Kansai International Airport (関西空港, Kansai Kūkō, KIX) is one of Japan's most important international airports. Located on a man-made island about 40 kilometers south of central Osaka, Kansai Airport was opened in 1994, taking over all international and some of the domestic air traffic formerly handled by Osaka's Itami Airport.

Kansai Airport has two terminals. Terminal 1, the main terminal, is housed in a long, modern building and serves both domestic and international flights by regular airlines. The railway station is located directly adjacent to it. Added in 2012 in a more remote, spartan building, terminal 2 serves low-cost airlines (LCCs). It has fewer bus connections and no train service, and is connected to terminal 1 and the railway station by a free shuttle bus.

Getting to Kansai Airport

By JR Haruka limited express train
  • Direct
  • 30-50 min
  • ¥1,300 - 3,520
  • 2 trains/hour
Covered by: Japan Rail Pass

"Haruka" limited express trains connect Kansai Airport with Tennoji (30 minutes, 1840 yen by unreserved seat, about 2400 yen by reserved seat), Osaka Station (45 minutes, 2410 yen unreserved, about 3000 yen reserved) and Shin-Osaka Station (50 minutes, 2590 yen unreserved, about 3100 yen reserved). Available exclusively to foreign tourists, the Haruka 1-Way Ticket is a discount offer that allows you to use the Haruka between the airport and Osaka for only 1300 yen (to Tennoji) or 1800 yen (to Osaka or Shin-Osaka).

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By JR airport rapid train
  • Direct
  • 50-70 min
  • ¥1,080 - 1,210
  • 4 trains/hour
Covered by: Japan Rail Pass

Rapid trains connect the airport with Tennoji Station (50 minutes, 1080 yen) and Osaka Station (70 minutes, 1210 yen).

By Nankai limited express train
  • Direct
  • 35-40 min
  • ¥1,350 - 1,490
  • 2 trains/hour

"Rap:t" limited express trains by Nankai Railway take 35-40 minutes and cost 1490 yen from Kansai Airport to Namba Station. Seat reservations are mandatory. Discounted tickets that cost only 1350 yen are available through Klook.

By Nankai express train
  • Direct
  • 45-50 min
  • ¥970
  • 4 trains/hour

Express trains by Nankai Railway make the trip between Kansai Airport and Namba Station in 45-50 minutes and cost 970 yen one way. Seat reservations are not possible.

By bus
  • Direct
  • 45-60 min
  • ¥1,300 - 1,800
  • Frequent departures

There are direct buses from Kansai Airport to various places and hotels in Osaka, including Osaka Station (60 minutes, 1800 yen) and Namba Station (45 minutes, 1300 yen). It is possible to purchase tickets online via Klook.

Above fees and schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check current yen exchange rates.

Means of access to/from Kansai Airport

  • JR Limited Express "Haruka"
    About 2000 yen, 30 minutes to Tennoji
    About 2500 yen, 45 minutes to Osaka Station
    About 2700 yen, 50 minutes to Shin-Osaka
    About 3000 yen, 70 minutes to Kyoto
    Departures every 30 minutes
  • JR Kansai Airport Rapid
    1080 yen, 50 minutes to Tennoji
    1210 yen, 70 minutes to Osaka
    Departures every 15 minutes
  • Nankai "Rapi:t"
    1490 yen, 35 minutes to Namba
    Departures every 30 minutes
  • Nankai Airport Express
    970 yen, 45 minutes to Namba
    Departures every 15 minutes
  • Airport Limousine Bus
    About 1500 yen, 60 minutes to central Osaka
    2600 yen, 100 minutes to Kyoto
    2000 yen, 75 minutes to Kobe
  • Taxi and airport transfers
    Taxi: about 15,000 yen (18,000 yen late night), 50 minutes to central Osaka
  • Ferry
    1880 yen, 30 minutes to Kobe Airport

Late night and early morning flights

Travelers with flights departing in the early morning (before 8:00) or arriving in the late evening (after 22:00) should take note that all trains and most buses do not operate overnight. Taxis remain available, but are an expensive option with fares to Osaka starting around 18,000 yen. Affected travelers are advised to stay at a hotel in the vicinity of the airport, instead.

Late night transportation

The last train out of Kansai Airport to Osaka's Namba area departs just before midnight, while the last trains with connections to Osaka Station and Kyoto depart already around 11pm. Likewise, most last buses depart the airport around 23:00 or midnight.

Early morning transportation

The first train connections in the morning from Osaka reach the airport around 6:00, while those from Kyoto do so about an hour later. Early morning buses generally also start arriving around 6:00.

