The Chaotic Railway Network of Osaka, Explained
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- Опубликовано: 20 май 2024
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When it comes to Asian cities and their local railways, the conversation often revolves around the largest cities like Tokyo and Shanghai. But another of Japan's large cities, Osaka, is not to be ignored with its myriad of railways. Enjoy!
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As a few of you have noticed, the Line 1/Kitakyu Namboku Line extension was *just* opened today as well!
Hi can you talk about jakarta metro line?
Yes! You noticed too😊. The MinooSembaHandaimae station is now my local station. No more 20 min walk to SenriChuo. The new line extension looks and feels really good. Even though years delayed from originally planned opening.
Why are the whatever thingies on top of the trains to connect to overhead wires double. In Europe you are used to seeing them as only half of the structure
Can you do a video about Tampere, Finland
Yes
I will go to some new stations in Minoh soon
The staff on Osaka's metro and railways are waaaaaay more chilled out than Tokyo's. If you get on the wrong company's train for the same destination they wont give you grief.
Osaka as a whole is way more chill. Lots of comedians in Japan come from there
@@ReallyNoAlex yeah, Osaka is astonishingly chill for such a big city.
That's true in Tokyo/everywhere in Japan though. If they share platforms you can take any train to any station. The problem people usually run into is moving between connected stations, like going through a transfer gate into another station when you actually meant to just exit the station.
I think being the second city often has this effect on cities and their citizens!
@RMTransit or in the case of the US, that's on a state level. New York vs Buffalo, LA vs San Fran (or more accurately San Diego in effect), Dallas vs Houston are good examples of this. Idk if I'd call LA more chill than New York. Moreso a just a different version of the same vibe.
Osaka is severely underrated. Was lucky enough to visit last year and was blown away! Its a great city!
I am jealous, I need to go back, especially to see that crazy grade separation!
Hi Reece! Fun fact, Hankyu has a famed theatrical company called the Takarazuka Revue that does musicals, plays and more. All the members are female (with otokoyaku, that being male roles being played by women who ONLY play male roles), and members are all Hankyu employees.
If lucky your hotel will carry their tv channel - shows vary greatly.
Unfortunately, a scandal of bullying and workplace harassment broke out in the end 2023. Let's see how will the aftermath develops.
@@RicciChoi1109 Bullying leading to suicide? That sounds terrible.
Where did RicciChoi mention suicide?@@davidnovakreadspoetry
@@theultimatereductionist7592 RicciChoi didn’t mention it, but you can Google the scandal and find out what happened. 👍
I used to live in Kobe, and this certainly makes me feel nostalgic. I took the Hankyu Kobe line nearly every day. It's amazing in retrospect, it was always so clean and on time, and you could conveniently get so many things at the stations. It wasn't that expensive and, surprisingly, was run by a private company.
I am jealous having never lived in Japan, its got the worlds most amazing railways!
I‘m a Oldman Hankyu. ☺️
I am very honored to receive such praise about Hankyu Railway.😉👍🍀
Shame about Motoko :( the new one is so sanitised!
The railways in Osaka are closely associated with the development of baseball in Japan, with the Nankai Hawks, Hankyu Braves, Kintetsu Buffalos, and Hanshin Tigers all representing the Kansai region at one point or another. The Nankai Hawks were sold and moved and are now the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Through various sales and mergers, the Hankyu Braves and Kintetsu Buffalos are now a single team called the Orix Buffalos. Hanshin Tigers play at the historic Koshien Stadium which is served by Koshien Station on the Hanshin Main Line. They were the subject of one of the strangest curses in sports history after they won the 1983 Japan Series, when a statue of Colonel Sanders was thrown into Dotonburi Canal. They didn't win another Central League pennant until 2003 and didn't fully break the curse until winning the 2023 Japan Series in 7 games against crosstown rival Orix. The Hanshin Tigers/Yomiuri Giants rivalry is akin to the Dodgers/Giants and Yankees/Red Sox rivalries in the United States. Hanshin is one of two railways, along with Seibu in the Kanto region, to own a baseball team.
It was also known as the Namba Line Series, because Koshien and Kyocera Dome are both located along the line.
When the Tigers won against the Buffaloes, Hankyu's department stores did not hold a celebratory sale despite being under the same parent company as Hanshin. To them the Buffaloes (Braves) were still 'their' team, and it just wouldn't be right.
I am usually not into sports, but when railways are involved . . .
Yay! My home city.
Tokyo is awesome - I am visiting it as I write but Osaka with its metro area of 8-9 million people is more relevant.
You mentioned my home station and so many ones I have been to regularly.
As already noted the Kitakyu extension opened today.
The Midosuji line and Hankyu Kobe line have amazing frequencies.
And you feel like a king when you ride the Keihan limited expresses.
Thanks a ton Reece!
Japan has *so MANY* amazing limited expresses, and the way they mesh rather seamlessly with more local services is something everyone can learn from!
@@RMTransit Unfortunately now we have to change trains twice from Osaka to Noto Peninsula (first change for Hokuriku Shinkansen at Tsuruga, then get off at Kanazawa to change for the Noto Kagaribi limited express), rather than a comfy ride on the good old Thunderbird limited express...
@@RicciChoi1109 As Fukui is a more major destination that Tsuruga I thought that'd be a more convenient transfer point between Hokuriku Shinkansen & Thunderbird
4:36 Funny how you show the "outdated" line of osaka kitakyukou line because 2 station-northen extension was just opened today
Edit: nvm, it was mentioned at 25:52
It was mentioned as a future extension though. Service started around 17 hours before video release. Unfortunate timing lol
Ha! Amazing timing :D
This video took longer than I was hoping to make!
