Osaka's sightseeing areas are mainly divided into two zones: the northern area around Osaka and Umeda stations, and the southern area near Namba Station.

The northern area, closer to Kyoto, has a more polished and refined vibe. In contrast, the southern area is livelier, reflecting the energetic spirit of Osaka. Namba Station is a key terminal for exploring the southern area and is also popular with tourists, as it’s the nearest major station to Kansai International Airport.

Namba Station consists of six different stations: Nankai Line’s Namba Station, Kintetsu-Hanshin Line’s Osaka-Namba Station, Osaka Metro’s Midosuji Line, Sennichimae Line, and Yotsubashi Line Namba Stations, and JR Line’s Namba Station.

Be sure to check which station you need, as each serves different routes depending on your destination!

Nankai Line’s Namba Station is the terminal for Nankai Railway and is directly connected to the Takashimaya department store. It also provides easy access to nearby shopping malls, Namba Parks and Namba City.

From here, you can reach Kansai International Airport, Wakayama, and the sacred Buddhist site of Mount Kōya. To get to Mount Kōya, take the Nankai Limited Express from Namba Station to Gokurakubashi Station, then transfer to a cable car heading to Mount Kōya Station. The full journey takes about 2 hours and 10 minutes and costs 2,180 yen one way.

Tickets can be purchased from unmanned vending machines on the third floor, or for foreign language support, visit the ticket counter, open from 9 AM to 6 PM.

The vending machines offer services in English, Chinese, and Korean, and accept coins, notes, and transportation IC cards, though credit cards are not accepted. At the ticket counter, which also supports English, Chinese, and Korean, credit cards can be used.

On the first floor, you’ll find the Information Center Namba, offering sightseeing and travel information not only for Osaka and the Nankai lines but for all of Japan. The counter is open from 9 AM to 8 PM and provides services in English, Korean, and Chinese. If you’re lost or need assistance, don’t hesitate to ask for help.

At the third-floor ticket gates, you can directly access the Namba SkyO shopping mall and the Takashimaya department store, making it easy to enjoy dining and shopping without stepping outside. Namba SkyO offers a variety of souvenir and food shops selling Japanese-style goods, providing a fulfilling shopping experience.

From Nankai Line’s Namba Station, take the escalator to the basement floor and walk straight to reach the entrance of Osaka Metro’s Namba Station.

Osaka Metro operates subway lines connecting all corners of Osaka, providing easy access to places like Umeda, Shin-Osaka, Tenmabashi, and Nakazakichō.

At the basement floor, signs at the ceiling clearly indicate the different lines at the station, along with their English names as well, making it easy to navigate the area.

First, you’ll come to the entrance of the Midosuji Line’s Namba Station. The Midosuji Line runs through the heart of Osaka, making it the city's busiest train line.

It connects to key stations like Shinsaibashi, Umeda, and Shin-Osaka, providing easy access to many of Osaka's major sightseeing spots.

If you skip the Midosuji gate and continue straight, turn left at the information sign to find the elevator that takes you to the Sennichimae Line and the Kintetsu-Hanshin Line’s Osaka-Namba Station. Take the elevator down, and the Sennichimae Line entrance will be on your right.

The Sennichimae Line connects to Osaka’s downtown area and is popular among locals. From here, you can easily reach Shinsekai, a vibrant street filled with the essence of Osaka. At Ebisucho Station in Shinsekai, you can transfer to the Sakaisuji Line, which takes you to Kuromon Market at Nippombashi Station.

If you skip the elevator to the Sennichimae Line and continue straight, you’ll arrive at an intersection between the underground Namba Walk mall and the entrance to the Yotsubashi Line’s Namba Station.

The Yotsubashi Line runs parallel to the Midosuji Line to the west, serving office areas and financial districts. It is more commonly used by office workers and businesspeople than tourists.

After passing by Osaka Metro’s Yotsubashi Line, continue straight to reach the entrance of JR Namba Station. Although the Nankai Line’s Namba Station is connected to JR Namba Station via underground walkways, the walk can take over ten minutes, so keep that in mind if you’re in a hurry.

JR Namba Station offers convenient access to Shinimamiya Station, known for its affordable hostels, and Tennoji Station, a downtown area famous for its budget-friendly and delicious gourmet options.

Backtracking a bit, we previously mentioned the Kintetsu-Hanshin Line’s Osaka-Namba Station, located next to the Sennichimae Line’s Namba Station. Osaka-Namba Station is the most convenient for visiting Nara Prefecture and exploring Hyogo Prefecture.

