Keihan Main Line 京阪電鉄
Keihan Line Train Carriage Elegant Saloon 8000 Series Double Decker
©Japan Visitor
Keihan Railways operates train services in the Kansai area of west central Japan, namely Kyoto, Osaka and Shiga prefectures.
Keihan Railways
The kanji compound for Keihan is made up of the first character of Kyoto (京) and the second character of Osaka (阪). Keihan was the first electric railway to connect these two major cities.
Keihan trains run in Shiga Prefecture on the Keishin Line from Misasagi to Hamaotsu and the Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line from Ishiyamadera to Sakamoto.
Keihan trains run to Uji in Kyoto Prefecture on the Keihan Uji Line from Chushojima Station on the Keihan Main Line in Fushimi south east Kyoto to Uji Station in Uji.
In Osaka, Keihan operates two short lines: the 3km Nakanoshima Line connects Nakanoshima (Osaka International Convention Center) to Temmabashi and the 6.9 km-long Katano Line links Hirakatashi and Kisaichi.
Keihan's most important line is the Keihan Main Line that links Osaka and Kyoto (see below).
Keihan Main Line 京阪本線
The Keihan Main Line runs from Yodoyabashi Station in Osaka to Sanjo Station in Kyoto and then on the Oto Line extension from Sanjo Keihan to Demachiyanagi Station.
There are a rather bewildering variety of trains running on the Keihan Main Line. From quickest to slowest they are: Limited Express (特急 Tokkyu), Rapid Express (快速急行 Kaisoku Kyuko), Express (急行 Kyuko), Sub-express (準急 Junkyu), Semi-express (区間急行 Kukan Kyuko) and Local (普通 Futsu).
On Limited Express (LE) trains between Yodoyabashi and Demachiyanagi stations, the sixth car from the Kyoto side is a luxury Premium Car with dedicated attendants, free Wi-Fi and a power socket. The price is 500 yen or 400 yen extra to reserve a seat depending on the distance traveled.
Keihan Main Line Stations
The are 42 stations between Yodoyabashi Station in Osaka and Demachiyanagi Station in Kyoto.
0 KM - Yodoyabashi Station
Yodoyabashi Station is on the Midosuji Line of the Osaka subway and close to Osaka City Hall and the Nakanoshima area of Osaka.
0.5 KM - 0H02 - Kitahama Station
Kitahama Station in Chuo-ku is directly south of Nakanoshima Park in the financial district of Osaka, an area with many hotels. Kitahama Station is on the Sakaisuji Line of Osaka subway.
1.3 KM - 0H04 - Temmabashi Station
Temmabashi Station is west of Osaka Castle and Osaka Castle Park. Temmabashi Station connects with the Keihan Nakanoshima Line and the Tanimachi Line of Osaka subway.
3 KM - 0H07 - Kyobashi Station
Kyobashi Station connects with JR Kyobashi Station on the Osaka Loop Line, the JR Tozai Line to Amagasaki in Hyogo Prefecture and the Katamachi Line (aka Gakkentoshi Line to Kizu Station in Kyoto Prefecture). In addition, Kyobashi Station is a stop on the Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line of Osaka Subway. The area around Kyobashi Station is a major shopping and entertainment area in Osaka with numerous bars, hotels (Hotel Keihan Kyobashi Grande, Osaka City Hotel Kyobashi), restaurants and shopping malls in the area: Aeon Kyobashi, Keihan Mall and Coms Garden.
4.6 KM - 0H17 - Noe Station
Noe Station is in Joto-ku, Osaka.
5.3 KM - 0H19 Sekime Station
Sekime Station is close to Sekime-Seiiku Station on the Imazatosuji Line.
6.2 KM - 0H21 Morishoji Station
Morishoji Station is located in Asahi-ku.
6.8 KM - 0H22 - Sembayashi Station
Sembayashi Station is in Asahi-ku a short walk east of Sembayashi-Omiya Station on the Tanimachi Line.
7.2 KM - 0H23 - Takii Station
Takii Station is close to Kansai Medical University (KMU) Medical Center in Takii.
7.6 KM - 0H24 - Doi Station
Doi Station is a short walk east of Taishibashi-Imaichi Station on both the Tanimachi and Imazatosuji lines of Osaka subway.
8.3 KM - 0H12 - Moriguchi-shi Station
9.4 KM - 0H24 - Nishisanso Station
Nishisanso Station is adjacent to a vast Panasonic factory, a company with a large presence in this part of Osaka.
9.4 KM - 0H29 - Kadoma-shi Station
Kadoma-shi Station is near the Kadoma Panasonic Plant.
10.8 KM - 0H32 - Furukawabashi Station
Furukawabashi Station is adjacent to the large Aeon Furukawabashi store.
12.0 KM - 0h34 Owada Station
Owada Station sits on National Highway 158.
