Nagata-ya Must-Eat Okonomiyaki in Hiroshima

Nagata-ya: Must-Eat Okonomiyaki in Hiroshima

by | posted in: Chugoku Japan | 0

Last updated on January 11th, 2025

We highly recommended the Nagata-ya if you are craving the best okonomiyaki when visiting Hiroshima. It is a must-eat food for every traveler and one of the best things you can eat in the city!

A visit to Hiroshima must include trying the traditional Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. Just like Osaka, Hiroshima is famous for okonomiyaki and this delicious food is something you need to try when you visit the city. You can have okonomiyaki everywhere in Hiroshima so it was important for me to find the best.

We decided to try the best Okonomiyaki at Nagata-ya, making it a part of my Hiroshima itinerary. Nagata-ya is one of the popular restaurants specializing in okonomiyaki, long known for serving some of the very best okonomiyaki in Hiroshima.

Let’s read more about our food trip to Nagata-ya food, must-eat okonomiyaki in Hiroshima!

Nagata-Ya: Must-Eat Food in Hiroshima

Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki

If you enjoy eating okonomiyaki in Osaka, then should not miss tasting this popular Japanese food in Hiroshima.

Okonomiyaki is a savoury Japanese pancake dish made with wheat flour batter mixed with eggs, shredded cabbage, and optional ingredients such as pork, seafood, green onions, noodles, and more. It’s typically cooked on a teppanyaki grill and drizzled with Japanese mayonnaise and dark savory sauce.

Okonomiyaki Nagata-ya

The highly-rated Nagata-ya is very easy to find and conveniently located within walking distance of the Memorial Peace Park. You can easily plan to dine here when visiting the Hiroshima downtown area.

Okonomiyaki Nagata-ya
Address: 1-7-19 Otemachi, Naka-Ku 1F, Hiroshima 730-0051 Hiroshima Prefecture.
Operating Hours: Daily from 11:00 to 20:00 (Closed on Tuesday)
Getting there: 2-minute walk from Peace Memorial Park
What to Order: Okonomiyaki!
Expect to Pay: About ¥1,000 to ¥1,500 for the okonomiyaki

Note that Nagata-ya does not take reservations and they only accept cash.

My Food Visit to Nagata-ya

Nagata-ya - Best Place to Eat Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki Nagata-ya is popular with both tourists and locals so expect a line no matter what time of day you go. But don’t let the queue at the door beat you as it moves fairly quickly.

Besides, Nagata-ya has an organized system and they will take your order outside while waiting in line to make it quicker. So once you are seated, your order comes quickly.

Okonomiyaki Preparation in Nagata-ya

It was the weekend during our visit to Nagata-ya. We wait about 30 minutes before seating. The staff is attentive and friendly. The restaurant isn’t very large and it has a good mix of locals and tourists, making for a great atmosphere.

There are 2 types of seating areas, counter bar, and table.

A counter bar is a good option where you can watch the chefs make all the different kinds of okonomiyaki right in front of them and they serve you directly from there. However, for hygienic reasons, the counter bar seat is now only for the solo eater and it is not allowed to talk due to the food being cooked and prepared at the grill located in front.

Hotplate Table for okonomiyaki

While the tables are designed with a hotplate built into the tables to keep the okonomiyaki warn when the food is served.

The Menu: What To Eat

Nagata-ya Menu

While waiting in line, we get the English menu for food ordering. They are plenty of options to choose from, with a choice of udon or soba noodles. Also, Nagata-ya is a vegan and vegetarian-friendly restaurant, offering a separate vegan and vegetarian menu with clearly labeled ingredients. So, if you are vegetarian or vegan, Nagata-ya is a must.

What To Eat at Nagata-ya Okonomiyaki

With a party of two, we ordered two okonomiyaki – the original and add on with extra garlic. Also, Hiroshima okonomiyaki includes noodles as a bottom layer. We had udon and soba for each of the selections.

Our okonomiyaki was served fast and it is served with piping hot and kept warm at the hotplate built into the tables. The portion was great and it was cooked to perfection.

Taste Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki

We cut the okonomiyaki into bite-sized portions with the chopper and we truly enjoyed every bite.

