There are many kinds of travel passes for tourists in Osaka, such as “Osaka Amazing Pass”, “Yokoso Osaka ticket”, ‘Enjoy Eco Card”, which gives you a discount ticket price for popular sightseeing attractions.
It’s gonna be a pain to select the perfect travel pass to you, but
If you are an “aquarium lover”
I am going to tell you today, “Osaka Kaiyu Pass”.
The pass covers the Aquarium Entrance fee, unlimited train & bus ride, and discounts to some places.
Moreover, “Osaka Kaiyu Ticket” is combined with local railway companies so that you can visit the suburbs at a reasonable price.
Let see how it works together!
The Famous Aquarium In Osaka
“Kaiyukan”, 海遊館, is the popular aquarium in Osaka which is often selected as one of the large amazing aquariums all over the world.
Kaiyukan was opened in 1990, the signature large water tank has been attracting visitors since then.
This large aquarium is an 8-story building with a 9-meters (30 ft) deep-water tank in the center which shows the marine life of the Pacific Ocean.
There are love chairs to enjoy marine life as long as you like around the water tank.
Visitors go up to the 8th floor to begin the tour and spiral down floors around the central tank watching at the spectacular marine life of the Pacific Rim, from the Great Barrier Reef to the Arctic.
You can enjoy various popular creatures such as otters, dolphins, sea lions, seals, and penguins all day long.
General Information
Check the business hours of each facility in advance due to COVID-19.
| Opening Hours | 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. * Last admission is one hour before the closing time. * The opening hours vary by season |
| Ticket at the door | ¥ |
| Adult (over 16) | 2,400 |
| Senior (over 65) | 2,200 |
| Student (between aged 6 and 15) | 1,200 |
| Child (between aged 4 to 5) | 600 |
| Child (under aged 2) | Free |
1-1-10 Kaigandori, Minato-ku, Osaka, 552-0022
Tel: +81-6-6576-5501
Osaka Kaiyu Ticket
“Osaka Kaiyu Pass” is the travel pass included the Aquarium admission ticket and a 1-day transportation pass for Osaka Metro and city buses.
The pass is already an actual admission ticket, so you can pass through the entrance gate without purchasing the ticket booth.
You will appreciate that you can skip long lines to buy a ticket. Especially in the crazy hot summer day in Japan, you shouldn’t wait in a long line under the sun.
It also saves your time because ticket booths often get busy at certain times of a day and seasons.
Besides, you can re-enter with the pass as many as you want, so like, you can go to lunch outside of the Aquarium, then you can go back to the fantasy water world again. (You will be stamped on the hand before out of the gate.)
Sometimes there are limited the total number of guests entering the aquarium one time. “Osaka Kaiyu Pass” doesn’t mean “the priority pass”, so you must wait in the line as other guests.
Get Discount Prices
As well as other travel passes do, “Osaka Kaiyu Ticket” gives you discount prices for several attractions and facilities.
ex.
- Osaka castle tower
- Umeda sky building observatory
- Tsutenkaku tower
- Tennoji Zoo
- “Aqua liner” water bus
- “Santa Maria” Cruise
- Tempozan Ferris Wheel
In detail, please check out the official web site or here on my site.
Types Of Osaka Kaiyu Pass
“Osaka Kaiyu Pass” has
- Unlimited entry to “Kaiyukan”
- Unlimited rides on Osaka Metro & city buses
- Discount prices for many sightseeing spots
- Unlimited rides on private railways
There are 7 types of Osaka Kaiyu Pass depends on preferred public transportation.
Purchase at the ticket office of the railway you want to use. Please check here for the selling location.
Since you can ride as much as you want for one day, you can visit other sightseeing spots as long as you are in a valid area.
Note
- Admission to Kaiyukan, benefits • discounts for facilities & attractions are valid only on the date on the card.
- You can’t get the pass at the aquarium. Kaiyukan does not sell the pass. Please purchase at the sales location (ticket office of each electric railway).
- Only adults fare (aged over 16) and children fare (aged 7-12) are available
- The city buses toward to IKEA & Universal Studio Japan are excluded.
I explain why Osaka Kaiyu Pass doesn’t have a fare for guests aged 13 – 15.
First of all, you need to understand the Japanese school system. In Japan, there are “elementary school” (aged 6 – 12), “Junior-high school” (aged 13-15 ), and “High school” (aged 16 – 18 ).
Then, look back at the price setting for a 1-day pass for Osaka Metro aka Enjoy Eco Card.
For children aged 1 -11 years old (includes 12 years old elementary school students), children fare is available. So for children aged over 12, they are charged as Adults.
On the other hand, when looking at Kaiyukan price setting, children between 7 – 15 are charged as “Students”
Therefore, because of the different aging settings, it means ripping money if they charge an adult fare to these kids aged 13-15.
Of course, they can pay and use the adult fare for children aged 13 -15.
7 Plans Of Osaka Kaiyu Pass
- Osaka Metro Line Plan
- Hanshin Electric Railway Plan
- Kintetsu Line Plan 1
- Kintetsu Line Plan 2
- Nankai Electric Railway Plan
- Kita Osaka Kyuko Railway Plan
- Hankyu Railway Plan
- Keihan Railway Plan
- Nose Electric Railway Plan
Osaka Metro Line Plan (Very Common)
It is the most common Kaiyu pass includes admission ticket and Osaka metro (& city buses) only.
| Price | Adult ¥2,800 Child ¥1,400 |
| Available Railways | All Osaka Metro Lines City buses |
| Sales Locations | Ticket offices at all Osaka Metro stations Commuter Pass Sales Counters Osaka Metro Information Counters Osaka Tourist Information Centers Subway Information Counter (Shin-Osaka, Umeda, Namba) KIX; Kansai Tourist Information Center (Kansai International Airport Terminal 1, 1F Center) |
Hanshin Electric Railway Plan
This plan is suitable for tourists who want to visit or come to from Hyogo Prefecture (Kobe).
| Price | Adult ¥3,300 Child ¥1,750 |
| Available Railways | All Osaka Metro Lines Citybus routes All Hanshin Line • except for Kobe Rapid Transit Railway line (jump to Wikipedia) |
| Sales Locations | Stationmaster’s offices at Umeda, Amagasaki, Koshien, Mikage Kobe- Sannomiya Station, Kujo Station (*when the station officer is on duty) Hanshin Railway Service center at Kobe-Sannomiya Station. |
| Route Map | Hanshin Electric Rail way |
Kintetsu Line 1 Plan
This plan is suitable for tourists who want to visit or come from Kyoto, Nara, Hyogo(Kobe)
| Price | Adult ¥3,500 Child ¥1,850 |
| Available Railways | All Osaka Metro Lines City buses *1 Limited Kintetsu Line *2 Limited Hanshin Line |
| Sales Locations | Osaka-Namba, Osaka-Uehonmachi, Tsuruhashi, Osaka-Abenobashi and other major Kintetsu stations on valid routes |
| Route Map | Kintetsu Line Hanshin Electric Railway |
*1 Limited Kintetsu Line
- Namba Nara Line; Ishikiri A16- Osaka Namba A01
- Osaka Line; Katashimo D16 – Fuse D06
- Shigi Line; Shigisan Guchi J14 – Kawachi Yamamoto J12
- Keihanna Line; Shin-Ishikiri C26 – Nagata C23
- Minami Osaka Yoshino Line; Domyoji F15 – Osaka Abenobashi F01
*2 Limited Hanshin Line
- Hanshin Namba Line; Osaka Namba HS41 – Kujyo HS44
Kintetsu Line 2 Plan
This plan is suitable for tourists who want to visit or come from Northern Nara, Western Mie, Hyogo(Kobe).
| Price | Adult ¥3,900 Child ¥2,050 |
| Available Railways | All Osaka Metro Lines Osaka City buses *1 Limited Kintetsu Line *2 Limited Hanshin Line |
| Sales Locations | Osaka-Namba, Osaka-Uehonmachi, Kintetsu-Nara, Kyoto, Osaka-Abenobashi and other major Kintetsu stations on valid routes |
| Route Map | Kintetsu Line(Osaka Line) Hanshin Electric Railway |
*1 Limited Kintetsu Line
- Osaka Line; Osaka Uehonmachi D03 – Aoyama-Cho D53
- Excluding Tawaramoto line, south of Ichio on Yoshino Line, Domyoji line, cable cars and ropeways
*2 Limited Hanshin Line
- Hanshin Namba Line; Osaka Namba HS41 – Kujyo HS44
Nankai Electric Railway Plan
This plan is suitable for tourists who want to visit or come from KIX(Kansai International Airport) or Mount Kōya.
| Price | Adult ¥3,350 Child ¥1,760 |
| Available Railways | All Osaka Metro Lines Osaka City buses All Nankai Railway Lines |
| Sales Locations | Ticket offices at all Nankai Line stations including Kansai Airport Station (not including unmanned stations). |
| Route Map | Nankai Line (Kuko Line & Kouya Line) *Kuko…Airport Line *Koya…Mt. Koya |
Kita Osaka Kyuko Railway Plan
This plan is suitable for tourists who want to visit or come from northern Esaka (this railway is connected with Osaka Metro, Midosuji Line).
| Price | Adult ¥2,990 Child ¥1,500 |
| Available Railways | All Osaka Metro Lines Osaka City buses All Kita-Osaka Kyuko Railway • only 4 stops on the line. |
| Sales Locations | Ticket office at Senri-Cyuo, Momoyamadai, Ryokuchi-Koen(Park) |
| Route Map | Kita-Osaka Kyuko Line |
Hankyu Railway Plan
This plan is suitable for tourists who want to visit or come from Takarazuka-city, Southern Kyoto(Arashiyama), Kobe.
| Price | Adult ¥3,300 Child ¥1,750 |
| Available Railways | All Osaka Metro Lines Osaka City buses All Hankyu Railway Line • except for Kobe Rapid Transit Railway line (jump to Wikipedia) |
| Sales Locations | Information Counters at: Osaka-Umeda/ Juso/ Tsukaguchi/ Nishinomiya-kitaguchi/ Shukugawa/ Kobe-Sannomiya/ Toyonaka/ Ishibashi/ Kawanishi-noseguchi/ Takarazuka/ Awaji/ Ibaraki-shi/ Takatsuki-shi/ Katsura/ Kawaramachi/ Kita-senri Station. |
| Route Maps | Hankyu Railway |
Keihan Railway Plan
This plan is suitable for tourists who want to visit or come from Kyoto, Hirakata-city, Kadoma-city.
| Price | Adult ¥3,600 Child ¥1,800 |
| Available Railways | All Osaka Metro Lines Osaka City buses All Keihan Railway Line •except for Iwashimizu Hachimangu-Sando Cable Railway and Otsu Line |
| Sales Locations | Station offices at: Nakanoshima/ Yodoyabashi/ Temmabashi/ Kyobashi/ Moriguchi-shi/ Neyagawa-shi/ Korien/ Hirakatashi / Kuzuha/ Chushojima/ Tambabashi/ Gion-Shijyo/ Sanjyo/ Demachiyanagi Stations |
| Route Maps | Keihan Railway |
Nose Electric Railway Plan
This plan is suitable for tourists who want to visit or come from Mt Myoken, Kawanishi-city in Hyogo Prefecture.
| Price | Adult ¥3,600 Child ¥1900 |
| Available Railways | All Osaka Metro Lines Osaka City buses All Hankyu Railway • except for Kobe Rapid Transit Railway line (jump to Wikipedia) All Nose Electric Railway • except for the Myoken Cable & the Myoken chair lift |
| Sales Locations | Ticket offices at Hirano and Yamashita Tourist center at Kawanishi Noseguchi |
| Route Maps | Nose Electric Railway (wikipedia) |
Note
- “Osaka Kaiyu pass” is issued by each railway company, not Kaiyukan.
- You can purchase the “Osaka Kaiyu ticket” form each rail company. ( see above)
- The price of “Osaka Kaiyu ticket” is for the adult or child (7 – 12) only and not for other ages.
- Therefore, for students (12 – 15), the student fee at Kaiyukan is 1,200 yen + the original transportation fee can be cheaper.
Japanese Phrase
You may meet the station officer who can’t speak English, so I will tell you some Japanese phrases to purchase “Osaka Kaiyu Pass”.
In Japan, Osaka Kaiyu Pass is called Osaka Kaiyu “Ticket” (大阪海遊チケット) in Japanese. Sorry for confusing you.
“I would like to buy an Osaka Kaiyu Ticket please”
Osaka Kaiyu Ticket, Kudasai.
おおさか かいゆう チケット を ください
“Can I use a credit card?”
Kurezitto card (credit card), Tsu ka e ma su ka?
クレジットカード は 使えますか？
“Thank you”
Arigatou
ありがとう
Osaka Travel Tips
Here are several local tips and rules to help you when traveling in Osaka. It’s like Los Angels and New York, so many things are different from Westside and Eastside even in Japan.
Be Aware With Multiple Station Names
Osaka transportation network has a good reputation from international visitors, however, Umeda and Namba stations are major terminal stations from inside and outside of Osaka, so it’s very confusing if you don’t pay attention to the name of the station.
Stand On The Right Side Of Escalators In Osaka
When you use escalators, stand on the Right side and keep space on the left side in Osaka.
Interestingly, the standing side varies in the regions.
Standing on the right side in Osaka, but it is the left side in Tokyo.
Remind Osaka People Are Very Friendly
Among the international visitors, some of them are surprised how friendly local people are.
Generally speaking, people in Osaka are known as friendly and cheerful.
Enjoy communication with locals, but they are very good at selling stuff.
“Thank you” in Osaka language is “Ookini”.
They understand “Arigato(u)”, of course, they will be happy if you say “Ookini!” to them.
By the way, Steven Segal is fluent in the Osaka language, did you know???
Conclusion
“Osaka Kaiyu Pass” can be a little tricky in case you use it as the aquarium and public transportation ride in certain areas, check out how much is the regular cost before purchasing the ticket.
However, you can enter the aquarium smoothly and re-enter (you need to ask the staff for the stamp on the hand) as many as you like.
The aquarium has “Night Aquarium” which starts from 5 pm, you can see another aspect of marine life.
If you want to compare with other discount tickets for Osaka trip, read these next.
