With numerous different train companies in Japan, hundreds of train lines and heaps of people all trying to cram on the same train, public transit can be a little overwhelming at times. The following information should hopefully help make traveling on trains a little easier.
There are three major train lines for travel in the urban Himeji-Osaka corridor of Hyogo: the Sanyo/Hanshin (山陽/阪神), JR, and Hankyu (阪急) lines. Picture three parallel train lines in an east-west orientation. The southernmost line is the Sanyo Line, which travels from Osaka to Himeji. The section of this line between Osaka (大阪) and Kobe (神戸) is better known as the Hanshin (阪神) line, and sometimes offers direct access to Nara. In the middle, the JR line travels between Himeji and Osaka and also provides direct access to Kyoto. JR also provides direct access to various locations in northern Hyogo, as well as operating the shinkansen (bullet train) for high-speed travel throughout Japan. The Hankyu line is the northernmost line and has the fanciest cars. It runs between Kobe and Osaka, with connections to Kyoto.
The Kobe Subway (神戸市営地下鉄) has two different lines. The Seishin-Yamate Line (西神山手線) runs between Tanigami (谷上) and Seishin Chuo (西神中央) stations. Take this line toward Tanigami to get to JR Shin-Kobe Station to catch the shinkansen (bullet train). The Kaigan Line (海岸線) runs between Shinnagata (新長田) and Sannomiya (三ノ宮). Seishin-Yamate Schedule (Japanese Only) Kaigai Schedule (Japanese Only)
Google Maps
- Probably the best and easiest to use, also available on phones/tablets etc.
- This site is available in English and Japanese.
- Use this site to find info on train times, transfers, fares, etc.
- Enter your starting point and destination in roman letters.
- Enter the date and time of your desired departure.
- You might have to refine the station or place names (e.g., there is more than one Sannomiya)
- You can also select whether you want to include trains/cars/walking in your search options.
- Press “search” and you will be given a number of course options to choose from.
hyperdia.com
- This site is available in English and Japanese.
- Use this site to find info on train times, transfers, fares, etc.
- Enter your starting point and destination in roman letters.
- Enter the date and time of your desired departure.
- You might have to refine the station names (e.g., there is more than one Sannomiya)
- You can also select whether you want to include express trains or airplanes in your search options.
- Press “search” and you will be given a number of course options to choose from.
Yahoo Train Schedule
- This site is only available in Japanese.
- Use this site to find info on train times, transfers, fares, etc.
- Enter your starting point and destination. You can type the station name in roman letters, kana, or kanji.
- Enter the date and time of your desired departure.
- You might have to refine the station names (e.g., there is more than one 三宮)
- You can also select whether you want to include express trains or airplanes in your search options.
- Press “検索” and you will be given a number of course options to choose from.
JR Odekake
- This site is only available in Japanese.
- Limited to JR West service area (though information is available for larger stations like Tokyo)
- Use this site to find info on train times, transfers, fares, etc.
- You may view complete, current time tables for the various lines providing service at each station.