Hotels around the airport

Kansai Airport is open 24 hours, and it is possible for budget travelers to spend their first or last night there. Both terminals offer a variety of 24 hour facilities such as convenience stores, fast food and restaurants, while terminal 1 additionally offers showers, a paid airport lounge and an internet cafe.

There are a couple of hotels located in the immediate vicinity of the airport:

Several more accommodation options are available around Rinku Town Station, a short train (5 minutes, 370 yen) or taxi ride (about 2500-3500 yen) away. Some hotels offer free shuttle bus services to/from the airport:

Sightseeing attractions around the airport

  • Sky View Observation Hall
    Hours: 10:00 to 17:00, free entry
    Free shuttle bus from terminal 1 departs every 30 minutes
  • Rinku Town
    Hours: typically 10:00 to 20:00 (shops), 11:00 to 22:00 (restaurants)
    Access by train (370 yen one way) or shuttle bus (300 yen)

Hotels around Osaka

    • Kaneyoshi Ryokan
      A modern Japanese inn in Dotombori. the center of Osaka. 2 subway stations nearby. Close to many shops and Osaka Castle.
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    • Bighem Maison
      Budget-friendly
      Located just a 4-minute walk from Nankai Tsuruhara Station and within 5 km of Rinku Premium Outlets, Bighem Maison boasts a terrace, non-smoking rooms, and free WiFi throughout the property. A hot tub is available for guests. The accommodation provides a shared lounge, and luggage storage for guests. All guest rooms is equipped with a microwave, toaster, a kettle, a bath or shower, a hairdryer and a wardrobe. Rooms are complete with a shared bathroom, while some units at the bed and breakfast also offer a seating area. All rooms will provide guests with a fridge. There are some shops and dining options within a 10-minute walk from Bighem Maison. Kansai International Airport is 10 minutes by train from the property.
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    • Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport - 3 mins walk to the airport
      Luxury
      Directly accessible within Kansai International Airport, Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport - 3 mins walk to the airport features comfortable rooms with free WiFi. The hotel offers free luggage storage services at the 24-hour front desk and free on-site private parking. For overnight guests, free parking for 24 hours for each night stay, and thereafter, the property will charge according to regulation. Rooms at the Kansai Airport Nikko are bright and spacious. They have a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, an electric kettle and refrigerator. En suite bathrooms come with a shower, bathtub as well as a hairdryer and free amenities. Facilities at the Nikko Hotel include a business desk, and coin-operated computers with internet access. Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport - 3 mins walk to the airport is connected to Kansai International Airport Terminal 1 via a pedestrian walkway. A breakfast is served at the property. Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport - 3 mins walk to the airport boasts 4 on-site restaurants including a Japanese restaurant "Hanazato", teppanyaki-grill restaurant "Icho", Chinese restaurant "Toh-Lee" and a Japanese-Western fusion restaurant "The Brasserie". Hotel Nikko is located within the Kansai Airport's shopping mall Aeroplaza. It is a 5-minute walk away Kansai Kuko Station for JR and Nankai lines. Tennoji Station is a 30-minute train ride from the property, while Namba Station is a 40-minute train ride away.
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    • Odysis Suites Osaka Airport Hotel
      Luxury
      Located in Izumi-Sano, 400 metres from Rinku Pleasure Town Seacle Shopping Centre, Odysis Suites Osaka Airport Hotel features views of the city. This 4-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space. Free WiFi is available and private parking can be arranged at an extra charge. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms with a desk, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. At Odysis Suites Osaka Airport Hotel every room comes with bed linen and towels. Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a buffet breakfast. Izumisano-shi Culture Hall is 3.5 km from Odysis Suites Osaka Airport Hotel, while Icora Mall Izumisano is 3.6 km away. The nearest airport is Kansai International Airport, 7 km from the hotel.
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    • Bigtree Guesthouse
      Budget-friendly
      Bigtree Guesthouse offers accommodation in Izumi-Sano. This non-smoking property has a designated smoking area. Some units have a seating area where you can relax. Rooms are fitted with a shared bathroom. Bigtree Guesthouse features free WiFi throughout the property. The hostel also offers free use of bicycles. The nearest airport is Kansai International Airport, 8 km from the property.
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    • HATAGO INN Kansai Airport
      Mid-range
