0

Traveloka Team

24 May 2024 - 6 min read

How to travel from Tokyo to Osaka

Tokyo is a city that has always been bustling with people that offer a blend of advanced modern technologies and unique culture. Now, Tokyo city has become one of the most popular tourist destinations around the world that offer various activities and attractions that can be enjoyed by everyone at all ages.

From the famous landmark of Tokyo Tower which is said to be the second-tallest structure, an ancient temple of Sensoji Temple where you can step through the infamous vermillion Kaminarimon Gate, Take a walk on the famous-busiest place in Japan, Shibuya Crossing, enjoy your unique experience at TeamLab Borderless museum that showcasing various interactive digital art, And for those of you who love Ghibli’s movies, There is a must-visit theme park inspired from all Ghibli’s movies that you can’t experience anywhere else.

While in Osaka, the second-largest metropolitan area in Japan, is widely known for its lively and energetic atmosphere, delicious food scene and historical places. With numerous things you can do in Osaka such as exploring the Dotonbori District, visiting the well-known Osaka Castle, Enjoying the views of Dotonbori Rivers, and immersing yourself in the a World of Universal Japan, there will be the time where you want to take a step back and take a relaxing and rest time in the cafes around the area.

There are a lot of travelers who say that visiting Tokyo only is not enough if you’re already in Japan. You need to visit the other tourism cities such as Kyoto, Hokkaido, and Osaka. Here, Traveloka has especially listed down some of the transportation services that you might want to consider from Tokyo to Osaka as well as the tips that you need to know before starting your journey to Osaka.

1. Shinkansen (Bullet Train)

TSUKASA HASEGAWA / Shutterstock.com

The infamous shinkansen, which is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan, and is said to be one of the fastest in the world. Famous not only for its speeds, but also for its efficiency and safety that connected distant regions of Japan in a flash.

As for the fastest shinkansen that you need to take to go from Tokyo to Osaka is the Nozomi Shinkansen with only 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach Osaka. You don’t need to worry about these exceptional trains, because they are known for offering cleanliness, comfort and efficiency.

Because Shinkansen is one of the busiest trains in Japan, it is recommended for you to buy the ticket and reserve the ticket in advance, especially during peak season. But if you’re on a tight budget, you can also take the unreserved seat in the train.

Japan Full Package Tour (Tokyo, Osaka, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, Nagoya, Kobe) - 5D5N Tour (Hanoi Departure)

2. Regular Train

While Shinkansen is the fastest way to get to Osaka, but Regular Trains are another option for those of you who are conscious of their budget. It is a lot cheaper but with a longer travel time, from 4 to 5 hours. Even so, it just means you can take your time on enjoying the scenic views of the countryside along the way.

While not as luxurious as the shinkansen, Regular trains also provide a comfortable seat and enough space for you to be all relaxed and enjoy the leisure journey.

Please be reminded that the Regular Train has fewer departures compared to the Shinkansen throughout the day, so please check on the schedule firsthand before planning your trip.

3. Highway Bus

VTT Studio / Shutterstock.com

A budget friendly option that is even cheaper than the Regular Train. But again it will take longer travel time as well, for around 8 to 10 hours, depending on the traffic conditions and the specific routes. Many of the Highbus are offering comfortable reclining seats, toilets, Wi-fi and any basic amenities, even a luxury such as personal TVs and charging ports where you do not need to worry about running out of battery during your travel.

Here are Bus Company Option that will get you from Tokyo to Osaka

Willer Express

One of the most favorite options for people who are budget conscious but still want to have a comfortable journey from Tokyo to Osaka. The Willer Express offer three types of buses, which is Standard Bus that offer all the basic needs like reclining seats, toilets, and Wi-fi, A double Decker buses with more legroom and service, Night buses with full reclining seats that are specially designed for sleeping.