Add on Sauce To Okonomiyaki

Lots of sauces like lemon sauce, garlic salt, mayo, okonomiyaki sauce, or spice okonomiyaki sauce are at the table so you can add on to your okonomiyaki to enhance its taste.

Hiroshima Lemon Highball

Both okonomiyaki was excellent, but we liked the extra garlic with soba. The soba seems to soak the flavor better. The taste was so excellent and it is even best to pair with a mug of Hiroshima Lemon Highball. Highly recommended!

Overview: The Best Hiroshima Okonomiyaki?

A Food Trip to Nagata-ya

Frankly speaking, Nagata-ya is not my first experience eating okonomiyaki and it might not the best okonomiyaki in Japan. But still, the okonomiyaki from Nagata-ya was very delicious and filling. The food is amazing, and perfectly seasoned, and a good variety of choices. Reasonable price for the level of food and service. We leave the restaurant with a happy tummy and very satisfied.

In short, we highly recommended Nagata-ya if you are looking for what to eat in Hiroshima. The food is uniquely Japanese and the dining experience is fun. Get yourself hungry and try the best Hiroshima okonomiyaki at Nagata-ya!

Related Hiroshima Food Blog:

Lastly, make sure to check out what you should not miss when visiting the Chugoku region:

Where To Stay in Japan

Where To Stay in Japan: Top City & Onsen Town

by | posted in: Japan | 0

Last updated on January 11th, 2025

We have listed our favorite hotels and ryokans for every budget; from luxury, mid-range, and budget at Japan’s popular place for you. Check out read my lists below for where to stay in Japan.

When traveling to Japan, you will find everything from luxury hotels that can rival the finest in the world to affordable business hotels for the businessman, a good mid-range hotel, a budget hostel, or a dormitory for the solo backpacker. With so many hotels and guest houses to choose from, deciding where to stay in Japan can be a challenge.

From wandering the bustling neon city, exploring traditional shrines and temples, visiting the natural Japanese countryside, and experiencing the Japanese culture. Find out the best places to stay when traveling to Japan here, in the ultimate Japan Accommodation guide.

Accommodation Guide: Where To Stay in Japan

To search for the best hotel accommodation in Japan at the best prices, I suggest checking out Agoda.com and Booking.com. We use them for over 90% of all our accommodation bookings and never experience any issue. For travel in Japan, you’ll find the best deals for the accommodation.

Some of the accommodations, like traditional ryokan, guesthouse, and minshuku (Japanese-style bed and breakfast lodgings) only accept a booking through their Japanese website. Those ryokans are mostly run by locals and may not be able to communicate well in English. To serve guests better, they only accept a limited group of guests per day.

Still, for the best lodging, Booking often has more accommodations on offer than others.

Same with any destination, we always advise booking your accommodation in advance, Most of the popular destinations, for example, Tokyo and Kyoto have various accommodation options, depending on your budget and preferences. But, for the stays in high season such as cherry blossom season, they often sell out a year in advance. Also, when booking in advance, you have more choices and a thus better deal.

Where To Stay in Japan Cities

Staying in Japan’s cities always is the best place to enjoy the amazing bustling city vibe. This is the most convenient place to stay when visiting Japan with well-connected transportation and filled with restaurants, eateries, cafes, and bars.

There is a wide range of accommodations to choose from in Japan. Due to the competition, you can find many high-end hotels and boutiques at cheaper prices. Business hotels are filled up quickly and tend to become fully booked at popular places. The accommodation rate will become higher when those cheaper rooms are filled up.

But note that accommodation in the city area is generally not spacious and you will need to consider for a bigger room. Also, Japan is very strict on hotel occupancy. It is advice to enquire first before booking to avoid misunderstandings.

Lastly, we recommended staying nearby the station for travelers traveling by public transport when looking for where to stay in the city area.