12.8 KM - 0H16 Kayashima Station
Kayashima Shrine sits directly under the elevated Kayashima Station in an interesting juxtaposition.
15.0 KM - 0H19 - Neyagawashi Station
Neyagawashi Station is some distance to the west of Higashi-Neyagawa Station on the JR Katamachi Line. Keihan buses connect the two stations. A Keihan bus also goes from Neyagawashi Station out to Setsunan University Neyagawa Campus (15 minutes).
17.6 KM - 0H23 - Korien Station
Korien Station is convenient for Kansai Ikadaigakukori Hospital.
19.1 KM - 0H26 - Kozenji Station
Keihan Local, Sub-Express and Semi-Express trains stop at Kozenji Station.
20.8 KM - 0H28 - Hirakata-koen Station
Hirakata-koen Station is the nearest station to the Hirakata Park, a popular amusement park in the city. There are also Keihan buses to Hirakata Park from JR Takatsuki Station and Hankyu Takatsuki-shi Station. Hirakata Park has various roller coasters, water rides, a haunted house, a big wheel, 4D Theater and other attractions that appeal to both children and young adults.
21.8 KM - 0H22 - Hirakatashi Station
Hirakatashi Station is the junction of the Keihan Main Line and the Keihan Katano Line to Kisaichi. The Hirakata Sun Plaza Hotel is close to Hirakatashi Station, which also has a Keihan department store nearby in a busy urban area surrounding the station.
23.5 KM - 0H34 - Gotenyama Station
Gotenyama Station is close to Hakuunji Temple and Gotenyama Shrine about 300 meters to the north east of the station.
25.5 KM - 0H36 - Makino Station
Makino Station is a 12 minute walk from Kansai Medical University Makino campus.
27.7 KM - 0H28 - Kuzuha Station
Kuzuha Station is right on the banks of the Yodo River. There are several malls surrounding the station. Osaka Dental University Kuzuha Campus is a short walk away.
30.1 KM - 0H44 - Hashimoto Station
Hashimoto Station is located in Yawata city. Sub-express and local trains only stop here.
31.8 KM - 0H47 - Iwashimizu-Hachimangu Station
Formerly Yawatashi Station, Iwashimizu-Hachimangu Station is the access station for Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine, which was constructed in the 9th century for the protection of the Emperor in Kyoto and once one of the most powerful shrines in the country. The shrine also has an interesting connection to the life and work of Thomas Edison, who used bamboo collected from the groves at the shrine by his assistant William H. Moore to make filaments for his first electric light bulb in 1880. Ride the Otokoyama Cable Line from outside Yawatashi Station to the shrine.
35.3 KM - 0H51 Yodo Station
Yodo Station is adjacent to Kyoto Racecourse, one of the largest racecourses in Japan.
39.7 KM - 0H39 - Chushojima Station
Chushojima Station, in Fushimi, Kyoto, is the intersection between the Keihan Main Line and the Keihan Uji Line to Uji. Chushojima Station is also convenient to visit the Gekkeikan Sake Brewery and other sake breweries in Fushimi and also the historic Teradaya Inn, where Sakamoto Ryoma escaped an assassination attempt in 1866.
40.6 KM - 0H58 - Fushimi-Momoyama Station
Fushimi-Momoyama Station is close to Momoyamagoryo-mae Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line and also very convenient for the Fushimi sake brewing area and Teradaya Inn.
41.3 KM - 0H41 - Tambabashi Station
Tambabashi Station is adjacent to Kintetsu Tambabashi Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line.
42.3 KM - 1H04 - Sumizome Station
Sumizome Station is convenient for Kyoto University of Education and also a short walk from JR Fujinomori on the JR Nara Line to JR Nara Station.
43.3 KM - 1H06 - Fujinomori Station
Fujinomori Station is a three minute walk from Kyoto Seibo College, a Catholic university for women with faculties in Life Sciences, Food and Nutrition and
Child Education.
44.1 KM - 1H08 Ryukokudai-mae-Fukakusa Station
Formerly known as Fukakusa Station, this is the station closest to Ryukoku University, a famous Nishi Honganji Temple-affiliated university in Kyoto and also convenient for Fushimi Inari Shrine if coming from Osaka.
44.6 KM - 1H04 - Fushimi-Inari Station
Fushimi-Inari Station is closest to the ranks of torii gates and Inari fox statues at Fushimi Inari Shrine if riding from Kyoto. JR Inari Station on the JR Nara Line is actually closer to the entrance to the shrine.
46.2 - 1H09 - Tobakaido Station
Tobakaido Station is south west of the large Tofukuji Temple complex.
46.1 KM - 1H09 - Tofukuji Station
Tofukuji Station is located a 10 minute walk from the north west corner of Tofukuji Temple with its many sub-temples (such as Sesshuji, Ikka-in, Ryoun-in and Tentoku-in). Tofukuji Temple is known for its Zen gardens and fall leaves in season.
