It is the busiest station in western Japan, serving 2,343,727 passengers daily in 2005.
The nearby stations Ōsaka (JR West), Kitashinchi (JR West Tōzai Line), Nishi-Umeda (Osaka Subway Yotsubashi Line, Y11) and Higashi-Umeda (Osaka Subway Tanimachi Line, T20) are within walking distance and connected by a large complex of underground malls.
This move was because of a sharp increase of transit, which forced Hankyu to operate 8-car trains.
One of the symbols of the commercial complex surrounding the station is the BIG MAN video screen above the Kinokuniya bookshop, common and necessary places to meet in this bustling railway station.
The Hankyu Department Store, built next to the station in 1929, was a pioneer of the successful business model of department stores run by urban railway companies in Japan.
The transfer between the three Umeda stations is an exception of this principle; the fare can be calculated as one travel as if the passengers do not exit the station provided the passengers transfer within 30 minutes.
[4] The yard of the terminal was located to the north, literally in the backyard, of the Ōsaka Station.
[6] The site, commonly called Ōsaka Station North Area (ja:大阪駅北地区, Ōsaka-eki Kita-chiku) or Ume-kita (うめきた), will be redeveloped.