is the name given to that part of the Tokaido Main Line that runs between Kyoto Station and Osaka Station. After Osaka Station the line continues but is renamed the JR Kobe Line. The JR Kobe Line connects Osaka with the important cities of Kobe and Himeji. Trains depart from platforms 4 and 5.
JR Kyoto Line trains depart from platforms 4 and 5
Key Destinations
Shin-Osaka Station
Shin-Osaka Station is an important transportation hub in the Osaka metropolitan area. Here you can connect with the Subway Midosuji Line, which is the main line running north to south of the Osaka city subway network. It is also the terminus of two high-speed shinkansen lines, the Tokaido Shinkansen line from Tokyo, and the Sanyo Shinkansen line from Fukuoka in Kyushu.
Train fare: 560 yen
Train time: 23 minutes by the Special Rapid train
Osaka Station
Osaka Station gives access to Osaka’s most popular shopping district, Umeda. Here you can find the Hankyu, Daimaru, Hanshin and Isetan department stores. Other popular attractions and shopping areas in Umeda are the Umeda Sky Building, HEP Five, and Grand Front Osaka. Osaka station is also a major transportation hub. Here you can transfer to the Takarazuka Line for northern Kyoto prefecture and the Osaka Loop Line. This station also connects directly with three other stations: Osaka-Umeda Station, Higashi-Umeda Station and Nishi-Umeda Station. Kitashinchi Station is a short walk south of Nishi-Umeda Station. Effectively these stations form one big station complex. Of these stations Osaka-Umeda Station is the most important as it connects with the Hankyu, Hanshin and Subway Midosuji lines.
Train fare: 560 yen
Train time: 28 minutes by the Special Rapid train
Sannomiya Station
Sannomiya Station is the main terminal for people visiting Kobe City, as it gives immediate access to Kobe’s main area of business, shopping and entertainment. Kobe itself is an attractive cosmopolitan port city. Its main attractions are Chinatown, Kobe Harborland, Meriken Park, Mount Rokko, and the Ijinkan, an area of foreign houses built in the 19th century.
Train fare: 1,080 yen
Train time: 51 minutes by the Special Rapid train
Himeji Station
The city of Himeji is most famous for its spectacular white castle. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Himeji Castle is one of only 12 original medieval castles to have survived the last World War. Nicknamed “White Heron Castle” it is renowned for its beauty.
For more information about Himeji’s attractions visit our Traveling from Kyoto to Himeji guide.
Train fare: 2,270 yen
Train time: 92 minutes by the Special Rapid train
Boarding the Special Rapid service bound for Himeji
Traveling to Shin-Osaka Station and Osaka Station
The Special Rapid train on the JR Kyoto Line will get you to Shin-Osaka Station in 23 minutes and Osaka Station in 28 minutes. The fare is the same at 560 yen. Be sure to take the Special Rapid train and not the Rapid or Local trains as they stop at more stations and take much longer. If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you can also take a high speed shinkansen service. This will get you to Shin-Osaka Station in 12 minutes. If you want to go on to Osaka Station however, you will have to transfer to another train at Shin-Osaka Station so the journey time is roughly the same at 27 minutes.
If you are traveling from central Kyoto, you might consider taking the private Hankyu Line from Kyoto-Kawaramachi or Karasuma Stations. This will get you to Osaka-Umeda Station (right beside Osaka Station) in around 40 minutes but cost you only 400 yen. The Hankyu Railway is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
Traveling to Kobe
The Special Rapid train on the JR Kyoto Line will get you to Sannomiya Station in Kobe in 51 minutes for a fare of 1,080 yen. If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you can take a high speed shinkansen to Shin-Kobe Station. This is much faster as it takes only 32 minutes, however Shin-Kobe Station is not as conveniently located as Sannomiya Station.
If you are traveling from central Kyoto, you might consider taking the private Hankyu Line from Kawaramachi or Karasuma Stations. This will get you to Sannomiya Station in roughly 70 minutes or more. You will also have to transfer at Juso Station. The service is slower but much cheaper at 620 yen. Remember that the Hankyu Railway is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
Traveling to Himeji
The Special Rapid train on the JR Kyoto Line will get you to Himeji Station in 92 minutes for a fare of 2,270 yen. If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you should take the high speed shinkansen as it takes only between 45 and 58 minutes depending on the train.
It is possible to save a little money by using the Hankyu Line and other private rail lines to get to Himeji, but the route is too long and complicated for it to be truly worthwhile.
To find alternative routes on the city subway, or private railways use English language online route finders like Jorudan and Hyperdia.
On board a Kyoto Line train bound for Sannomiya
JR Kyoto Line & JR Kobe Line Stations between Kyoto and Himeji
There are 16 stations on the JR Kyoto Line between Kyoto and Osaka. There are 38 stations on the JR Kobe Line between Osaka and Himeji. These lines are served by Local, Rapid and Special Rapid Services. You can download a bilingual PDF of the JR guide to stops which includes the JR Kyoto Line and the JR Kobe Line sections of the Tokaido Main Line. Note that these lines are contiguous with the JR Biwako Line which connects Kyoto with Yamashina and Otsu. The entire Tokaido Main Line is colored blue.
You can use the JR West Timetable and Fare Finder to find trains on this line.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.