@@RMTransit Oh yeah, of course! Totally understandable :)
I was in Japan for a month and their transit is AWESOME. Osaka station is massive. I would advise everyone to visit Japan. Everything there from hotels to food to shopping is super affordable and it's hella safe
Thank you Reece for an extremely interesting video on a city about which I had virtually no previous knowledge!
Kitakyu Namboku Line got extended as of this weekend to Minoo!
Now you don't need to take a long out of the way with one transfer commute using Hankyu to get there.
Japan is a prime example of organised chaos, it's impressive how they manage and cooperate in transit
Yay!!! Osaka!!
An even more multi-polar region than Kanto. So neat. Love multi-polar areas.
Sadly, the metropolitan area might concentrate more on Osaka in the coming years. Kyoto has a build height limit for historical preservation which limits growth, and Kobe suffers from the lack of flat land and policy failures like deviating from the usual relaxed zoning by limiting or banning housing in central business districts or building the subway system in a way that it would be easy to go to Kobe's center but harder to go to Osaka, which in theory would stop people from leaving, but in practice, worsened the problem. I really hope Kyoto and Kobe survive, since it's better for the suburbs in the east and west to be accessible to a nearby core city.
@@hamanakohamaneko7028神戸のマンション規制は中心部の一部であり、商業フロアを増やす効果が期待されているので問題はありません。また、神戸空港の大規模な規制緩和や震災復興からの脱却により今後の発展（他都市と比較して災害により再開発が遅れた）が期待されます。
I love Japanese rolling stock. The colours are so rich and varied. The styling of the equipment too.
If you like cab view videos, there are several magnificent lines in the Osaka area. My two favourites are Nankai Electric's Koya Line from Namba to the mountain resort of Gokurakubashi , and Kintetsu's Minami Osaka Line + Yoshino Line from Abenobashi to Yoshino.
I first visited Japan when I went to Kobe. My favorite line there is definitely the Portliner, which was just a short walk from my hotel. I also rode the JR Kobe Line, the Seishin-Yamate subway line, and the Hanshin Line. After that I went to nearby Osaka, which obviously had the larger network, and was the nexus of the Keihanshin metropolitan area (yeah, that's what it's actually called; the syllables originate from alternate readings of one of each cities' Kanji characters.). My favorite line there is definitely the Midosuji subway line (Line 1), because it serves Tennoji station next to my hotel and brings me to both Shinsekai and Namba. I also rode the JR Osaka Loop Line (& the JR Sakurajima/Yumesaki Line), the Hanshin Namba Line, and the Tanimachi subway line (Line 2). Here's a funny story, it took me forever just to get to Nishikujo from Tennoji to change to the Sakurajima Line for USJ, because I took me a while to realize that there were rapid services in the first place (I wasn't really as experienced with taking public transit transit as I am now) apart from local trains. And so that's why I always check the timetable on Google Maps, to see what type of service should I take.
I never visited Kyoto, but I plan to visit it at a season when there are not so many of those pesky tourists who all play the "jostling game".
One of my most magical moments in Japan (as a budding railfan) was witnessing a perfectly timed cross platform transfer at Awaji eki (going from Nipponbashi eki in Osaka to Karasuma eki in Kyoto, where the sakaisuji line interlines with Hankyu). Especially when half the train (myself included) got off, and then moved to the other train on the other side.
Try the Osaka monorail, it has two lines, and one transfer station is the terminal of the other. You get off one train, walk THROUGH the middle one, and on to the other!
@@worldcomicsreview354 I need to try this. Do you know which station this is? I'll visit it on my next trip
Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station is Japan's largest terminal station and a sight to behold
Its like an underground city its insane
Why am I blushing like you complemented me personally!! 😊 Feeling that home terminal pride.
watanabe you spotted!! 👀
I didn't realise that kyoto and osaka were so close to each other.
Like 10 minutes by Shinkansen from Kyoto to Shin-Osaka.
There's a reason why this area is called KeiHanShin in Japan with Kei for Kyoto (Another way to pronounce the character Kyo from Kyoto), Han for Osaka (Another way to pronounce the character Saka from Osaka), and Shin for Kobe (Another way to pronounce the character Ko from Kobe)
Yeah that's pretty common.
It's basically like going to Aldergrove from Vancouver. It's closer than Narita Airport is from Toronto. Speaking of Toronto, Kyoto and Kobe are about the same distance as Hamilton or Oshawa are from Toronto.
For Americans, about the same distance as Tacoma to Saattle, Dallas to Fort Worth,
In LA, it's Santa Monica to Disneyland, Irvine to downtown, or Huntington Beach to Downtown,
Newark to JFK.
It really is one metro area... and there are also regular commuters from Wakayama... though I'd definitely consider Wakayama a different area... while under the Oaakan umbrella.
(psst. Don't tell those in Kyoto or Nara they're part of metro Osaka)
its like Dallas and Fort worth lmaoo
The first time I went to Osaka I got the standard limited express, thinking "Time for a nice rela-oh, we're here"
I hope everyone in the comments has a nice day!
It's absolutely wild to see the public transit system there is owned by so many private companies and yet still works so well. Here in Australia, as soon as you privatise public services, the service gets worse and the cost gets higher.
Osaka is my favorite city in japan! navigating in the urban core using the metro is smooth and convenient. The grid structure helps to always provide a station close to where you are, and will end up being. I also love how casual the place is compared to Tokyo. I've gotten stopped by more locals in Osaka for conversation than any place else. The night life is topnotch too!
