Osaka Metro
| Osaka Metro | |||
|---|---|---|---|
A 400 series train on the Chuo Line. | |||
| Overview | |||
| Native name | 大阪メトロ | ||
| Owner | Osaka Metro Co., Ltd. | ||
| Locale | Keihanshin region, Japan | ||
| Transit type | Tram and rail (de jure) Metro; AGT (de facto) | ||
| Number of lines | 8 (+ 1 People Mover) | ||
| Number of stations | 124 134 (incl. People Mover) | ||
| Daily ridership | 2,464,000 (FY2013) | ||
| Operation | |||
| Began operation | 20 May 1933 | ||
| Operator(s) | Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau (1933–2018) Osaka Metro Co. (2018–present) | ||
| Technical | |||
| System length | 133.1 km (82.7 mi) 141 km (88 mi) (incl. People Mover) | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
| Electrification | 750 V DC third rail 1,500 V DC overhead catenary 600 V 3-phase AC 60 Hz third rail | ||
| Top speed | 70 km/h (43 mph) | ||
| |||
The Osaka Metro (大阪メトロ, Ōsaka Metoro) is a major rapid transit system in the Osaka metropolitan area of Japan, operated by Osaka Metro Co., Ltd., and originally opened in 1933 as the Osaka Municipal Subway.
Osaka Metro forms an integral part of the extensive mass transit system of Greater Osaka (part of the Kansai region), having 123 out of the 1,108 rail stations in the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto region. As of 2025, the network transports approximately 2.5 million passengers daily, functioning as the primary urban transport backbone for Osaka City and surrounding municipalities including Higashiosaka, Kadoma, Moriguchi, Sakai, Suita, and Yao.
Osaka Metro is the only subway system in Japan to be partially legally classified as a tram system (Transport in Keihanshin), whereas all other subway systems in Japan are legally classified as railways. Despite this, it has all the characteristics typical of a full-fledged metro system. Major routes within the network include the Midōsuji Line, which runs north–south beneath Midōsuji and is the busiest subway line in the system, carrying approximately 1.3 million passengers per day as of 2015. Other key corridors include the east–west Chūō Line, as well as the Tanimachi and Yotsubashi lines, which provide important links across Osaka's central commercial and residential areas.
The subway system is closely integrated with regional rail networks operated by JR West and private railway companies such as Hankyu and Keihan. Major interchange stations, including Umeda, Namba, and Tennōji, enable convenient transfers and support Osaka's function as a major economic center, offering direct and indirect access to Kansai International Airport and neighboring cities such as Kyoto and Kobe.
Following lessons learned from the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake, the network has undergone extensive safety upgrades. These include the introduction of enhanced earthquake-resistant structures and the implementation of flood and tsunami countermeasures from 2014 onward. In addition, accessibility improvements, such as the installation of elevators at all stations and platform screen doors on selected lines, reflect an emphasis on passenger safety and universal access.