      Providing free WiFi in all areas, HATAGO INN Kansai Airport is located a 7-minute walk from Rinku-Town Station. The property is located within 1.2 km of Rinku Premium Outlets. The ground floor features a large library for staying guests only offering magazines and manga books. Free public baths separated by gender is available for guests to relax in. The rooms is fitted with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a kettle, a bath or shower, free toiletries and a desk. The private bathroom is equipped with a hair dryer. Guest rooms will provide guests with a fridge. The accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space for guests. Guests can choose from a selection of free amenities in the lobby. A buffet breakfast is served daily at the property. Kansai International Airport is 12 minutes by train from the property.
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    • Super Hotel Kanku Kumatoriekimae
      Mid-range
      Set in Izumi-Sano, within 1.1 km of Naka Family Residence and 2.5 km of Icora Mall Izumisano, Super Hotel Kanku Kumatoriekimae offers accommodation with a restaurant and as well as free private parking for guests who drive. This 3-star hotel offers a spa and wellness centre. Wakihama Ebisu Grand Shrine is 5.6 km from the hotel and Kanda Shrine is 6.1 km away. Izumisano-shi Culture Hall is 2.9 km from the hotel, while Jigenin Temple is 4.7 km away. The nearest airport is Kansai International Airport, 12 km from Super Hotel Kanku Kumatoriekimae.
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    • Greenwood Hostel
      Budget-friendly
      Situated within 1.4 km of Izumisano-shi Culture Hall and 1.8 km of Icora Mall Izumisano, Greenwood Hostel features rooms with air conditioning and a shared bathroom in Izumi-Sano. The property is set 3.3 km from Rinku Pleasure Town Seacle Shopping Centre, 4.2 km from Naka Family Residence and 5.2 km from Wakihama Ebisu Grand Shrine. The accommodation offers a shared kitchen and a housekeeping service for guests. The units in the guest house are equipped with a kettle. With a shared bathroom fitted with a bidet and slippers, units at the guest house also feature free WiFi. All units have bed linen. Guests can also relax in the shared lounge area. Kanda Shrine is 5.8 km from the guest house, while Kaizukagobo Gansen Temple is 5.9 km from the property. The nearest airport is Kansai International Airport, 9 km from Greenwood Hostel.
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    • REF Kanku-Izumisano by VESSEL HOTELS
      Luxury
      Set within 1.6 km of Izumisano-shi Culture Hall and 2 km of Icora Mall Izumisano, REF Kanku-Izumisano by VESSEL HOTELS offers rooms in Izumi-Sano. Featuring a shared lounge, this 4-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom. The hotel has a terrace and a sauna. At the hotel, all rooms come with a desk. The rooms have a flat-screen TV, and some units at REF Kanku-Izumisano by VESSEL HOTELS have a city view. At the accommodation all rooms include bed linen and towels. A buffet breakfast is available every morning at REF Kanku-Izumisano by VESSEL HOTELS. Staff at the hotel are available to provide information at the 24-hour front desk. Rinku Pleasure Town Seacle Shopping Centre is 3 km from REF Kanku-Izumisano by VESSEL HOTELS, while Naka Family Residence is 4.4 km from the property. The nearest airport is Kansai International Airport, 9 km from the accommodation.
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    • Kansai Airport Washington Hotel
      Luxury
      Washington Hotel offers rooms with free Wi-Fi, a buffet restaurant and massage services. An ATM is available, and free Wi-Fi is also provided at the lobby and the restaurant. The air-conditioned rooms at Hotel Washington Kansai Airport offer city or bay views. Each room is equipped with a TV with satellite channels, a fridge and an electric kettle. Washington Kansai Airport Hotel houses a 24-hour convenience store and drinks vending machines. Restaurant Kitchen Garden serves buffets with Western, Japanese and Chinese dishes. Kansai Airport Hotel Washington is a 3-minute walk from JR Rinku Town Station and a 9-minute walk to the Rinku Premium Outlets. Downtown Osaka is an hour away by train.
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    • OMO Kansai Airport by Hoshino Resorts
      Luxury
      OMO Kansai Airport by Hoshino Resorts provides accommodation in Izumi-Sano near Rinku Pleasure Town Seacle Shopping Centre and Rinku Park. Featuring a restaurant, the property also has a shared lounge, as well as a sauna and a hot tub. The accommodation features a 24-hour front desk, airport transfers, an ATM and free WiFi. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a desk, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. Certain rooms are equipped with a kitchen with a microwave and a stovetop. At OMO Kansai Airport by Hoshino Resorts rooms come with bed linen and towels. A buffet breakfast is available each morning at the accommodation. OMO Kansai Airport by Hoshino Resorts offers a sun terrace. The area is popular for cycling, and bike hire is available at this 5-star hotel. Izumisano-shi Culture Hall is 3.4 km from the hotel, while Icora Mall Izumisano is 3.5 km from the property. The nearest airport is Kansai International Airport, 7 km from OMO Kansai Airport by Hoshino Resorts.
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