Getting there
Osaka to Nara
Osaka has five stations that trains to Nara leave from, run by two companies, arriving at two different stations in Nara that are twenty minutes' walk apart. Which one you want depends on where you are standing now — so here is every route, end to end.
The short answer
From central Osaka, take Kintetsu from Osaka-Namba: ¥680, about 40 minutes with no change, and it arrives at Kintetsu-Nara, 5 minutes' walk from Nara Park. From Osaka station, JR's Yamatoji Rapid is the only direct train: ¥840 and about 50 minutes, but JR Nara is a further 15 minutes on foot at the other end.
Every route, door to park
| From | Line | Arrive at | Fare | Rail | Walk | Door to park | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Namba | Kintetsu | Nara (Kintetsu) | ¥680 +¥520 ltd exp | 40 min | 5 min | 45 min | 0 |
| Namba, by JR | JR | Nara (JR) | ¥580 | 48 min | 20 min | 68 min | 1 |
| Osaka station (Umeda) | JR | Nara (JR) | ¥840 | 50 min | 20 min | 70 min | 0 |
| Tennoji | JR | Nara (JR) | ¥510 | 33 min | 20 min | 53 min | 0 |
| Shin-Osaka | JR | Nara (JR) | ¥960 | 62 min | 20 min | 82 min | 1 |
| Kansai Airport | JR | Nara (JR) | ¥1,680 | 90 min | 20 min | 110 min | 1 |
Ordinary adult fares, one way, no reservation needed. "Door to park" adds the published walk from the arrival station to Nara Park. The Kintetsu limited express saves a few minutes for a ¥520 surcharge; the rapid express costs nothing extra and is what most visitors take.
Where you are starting from
Namba
Kintetsu trains leave from Osaka-Namba, under the Namba shopping streets and connected to the Midosuji subway. ¥680, about 40 minutes, no change, arriving at Nara (Kintetsu) — 45 minutes door to park.
Namba, by JR
JR Namba is a different station a few minutes west, at the end of the Yamatoji line. ¥580, about 48 minutes, 1 change, arriving at Nara (JR) — 68 minutes door to park.
Osaka station (Umeda)
The Yamatoji Rapid runs straight through from Osaka station without a change. ¥840, about 50 minutes, no change, arriving at Nara (JR) — 70 minutes door to park.
Tennoji
South Osaka, and the closest big station to Nara. Every Yamatoji Rapid calls here. ¥510, about 33 minutes, no change, arriving at Nara (JR) — 53 minutes door to park.
Shin-Osaka
Where the shinkansen arrives. There is no direct train; you change at Osaka station, one stop away. ¥960, about 62 minutes, 1 change, arriving at Nara (JR) — 82 minutes door to park.
Kansai Airport
Direct trains are rare; in practice you change at Tennoji. ¥1,680, about 90 minutes, 1 change, arriving at Nara (JR) — 110 minutes door to park.
The same train, three fares
The same Kintetsu train to Nara can be boarded at three stations in Osaka, and the fare falls the later you join it.
| Board at | To Kintetsu-Nara |
|---|---|
| Osaka-Namba 大阪難波 | ¥680 |
| Osaka-Uehommachi 大阪上本町 | ¥680 |
| Tsuruhashi 鶴橋 | ¥590 |
From Kintetsu's fare table. If you are already on the Osaka Loop line or the subway, joining at Tsuruhashi rather than Osaka-Namba saves ¥90 on the same train.
Which station in Nara you want
This is the part that decides most of these journeys. Kintetsu-Nara comes out into the town, minutes from the park; JR Nara is further west, and the walk in is flat but dull. With luggage or children, that gap is worth more than the fare difference.
| Station | Operator | To Nara Park | To Todai-ji |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nara (Kintetsu) 近鉄奈良駅 | Kintetsu | 5 min | 20 min |
| Nara (JR) JR奈良駅 | JR | 20 min | 32 min |
What is at Kintetsu-Nara when you step off — lockers, the 2pm luggage cut-off, and which bus goes up to Todai-ji.
Questions people ask
How do I get from Osaka to Nara?
From central Osaka, take Kintetsu from Osaka-Namba: ¥680, about 40 minutes with no change, and it arrives at Kintetsu-Nara, 5 minutes' walk from Nara Park. From Osaka station, JR's Yamatoji Rapid is the only direct train: ¥840 and about 50 minutes, but JR Nara is a further 15 minutes on foot at the other end.
How much is the train from Osaka to Nara?
Between ¥510 and ¥960 one way, depending on where in Osaka you start. Kintetsu from Osaka-Namba is ¥680; JR from Osaka station is ¥840; JR from Tennoji, already halfway there, is ¥510; JR from Shin-Osaka is ¥960. No reservation is needed on any of them.
How long does it take to get from Osaka to Nara?
About 40 minutes from Osaka-Namba by Kintetsu and about 50 from Osaka station by JR, plus the walk at the Nara end: 5 minutes to the park from Kintetsu-Nara, 20 from JR Nara. Door to park, that is roughly 45 minutes against 70.
Is JR or Kintetsu better from Osaka to Nara?
Kintetsu, unless you are starting at Osaka station or hold a JR pass. It is cheaper from Namba (¥680 against ¥840), about the same speed, and it stops at the station nearer the deer and the temples.
What is the cheapest way from Osaka to Nara?
¥510 on the JR Yamatoji line from Tennoji, if you are in south Osaka anyway. Otherwise, board the Kintetsu train at Tsuruhashi for ¥590 instead of ¥680 from Osaka-Namba — it is the same train. A rail pass is almost never cheaper for a day trip; the calculator on this site does that arithmetic.
How do I get to Nara from Shin-Osaka after the shinkansen?
There is no direct train. Take any local or rapid one stop to Osaka station and change to the Yamatoji Rapid for Nara: ¥960 in all, about 62 minutes.
Is there a direct train from Osaka to Nara?
Yes, from three stations. Kintetsu runs direct from Osaka-Namba to Kintetsu-Nara, and JR's Yamatoji Rapid runs direct from Osaka station and from Tennoji to JR Nara. From JR Namba and Shin-Osaka you usually change once.
Before you buy a pass
A day trip from Osaka costs about ¥1,360 in train fares. Most passes cost more than that. Put your real journeys in and see.
Open the pass calculator