Getting around in Osaka

Osaka is easy to leave by train, but the right choice depends on where you are staying and where you are going. Short trips to Kyoto involve several competing railways, and longer runs need a check on passes, transfers and timings.

For the shortest and most frequent trip, the Kyoto to Osaka train guide compares JR Special Rapid, Hankyu, Keihan and the Shinkansen by the area of each city you need. It is the guide to read if you are deciding between private lines and JR.

For longer days out, the Hiroshima day trip guide looks at whether a regional pass costs less than separate tickets, and the Tsuruga transfer guide explains how the change from the Thunderbird to the Hokuriku Shinkansen works on the way to Kanazawa.