Osaka Metro

Trains run under the ground in Osaka.

These trains help many people travel. They started a long time ago. The first line opened in 1933.

Now, millions of people ride them every day. The trains stay safe from floods.

Most stations have elevators to help everyone. This makes it easy to move around. It is a great way to see the city.

The Osaka Metro is a big train system in Japan.

It helps people move around the city of Osaka. The first line opened in 1933.

This was the Midōsuji Line. It is the oldest and busiest line. It carries about 1.3 million people every day. Today, the system has eight main lines. It also has a special small train called the New Tram.

Around 2.5 million people use these trains daily. The system is very safe. It has special parts to resist earthquakes. It also has ways to stop floods. Many stations are easy to use. Most have elevators and escalators. There are also special floor tiles for people who cannot see well.

Some lines connect to other big rail companies. This lets people travel to other cities like Kyoto or Kobe. It makes traveling through Japan very easy.

The Osaka Metro is a huge train system in Japan.

It helps millions of people move around the city of Osaka every single day. This network is a vital part of the Kansai region. It connects many different towns and cities together. As of 2025, about 2.5 million passengers ride these trains daily. The system serves Osaka City and nearby places like Sakai and Suita. It is a very important way for people to get to work or school.

Most of the lines run on tracks under the ground.

Some lines use a special way it works called a linear motor. This is used on the Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line to help the trains move. The network has eight main lines that form a grid. These lines connect central areas where people shop and live. Many lines also connect to other big railway companies. This allows a passenger to stay on one train to reach far places. They can travel from the subway directly to cities like Kyoto or Kobe.

This big system started a long time ago. In 1903, the city began running a tram system.

As the city grew, the old streetcars could not carry enough people. In 1925, leaders made a plan for a new subway. They wanted to create jobs during the Great Depression. This led to the opening of Line 1 in May 1933.

This first line is now called the Midōsuji Line. It remains the oldest and busiest line in the whole network today.

There are many interesting facts about these trains. The Midōsuji Line is the busiest part of the system. It carries about 1.3 million people every day.

Most stations use a special code to help people. They use a letter and a number to name each stop. For example, Higobashi Station is known as Y12. The system has 123 or 124 stations depending on how you count them. There is also a small automated train called the New Tram.

This small train runs on a 10-kilometer path.

Safety is a very big part of how the metro works. After the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995, the system changed.

Engineers added new structures to help the tracks resist earthquakes. They also added ways to stop floods and tsunamis. The stations are now very easy for everyone to use. Every station has an elevator or an escalator for passengers. There are also special tiles on the floor for people who cannot see well. These features make sure everyone can travel safely and easily.

The Osaka Metro is a massive rapid transit system in Japan.

It serves as the primary urban transport backbone for Osaka City and several surrounding municipalities. These areas include Higashiosaka, Kadoma, Moriguchi, Sakai, Suita, and Yao. As of 2025, the network transports approximately 2.5 million passengers every single day. It is a vital part of the larger mass transit system in the Kansai region. Interestingly, it is the only subway system in Japan partially classified as a tram system. Most other Japanese subways are legally classified as railways.

The network functions through a complex web of interconnected lines and stations.

Most of the eight main lines run through tunnels beneath the city. The Midōsuji Line is the busiest route in the entire system. It carries about 1.3 million passengers per day. Other major corridors include the east–west Chūō Line and the Tanimachi and Yotsubashi lines. These routes link the central commercial and residential areas of Osaka. Some lines, like the Sakaisuji Line, provide through-services to private railway companies. This means a single train can travel from a subway line onto a different company's tracks.

The system is divided into several distinct types of transit. The primary network consists of eight subway lines. These include the crimson red Midōsuji Line and the ocean blue Yotsubashi Line.

There is also the Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line, which uses a linear motor. A linear motor is a special type of propulsion system used for the train's movement.

Beyond the subway, there is a 10-kilometer automated guideway transit line. This is known as the "New Tram." It operates between Trade Center-mae Station and Suminoekoen Station. The New Tram uses smaller, four-car trains to move passengers.

The history of the Osaka Metro began with a municipal tram system.

In 1903, the city operated trams between Hanazonobashi and Chikkō-Sambashi. As Osaka grew, the streetcar network expanded to 118 km in length. However, the existing streetcars and buses could not meet rising demand. In 1925, the city planned a new subway network. Construction began during the Great Depression to help create jobs. This policy aimed to use labor-intensive methods to help unemployed workers. In May 1933, the first line opened between Umeda and Shinsaibashi.

Since that first opening, the network has grown through many stages. After World War II, construction resumed with great energy. By 1970, the year of the World Expo, the system had six lines. These lines formed a grid pattern across the city center. By 1987, the network had expanded to 99.1 km of track. In 1990, the Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line opened for the International Garden and Greenery Exposition. This was Japan's first linear motor subway line. In 2018, the system underwent a major change when it was privatized. It became known as Osaka Metro Co., Ltd.

Safety and accessibility are central to the modern system.

Following the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake, the network received many upgrades. Engineers added earthquake-resistant structures to the tracks. Since 2014, the system has also implemented flood and tsunami countermeasures. Accessibility is also a major priority for all 134 stations. By 2010, the system met all requirements for barrier-free access. Every station has at least one continuous route for wheelchair users. This includes the use of elevators, escalators, and tactile paving for the visually impaired.

The Osaka Metro is deeply connected to the wider world. Major interchange stations like Umeda, Namba, and Tennōji act as massive hubs.

These hubs allow passengers to transfer between subway lines and regional rails. Travelers can find easy access to Kansai International Airport. They can also reach neighboring cities like Kyoto and Kobe. The system is even expanding for the 2025 Osaka–Kansai Expo. A new 3.2 km section called the Hokko Technoport Line is scheduled to open. This ensures the metro remains a key part of Japan's transport future.