I find it really interesting how Osaka's rail system feels much more chaotic even if its street grid feels more orderly!
@@RMTransit Honestly your all americanness is showing with that love for the grid
Osaka is like Japan's "American South" Friendly, boisterous, and great food. Love it.
This is the episode I've always been waiting for. I lived in Osaka for 3 years, and I really enjoyed their public transits. Osaka, or Kansai area has the most underrated transit network in Japan. The city is not as big as Tokyo, but it has many terminal stations, which connects passenger to basically everywhere. All the trains made Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto basically the same city. Besides, even if you are heading for the same direction, you have tons of choices. Suppose heading for Kyoto from Osaka, you choose JR for speed, Hankyu for budget and Keihan for excellent services. Just excellent.
The three main services going from Osaka to Kobe are basically the "same line" lol, there's not much space up against them mountains. All three stop in Sannomiya, you basically have a choice of several different places around Osaka in which to start, and they all end up at the same place in Kobe!
As someoneone who lives in Kyoto and often takes the Hankyu line to Osaka I"m happy to see it all covered :)
Great video! I used to ride the Hankyu Kobe line to work every day, so have fond memories of riding those distinctive maroon trains. On a recent trip back to Kansai, my family and I stayed close to Tennoji and made use of the Osaka Loop Line on a regular basis. The JR Station at Umeda is a sight to behold.
A few extra titbits:
- Nankai's Koya line actually runs from Namba to Koya. Even though it belongs to the Koya line, the section between Shiombashi (JR connection) and Kishinosato (where the Wakayama and Koya lines intersect/split) is run separately as a shuttle, mostly for local residents. Once upon a time the Koya Line was a separate company, the Osaka Koya Railway, and Kishinosato had a flat crossing between the two companies protected by an interlocking tower. When Nankai bought out Osaka Koya, trains were rerouted to Namba and the Kishinosato - Shiombashi section was reduced to shuttle status.
Nankai once had a third terminal station, at Tennoji just south of the JR tracks and served by a spur from Tengachaya. However this was used mostly for freight, and when the Metro's Sakaisuji line was pushed south, half of the line (from Imaike to Tengachaya) was closed to allow the Metro to be dug under. The remaining half limped along by agreement with the local residents until the metro opened, with a single shuttle car sufficing to cope with traffic.
Another Nankai curiosity is the fact that the company is more than just your run-of-the-mill Japanese-former-interurban-turned-regional-commuter-carrier; rather, it's the last Meiji-era private mainline railway still running using its original charter. There was an attempt by the Japanese government to take it over and incorporate it into the JGR (Japanese Government Railways) system, however the decree authorising it failed its Diet reading because the members could not agree on the terms for takeover. So Nankai remains independent to this day...
- The Keihanna Line's crossing of the mountain range east of Osaka was originally Kintetsu's original Ikoma Tunnel, built by predecessor Osaka Electric Railway before WW1. This was built to US interurban standards, able to take cars 8ft (2400mm) wide, a feature which for many years hindered through running from the rest of the Kintetsu system. To solve the problem, in the early 1960s Kintetsu dug a wider tunnel next to it; the original tunnel was closed off, until Kintetsu and Osaka Metro banded up together to build the Keihanna line. The old Ikoma tunnel was then given a dusting, widened and reopened to take the new line. Only the eastern portal was reused, the new line diverging from the old alignment several hundred meters before the western one which, although fenced off, can be seen from the street.
Thank you for all of this Nick! Japan's railways have such rich histories and since these are often still operational railways its a lot easier to get into them!
Kintetsu Nara line is basically a mountain railway on steroids. Just look at the climb from Hyotanyama station to the New Ikoma Tunnel...
@@RicciChoi1109 and so is the Nagoya line between Sakurai and Ise-Nakagawa, a huge open-air roller-coaster where you plunge down 3.3% gradients at up to 130kph...
There's video on RUclips of the last days of the old Nankai spur. Also you can still see a kind of tarmacced-over, but unused "road" next to the JR line, where it once was. Down in "Greater Shin-Imamiya" area (it has both a traditional name and a government name, I've forgot both. It's also the most "dangerous" area in all of Japan. I've cycled through it, as a male with long hair, at 2 in the morning in August and been fine, you try that in even the safest areas of British cities) you can see fenced-off empty areas with roads / paths running through them which were once the tracks and crossings.
There are 2 trams lines in Osaka that you forget to mention. Besides the Kita Kyukou extension which just opened, the Osaka Monorail is being extended as well as a planned spur line for the Chuo line towards the current train yard.
I decided not to talk trams in this video, I don't believe I did in my Tokyo video either since in both cases they are fairly minor!
@@RMTransit No trams are "fairly minor". The Hankaidenki tram line is worth mentioning, as commuters and locals who go shopping frequently ride them.
I was kind of expecting the monorail extension to be mentioned, too, as that’s been getting quite a bit of attention lately.
In related news, if anybody in the area is interested in joining me for the monorail sake train next month then feel free to get in touch. ✌️😜
Been there. Love the Midosuji Line and absolutely love Osaka Station. It's amazing.
Thank you for the video! One information I'd like to correct though:
At 17:55 you've mentioned that the Kyoto and Kobe line is a part of the Sanyo main line, but in fact, these two lines are a part of Tokaido main line, as the Tokaido main line connects Tokyo and Kobe, while Sanyo main line Kobe and Moji.
Actually, the split point between the Tokaidō and San’yō Main Lines on JR west is at Kobe Station, interestingly just west of the main station in Kobe, Sannomiya.