Best Places to Stay in Japan

Where To Stay in Tokyo
Where To Stay in Osaka
Where To Stay in Kyoto With Itinerary Guide

Kanto Region:

Kansai Region:

Best Hotel in Nagoya
Where To Stay in Sapporo
Where To Stay in Hiroshima

Chubu Region:

Hokkaido:

Chugoku Region:

Where To Stay in Fukuoka - Tenjin
Where To Stay in Miyazaki
Where To Stay in Kumamoto

Kyushu Region:

Where To Stay in Japan Hot Spring Town

Ichinoyu Honkan Hakone

Staying in the Ryokan, a traditional Japanese Inn is always highly recommended whenever you visit Japan. Imagine spending one night staying in a ryokan where you soak in the hot spring bath, sleep on futon mats, and eat a traditional Japanese dinner. I always love to spend one night or two experiencing the unique hot spring in an onsen town.

There are various Japanese ryokans featuring indoor, open-air, and outdoor hot springs at different price ranges, from luxury, and mid-range to budget types. Limited room and best reserved as early as possible.

Friendly reminder, in Japan, customers with tattoos were banned from most onsens due to an association with an organized crime within the country. Still, there is some tattoo-friendly ryokan available in Japan so you can enjoy onsens. Make sure you confirm with the ryokan prior to the booking.

Staying in Japan with Half Board Plan

Japanese kaiseki ryori when staying in Japan Traditional Ryokan

Staying in ryokan, we always recommended reserving the dinner plan with Japanese kaiseki ryori. It is usually multi-course Japanese-style haute cuisine served with local delicacies.

The picture above displays our Kaiseki ryokan dinner at the room for winter plan with Snow Crab. It was so amazing and delicious!

Where To Stay in Hakone
Where To Stay in Noboribetsu
Where To Stay in Nachikatsuura

Kanto Region: Hakone –Where To Stay in Hakone: Best Ryokan and Hotel Guide

Hokkaido: Noboribetsu – Where To Stay in Noboribetsu: Best Onsen Ryokan Pick

Kansai Wide Region: Nachi Katsuura – Where to stay in Nachikatsuura: Best Hotels Pick

Where To Stay in Beppu
Best Ryokan Stay in Yufuin
Where To Stay in Kurokawa Onsen

Kyushu region:

Where To Stay in Japan On Budget

Best Solo Stay in Fukuoka - WeBase Hakata Hostel
Best Solo Stay in Fukuoka – WeBase Hakata Hostel

The hostel is the most affordable accommodation in Japan. It offers lodging and meals at the lowest budget level that usually costs from ¥2,000. Hostels in Japan mostly will features with on-site cafe, bar, or kitchen. No worry about staying in a hostel in Japan as there are clean and most people are very friendly and helpful. You can meet fellow travelers from around the world.

Typical accommodation types in a hostel are dorm room bunk beds (separate gender or mixed gender), and private rooms for single, double, or even family rooms. Generally, a private room will be more expensive and this is best for travelers who prefer privacy.

Besides, when looking where to stay in Japan, you may also be seeing capsule pods, a unique “pod” type of accommodation that you’ll likely see in hostel listings. The sleeping capsules are a unique accommodation to Japan that you can only experience in this country!

Overall: Best Place To Stay in Japan

All in all, we hope you can find the best lodging place if you are looking for where to stay in Japan. There are quite a lot of accommodation options to choose from, but most importantly, find the one that suit your budget and interest. We always plan our Japan itineraries by staying at least one traditional ryokan during the day trip to experience the hospitality and culture. It tends to be costly, but it is worth it!

That’s it. Looking for some inspiration for traveling to Japan? Here is our useful guide to help to plan your trip to this marvelous country.

Japan Itinerary by region:

  • Kanto Japan – Tokyo, Hakone, Kawaguchiko.
  • Kansai Japan – Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Uji, Kobe.
  • Kansai Wide Region – Wakayama, Kumano, Kii-Katsuura, Hyogo, and more.
  • Chubu Region – Nagoya, Takayama, Shiragawa-go, Toyama, Kanazawa, Matsumoto, and more.
  • Kyushu Region – Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Oita, Beppu, Kurokawa Onsen, Aso, Miyazaki, and more.
  • Hokkaido Region – Sapporo, Hakodate, Lake Toya, Asahikawa, Noboribetsu, Otaru, Furano, and more.
Izakaya Toyo The Legendary Osaka Best Street Food

Izakaya Toyo: Legendary Osaka Best Street Food

by | posted in: Kansai Japan | 0

Last updated on January 11th, 2025

If you are in Osaka you simply must go and experience the legendary Izakaya Toyo! A standing street food stall specializing in seafood and sushi with a local vibe located close to Kyobashi Station.

