Osaka Metro Pass vs. Amazing Pass 2026: Which is Right for You?

Osaka Amazing Pass vs. Subway Pass: A Comparison

Where to Use Them, Prices, and Itineraries

Written & Photographed by © Bbangeuni

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As you get ready for your Osaka adventure, you'll discover there are two main passes:

the Osaka Amazing Pass and the Subway Pass.

What's the difference between them,

and which one will give you the most bang for your buck? Let's break it down!

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[ Table of Contents ]

1. Subway Pass vs. Osaka Amazing Pass

2. The Subway Pass

3. The Osaka Amazing Pass

4. Our Full Summary

1. Subway Pass VS Osaka Amazing Pass

First off, if your trip is all about shopping or your itinerary doesn't require attraction tickets,

making the subway your primary mode of transport, then the Subway Pass is your perfect match!

However, if you're planning to use public transport AND

visit Osaka's iconic attractions like the Umeda Sky Building, Osaka Castle, HEP Five Ferris Wheel,

and the Dotonbori River Cruise, then the Osaka Amazing Pass offers a much better deal!

▶ Subway Pass : Just for subway travel

▶ Osaka Amazing Pass : For unlimited subway & bus rides + major attraction visits

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2. The Subway Pass

Unlimited Subway Rides for 26 / 48 Hours

Let's categorize Osaka's main city attractions

into three major areas:

▪️Dotonbori & Namba Area,

▪️Umeda (Shin-Osaka) & Osaka Castle Area,

▪️ Shinsekai, Tennoji Area

These three areas are quite spread out, so using the subway is essential.

For the routes most frequently used by travelers,

a single ride typically costs around 240-290 JPY.

▪️Namba ↔ Umeda: 240 JPY

▪️Namba ↔ Tennoji: 240 JPY

▪️Shin-Osaka ↔ Namba: 290 JPY

So, if you're planning to take the subway more than 4 times a day,

the 1-day Subway Pass (~$6) is actually cheaper​.

The Subway Pass is valid from the moment it's activated for

26 hours or 48 hours,

allowing you to use the routes mentioned above.

- Child Ticket: Ages 6-11

- Adult Ticket: Ages 12 and above

(Up to 2 infants/toddlers aged 0-5 can accompany for free)

▶ Osaka Subway Pass

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3. The Osaka Amazing Pass

Unlimited Subway & Bus Rides + Free Entry to Major Attractions

If you're looking to enjoy unlimited subway and bus rides AND

get free entry to major attractions, then we highly recommend

the Osaka Amazing Pass!

The Osaka Amazing Pass gives you access to about 40 attractions and facilities, including:

Attraction (Facility)	Admission Fee	Amazing Pass Benefit
Umeda Sky Building Observatory	2,000 JPY	Free entry before 3 PM 10% off admission after 3 PM
Osaka Castle Museum	1,200 JPY	Free
Gozabune Boat	1,800 JPY	Free
Dotonbori River Cruise	2,000 JPY	Free
HEP Five Ferris Wheel	1,000 JPY	Free
Tsutenkaku Tower Observatory	1,500 JPY	Free
Tsutenkaku Tower Slider	1,100 JPY	Free
HARUKAS 300	2,200 JPY	10% off admission
Solaniwa Onsen	2,460 JPY	10% off admission (Check for closing days)

▶ See more Osaka Amazing Pass facilities here

Even if you only visit 3 of the most popular tourist spots,

it adds up to over 5200 yen (~$32), making the

Osaka Amazing Pass 1-day ticket at ~$22 a real bargain!

The 2-day Osaka Amazing Pass is ~$31, so if you spread out your visits over two days and

hit just 3-4 attractions, you'll definitely get your money's worth~~

(I've also put together an itinerary below for places you can visit with the Osaka Amazing Pass!)

No need to carry separate tickets;

entry is possible with a QR code,

And for Osaka Castle's Main Tower,

you can enter through a dedicated Osaka Amazing Pass lane,

significantly cutting down on your wait time!

Just a heads-up, the Osaka Amazing Pass is a date-based pass (not a 24-hour pass ❌).

It's valid from 3 AM until 2:59 AM the following day.

For example, if you first use it at 5 PM on August 4th,

you can only use it until 2:59 AM on August 5th.

The later you activate it, the more you lose out, so it's

most beneficial to start using it in the morning!

For those of you eager to make the most of your Osaka Amazing Pass,

I've put together a simple itinerary!

Day 1

9:30 Umeda Sky Building Kuchu Teien Observatory (2000 yen)

11:00 Lunch in Umeda

12:30 Osaka Castle

13:00 Osaka Castle Main Tower Admission (1200 yen)

14:30 Osaka Castle Gozabune Boat (1800 yen)

16:00 Explore Dotonbori

17:00 Dinner

18:30 onwards Dotonbori River Cruise (2000 yen)

Day 2

11:00 Umeda HEP FIVE Ferris Wheel (1000 yen)

11:30 Lunch

1:00 Solaniwa Onsen

16:00 Tsutenkaku Tower Observatory (1500 yen)

17:00 Tsutenkaku Slide (1100 yen)

17:30 Explore Shinsekai & Dinner

19:00 Shopping at Mega Don Quijote Shinsekai Store

Following this itinerary, visiting just these attractions over two days would cost

over 10,600 yen.

But if you purchase the 2-day Osaka Amazing Pass (~$31), you could

save around 5600 yen (~$35)!

Osaka Amazing Pass

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4. Summary

We've compared the Osaka Amazing Pass and the Subway Pass.

Hope this helps you choose the right pass for your adventure! 😉

If it's your first time visiting Osaka or if you're keen to focus on sightseeing,

the Osaka Amazing Pass will definitely make your trip more enriching.

But if you've explored Osaka many times and simply want to save on public transport costs,

I'd recommend opting for the Subway Pass!

Subway Pass	Osaka Amazing Pass
Unlimited subway travel	Subway + Bus + Free admission to attractions
26 hours: ~$6 48 hours: ~$10	1-day ticket: ~$22 2-day ticket: ~$31
Valid for 26 or 48 hours from activation time	Valid from 3 AM until 2:59 AM the following day
Book Now	Book Now

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