47.0 KM - 0H50 Shichijo Station
Shichijo Station in the south east of Kyoto right on the Kamo River is convenient for Kyoto National Museum, Sanjusandengo Temple, Toyokuni Shrine, Shoseien Garden and Chishakuin Temple. The 5-star, luxury Hyatt Regency Kyoto is located nearby. Kyoto Station is a 10-15 minute walk west or a short bus ride.
47.7 KM - 1H04 - Kiyomizu-Gojo Station
Kiyomizu-Gojo Station is convenient for the massively popular Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Walk 20-25 minutes uphill along Kiyomizu-zaka. Kiyomizu-Gojo Station is close to several places to stay in this area of Kyoto: Hotel Shuhokaku and Seikoro Ryokan, both 4-star, being two of the best.
48.6 KM - 0H54 - Gion-Shijo Station
Gion-Shijo Station is in the heart of the Gion district of Kyoto with its many historic temples and shrines. Yasaka Shrine, Kenninji Temple and the Pontocho entertainment street are all close by as well as dozens of ryokan, minshuku, guest houses and hotels. Busy Gion-Shijo Station itself has a Tourist Information Center and touch screen maps showing local attractions in a number of languages. Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Line and the Kawaramachi shopping street with its department stores and traditional arts and crafts shops is just over Shijo Bridge to the west.
49.3 KM - 0H55 - Sanjo Station
Sanjo Station intersects with Sanjo Keihan subway station on the Tozai Line of Kyoto subway, running east-west across the city. Sanjo Station is also a local bus terminal with Kyoto city and local buses starting here including numbers #5, #10, #11, #12 and #59. Buses 10, #11, #12 and #59 come north from Shijo Kawaramachi Station.
50.3 KM -1H05 - Jingu-Marutamachi Station
Jingu-Marutamachi Station is east over the Kamo River from Kyoto Imperial Palace, Kawaramachi and Teramachi. Further east is Kumano Shrine, the Kyoto Handicraft Center and Heian Shrine. The long-running Club Metro is adjacent to the station.
51.6 KM - 0H56 - Demachiyanagi Station
Demachiyanagi Station is the terminus for the Eizan (Eiden) Line to Kurama and Kibune in the northern hills of Kyoto with stops at Mototanaka, Chayama, Ichijoji and Shugakuin before the line splits at Takaragaike Station. The area around Demachiyanagi now has a variety of bars and restaurants serving the many students who live in the area.
Keihan Rail Passes
JR Rail Passes are not valid on Keihan trains but the company has a number of its own passes and other rail passes are valid on Keihan trains.
Keihan Railways rail passes include the Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass (1 Day 700 yen; 2 Days 1,000 yen) and the Kyoto Sightseeing Pass (1 Day 500 yen).
A Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass allows unlimited rides on Keihan Electric Railway and Osaka Municipal Subway, Osaka buses and New Tram. A Kyoto-Osaka Sightseeing Pass is not valid on the Otsu Line or Otokoyama Cable. The pass includes coupons for reductions on various attractions in Kyoto and Osaka as well as free gifts.
A Kyoto Sightseeing Pass allows unlimited rides on Keihan Electric Railway as far as Yawata and Uji from the Kyoto area.
Keihan Sightseeing Passes for foreign visitors are available at Kansai Tourist Information Center at Kansai International Airport, Osaka Tourist Information Center near Shinsaibashi, Kawaramachi Sanjo Tourism Information Center (Kyoto), Yodoyabashi Station, Keihan Tourist Information Center Gionshijo outside the Gion-Shijo Station and various Keihan affiliated hotels.
The Kansai Thru Pass is also valid on Keihan trains as is the Osaka Amazing Pass.
See the Keihan website for a full listing of discount tickets and passes.
Keihan Buses
Keihan also operates a number of local buses, limousine buses and highway buses.
Keihan highway buses in cooperation with other bus companies such as JR buses run services from Kyoto Station Hachijoguchi, the south Shinkansen exit outside Hotel Keihan Kyoto Grande to Tokushima, Takamatsu, Matsuyama on Shikoku, Nagoya, Yonago, Yokkaichi, Tsu, Iga, Okayama and Kurashiki.
There are also highway buses from Hirakatashi via Kyoto to Shibuya and Shinjuku in Tokyo.
Other highway buses run from Osaka via Kyoto to Akihabara and Narita Airport, Odawara, Fujisawa and Kamakura, Tsuruoka and Sakata.
For a PDF map of Keihan highway buses see here.
Keihan limousine buses run to Kansai International from various Keihan Stations including Demachiyanagi, Sanjo, Kuzuha, Hirakatashi, Neyagawashi, Dainichi, Moriguchishi,
Local buses run into the suburbs from many Keihan stations.
See www.keihanbus.jp (in Japanese) for further details.