Osaka is one of Japan’s greatest street food cities and as soon as you arrive and start exploring the city, you’ll discover that there’s an abundance of delicious things to eat everywhere you look. There are so many to food in Osaka, but one can’t miss the legendary Izakaya Toya.

Izakaya Toyo (居酒屋とよ) is a popular Osaka street food vendor that specializes in seafood. It was started by owner and chef Toyoji Chikumoto in 1992. Toyo-san has been through so much and he has succeeded in his dream. His life story appeared in the Netflix episode on Osaka’s street foods and you will have a deep appreciation for Toyo-San.

After knowing the chef’s story, we planned and visited Izakaya Toya during our visit to Osaka. We had to come to try out his food and have a look at his kitchen. Let’s read more about our food journey to Osaka’s best street food – Izakaya Toya.

Izakaya Toyo by Chef Toya San

Chef Toya San

The legendary Izakaya Toyo is conveniently located near Kyobashi Station, within 3 minute walk on foot. It is on a spot that used to be a parking lot and convert into a very simple stand-up restaurant.

Be warned this is no seat and you’ll stand while enjoying your food together with others, just like what has been shown on the Netflix show.

Osaka Best Street Food - Izakaya Toyo

Run by Toyo-san, Izakaya Toyo specializes in seafood, especially sushi. And Toyo-san is what makes the simple eatery so special. He’s an entertaining and jovial man.

He is known for using his flame thrower blowtorch to cook food. It went viral as the way he grilled seafood with the blowtorch and his bare hands, which almost looks like attacking the grill.

Izakaya Toyo (居酒屋とよ)
Address: 3 Chome-2-26 Higashinodamachi, Miyakojima Ward, Osaka.
Getting there: 3 minutes walk from Kyobashi Station.
Operating hours: Closed on Thursday, Sunday, and Monday.

Pro Tips: Always check their website for the opening time before your visit!

Osaka Food Tips: When looking for best food in Osaka, we recommended staying nearby subway station to ease on transport arrangement. Check for the best price and biggest selection of hotels in Osaka check prices for Osaka Best Hotel from Booking.com. We found they are the best option and have a great cancelation policy.

 

Our Visit To Izakaya Toyo

Osaka Standing Food Stall - Izakaya Toyo

We visited Izakaya Toya in the early evening. It is not the lunch time, but all the tables are still filled with patrons on the weekday. There’s usually a line of people waiting to be fed, but the lines move quickly. Glad that we only waited about 10 minutes to get in. The people there customers and staff alike are all friendly and helpful.

We get a table at the end and shared it with lovely locals. It is away from Toyo’s cooking station so we can’t see him in action but Occasionally, we can hear Toyo’s energize voice. He is such a personality, is friendly, and talks with others. The vibe is casual and easy.

What To Eat in Izakaya Toya

Izakaya Toyo Menu

Once you are taken to a table, we were given the menu to decide what to eat. The service was astonishingly quick. Also, the staff speaks decent English and is helpful.

The menu is short with pictures displayed, but you can’t go wrong with your order.

What To Eat in Izakaya Toyo - Fatty Tuna

There are three types of amazing tuna (maguro) that differ in the amount of fat in it, cut into thick pieces: lean meat, fatty tuna, and more fatty tuna. Servings are large and are designed to be shared.

What To Eat in Izakaya Toyo

Between us, we shared a large portion of fatty tuna and sea urchin with fresh, lightly pickled, generously portioned tuna sushi, grilled eel, and other side dishes.

The serving is in good portions at a fair price.

Fresh Raw Seafood

Toro is the chef’s signature dish and they are a must-have because it was so delicious. The fatty toro just melts in your mouth and the sea urchins are fresh and sweet.

Grilled eel

The broiled eel (unagi no kabayaki) is also delicious as you taste it melting in your mouth!

