The Osaka-Kansai Expo will be held from April 13 to October 13. Many of you may be planning a trip to the Kansai region to take advantage of this opportunity. Unlike the Kanto region, the Kansai region is compact and easy to tour around major cities. After enjoying the Expo, you can take a short trip to Awaji Island. In this issue, we will explain how to access the island.
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Venue of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai
Since the Osaka-Kansai Expo will be held on the man-made island called Yumeshima, there are two basic access methods: the Osaka Metro Chuo Line and by bus from major railroad stations. The last stop of the Osaka Metro Chuo Line (railroad) is the newly built Yumeshima Station. Buses from major railroad stations (station shuttle buses) will operate from 10 locations in Osaka City and other areas. Visitors with private cars are not allowed to drive directly to the Yumeshima Expo site except for those with physical disabilities so they will need to park at parking lots in Maishima, Amagasaki, and Sakai and transfer to a bus to access the site.
Access to Awaji Island
From the Expo Site to Osaka
The easiest way to go to Osaka, a major transportation hub, is to take a Metro Chuo Line from Yumishima Station to Bentencho. Transfer at Bentencho Station to JR Osaka Loop Line heading towards Osaka Station. At Osaka Station, you need to transfer to a different JR line to go on to Sannomiya (Kobe) Station or Maiko Station.
From Osaka to Awaji Island
There are two ways to go to Awaji Island from JR Osaka Station. One is to take a JR Tokaido Sanyo Main Line/Kobe Line train to go to JR Maiko Station and take a highway bus from there. Another way is to take the same JR train go to JR Sannomiya Station (Kobe City) and take a highway bus from either one of two Sannomiya Bus Terminals. You will get off at Awaji Interchange Stop on the highway.
Option 1: JR Train from Osaka to Maiko Station, then to the Highway Bus Stop
It takes less than 50 min from Osaka to Maiko Station by JR train. Once you get off the Maiko station, the bus stop is on the highway. Use the escalator or elevator to get to the bus stop on the highway. Just after crossing the bridge, which takes less than 10 min. is the tourist area on the west coast of Awaji Island.
Option 2: From Osaka to Kobe Sannomiya, then to Awaji Island by a Highway Bus
JR Osaka Station. Take the JR Tokaido Sanyo Main Line/Kobe Line from Osaka to Kobe Sannomiya Station in about 20 minutes. From Sannomiya, there is a direct bus service to Awaji Island. Sannomiya Station is a large station and many people get lost at the bus stop, but it is easy to find if you watch the photos/video below. Turn left at the 7-Eleven convenience store and proceed straight. The bus stop is at the Shinki Bus Terminal. This direct bus goes to many facilities directly, including Nijigen no Mori and Hello Kitty-themed theater/restaurants on Awaji Island.
From the Awaji IC to the Free Shuttle Bus Stop
If you want to tour around the Awaji Island West Coast by bus, the free shuttle bus is convenient. To ride on a free shuttle bus, you need to get off from the highway bus at Awaji Interchange stop and walk for a few minutes to the shuttle bus stop. For more information on how to get to the shuttle bus stop, please click below and check the video towards the bottom of the page.
The free bus looks like below.