Also the commuter rail service often runs beyond what's shown in 17:34, going a further 50km west to Himeiji & a further 60km east to Maibara, taking over 2h to run from 1 end to another
This video makes my brain so happy. It's all of the information together in one place. I love Osaka so much, and a big part of that is the train system. Thank you for such a thoughtful and detailed video!
25:53 The extension of Kitakyu / Metro Line 1 started operating today (on the day this video came out).
As you see across Japan, the train stations in Osaka all have their own jingle.
Bentenchō Station, on the Osaka Loop Line, plays "I've Been Working on the Railroad"
Kitakyu Nanboku Line is a local but official name.
I learned it for the first time
But I love Senri Chuo Station, which has been in that station structure since 1970.
Great summary of rail lines centered in Osaka! My favorite train area in the world. Looking forward to a future video covering some of the neat operations there. Osaka visitors should check out the huge multilevel underground shopping halls centered at JR Osaka station
Shoutout to Hankyu Kyoto line! It's fabulous. If you are going to Kyoto from Osaka, Hankyu is a great way to get there, but do confirm in advance WHERE your priorities in Kyoto are. JR Kyoto line (aka Tokaido) may be a better bet as their Kyoto stations are a fair bit apart.
I‘m a Oldman Hankyu. ☺️
I am very honored to receive such praise about Hankyu Railway.😉👍🍀
I just wanna say...Osaka Station and Osaka Umeda Station is the single most confusing building in Japan. I'm usually good with directions and I made it through Tokyo Station and Shinjuku station without a hitch...
But I got lost in Osaka/Umeda station 6 times and somehow made it out with sheer luck.
That's inevitable, since even people who live in Osaka can get lost in the maze of underground malls. 😅
If I could give you one piece of advice, I would recommend that you carry a bird's-eye view map of the area, determine your direction on the ground, and follow the signs to find your way.☝️🍀
@@Midori-Clover Yeah.. My friend had even told me that it was the "Maze of Umeda" but fortunately I had somehow been able to not get lost lol
I could not agree with you more! I hated whenever I had to go from Osaka Station to Umeda Station. It is a maze. One time I transferred fairly quickly and easily from Umeda to Osaka, all underground and I thought I had finally figured it out. Then when I returned I thought I was following the correct signs and ended up going outside and looping around and I had no idea why nor how I had done it so easily in reverse that morning.
Anyway I much prefer the Namba area, which is much easier to navigate, but probably because it does not involve JR.
Want to say too, props to you for the pronunciation! I live on the Nagahori Tsurumi-Ryokuchi line and it’s still a mouthful!
I used to live in front of 西大橋 station. The subway line does indeed have a mouthful of a name. 🤣
The Kansai region actually has proper competition between the train lines and operators. You get at least 3 options to travel to a neighbouring major city Kobe, Kyoto, Nagoya, etc. This is very obvious when you look at the fare structure that if you are going between cities, it costs half of if you were to stop anywhere in between (where other lines don't serve). It is also why the timetables are so tight and there are as few stops as they have compared to Tokyo.
Thanks for making this, as a 10-year resident of Osaka, the train system is wonderful. I wish I’d reached out as your Osaka correspondent, I missed my chance 😅
I’m checking out the new Kita Osaka Kyuko stations this weekend 🎉
Keep tabs on Hankyu Awaji junction for us-- thing has been under construction for over 20 years at this point-- I was living in Shojaku and Higashi Osaka back in 2002 when they put the shovels in the ground!
@@starrwulfe As soon as I saw this video I knew some nostalgic names would come up in the comments! I got the futsuu from Takatsuki-shi to Shojaku many times in the early 90s when I was teaching at the junior highs there; wish Settsu-shi station had been around then, would have cut my walking time by a LOT!
Love that Nankai 50000 series. Japan has so many unique-looking rapid express trains. Hankyu line is still my favourite though with their iconic maroon trains. Love that they've kept the charming retro exterior while being completely modern inside.
I‘m a Oldman Hankyu. ☺️
I am very honored to receive such praise about Hankyu Railway.😉👍🍀
OOKINI!! From osaka.
I think you are the foreigner who understands the railroads in Osaka and Kansai area the best.
Hankyu pioneered the management of Japan's major private railways and is a pioneer in side businesses such as opera houses and department stores conducted by railway companies. The Hankyu Umeda department store has developed to become the second largest in Japan.
Not only that, but it also created a film company as a side business to its opera company operations. It is TOHO, Japan's largest film company, which created Godzilla, and Hankyu is TOHO’s largest shareholder.
Hanshin is held by Hankyu because a hedge fund called Murakami Fund made a hostile takeover bid and Hankyu made a friendly takeover bid.
Hanshin owns Japan's second most popular baseball team, the Hanshin Tigers.
（Translated with DeepL）
The result of Hankyu-Hanshin merger in 2006 must be JR West saying "f*** me". 😂
Look at how the Tokaido Main Line between Osaka and Kobe is being sandwiched by both Hanshin Main Line and Hankyu Kobe Line...
@@RicciChoi1109 What happens if Hanshin suddenly merges with Kintetsu? Then Hanshin and Kintetsu will be now called "Hanshin-Kintetsu Electric Railway" and it will still be the largest private railway by track length in Japan (but larger and more menacing), with the merged networks now reaching Nagoya, making both JR Central and Meitetsu also say "f*** me" because Hanshin-Kintetsu might also merge with Meitetsu. 😂
@@trainsandmore2319 That's impossible because the plan of Hankyu-Hanshin merger was already here before WWII broke out.