Tuna Sushi

Next, there’s super fresh tuna sushi, which come in a large portion compared to other restaurants and, of course, taste amazing.

Fresh Ark Shell from Izakaya Toyo

Besides the Izakaya Toya standard menu, every day some dishes are the chef’s recommendation, based on the items that are fresh from the day’s market.

We have the Ark shell and it was so fresh and sweet.

Self Service Drinks

For drinks, you can get your own alcoholic drinks from the cooler next to the tables, or serve yourself some iced tea as well. All this is self-service and the staff will count the bottles left.

The atmosphere is fun and chatty, and everyone there seems to be in a good mood.

Overview: A Food Trip to Izakaya Toyo

A Food Trip to Izakaya Toyo Osaka

If someone ever asked me where to eat in Osaka to feel the essence of the city, Izakaya Toyo is the right place!

We highly recommended Izakaya Toyo to experience the charm and passion of Toyo san. The casual vibe and the chef’s loud energy makes for a great experience. It was nice to see locals of all ages and walks of life coming here for a bite and a drink after a busy day. The quality of the food is excellent and fresh. You won’t be disappointed.

In short, Izakaya Toyo is well worth the visit. We truly enjoy the vibe and food. I can’t wait to visit Toyo again!

Related Osaka Food Guide: Top 8 Unique Food To Eat in Osaka

Traveling to Osaka and Kyoto? Here sharing some our travel stories in Kansai region:

How to get to Amanohashidate

How to Get To Amanohashidate: Access & Tips

by | posted in: Kansai Wide Japan | 0

Last updated on January 11th, 2025

Here is the complete transportation guide on how to get to Amanohashidate from Kyoto or Osaka. We will also share the necessary transport arrangements and budget tips by using a different type of transport pass to save you some money.

Amanohashidate (天橋立, Heaven’s bridge in Japanese) is a popular places to visit in Northern Kyoto. Thanks to Japan’s excellent public transport network, it is easily accessible by train and bus. Many travelers and even locals love to enjoy their holiday by visiting the Amanohashidate as a day trip from Kyoto and Osaka.

During my visit to the Kansai Wide area, we visited the Kinosaki Onsen, Amanohashidate, and Ine Funaya for a relaxing 2 days trip. At the first glance, the traveling journey is long and the transport arrangement is not easy. It can be overwhelming, especially for first-time visitors.

Rest assured. We understand the transport information that you are looking for and had compiled a list of transportation options on how to get to Amanohashidate, and transfer between Ine Funaya, and Kinosaki Onsen. You can based on the information gathered and plan for your trip to the areas based on your schedule and budget. Let’s check it out!

Amanohashidate Transport Guide Budget Tips

Amanohashidate Transport Guide Budget Tips

The transportation costs to Amanohashidate are extremely expensive and easily cost you more than ¥5,000 for a round-trip journey. As a smart traveler, it is advised to fully utilize the Japan transport pass to save you a lot of money.

Here is the common transport pass that can be used on the train journey to Amanohashida:

  • JR Pass – Get this pass if you plan to travel to other parts of Japan. However, take note that Kyoto Tango Railway is not covered and you will top up if you are boarding the trains.
  • JR Kansai Wide Area Pass (Consecutive 5 days at ¥12,000) – Get this pass if you plan to visit the Kansai Wide area.
  • JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass (Consecutive 5 days at ¥17,000) – Get this pass if you plan to visit Hiroshima and the Kansai Wide area.

Pro Tips: The above transport passes are only valid for foreign travelers and it is generally cheaper if you purchase the passes outside of Japan. You may get the Discounted Japan Transport Pass from Klook here.