From Kintetsu Nara Station, known for the deer in Nara Park, to the stylish shops and great restaurants in Kobe-Sannomiya Station, both destinations are accessible without transfers.

Though there are signboards in the underground walkways connecting the Nankai, Osaka Metro, Kintetsu-Hanshin, and JR lines, if you get lost, head to the information counter by the escalator near the Sennichimae Line and Kintetsu-Hanshin Line. Guidance is available in English, Chinese, and Korean.

If you're taking the highway bus, Namba offers easy access to various destinations. One of the main bus terminals is the Minatomachi Bus Terminal, located on the second floor of JR Namba Station, and it’s also accessible from the OCAT shopping mall.

From Namba's underground street, head toward OCAT and take the escalator straight up to reach the terminal.

From Minatomachi Bus Terminal, you can travel to both Kansai International Airport and Osaka International Airport, as well as various destinations across Japan. Night buses to Tokyo, Kyushu, and Shikoku also depart from here, giving the terminal a holiday atmosphere. With plenty of dining options and massage shops, arriving early for your bus can be an enjoyable experience.

It can be a real pain lugging your baggage around while sightseeing. In such a case, you can make use of the coin lockers available at each line of Namba Station. We’ll introduce a few of them.

Nankai Line’s Namba Station has coin lockers on the second floor at the central exit. Multiple sets of lockers are available throughout the area. Locker fees vary by size, ranging from 300 to 900 yen.

The first floor also features a large and convenient locker space. At certain times of the day, staff are available to assist. Usage fees range from 300 to 900 yen, depending on the locker size.

From Nankai Line’s Namba Station to the underground street leading to Osaka Metro’s Namba Station, there are additional coin lockers. With a larger number of lockers in this area, it's easier to find empty spaces, especially on weekday afternoons. Usage fees range from 300 to 600 yen.

For coin lockers near JR Namba Station, the most convenient spot is in the walkway to the left of the ticket gates, with fees ranging from 300 to 600 yen per use.

Additionally, lockers are available in OCAT, which you can use while waiting for your bus.

Around Namba Station, you'll find many attractions and sightseeing spots, making it easy to explore the area. Here are the closest exits for major spots:

・Dotonbori-bashi: Exits 14 and 25 from Osaka Metro’s Namba Station, then walk north for 2 minutes
・Sennichimae Doguyasuji shopping street: Exit 1 from Osaka Metro’s Namba Station, then walk east for 5 minutes
・Ebisubashi shopping street: Right in front of the ground-level exit of Nankai Line’s Namba Station
・Hozenji Yokocho: Exit 14 from Osaka Metro’s Namba Station, then walk east for 3 minutes

Additionally, Shinsaibashi Station is one stop away via Osaka Metro’s Midosuji Line, and Nippombashi is one stop via the Sennichimae Line. Both are also within a 10 to 15-minute walk and easily accessible with a map.

The Nankai Line’s Namba Station and Osaka Metro’s Namba Station are connected to an underground shopping street, offering numerous restaurants and shops.

Here are a few spots near each line:
Near the Nankai Line’s Namba Station
On the third floor of the central exit, Namba SkyO is on the right, while Takashimaya is on the left. If you go down to the second floor, you can follow signs to reach the fashion mall Namba Parks. In addition to trendy items, there are many restaurants, as well as the popular capsule hotel, 9hours.

Heading underground, you’ll reach the shopping street Namba CITY, filled with fashion items, eateries, and bookshops.

Near Osaka Metro’s Namba Station
To the right of the Midosuji Line’s exit, you’ll find the shopping street NAMBA Nannan, offering cafés and shops that sell tempura, soba, grilled chicken, and more.

From the Sennichimae Line exit, you can access Namba Walk, an underground street that stretches to Nippombashi Station. This area is filled with affordable stand-and-eat sushi spots, as well as hotpot, pork cutlet, and eel restaurants.

Kintetsu-Hanshin Osaka-Namba Station
Inside the ticket gates is Gochibura Namba, a standing eating area perfect for a quick bite. Ramen, standing sushi bars, and grilled skewers are available, making it fun to drop by and take a peek.

Namba Station offers convenient access to Kansai International Airport, along with the chance to casually explore Dotonbori and Ebisubashi shopping street in southern Osaka. With connections to limited express trains and highway buses, Kansai and the rest of Japan are at your fingertips.

The station itself is a hub for shopping and dining, with endless possibilities for enjoyment. Be sure to make the most of Namba Station for a truly fulfilling holiday!