Chuo Ward Office — Local services in Osaka

Note: It seems that I cannot post a review of the Osaka subway and trains. I am posting it in the Chuo Ward Office as the Hommachi Station that we originated and came back to for seven days is in the Chuo Ward, Osaka.

Osaka subway is the cleanest and safest subway🫡! So are the JR and Shinkansen trains.

There are many subway lines. There are dozens of JR trains.

Osaka subways

Google map tells you which platform, which car (#s indicated) is near the needed exit, which exit to take (also numbered) and the cost of your ride. When sightseeing at different attractions in Osaka, get the day pass for Y820. The machine has English. It takes Yen bills & coins.

In taking the subway, know your to & from stations. In the subway, look at arrows of subway stops that tells you which platform to take your train that is headed to the direction you need to go. You may also ask passengers or the subway uniformed staff at gates which is the correct direction.

Know how many stops to your destination. Aside from the announcements, check the name of the station on the train wall with arrow indicators and on the platform half wall between doors as the train stops at the station.

In the subway and train, there is an English version of the announcements about the next stop. There is also a screen showing the name of the stop.

At the stop, the screen shows which car you’re in, where the stairs and escalators are located in relation to the subway cars.

Shinkansen trains

These trains have basic fare tickets and reserved seats tickets. Insert both simultaneously at the gate.

Note the car number on your ticket. Ensure that you are standing and waiting to board your train at the spot where your train’s car would stop.

There are trains with 12 cars and those with fewer. That is painted on the platform. It also indicates that your “green” car stops at that...

I am a foreigner with little Japanese. The reception staff are very helpful. They use very simple Japanese for me to easy to understand. I also tried to communicate them using a translator tool and they are able to understand and cater my request. I also reached them many times just to make sure I fill out the correct information and they were able to confirm it. The counter staff is also very helpful. They are able to extend their service by using translator tool just for me to understand easily and close the communication gap....

As a foreigner registering your Japanese ID be prepared to spend your day waiting. Spent 6 hours in this building just sitting and waiting. Spent maybe 4 minutes actually talking to people. I don't know how people are just okay with waiting so long for something so...