Mahoroba (train)

The Mahoroba (まほろば) is a limited express train service in Japan owned by JR West connecting Ōsaka Station and Nara Station that started operation in November 2019. It runs on the Osaka Higashi Line and Yamatoji Line on weekends and holidays and was initially a seasonal train, before beginning year-round operation in March 2025.

The name Mahoroba was previously used from April to June 2010 for a special limited express service between Shin-Ōsaka Station and Nara Station that ran on Tokaido Main Line (Umeda Freight Line), Osaka Loop Line, and Kansai Main Line (Yamatoji Line) from April to June 2010.

2010 operation overview

From April 1 to June 30, 2010, a "Nara Destination Campaign" was held to attract more tourists to Nara. It also marked the 1,300th anniversary of the transfer of the capital to Heijo-kyo, and the 1,300th Anniversary Commemorative Project of Heijo-kyo was held centering on the ruins of Heijo Palace in Nara City. Six JR companies were cooperating with this. The section and service route were the same as those of the Venue Access Rapid Service that was operated during the Nara Silk Road Exposition in 1988.

Inside the train, a commemorative boarding pass with a different design was distributed for the outbound and return trips. Passengers bound for Nara were presented with Nara souvenirs by lottery, and the lottery number was printed on the back of the commemorative boarding pass for the outbound trip. On the last run on June 27, station staff saw off the train in Meiji-era uniforms, and the train departed when the stationmaster of Nara gave the departure signal.

Trains stopped at the following stations: Shin-Ōsaka – Tennoji – Horyuji - Nara

It operated via the Umeda Freight Line, because the Ume-kita underground platforms at Osaka Station were not open at that time.

Formations:

Green: Green car (first class)
White: Standard car (second class)
G (green car)
R (standard car): Reserved seats only
NR (standard car): Non Reserved seats only
No smoking available.

Direction: left: Nara; right: Shin-Osaka

The services operated with 6-car formations.

2019 to present

Following the extension of Osaka Higashi Line to Shin-Ōsaka Station in March 2019, JR West resumed the operation of Mahoroba on weekends and holidays during the high tourist season from November to December that year. Unlike the previous iteration of the service, the new limited express runs nonstop between Shin-Ōsaka and Osaka to compete with Kintetsu Nara Line that runs between the two cities. JR West scheduled two daily round-trips with connections to San'yō Shinkansen trains in mind.

In March 2023, Mahoroba services began terminating at Ōsaka Station following the opening of the underground Umekita area platforms, running on the Umeda Freight Line branch of the Tōkaidō Main Line from Shin-Ōsaka to Ōsaka.

In December 2024, JR West announced that beginning March 2025, Mahoroba would make one regular daily roundtrip on weekends and holidays throughout the year, plus an additional daily roundtrip between March and October. JR West also announced the introduction of two 683 series sets specially refurbished for the Mahoroba service that would start operating in April 2025.

Trains stop at the following stations: