Umeda Station (梅田駅, Umeda-eki) is a major railway station in Kita-ku in the northern commercial center of Osaka, Japan. It is the busiest station in western Japan, serving 2,343,727 passengers daily in 2005.[citation needed][clarification needed]

Umeda Station

梅田駅
General information
LocationKita Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
Japan
Operated by
ConnectionsBus interchange Bus terminal

Umeda Station is served by the following railways:

The freight terminal of Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) (Umeda Freight Branch of Tōkaidō Main Line), closed in 2013, was also called Umeda. Portions of this line was moved underground in 2023.

The nearby stations Ōsaka (JR West), Kitashinchi (JR West Tōzai Line), Nishi-Umeda (Osaka Subway Yotsubashi Line, Y11) and Higashi-Umeda (Osaka Subway Tanimachi Line, T20) are within walking distance and connected by a large complex of underground malls.

Umeda is the 4th in the list of 50 busiest train stations in the world with an average number of 2.3 million people using the station everyday in 2024.[1][2]

Hanshin Railway

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Osaka-Umeda Station

大阪梅田駅
Hanshin Railway station
 
General information
LocationUmeda Sanchōme, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
Japan
Coordinates34°42′3.49″N 135°29′47.2″E / 34.7009694°N 135.496444°E / 34.7009694; 135.496444 (Umeda Station (Hanshin))
Operated byHanshin Electric Railway
Line(s)Hanshin Main Line
Other information
Station codeHS 01
History
Opened1906
Location
 
 
Osaka-Umeda Station
Location within Osaka Prefecture
 
 
Osaka-Umeda Station
Osaka-Umeda Station (Japan)

The underground Umeda terminal of Hanshin Electric Railway (officially Osaka-Umeda Station, but commonly called Hanshin Osaka-Umeda Station) is located south of Ōsaka Station, next to underground of Hanshin Department Store. The Hanshin station first opened on December 21, 1906 as a ground level station and moved to the present underground location on March 21, 1939.

Layout

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There are five bay platforms and four tracks on the second basement. There are east ticket gates on the second basement and center ticket gates and west ticket gates on the first basement.

Main Line for Amagasaki, Koshien, Kobe Sannomiya, Akashi and Himeji
1 (Not used during non-rush hour)

limited express trains (for Kobe and Himeji)
including the first one departing for Himeji at 6:00

2 limited express trains (for Kobe and Himeji)
3 express trains
morning express trains
a limited express train departing for Himeji at 6:25 (weekdays)
4 local trains

Adjacent stations of Hanshin Osaka-Umeda

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« Service »
Main Line (HS 01)
Terminus   Local (普通, every day)   Fukushima (HS 02)
Terminus   Morning Express(区間急行, on weekdays)   Fukushima (HS 02)
Terminus   Express (急行, every day)   Noda (HS 03)
Terminus   Limited Express (直通特急, 特急, every day)   Amagasaki (HS 09)
Terminus   Morning Limited Express terminating at Umeda (区間特急, on weekdays)   Noda (HS 03)

Hankyu Railway

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Osaka-umeda Station

大阪梅田駅
Hankyu Railway station
 
Platforms of Hankyu Umeda Station
General information
Location1-2, Shibata Itchōme, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
Japan
Coordinates34°42′19.85″N 135°29′53.92″E / 34.7055139°N 135.4983111°E / 34.7055139; 135.4983111 (Umeda Station (Hankyu))
Operated byHankyu Corporation
Line(s)
Other information
Station codeHK-01
History
Opened1910

The Umeda terminal of Hankyu Railway (officially Osaka-umeda Station, but commonly called Hankyu Osaka-umeda Station) is located northeast of Ōsaka Station.

The station first opened on March 10, 1910, as a ground-level station. The original location of the station was southeast of Ōsaka Station and the Hankyu (then Minoo-Arima Electric Tramway) tracks crossed the Tōkaidō Main Line by an overpass. The station was elevated on July 5, 1926.

 
The former "Lagare Vision" screen of Hankyu Umeda Station

When Osaka Station was elevated in 1934, Hankyu's elevated tracks were forced to be removed and new Umeda Station was built to handle new ground-level tracks. The switching of tracks were carried out on June 1, 1934. This station facility was used until November 28, 1971, when the move of station to the present location was completed. This move was because of a sharp increase of transit, which forced Hankyu to operate 8-car trains. The existence of JNR tracks on the northern end of the 1934 station prevented the expansion of the station so that the station could not handle long trains.

After the opening of the current huge elevated station, spaces around and beneath the station, as well as the site of former station, were extensively redeveloped. One of the symbols of the commercial complex surrounding the station is the BIG MAN video screen above the Kinokuniya bookshop, common and necessary places to meet in this bustling railway station.