Hi Reece! As someone who is moving to Osaka this summer, I am absolutely mind blown on how detailed you explained Osaka's railways and how little you left out. I did not expect you to mention Awaji's elevation project or the Naniwasuji line. I thought only NMBC (A channel that makes videos mostly around Kansai transit projects and transit-oriented developments) viewers know about it😅
A good comparison for Kansai metropolitan area is like one Chicago and two Philadelphias forming a metropolitan area that exceeds New York City's metro area. Although the urban area is spread between 3 cities, Osaka itself is compact. Although the population is a third of Tokyo's, the area is also one-third.
I will mention the reason why Osaka has isolated private lines that are in practice, completely fused with the Osaka Metro. These lines are outside the jurisdiction of the city, while within the city, for a long time, the city was very conservative when it came to private railroads going into the city, so the private railroads only reached to slightly outside the city limits, then through run into the Osaka Metro. Another interesting thing is that the Midosuji line is actually the highest earning metro line in Japan, beating out every metro line in Tokyo.
Also, there used to be a rail yard in Umeda, but it got moved to the suburb of Suita, so in place of the old site will be a massive development project, making Umeda more massive than it already is. Umeda has so many transit lines and underground paths that connect the lines directly to buildings, which is why people like to call Umeda a dungeon.
It's not so much that the City was conservative in its stance, as it is that its mandate only applies within City borders. They were quite willing to play ball with private operators who built their lines to Municipal standards.
Tokyo Metro used to be the TRTA, a national-level entity, so its mandate is naturally much broader. Their lines were built to JNR spec, which provided a very powerful incentive to standardise.
To this day, Tokyo Metro / Toei Subway maintains a duopoly on trackage within the Yamanote line (the notable exception being Chuo line). Compare to Osaka where there are multiple JRW / private operator lines within the loop.
I've gotten lost in the maze of tunnels connecting the various stations around Umeda a number of times.
Not sure which is worse, Shinjuku station or the underground shopping/connection tunnels around Umeda.
Good to know I'm not the only person who watches both NMBC and RM Transit 😂 I was really surprised when Reece brought up the Hankyu Shin-Osaka line!
Another fan of both RM and NMBC here. Also chalk me up as a fan of Tetsubozu, a Japanese guy based in Vancouver (Collab opportunity for @Reece perhaps lol) who pumps out great quality videos. Love you work Reece, keep it up.
Oh and Hanshin wasshoi!
@@magical_catgirl
That's inevitable, since even people who live in Osaka can get lost in the maze of underground malls. 😅
If I could give you one piece of advice, I would recommend that you carry a bird's-eye view map of the area, determine your direction on the ground, and follow the signs to find your way.☝️😊🍀
my favourite line is the yotsubashi line
from what i seen from my visit, it is one of the least crowded lines, which effectively enables me to hear the very good motor of the 23 series
There's a fun fact about the Midosuji Line, when it opened, the line only used really short trains, whilst the platform where built to acomodate 10 cars in the future, people called the planers crazy for doing that, little did they know that it would become one of the most important lines in Osaka.
I love that thing for Osaka's metro, every platform is futureproof!
More amazing was that Midosuji Line platforms were built to accommodate 8-car trains, but that proved not enough and they had to extend the platforms to 10-car length, while the line was already in full operation.
There's actually footage of some of the first runnings! It was also used in a WW2-era anti-Japanese propaganda video made in the USA, later I found the "raw" footage and could recognise the Umeda kanji. Same floor tiles, too!
The Hankyu oozes class. Immaculate trains. Disciplined staff. Always on the move. Wow. Thus, my favourite.
I‘m a Oldman Hankyu. ☺️
I am very honored to receive such praise about Hankyu Railway.😉👍🍀
Railways in Osaka is basically JR, private operators and subways compete against each other, which is the exact opposite of Tokyo. 😅
In Tokyo, only Keikyu, Keisei, and two of Tokyo Metro’s lines use standard gauge track. The high prevalence of 1,067 mm track is due to a lot of run through services on commuter rail and subway lines. A famous example of this run-through operation is _F Liner_ , which uses Seibu, Tobu, Tokyo Metro and Tokyu tracks on one service!
@@Sacto1654 I'm talking about the relationship between JR, private operators and subway lines.
In Tokyo they work in a cooperative approach. For example, JR and Tokyo Metro/Toei Subway carry all passenger flows in central Tokyo, while private operators run as parallel lines to suburbs and to Kanegawa, Saitama and Chiba, as well as covering areas with little or even no JR services like Setagaya and Ota wards.
On the other hand, Osaka is a free-for-all.
A good example is Sennichimae line of Osaka Metro became somewhat redundant after Hanshin Namba line was built and connected to Kintetsu lines.
Also, the A-seat (JR) vs Premium Car (Keihan) vs Privace and Kyo-train (Hankyu) shows how the competition between JR and private operators is so fierce.
(Tug of war meme)
Private railways on the side of city government-run metro vs privatized formerly national railways (but they also collaborate in some cases, such as the Naniwasuji line)
"What?"
Thankfully this is changing. Osaka Metro no longer monopolises inner city services, and JRW / Private operators are more collaborative.
There is a consensus that the pie is shrinking and a Red Ocean Strategy is detrimental to all.
@@Sacto1654and as of last year Sotetsu as well, albeit not part of F Liner. :)
Shin-Osaka station was constructed when the area was mostly farmland and served as the terminus for Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen. Engineering difficulties to try to run the Shinkansen to the city center.
Maybe it's just that the plans were far too biased towards Tokyo?