JR Bus Kanto

Another good option that offers comfortable seats and relaxation during your travel from Tokyo to Osaka. The bus offers all the basic amenities that you need from reclining seats, toilets, Wi-fi, where some of the buses even offer personal TVs and charging ports. JR Bus Kanto is dedicated for travelers who are looking for relaxation, making it a perfect choice for those of you who want to get some rest on the way to Osaka. There are two options of seats that they provide for you, from the standard seats to wider seats where you can get extra legroom to move around.

The most popular departures from Tokyo to Osaka are scheduled during nightimes, where you can sleep throughout your way to Osaka, and once you wake up, you have arrived in Osaka. Besides, it also saves you quite a lot of money from staying in a hotel.

4. Domestic Flights

The fastest way to get to Osaka from Tokyo in only 1 hour, but in exchange it will take more cost from your wallet. But it is a great choice if you are either in a hurry or don't want to waste your time too much on the way.

There are numerous Airlines that are available to send you from Tokyo to Osaka, from the cheapest one which is Jetstar Japan, Peach Airline, All Nippon Airways, and last but not least which is the most luxurious is the Japan Airlines.

In Tokyo, there is two main airport that serves flight from Tokyo, which is Haneda Airport (HND) and Narita International Airport (NRT), While in Osaka there is two airport that still actively serves travelers which is Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Itami Airport (ITM) which is a lot more closer to the city center.

5. Driving

Another option for those of you who prefer to have more free-travel where you can decide to stop and visit one place to another along the way based on your will. There are numerous ways for you to rent some car in Tokyo, and Traveloka might be able to help you with that.

If you have an international license, then you might be able to save some money from hiring a driver, but if you don’t and want to have a more relaxed and leisurely journey, then you might need to hire a driver.

Driving might take a longer time to get to Osaka -which is around 6 to 8 hours-, and sometimes it's more costly than using the Highway Bus service. Because fewer people would need to pay for the full price of the toll, while in Highway Buses, there are more people that ride and pay for the toll, and so each person would pay for a smaller part of the toll. But again, in exchange you get more freedom. For example, if on the way you want to have a short stop to enjoy the scenic views of Mount Fuji or the other parts of Japanese countryside, you can just stop.

Travel Tips from Tokyo to Osaka

Byjeng / Shutterstock.com

First of all, before you book the rides or any other accommodation, it is recommended for you to plan on activities and attractions by making an itinerary in order to make your travel more effective and efficient.

When you have planned everything and decided to book the transportation service, the next thing that you need to do is to make sure that the tickets as well as the schedule of the transportation tickets that you’ve chosen and set your priority right.

If you would like to get to Osaka fast, you might want to use the Domestic Flights service or try the infamous fastest train in Japan, Shinkansen. If budget is your priority, then you might want to choose either Highway Bus or Regular Train. And last but not least, If you want to prioritize the freedom of travel, then you might want to rent a car and have some fun drive to Osaka.

Flight to Osaka

All Nippon Airways

Start from AU$79.75

Kochi (KCZ) to Osaka (ITM)

Thu, 10 Oct 2024

Japan Airlines

Start from AU$101.58

Matsuyama (MYJ) to Osaka (ITM)

Fri, 4 Oct 2024

Amakusa Airlines

Start from AU$157.85

Kumamoto (KMJ) to Osaka (ITM)

Tue, 1 Oct 2024

Do you plan to move from one city to another city multiple times? Then you might want to buy the JR Pass. By buying a JR Pass it presses your budget and makes your travel cheaper. IT covers almost all of JR Lines, but sadly except for two fastest bullet trains which are Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen. However you can purchase a special surcharge to use on these train tickets on top of your JR Pass.

That’s all the transportation services from Tokyo to Osaka that are available for you to book. Each of them gives different priorities, from budget, time, and freedom, you can choose them based on your needs. If you would like to visit Tokyo or Osaka soon, Traveloka are here ready to help you to book the flight ticket, hotel, accommodation and even the tourist activities in the area. Giving the best price with a number of combos, discount and promotion for you, only in Traveloka!

Tags:
japan
osaka
Always Know the Latest Info
Subscribe to our newsletter for more travel & lifestyle recommendations and exciting promos.
Subscribe