The Hankyu Department Store, built next to the station in 1929, was a pioneer of the successful business model of department stores run by urban railway companies in Japan. The store is still in business at the original location even after the move of the station (as of 2007, the reconstruction of the store building is in progress).

Station numbering was introduced to all Hankyu stations on 21 December 2013 with this station being designated as station number HK-01.[3]

Layout

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There are ten bay platforms serving nine tracks on the third floor. There are south ticket gates on the third floor and center ticket gates and on Chayamachi ticket gates on the second floor.

Kyoto Line for Takatsuki-shi, Kyoto (Kawaramachi, Arashiyama) and Kita-Senri
1 limited express trains
■local trains
2 ■local trains (non rush-hour)
commuter limited express trains (in the morning and the evening on weekdays)
Semi Limited express trains (in the morning and the evening)
3 semi-express trains
■local trains (partly in the morning on weekdays)
rapid limited express A trains "Kyo-Train" (on the weekend and holidays)
rapid limited express trains "Kyo-Train Garaku" (on the weekend and holidays)
Takarazuka Line for Takarazuka, Hibarigaoka-Hanayashiki, Kawanishi-Noseguchi, Minoo and Nissei-Chūō
4 express trains (every day)
■local trains (weekday morning rush hours only)
limited express trains for Nissei-Chuo (weekday evening rush hours only)
5 ■local trains (every day)
express trains (weekday rush hours only)
6 ■local trains (weekday rush hours only)
Kobe Line for Nishinomiya-kitaguchi, Kobe-sannomiya, Kosoku Kobe and Shinkaichi
7 ■local trains
8 limited express trains (non-rush hour)
express trains (in the morning on weekdays)
commuter express trains (from the evening until night on weekdays)
■local trains (every early morning and every night)
9 limited express trains
commuter limited express trains
Semi limited express trains
express trains
■local trains (every early morning and every night)

Adjacent stations of Hankyu Osaka-umeda

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« Service »
Kobe Main Line
Terminus   Local   Nakatsu (HK-02)
Terminus   Semi-Express (terminating only)   Jūsō (HK-03)
Terminus   Express
Commuter Express
  Jūsō (HK-03)
Terminus   Limited Express
Commuter Limited Express
Semi Limited Express
  Jūsō (HK-03)
Takarazuka Main Line
Terminus   Local   Nakatsu (HK-02)
Terminus   Semi-Express (terminating only)   Nakatsu (HK-02)
Terminus   Express   Jūsō (HK-03)
Terminus   Commuter Limited Express (terminating only)   Jūsō (HK-03)
Terminus   Limited (Nissei Express) Express   Jūsō (HK-03)
Kyoto Main Line
Terminus   Local   Jūsō (HK-03)
Terminus   Semi-Express   Jūsō (HK-03)
Terminus   Express   Jūsō (HK-03)
Terminus   Limited Express
Commuter Limited Express
Semi Limited Express
Rapid Limited Express "Kyo-Train Garaku", "Sagano"
  Jūsō (HK-03)

Osaka Metro

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 M 16 
Umeda Station

梅田駅
  Osaka Metro station
 
Station mezzanine
General information
Location8-6, Kakudachō, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
Japan
Coordinates34°42′10.22″N 135°29′51.89″E / 34.7028389°N 135.4977472°E / 34.7028389; 135.4977472 (Umeda Station (Osaka Metro))
Operated by  Osaka Metro
Line(s)  Midōsuji Line
Platforms1 island platform
Tracks2
Other information
Station code M 16 
History
OpenedMay 20, 1933 (temporary station)
October 6, 1935 (permanent station)
ClosedOctober 5, 1935 (temporary station)
Rebuilt1989
Passengers
FY2016431,007 daily[4]
Services
Preceding station   Osaka Metro Following station
Nakatsu
 M 15 
towards Esaka
Midōsuji Line Yodoyabashi
 M 17 
towards Nakamozu

Umeda is the transferring point of three lines of the metro: the Midōsuji Line, the Tanimachi Line and the Yotsubashi Line. Among them, only the Midōsuji Line station is named Umeda, with the station number M16. The Tanimachi Line station is Higashi-Umeda (meaning "East Umeda") and the Yotsubashi Line station is Nishi-Umeda (meaning "West Umeda"). These three stations are connected with each other by underground walkways. Regular tickets of the subway, Surutto Kansai cards and IC cards are valid until the passenger gets out the ticket barrier of the station. The transfer between the three Umeda stations is an exception of this principle; the fare can be calculated as one travel as if the passengers do not exit the station provided the passengers transfer within 30 minutes.[5]

Umeda Station on the Midōsuji Line started its operation on May 20, 1933, as a temporary station. The station was moved to the present location on October 6, 1935. Originally the station with an island platform and two tracks was built amid one tunnel, but on November 5, 1989, the station was expanded to a tunnel that existed next to the station (built for Tanimachi Line but due to change of plan remained unused for decades). The two tunnels are separated by a wall with some passages.