@@trainsandmore2319 Nah, running it into central Osaka would be biased towards Osaka, Shin-Osaka is better because it is easier to extend to the west, whereas if it ran into the center it would need a complete U-turn which would make it difficult to extend to Hiroshima and Fukuoka, and they will also take longer to get to Tokyo or Nagoya
@@hamanakohamaneko7028 Oh, I see.
Osaka in my memory is the most carist city in Japan.
The Osaka loop line is quite cool as the different stations have different jingles. I haven't been on the Metro in Osaka though. I've used stations such as Tennoji and JR Namba and Osaka. Mainly I have changed at Shin-Osaka or travelled through on the limited express from Kansai to Kyoto
As a kid who lived in osaka from '12 to '16, i can confirm that this video is very accurate and i wish to ride the new extension one day. Our school/kindergarden hosted field trips that often started by boarding a train either at Dobutsuen-mae or Tennoji, riding a few stops up or down then deboarding at one of the big parks in the city. it was real fun and we also got some unlimited ride cards in summer of '15 and 16.
I never felt lost in tokyo, but Osaka was overwhelming.
The Midosuji line (red color) in Osaka is actually the busiest subway line in the country, surpassing even lines in Tokyo! It serves as the equivalent of Tokyo’s Yamanote loop line because it connects all the main areas of the city. In comparison Osaka’s loop line doesn’t really connect the main areas of Osaka such as Namba and Honmachi, or the shin-Osaka Shinkansen station.
Fun fact too, the line was chosen to be red colored because it is the artery of the city (there is a reason behind every other color too)
11:46 they got yeeted lol
Is amazing how japan transit system is so developed that u can go in an hour from city to city
Did my study abroad in Osaka and this was the first place I lived in Japan in 2001! So much has changed since then.
Shout out to Kintetsu Tsurihashi, Fuse and Yaenozato stations. Higashi Osaka Forever!
Kinki University?
@@hamanakohamaneko7028 the other one; Kandai in Suita.
@@starrwulfe ohhhhh, I thought it was Kindai because the stations were in Eastern Osaka lol
Multi track drifting!
Recently got back from a week in the Kansai region, and that entire Namba station complex is craaaazy big!
Did get confused a couple of times, but at the end of the day, it was downright impressive how well-connected this whole region is
wow, this number of rail lines let's even cities like London or Berlin feel like a transit-desert…
kitakyu namboku line has just been extended two stations lol
Few people realize how large the Greater Osaka area really is.
The approved North-south **Naniwasuji** line will indeed be a game changer for transport from the airport connecting directly to Umeda. It will finally give Nankai access to Osaka Station (Umeda) and drastically reduce times to get to Osaka's central area, Kyoto, and Kobe.
It would be great to do a video on that project... as it will greatly enhance the loop line as well as many trains will be able to bypass the loop
Last year when I went to Osaka, I couldn't believe Hankyu ran into the Metro to Namba. That just blew my mind that one service could run on another. I went from the centre of Kyoto to Dotonburi. Took ages but was a lovely trip.
The Naniwasuji line is already under construction. It’s used to mainly relieve congestion on the Osaka loop line, which is experiencing severe delays at the moment., especially on the long distance trains. Nankai had to give in to JR during COVID and allow them to use their tracks in the future on the Nankai line in order to help fund their portion of the new line and remain solvent.
Hot tip:
Some new stations built on the Midosuji line two days ago.
They are Minoh-Kayano and Minoh-Semba-Handaimae.
Awesome, comprehensive video! Love JR West's special rapid, shin-kaisoku services! Comes in so handy when travelling around Osaka and greater Kansai area.
Used to live by the nankai line, the airport express going past at sunset drew light patterns on my wall. When I moved back to Osaka a few years later I was in Hankyuu territory and never quite replicated the feeling of closeness to the rail despite living beside it.
I was waiting for some mention of the Osaka Metro's horn usage...was very satisfied with its inclusion right at the end. Well done!
Stand at the front of the train and hear it echo down the tunnel! It's like a Dalek burping, such a wierd sound
i love hankyu railway! their maroon livery is super cool! and, im loving the new refined videos! the pacing is amazing, reminds me of not just bikes!
I‘m a Oldman Hankyu. ☺️
I am very honored to receive such praise about Hankyu Railway.😉👍🍀
Would love to see a video about the various light rail systems in Japan
Nankai railways bullethead trains are fabulous. The design is convincingly sci-fi.
I was in Osaka Last week and cannot give enough praises about the excellent metro. The everlasting memory will be the melodies every line has after the annoumcements being made.
It brings back memories of 1980, and how much it has changed since then.
Semboku Kosoku was the line that I used most often when I would return to Japan. My mom and grandparents lived in Sakai which was served by the Semboku branch line. I would always remember either going to Namba with my mom to have some fun, or transferring at Nakamozu to use the Midosuji line.
Those train announcements really do bring up some memories
By the way, the extended portion of Kitakyu railway (Osaka Metro Line 1) just opened today. You may want to fix that in the future.
Reece, what a mammoth effort on this video! One note for viewers, while I totally understand your referring to the Metro (subway) lines by their numbers instead of their names for ease of narration, I dont think anyone in Osaka ever refers to them as "Line 1", for example; it's always Midosuji-sen. If anyone watching lives in Osaka now, has that changed since Metro took over?
As an Osaka local I advise visitors to always fly to Itami airport, it’s super nice and has way better access to the city than Kansas, closer and cheaper. Also Umeda station is a maze avoid when tired.
Hankyu and Kintetsu have the best trains.
