AshiyaPlaceholder image
Ashiya
A calm residential town between Osaka and Kobe, known for architecture and literature.
A quiet residential city between Osaka and Kobe. Enjoy walks along the Ashiya River and visits to places linked to architecture and literature. JR Special Rapid trains run from Osaka Station.
Getting there from Osaka
| Route / Line / train | Time (approx.) | Fare (adult, approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Osaka Station → Ashiya Station JR Kobe Line, Special Rapid | about 13 min | ¥320 |
Times and fares are approximate, as checked on 2026-11-11. They vary by train and time of day, so check the railway company's official site or a route planner.
Main sights
Ashiya River
The river through the town center, with a riverside walk.
Open in Google Maps ↗Yodoko Guest House
The former Yamamura House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Open in Google Maps ↗Tanizaki Junichiro Memorial Museum
A museum dedicated to the novelist Tanizaki Junichiro.
Open in Google Maps ↗Ashiya City Museum of Art & History
Art and history connected to Ashiya.
Open in Google Maps ↗
Sample day-trip route
- JR Ashiya Station
- Walk along the Ashiya River
- Yodoko Guest House
- Tanizaki Junichiro Memorial Museum / Ashiya City Museum of Art & History
- Train back to Osaka
Local tips
- Some facilities open only on certain days. Check each official site before you go.
Stay in Osaka and head out
- Namba & ShinsaibashiStay in the heart of Minami, steps from Dotonbori and Shinsaibashi.
- Umeda & Osaka StationA transport hub around JR Osaka Station, handy for Kyoto, Kobe and the Shinkansen.
- Shin-OsakaThe Shinkansen station area — handy for trips to and from Tokyo or Hiroshima, and for early departures or late arrivals.
- Tennoji & AbenoClose to Abeno Harukas and Tennoji Zoo, with good access to Kansai Airport and Nara.
- Uehommachi, Tanimachi 9-chome & TsuruhashiA calm temple-dotted neighborhood on the Uemachi Plateau, close to Tsuruhashi's market and yakiniku.
- Osaka Castle & Tanimachi 4-chomeClose to Osaka Castle Park — great for morning walks and history trips.
- USJ & Osaka Bay AreaA waterfront area suited to trips centered on Universal Studios Japan or the Kaiyukan aquarium.
More day trips
- KyotoAbout 30 minutes from Osaka by train — the classic day trip for temples and old streets.
- NaraDeer in Nara Park and the Great Buddha of Todai-ji — no transfer from Namba on Kintetsu.
- KobeHarbor views, old Western-style houses and Chinatown — 20 to 30 minutes from Osaka by train.
- AmagasakiRight next to Osaka: the rebuilt Amagasaki Castle, a temple quarter and lively shopping arcades.
- WakayamaWakayama Castle and seaside views — about an hour from Namba by Nankai limited express.
- Shiga & OtsuLake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, plus Mt. Hiei and old temples — past Kyoto with no transfer on JR.