Visiting Amanohashidate? Read on our Amanohashidate Checklist Guide for all the essentials:

1. Planning a trip to Amanohashidate – read more Amanohashidate Travel itinerary Guide.
2. How To Get to Amanohashidate – read more Amanohashidate Transport Guide.
– Save on transportation: JR West Kansai Wide Area Pass [Get from Klook], [Get from KKday]
3. Accommodation at Amanohashidate – read more Where To Stay In Amanohashidate.
– Stay near with station for easy getting around: Auberge Amanohashidate, Amanohashidate Hotel
4. Popular Attractions to visit: Chionji Temple, Amanohashidate View Land, Kasamatsu Park, Ine Funaya (approx 30-60 mins by bus).
5. Popular Tour Options to Amanohashidate:
– Klook: Miyama Thatched Village, Ine Bay & Amanohashidate Tour
– KKDAY: Day Tour to Ine Bay Cruise, Amanohashidate, Miyama Thatched House
6. Amanohashidate Travel Guide – Tourism Information
Official Website: https://www.amanohashidate.jp/lang/en/

How To Get To Amanohashidate from Kyoto

The fastest way to get to Amanohashidate from Kyoto is by JR Train.

From Kyoto to Amanohashidate by Direct Train

It’s infrequent but you can take the JR Hashidate (はしだて) Limited Express Train from Kyoto straight to Amanohashidate. The journey takes around 2 hrs 10 mins and costs about ¥3,880. Take note that all seats are reserved for Hashidate. You will need to reserve your seat before boarding.

Train schedule:

  • From Kyoto to Amanohashidate: 8:38, 10:25, 12:25, 14:25, 20:37
  • From Amanohashidate to Kyoto: 9:54, 13:47, 15:51, 18:06, 19:18

From Kyoto to Amanohashidate by Train (with transfer)

From Kyoto to Amanohashidate - JR Kinosaki Limited Express Train
JR Kinosaki Limited Express Train

If the direct train schedule does not suit you, Amanohashidate is also reachable with a one-way transfer at Fukuchiyama via JR train.

The JR Kinosaki (きのさき) Limited Express from Kyoto to Fukuchiyama (75 mins, about ¥2,460, hourly departures). From Fukuchiyama, change to the Kyoto Tango Railway to Amanohashidate (40 mins, ¥1,420). The traveling train is vary depending on the transit time but generally will take you about 2 hrs 30 minutes.

Kyoto Tango Railway - Local Trains to Amanohashidate
Kyoto Tango Railway – Local Trains

Kyoto Tango Railway or Tantetsu (京都丹後铁道) is a private local railway company famous for its unique scenic train in the Kyoto by the Sea area. There are many transfer options, be sure to check the available trains and schedules to find the most convenient route.

The entire train journey is covered by the JR regional pass, including Kansai Wide Area Pass and JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass. However, the nationwide Japan Rail Pass is not valid on the Kyoto Tango Railway between Fukuchiyama and Amanohashidate. There is an additional fare of ¥1,200 for local trains and ¥2,150 for Limited Express train is required.

Kyoto Tango Railway Counter at Toyooka Station
Kyoto Tango Railway Counter at Toyooka Station

When transferring from JR to the Tango Railway, there will be a counter available if you need to top up for your ride. Just show your JR Kansai Wide Area Pass or JR Hiroshima Kansai Area Pass and you can proceed to board your train.

Pro Tips: When using the JR Pass or regional Pass, the seat reservation is counted as 1 time based on departure and final destination. For example, from Kyoto to Amanohashidate with a transfer to Kyoto Tango Line, the seat reservation used is counted as one time although you are reserving the seat from Kyoto to Fukuchiyama, and Fukuchiyama to Amanohashidate due to the transfer.

From Kyoto to Amanohashidate by Bus

The cheapest option is to go to Amanohashidate by bus. Tankai Bus operates three highway buses per day between Kyoto and Amanohashidate. The trip takes about 2 to 2.5 hrs and costs ¥2,900. Online reservations can be made through Willer.

Bus Schedule:

  • From Kyoto Station to Amanohashidate Station: 8:55, 12:40, and 18:00
  • From Amanohashidate Station to Kyoto Station: 7:18, 12:58, 17:05

How To Get to Amanohashidate from Osaka

No direct train connected between Amanohashidate and Osaka with at least a one-time transfer required.

From Osaka to Amanohashidate by Train (with transfer)

From Osaka to Amanohashidate - JR Konotori Limited Express
JR Konotori Limited Express

From Osaka, travelers can choose to get to Kyoto and take the direct train to Amanohashidate. Alternatively, board the JR train from Shin-Osaka / Osaka to Fukuchiyama, and then transfer to Amanohashidate.