I was studying as an exchange student in Osaka while they were building the newest station of the Kitakyu Namboku Line.
If you are a rail fan and are in Osaka, I can only recomend going to the Yodo river with its many rail bridges as weill as Shin-Osaka-Station for viewing all sorts of trains (among which is the Shinkansen) while seeing planes above flying to Itami Airport. Also nice for trainspotting is the Imamiyaebitsu Station for the Nankai Network
25:52 Actually, the northern extension of Line 1 (to Minoh-kayano) just opened on 23 March 2024, the exact same day this video is released.
My favourite line is the Loop Line. Much like the Overground in London, you get to see bits of Osaka you wouldn't otherwise think of going to.
Having been on most of the lines you mentioned, overall this video was quite well done (minus the pronunciation on some of the names...)
My personal favourite is Hankyuu, their trains are nice, and there's a really cool 2.5km or so section on the way up to Kyoto that runs parallel to the Shinkansen. So while you're in a train flying along at up to 120km/h, you get to see the Shinkansen passing you at more than double that speed :D
Special mention goes to Keihan though, their trains are really nice too, and usually have minimal/no advertising inside, which adds to the premium feel. Their line is quite convenient for me these days, but it's sadly just not as fast as Hankyuu.
Hankyu trains are quite pretty, inside and out. Fantastic colour scheme and fitout
I'm Oldman Hankyu. 😊
I'm very honored to receive your praise about the Hankyu Railway.🍀
My favorite line is probably the Takarazuka Line. I stayed near Shonai Station on my Japan trip last year for quite a while, so thinking back about taking the train to the station and then walking through the quiet neighborhood feels quite nostalgic. I even lost my wallet at Shonai station only realising it at Namba Station. It was quite an experience but I got it back in the end. Thanks to the kind person who picked up my wallet and gave it to the station staff :)
Nice video Reece! Just to mention, JR *is* a private company, and the passenger rail side is split up into six sections across the country - in the Kansai region, the JR section there is called JR West. Actually, these "sections" are companies in itself, and suprisingly, these JR companies hand out different smart cards for rail travel (JR West's main smart card is ICOCA, while JR East's main smart card is Suica)
OK if I talk more then I might as well make a literal essay-
Icoca is actually based on the Kansa-ben for "let's go", where "Ikimashou-ka?" in standard Japanese becomes "Ikou-ka?"
Not Kansai dialect actually, moreso a conjugation of the verb used to express intention. @@worldcomicsreview354
Very satisfied that you pronounce the city of Kobe correctly. Apart from that, this is a very detailed coverage.
5:37 The 400 series train looks like a space worm. It would be interesting if you did a video series with some of the industrial designers that design the many trains used throughout the world.
Ive been asking for this for Years
Thank you
I commuted for 3.5 years on the Keihan-sen in the 90's - a lot of fond memories of Kansai.
Glad to see Osaka getting covered in detail! Kansai is known among Japanese railfans as the "private railway kingdom" because JR is nowhere near as dominant as in Kanto. It can make getting around a bit daunting to beginners as you suggest in the title, but each line has its own character that makes trips to each part of the region even more interesting.
I live in Kyoto on the Hankyu line and go to Osaka frequently, especially Namba. My trick is to change at Awaji to access the Sakaisuji Line and any further transfers on the Osaka Metro, which usually results in a slightly faster trip to my final destination. But going home, I always go to Umeda because it's the terminus for Hankyu, so I'm guaranteed a seat if I wait for the next train, which is every 10 minutes during most of the day, and 15 minutes maximum at night. Having a large terminus where most express trains start/end is one benefit of not having so much through-running.
The Hankyu Kyoto Line has reversible transverse seating on most of the Limited Express trains (no extra fee), so it's well worth waiting for a seat. Lots of room to put your bag on the ground, stretch your legs, and lean back on the high seatback. These are very welcome on the Kyoto Line, since it is longer and has wider stop spacing than the Kobe and Takarazuka lines, which almost entirely have longitudinal seating.
One more fun fact about the Hankyu Kyoto Line is that it runs right next to the Tokaido Shinkansen for a bit north of Takatsuki-shi. There are a few stations where you can stand on the platform and watch a Shinkansen train blast right past you. This parallel alignment exists because the Hankyu line was elevated at the same time the Shinkansen was under construction. The Shinkansen viaduct was built first, and Hankyu trains actually ran on it for 8 months while the Hankyu viaduct was being built, making it the first passenger service to run on Shinkansen tracks.
I'm Oldman Hankyu. ☺️
Thank you for providing a detailed introduction to my old workplace, the Hankyu Kyoto Line.😉👍🍀
When using the escalators of those train stations, just remember most of the Kansai region stand on the right side. The exception is Kyoto people, who stand on the left... I've been told that Tokyo people stand on the left too.
I have been waiting for this video for years
Was so excited to see my city get some love.
Did not expect to find out why there’s been construction forever and a year around Awaji station. The running joke has been asking friends who live around there when the construction will end and the answer has consistently been “in about ten years” for roughly ten years. Haha 😂
JR West always seemed more in a style of "Business" than JR East ever did, I guess the rolling stock did play a part!
Also my favorite line in the Kansai (Kinki) region is probably the Sakaisuji line using Hankyu rolling stock.
Reminder that Osaka and the Osaka metropolitan area share very similar population size to Toronto’s…
Shocking to think how metro areas of this size there are in North America with zero public transport beyond crappy busses
I get what you’re saying, but Osaka is 3x more dense than Toronto (12k vs 4k per sq km). And Osaka has a larger greater metro area than Toronto (20 million vs. 7 million).