Layout

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  • There is an island platform with two tracks on the second basement. There is a wall with passages in the center of the platform. On the upper level of the platform, there are north, center-north-west, center-north-east, center-south and south ticket gates.


G Street Level Exit/Entrance, connection to Hankyu lines
B1F Mezzanine Ticket gates, ticket/ICOCA/PiTaPa machines, station agent, shopping arcade, restrooms
Passageways to Yotsubashi Line, Tanimachi Line, and Hanshin Main Line platforms
B2F
Platform level
Platform 1   Midōsuji Line towards Nakamozu (Yodoyabashi)
Half of island platform, doors will open on the right
Half of island platform, doors will open on the right
Platform 2   Midōsuji Line towards Esaka (Nakatsu)
(Through service to Minoh-kayano on the Kitakyu Namboku Line)

Japan Freight Railway

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Umeda Freight Terminal

梅田
JR Freight terminal (closed)
 
Umeda Freight Terminal (12 June 2011)
General information
Location2-25, Ōfukachō, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
Japan
Coordinates34°42′13.38″N 135°29′35.63″E / 34.7037167°N 135.4932306°E / 34.7037167; 135.4932306 (Umeda Station (JR Freight))
Operated byJR Freight
Line(s)Tokaido Main Line Freight Branch (Umeda Freight Line)
History
Opened1928
Closed2013

Umeda Freight Terminal of Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) was a freight terminal on the Umeda Branchline (unofficial name) of the Tōkaidō Main Line owned by West Japan Railway Company (JR West). The station was built to separate freight services from Ōsaka Station and began operation on December 1, 1928.[6] The yard of the terminal was located to the north, literally in the backyard, of the Ōsaka Station.

The freight terminal ceased to handle freight on March 16, 2013 and its function was succeeded by newly established Suita Freight Terminal [ja] and other nearby yards.[7] The station was officially closed on March 31, 2013.[8] The site, commonly called Ōsaka Station North Area (ja:大阪駅北地区, Ōsaka-eki Kita-chiku) or Ume-kita (うめきた), will be redeveloped.[9]

A portion of the line was moved underground in 2023, resulting in an addition of underground passenger platforms at Ōsaka Station which was previously bypassed. The JR West Limited Express trains still use the freight line to transfer from the Osaka Loop Line to the JR Kyoto Line. No passenger trains had stopped at Umeda Freight Station itself.

« Service »
JR West Tōkaidō Line Branch (Umeda Freight Line)
Shin-Ōsaka - Ōsaka (2023-)

Surrounding area

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Hankyu Department Store
 
Hilton Osaka (left) and office buildings
 
Umeda station north entry

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Japanese Train Stations - Japan By The Numbers". Samurai Tours. 2019-07-14. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  2. ^ "The Biggest and Busiest Train Stations In Japan". JRPass.com. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  3. ^ "「西山天王山」駅開業にあわせて、「三宮」「服部」「中山」「松尾」4駅の駅名を変更し、全駅で駅ナンバリングを導入します" ["Sannomiya" "Hattori" "Nakayama" "Matsuo" along with the opening of "Nishiyama Tennozan" station. We will change the station names of 4 stations and introduce station numbering at all stations.] (PDF). Hankyu Corporation Online (in Japanese). 30 April 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  4. ^ "路線別駅別乗降人員" (PDF). Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau. November 8, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 1, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  5. ^ Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau. "How to Transfer to Other Subway Lines at Three Stations in Umeda". Archived from the original on August 30, 2007. Retrieved September 23, 2007.
  6. ^ Ishino, Tetsu; et al., eds. (1998). 停車場変遷大事典 国鉄・JR編 [Station Transition Directory – JNR/JR] (in Japanese). Vol. II. Tokyo: JTB Corporation. p. 56. ISBN 4-533-02980-9.
  7. ^ "梅田貨物駅が営業終了 吹田などに機能移転". Nihon Keizai Shimbun. March 16, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  8. ^ Japan Freight Railway Company (March 13, 2013). "吹田貨物ターミナル駅開業ならびに百済貨物ターミナル駅リニューアル開業について" (PDF). Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  9. ^ "Osaka Kita-Umeda Project" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved September 23, 2007.
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