Ibaraki (Osaka)

Ibaraki (茨木) is a city in Osaka (prefecture). It is a suburban city of Osaka city and a part of Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe metropolitan area.

Understand
Literally Ibaraki means Wild Trees or Thorny trees. Legends say the area was developed by cutting down wild trees.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Get in
Ibaraki is a station on the JR Kyoto Line, served by local and rapid trains. From the shinkansen hub at Shin-Osaka, trains reach Ibaraki in an average of 10 minutes (¥210). From Kyoto Station, trains reach Ibaraki in about 30 minutes (¥450). Note that some trains from Kyoto may be classified as "Local" trains, changing to "Rapid" en route, but this does not affect trips to Ibaraki station.

The private Hankyu Railway serves a few stations in Ibaraki, the major one being Ibaraki-shi Station, about a kilometer east of the JR station. Most Hankyu trains on the Hankyu Kyoto Line stop here. Trains run from Osaka's Umeda station in about 20 minutes (¥260), and Limited Express trains run from central Kyoto's Kawaramachi Station in 26 minutes (¥310). To the south of Ibaraki-shi Station on the Hankyu is Minami-Ibaraki Station, which is a transfer point for the Osaka Monorail to/from Osaka Itami Airport.

Airport limousine buses run between Kansai International Airport and both JR Ibaraki and Hankyu Ibaraki-shi stations for ¥2000 (one way adult fare).

Get around
Local buses connect the JR Ibaraki and Hankyu Ibaraki-shi stations (¥210). Hankyu and Kintetsu buses run from both stations to a wide range of locations in northern Osaka.

Eat
Most restaurants are located around the axis connecting the JR Ibaraki and Hankyu Ibaraki-shi stations.

Sleep
Most hotels in Ibaraki are business hotels in the neighborhood of JR Ibaraki station. Prices start from ¥6000 per room.

Go next

 * Takatsuki
 * Minoh
 * Ikeda
 * Suita
 * Hirakata
 * Katano
 * Osaka
 * Nagaokakyo
 * Kameoka