Take the JR Konotori (こうのとり) Limited Express from Shin-Osaka / Osaka to Fukuchiyama (90 mins, at least ¥3,340, hourly departures). From Fukuchiyama, you can change to the Kyoto Tango Railway to Amanohashidate (40 mins, at least ¥1,420) or change to another Hashidate limited express train that runs between Kyoto and Amanohashidate.

Again, the Japan Rail Pass is not valid on Kyoto Tango Railway which runs between Fukuchiyama and Amanohashidate. But you can always top up to take the train ride.

From Osaka to Amanohashidate by Bus

Similar to Kyoto, the cheaper option from Osaka / Umeda to Amanohashidate is by bus. Tankai and Hankyu Bus operate three highway buses per day and the trip takes about 2 hrs 40 mins and costs ¥2,650.

Bus Schedule:

  • From Osaka Station to Amanohashidate Station: 9:50, 13:20, 18:10
  • From Amanohashidate Station to Osaka Station: 6:45, 12:45, 16:45

Transfer at Fukuchiyama / Toyooka Station

Transfer to Kyoto Tango Railway at Toyooka Station
Transfer to Kyoto Tango Railway at Toyooka Station

When traveling in the Kyoto by Sea area, the Fukuchiyama (福知山) and Toyooka 豊岡(兵庫県) are the important transfer points for using the railway. Both connected the cities of Osaka and Kyoto in the South, with the Amanohashidate and Kinosaki in the North.

It is pretty easy and simple with well-signed to help you make the transfer.

Transfer at Fukuchiyama Station
Transfer at Fukuchiyama Station

There are some other stops to make the transfer along the journey. But most of the time, we are using Fukuchiyama or Toyooka for train transfer as this is the most convenient according to the schedule and place of visit.

Kyoto Tango Rail Sightseeing Train

Kyoto Tango Railway - Tango No Umi

When planning your trip, don’t miss the chance to ride the Kyoto Tango Rail Sightseeing Train. Depending on your schedule, you may possibly have a chance to ride the scenic train when traveling between Kyoto Prefecture and Hyogo Prefecture.

There are special routes and schedules for each, covering the scenic spot in the Kansai area such as Fukuchiyama, Maizuru, Miyazu, Amanohashidate, Kyotango, and Toyooka.

Scenic Train Tango No Umi

Seats are limited, make sure to reserve in advance. You can book online via their Japanese website, or book at the train stations in the Kansai area.

Discount Passes

Lastly, there exist a few discount passes for visiting the Kyoto by the Sea area. Below are some of the more interesting ones that are worth recommending.

Amanohashidate Ine Free Pass 2 Days (Discounted Pass at ¥2,400)

  • This pass covers unlimited rides on local buses (including the bus to Ine), the cable car and chair lift to Kasamatsu Park, and the sightseeing boats in Ine Bay and between Miyazu and Amanohashidate.
  • Discount on the bus to Nariaji Temple.
  • The pass can be purchased at the tourist information desk.

Kyoto by the Sea – Amanohashidate & Ine Pass (1 day for ¥3,550, 2 days for ¥4,550)

  • This pass covers unlimited use of all trains of the Kyoto Tango Railway (non-reserved seats only), local buses (including the bus to Ine), the cable car and chair lift to Kasamatsu Park and the sightseeing boats in Ine Bay and between Miyazu and Amanohashidate.
  • Discount on the bus to Nariaji Temple.
  • It can be purchased at manned stations of the Kyoto Tango Railway, including Fukuchiyama Station and tourist information desk.

Overall: Transport To Amanohashidate

All in all, we hope this Amanohashidate transport guide is helpful. At the first glance, it is a bit overwhelming, but it is pretty easy when you are planning ahead. Note that all seats are reserved seat for Hashidate, Kinosaki, and Konotori limited express train. Also, the traveling journey is about two to three hours. We recommend you depart early in the morning or spend one night in the area.

Traveling to the Kansai Wide and looking for some inspiration? Free feel to continue to check out our travel stories to some other interesting places:

More interesting place to visit in Kansai Wide area: