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Please help! Advice needed for transportation in Osaka

 
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nene



Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Posts: 16
PostPosted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 12:52 pm    Post subject: Please help! Advice needed for transportation in Osaka Reply with quote
Hello all. I need some help getting around Osaka. I'm flying into Kansai from Korea next month to take the GRE. The test is at

NAKATSU CENTER BLDG. 7F
1-11-1 NAKATSU KITA-KU
OSAKA, JAPAN - 531-0071

I arrive at 10:50, and need to be at the test site at 12:30. I know it's tight, think I'll be alright? What's going to be my best bet for getting up to Kita-Ku quickly? I don't care about the expense, but I know literally zero Japanese words. I'd also like it to be relatively low stress, as I'm heading to the test. Are cabbies prone to taking foreigners for a ride, so to speak?

Thank you thank you thank you for any help!
-Mike
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Mtnkiwi



Joined: 27 Mar 2004
Posts: 67
Location: Osaka
PostPosted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 1:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Near Umeda, so.. take the rapid train to Namba (Nankai line, blue train with circular windows), then the Subway to Umeda, then a taxi? Someone may know whether there is a subway stop closer than Umeda (there may well be).
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canuck



Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
PostPosted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 1:19 pm    Post subject: Re: Please help! Advice needed for transportation in Osaka Reply with quote
nene wrote:
Hello all. I need some help getting around Osaka. I'm flying into Kansai from Korea next month to take the GRE. The test is at

NAKATSU CENTER BLDG. 7F
1-11-1 NAKATSU KITA-KU
OSAKA, JAPAN - 531-0071

I arrive at 10:50, and need to be at the test site at 12:30. I know it's tight, think I'll be alright? What's going to be my best bet for getting up to Kita-Ku quickly? I don't care about the expense, but I know literally zero Japanese words. I'd also like it to be relatively low stress, as I'm heading to the test. Are cabbies prone to taking foreigners for a ride, so to speak?

Thank you thank you thank you for any help!
-Mike


It's impossible given your time frame. The fastest route is from the airport, taking the RAPID, and the Midosuji Line straight to Nakatsu (assuming the place is near the subway station, rather than the Hankyu Station).

Even if your flight arrives on time, by the time you get your bags, clear customs, figure where to go, and get the exact train you need etc, you can't make it. It's too tight. You need to book an earlier flight.
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PAULH



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
PostPosted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 1:43 pm    Post subject: Re: Please help! Advice needed for transportation in Osaka Reply with quote
nene wrote:
Hello all. I need some help getting around Osaka. I'm flying into Kansai from Korea next month to take the GRE. The test is at

NAKATSU CENTER BLDG. 7F
1-11-1 NAKATSU KITA-KU
OSAKA, JAPAN - 531-0071

I arrive at 10:50, and need to be at the test site at 12:30. I know it's tight, think I'll be alright? What's going to be my best bet for getting up to Kita-Ku quickly? I don't care about the expense, but I know literally zero Japanese words. I'd also like it to be relatively low stress, as I'm heading to the test. Are cabbies prone to taking foreigners for a ride, so to speak?

Thank you thank you thank you for any help!
-Mike



Clearing imigration control will take 30-60 minutes depending on volume of passengers. The Rapite express from the airport leaves twice an hour and takes 40 minutes to Namba. You may have to wait a bit for the train to depart. Change to subway at Namba and thats another 20 minutes. From Namba to Nakatsu station.

You are looking at over 2.5 hours to get from plane to testing center.

Cabbies will take you but its at least an hour into Osaka if they take the expressway.
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Chris21



Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Posts: 366
Location: Japan
PostPosted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 2:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
If you can catch the trains, you might only be 10 minutes late.

Usually I can clear immigration and customs very quickly at Kansai Airport. If you bring only carry-on luggage, you can probably be out of the airport in 30 minutes. Get on the 11:35 Nankai Rapito train to Namba. It takes 37 minutes from the airport to Namba. From there, transfer to the subway (the walk takes about 7 minutes) and take the Midosuji line up to Nakatsu (it takes about 11 minutes to go 5 stops). Assuming you catch a 12:20 subway, you'll arrive at Nakatsu at 12:31 (and then have to find the testing site).

You can double-check your route with the following link... http://www.hyperdia.com

All of this is contingent on no late planes, no lines at immigration, no delayed trains, and being able to quickly find the testing site... it's risky. It's probably better to catch an earlier flight.
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nene



Joined: 09 Jun 2005
Posts: 16
PostPosted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 4:52 pm    Post subject: ~ Reply with quote
Wow, thanks for your help guys - much appreciated.

I guess underestimated Osaka.

I'm going to try to get Friday off and fly in then; if that doesn't work, maybe I'll rebook the test for Sunday afternoon (I had hoped to have a mini-vacation after the test, but oh well).

I'll be carrying on only... assuming customs is only 30 minutes and everything's smooth, that puts me out the door at 11:20-ish. How long would a cab ride take? How much would it cost?

I lean toward a cab ride anyway, since I want to be as low stress/low excitement as possible at this time (my first minutes in Japan)...
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Zzonkmiles



Joined: 05 Apr 2003
Posts: 309
PostPosted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 9:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Another option is to take the JR Haruka (super express) train from the airport to Shin Osaka. Then you can transfer to the subway and ride it to Nakatsu. Still, this is going to be very very tight. It'll take about 35 minutes from the airport to Tennoji, another 15 minutes to Shin Osaka, and another 15 minutes to Nakatsu from there. Your biggest problem will probably be catching a train from the airport without having to wait so long.
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canuck



Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
PostPosted: Mon Jun 12, 2006 12:04 am    Post subject: Re: ~ Reply with quote
nene wrote:
Wow, thanks for your help guys - much appreciated.

I guess underestimated Osaka.

I'm going to try to get Friday off and fly in then; if that doesn't work, maybe I'll rebook the test for Sunday afternoon (I had hoped to have a mini-vacation after the test, but oh well).

I'll be carrying on only... assuming customs is only 30 minutes and everything's sm