Osaka Loop Line

Ōsaka Loop Line
System map JNR201
Locale	Osaka City, Japan
Dates of operation	1898 – present
Track gauge	1,067 mm / 3 ft 6 in (Narrow gauge)
Headquarters	N/A

Osaka Loop Line(JNR 103)

Osaka Station Midosuji Gate

Kyobashi Station West Entrance

The Ōsaka Loop Line (大阪環状線, Ōsaka kanjō-sen^?) is a railway line in Japan operated by the West Japan Railway Company. It encircles central Osaka.

A second loop line, the Osaka Outer Loop Line, from Hanaten to Kyuhoji is planned to open in 2008, and a line from Shigino to Shin-Osaka is planned to open in 2012.

This line is well known for its efficient service running two tracks, one counter-clockwise and one clockwise around the heart of metropolitan Osaka. Carriages are a distinctive orange colour with white JR graphics on the front, rear and sides. Most trains consist of 8 carriages and are operated by a driver and conductor. Each carriage can accommodate approximately 150 people in comfort or 250 at rush hour. The train schedule varies but on average, two trains leave Tennoji Station and Osaka Station every seven minutes, in opposite directions.

List of stations on the Osaka Loop Line

• Osaka (大阪)
• Fukushima (福島)
• Noda (野田)
• Nishikujo (西九条)
• Bentencho (弁天町)
• Taisho (大正)
• Ashiharabashi (芦原橋)
• Imamiya (今宮)
• Shin-Imamiya (新今宮)
• Tennoji (天王寺)
• Teradacho (寺田町)
• Momodani (桃谷)
• Tsuruhashi (鶴橋)
• Tamatsukuri (玉造)
• Morinomiya (森ノ宮)
• Osakajo-koen (大阪城公園)
• Kyobashi (京橋)
• Sakuranomiya (桜ノ宮)
• Temma (天満)
• Osaka (大阪)

Note: counterclockwise

Connections

• Osaka - JR West Tōkaidō Line (JR Kyoto Line and JR Kobe Line), Fukuchiyama Line (JR Takarazuka Line), JR Tozai Line (Kitashinchi Station), Hankyu Railway (Umeda Station, Kobe Line, Takarazuka Line, and Kyoto Line), Hanshin Railway Main Line (Umeda Station), Osaka Municipal Subway Midosuji Line (Umeda Station), Osaka Municipal Subway Tanimachi Line (Higashi-Umeda Station), Osaka Municipal Subway Yotsubashi Line (Nishi-Umeda Station)
• Fukushima - JR Tozai Line (Shin-Fukushima Station), Hanshin Railway Main Line
• Noda - Osaka Municipal Subway Sennichimae Line (Tamagawa Station)
• Nishikujo - JR West Sakurajima Line (JR Yumesaki Line), Hanshin Railway Nishi-Osaka Line
• Bentencho - Osaka Municipal Subway Chūō Line
• Imamiya - JR West Kansai Line (Yamatoji Line)
• Shin-Imamiya - JR West Kansai Line (Yamatoji Line), Nankai Railway (Nankai Line and Koya Line), Hankai Tramway Hankai Line (Minamikasumicho Station), Osaka Municipal Subway (Dobutsuen-mae Station, Midosuji Line and Sakaisuji Line)
• Tennoji - JR West Kansai Line (Yamatoji Line), Hanwa Line, Kintetsu Minami-Osaka Line (Osaka Abenobashi Station), Hankai Tramway Uemachi Line (Tennoji-eki-mae Station), Osaka Municipal Subway (Midosuji Line and Tanimachi Line)
• Tsuruhashi - Kintetsu (Osaka Line and Nara Line), Osaka Municipal Subway Sennichimae Line
• Tamatsukuri - Osaka Municipal Subway Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line
• Morinomiya - Osaka Municipal Subway (Chūō Line and Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line)
• Kyobashi - JR West Katamachi Line (Gakkentoshi Line), JR Tozai Line, Keihan Railway Keihan Main Line, Osaka Municipal Subway Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line
• Temma - Osaka Municipal Subway Sakaisuji Line (Ogimachi Station)

Osaka Loop Line Halloween Party

Since at least 1991, the loop line has gained fame from the resident expatriate Westerners in Osaka as being host to a Halloween party every year. On the last Saturday before October 31, local foreigners and Japanese gather at the Osaka platform, board the loop line in full Halloween dress and throw a party on the train as it circles the city. The group usually leaves around 9pm and generally heads clockwise to Temma, although some years the party has moved counter-clockwise towards Fukushima. Traditionally there is a 30 minute stop in Tennoji to pick-up stray passengers, use the washrooms, take pictures [1], and buy additional alcoholic refreshments. The party has garnered attention from the local news and confused Japanese residents. The party has had mixed levels of success over the years. 2004 [2] and 2005 saw the party grow to several hundred costumed participants. On October 28, 2006, JR officials attempted to tightly control the party. The US Consulate in Osaka asked participants to not endanger other passengers. [3] JR posted hundreds of security personnel at the Osaka and Tennoji stations as well as a few officials along the way. Costumers were warned not to bother other passengers and eventually let onto the trains along with several security guards. The group splintered badly in Kyobashi and Tennoji and only a few small isolated groups completed the entire loop.[4]