Actually in terms of both population and land area, the Keihanshin metropolitan area is roughly similar to New York City's metro area (~20M people in 12k~13k square kilometres).
@@AnonymousGhostwriter Osaka is 3x more dense because the city is squeezed in between a large bay to the west and mountains surrounding it on all sides inland.
Kansai metropolitan area has 20 million people, so it's more like one Chicago and two Philadelphias forming a metropolitan area that exceeds New York City's metro area
Fantastic Video! Love the diversity and complexity of railways in Japan.
I love Osaka. Have stopped there on most on my trips to Japan.
When I'm there, I normally stay near Shin-Imamiya Station (JR Yamatoji and Loop lines and Nakai lines) and Dobutsuen-Mae metro Station on the Midosuji and Sakaisuji lines.
10-15 minute walk from Namba or Tennoji.
Im planning my trip to Japan, and we are starting in Osaka, and was wondering if youd ever do a video on it. Sure enough here it is! Great timing.
I have been to Osaka and my Favorite line is the Tanamachi line (the purple one)
I guess the most significant difference between the railway networks of Tokyo (Kanto) and Osaka (Kansai) is the fierce competition between JR and private railway companies. In Tokyo, i guess the biggest " railway competition" visible there is the access between Central Tokyo and Narita Airport which is between JR's Narita Express running between Eastern Tokyo/Shinjuku/Yokohama/Kamakura to Narita Airport and the Keisei Skyliner running between Ueno and Narita Airport, with Keisei being faster (as it utilizes the canceled Narita Shinkansen infrastructure) and cheaper and JRE Narita Express being more connected with other JR Lines and the availability to use the Japan Railway Pass. Another in highlightable is between JRE's Joban Line and Tsukuba Railway, with Tsukuba Railway having faster speed operations.
In Osaka however, the competition kinda shapes how railway networks in Osaka operates. Basically, all private railway companies compete with each other to grab more passengers as most lines actually run parallel with JRW lines. For instance, Hankyu Kyoto and Kobe Lines runs paralel with the JR Tokaido Line (JR Kyoto) and JR San'yo Line (JR Kobe), which also runs paralell with the Hanshin Main Line, which the Hanshin Line also conducts through services to the San'yo Railway Line to Himeji and thus competing also with the JR San'yo Line to HImeji. To compete with Hankyu, Hanshin, and Keihan, JR West then launches the flagship Special Rapid Service being the JR Commuter Service with the fastest operational speed (130 km/h) and also with the longest distance (between Banshu-Ako in Ako, Hyogo Pref. and Tsuruga, Fukui Pref./Maibara, Shiga Pref.) The JR Fukuchiyama Line (JR Takarazuka) competes with the Hankyu Takarazuka Line. JR Tokaido Line also competes with the Keihan Line. The Yamatoji Line and basically all JRW and JRC lines in Nara and Mie competes with the Kintetsu Line. While the JR Hanwa & Kansai Airport Lines compete with Nankai Railway's Nankai Line and the Airport Line, although the Airport Line actually runs on the same track with the JR Kansai Airport Line.
There's also a difference regarding through services with the subway. As Osaka Metro Lines mostly run on third-rail -with the Sakaisuji, Nagahori-Tsurumi Ryokuchi, and Imasatosuji Lines being the only ones not operating using third-rail-, in which mostly aren't compatible with other railways in Osaka which in contrast, only 2 metro lines in Tokyo runs on third-rail and that being the Marunouchi and Ginza Lines. Through service between JR and private railway lines also doesn't exist in Osaka, with the exception of the Kansai Airport Line which is being shared between JR and Nankai, with JR running Airport Limited Express 'Haruka' from Kyoto (and some from Maibara) and also Kansai Airport Rapid Service from Osaka, and Nankai with the Airport Limited Express 'Rapi:t' from Namba. This will change though with the opening of the Naniwasuji (Naniwa Street) Line between Osaka (North Umeda Platform) and JR Namba Stations, as the the line will have direct through service connection with Nankai in Nishihonmachi Station and also with Hankyu via a connection between Juso and Shin-Osaka which is also being in construction, also becoming the first Hankyu Line that utilizes Narrow-Gauge tracks.
If you notice why most subway lines in Osaka have ~suji in their names, that's because ~suji is how the roads that run north to south being named in Osaka (in contrast, roads running west to east are called ~toori, just like everywhere in Japan). Midousuji, Sakaisuji, Imasatosuji all got their names from north-south road names where they run under them (Midou Street, Sakai Street, Imasato Street). Besides that, the Tanimachi and Yotsubashi Lines also get their names from north-south road names (~suji) although not having the ~suji on their names (Yotsubashi Street, Tanimachi Street)
Isn't it a three-way between JR, Municipal Subway, and Private Operators? They fight and cooperate with each other, the latter more so now that growth is shrinking.
All the subway lines are named after the roads they run under, which is unusual in Japan. It is related to the fact that Osaka Metro is legally classified as a tramway, so that the tracks and road are considered to share the same corridor.
Lets go! Japan rail! Thank you Reece for this amazing video! Im native of Montreal and ever since my trip to Japan, I cant stop thinking about its rail system and how Montreal could learn a thing or two from Japan. Keep the grind up🔥
Thank you so much for updating this fantastic video!! I visited Osaka more than three times when I was a university student. I love Osaka trains, especially Hankyu the best.
Hankyu is the most famous trains among Kansai area, and has many unique points. Those trains are so beautiful and look luxury. I highly recommend trying the Hankyu lines when you visit Osaka or other cities in Kansai area.