How to Ride the Osaka Metro (2026): Fares, Tap to Pay and Which Pass

Most visitors don't need a pass for the Osaka Metro. A ride costs ¥190 to ¥390, and you can tap through the gates with an IC card such as ICOCA or with a contactless Visa, Mastercard or JCB card. The ¥820 weekday pass pays off from four ¥240 rides, the ¥620 weekend pass from three; the Amazing Pass only if you also visit paid sights.

On 6 November 2026 we read the fares, the Enjoy Eco Card rules and the tap-to-pay page on Osaka Metro's official site, and the Osaka Amazing Pass rules on its official site.

Planning a full sightseeing day? The Osaka Amazing Pass adds free entry to about 40 sights on top of unlimited metro rides.

Osaka Amazing Pass on Klook ↗

By How to Book Japan Editorial TeamLast checked Nov 7, 2026

Some links on this page are affiliate links. When paying per ride with an IC card costs less than a pass, we say so.

The short version

Single fare

¥190–¥390 adult, ¥100–¥200 child, by distance

Easiest way to pay

Tap an IC card (ICOCA, Suica, PASMO) or a contactless bank card at the gate

Day pass

Enjoy Eco Card ¥820 weekdays, ¥620 Sat, Sun and holidaysPaper ticket from station machines. Metro and city buses.

Sights + rides

Osaka Amazing Pass ¥3,500 (1 day) / ¥5,000 (2 days)Smartphone QR. About 40 sights free.

Not covered by passes

JR lines (Osaka Loop Line, JR to Universal Studios)

How much is a ride on the Osaka Metro?

Fares go by distance in five bands. The prices below include the ¥10 station barrier-free fee that Osaka Metro adds to each fare.

Up to 3 km

¥190 · child ¥100

3–7 km

¥240 · child ¥120Check the fare for your stops in Osaka Metro's fare search.

7–13 km

¥290 · child ¥150

13–19 km

¥340 · child ¥170

Over 19 km

¥390 · child ¥200

Changing between the metro and an Osaka City Bus takes ¥100 off the adult fare automatically (¥50 for children).

Can I just tap my credit card?

Best for most

IC card (ICOCA, Suica, PASMO)

Tap in and out. Works on the metro, city buses, JR and most private lines, and in shops. How to get an ICOCA →

No card needed

Contactless bank card or phone

Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discover and UnionPay. Tap the dedicated reader at the gate. No registration needed.

Fallback

Paper ticket

Buy at the machine for the fare to your stop.

With a contactless bank card the adult fare is charged even for a child, so give children an IC card or paper ticket. Use the same card to enter and exit.

Which line do I need?

Midosuji Line (red)

Shin-Osaka · Umeda · Shinsaibashi · Namba · TennojiLinks Shin-Osaka with Umeda, Namba and Tennoji.

Chuo Line (green)

Osaka Castle area (Morinomiya, Tanimachi 4-chome) · Osakako for the Kaiyukan aquarium

Sakaisuji Line (brown)

Nippombashi (Den Den Town, Kuromon Market) · Ebisucho

Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line

Shinsaibashi · Tamatsukuri

For Universal Studios Japan you need JR (change to the JR Yumesaki Line), which no metro pass covers. USJ tickets →

How do I ride, step by step?

Find the line colour and the direction Check the line name and the end station for your direction in your map app, then follow the signs for that line.
Tap in Touch your IC card or bank card to the reader. A paper ticket goes in the slot and comes back out.
Change lines inside the gates Follow the coloured signs. At most stations you don't tap again when changing between metro lines; a few transfers (for example Umeda to Higashi-Umeda) mean walking outside the gates.
Tap out If your IC card is short of money, the gate stops you. Top up at the fare adjustment machine (のりこし精算機) next to the gate.
You'll need data for maps and live train times. A Japan eSIM is set up before you fly.
Japan eSIM on Klook ↗

Is a day pass worth it?

Rides only

Enjoy Eco Card

¥820 weekdays¥620 weekends and holidaysChild ¥310

Unlimited Osaka Metro and city bus rides on the day you first use it. Paper ticket from station machines; no digital version. About 20 sights give a discount on the day. On a weekday it pays off from four rides at ¥240; on weekends and holidays, from three.

Rides + sights

Osaka Amazing Pass

¥3,500 for 1 day¥5,000 for 2 daysNo child price

Metro, city buses and private railways mainly within central Osaka, plus free entry to about 40 sights (Osaka Castle, the Tombori river cruise, Umeda Sky Building until 15:00). Smartphone QR only. No JR.

Osaka Amazing Pass on Klook ↗Compare on KKday ↗

Affiliate links. The official price is the same ¥3,500 / ¥5,000 on the pass's own site.

Add up the entry fees of the sights you plan for the day and the rides, and compare with ¥3,500. Universal Studios and the Kaiyukan aquarium are not on its list. Full Osaka Amazing Pass guide →

What if…?

…the gate stops me?

Check your IC card balance, and that you are tapping out with the card you tapped in with. Use the fare adjustment machine, or ask at the staffed window by the gates.

…I'm out late?

Last train times differ by line and station. Check the last train for your station in Google Maps before dinner.

…my train runs onto another railway?

Some lines continue onto Kintetsu, Hankyu or Kita-Osaka Kyuko tracks. With an IC card the fare is worked out for you. With an Enjoy Eco Card, pay the difference at the exit.

…I'm arriving at Kansai Airport?

The metro doesn't reach the airport. Take the Nankai line or JR into the city first. Kansai Airport to Osaka →

What we checked

Official pages read on 6 Nov 2026

Osaka Metro fares page: the five fare bands from ¥190 to ¥390, including a ¥10 barrier-free fee.

Osaka Metro Enjoy Eco Card page: ¥820 / ¥620 / child ¥310; paper ticket from machines; unused tickets refunded at the place of sale for a ¥220 fee.

Osaka Metro contactless payment page: seven card brands; adult fare even for children; city buses accepted from 1 Nov 2025.

osaka-amazing-pass.com: ¥3,500 / ¥5,000, smartphone QR, sold until 31 Mar 2027.

Heading out of the city?

Kyoto, Nara and Kobe are on JR and private railways, not the metro. Your IC card works on all of them.

Osaka: what to book →IC card or pass? →Osaka Amazing Pass on Klook ↗

Affiliate link