Osaka is served by two airports - Kansai for international flights and Itami for domestic. Here are all the details.
Nankai Rap:t airport express
The Takeaway
- Osaka is served by two main airports: Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Osaka International Airport (better known as Itami; ITM).
- KIX is Osaka’s international airport. Itami is Osaka’s domestic airport.
- For travelers with a Japan Rail Pass, the best way between KIX and Osaka is the JR Haruka airport express train to Tennoji (Y1710, 35 minutes) or Shin-Osaka (Y2330, 50 minutes), and then a subway or taxi to your final destination.
- For travelers without a Japan Rail Pass, the best way between KIX and Osaka is the Nankai Rapi:t airport express train (Y1130, 45 minutes) to Namba Station, and then a subway or taxi to your final destination.
- Another GREAT option for travellers without a Japan Rail Pass is the JR Haruka/Icoca card combination deal. This deal gets you one-way or return travel on the JR Haruka airport express train between the KIX and Osaka and a cashed up Icoca prepaid card at significant savings.
- The best way between Itami and Osaka is an Osaka Airport Limousine bus (Y640, 30 minutes) or a regular private taxi (about Y5000, 25 minutes to downtown Osaka).
See below for more details and options.
Osaka Holiday Essentials
- Where To Stay In Osaka: See our guide to the best areas and the best hotels to stay in Osaka.
- Things To Do In Osaka: Check this overview of Osaka activities with links to all the key information.
- Flights To Osaka: Find the cheapest flights to Osaka and flight times from scores of airlines with Skyscanner.
- Osaka Packing List: Don’t forget to take any of the essentials with our comprehensive Packing List For Japan.
- Travel Insurance: World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Claim online anywhere in the world.
Kansai International Airport (KIX) Transport
- Located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, Kansai International Airport (KIX) is Osaka’s international airport and the main point of entry to Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe).
- It also serves some domestic flights from other parts of Japan.
- KIX is about 37 kilometers (22.5 miles) southwest of downtown Osaka.
- Fortunately, it’s well connected to the city by train (both JR and a private line), limousine buses and taxis.
- The best way from KIX to Osaka is the train, followed by the limousine bus, followed by a shared taxi van.
Here are the details:
JR Haruka Airport Express Train from KIX to Osaka
As noted above, if you have a Japan Rail Pass, the best way into the city is via the JR Haruka airport express, which offers direct access to Tennoji and Shin-Osaka Stations, from which you can catch the Midosuji subway line to other parts of Osaka. Here are the details:
- Fare/duration from KIX: Tennoji (Y1710, 35 minutes) or Shin-Osaka (Y2330, 50 minutes)
- First departure from KIX to Osaka: 6:33am (6:42am Sat/Sun/holidays)
- Last departure from KIX to Osaka: 10:16pm
- Tickets: purchase tickets from the JR Office at KIX or from the machines outside the ticket office.
- Note: You don’t need reserved seats on this train except in the busy shogatsu, Obon and Golden Week seasons.
JR Haruka/Icoca Combination Deal
If you don’t have a JR Rail Pass, one superb deal is the JR Haruka/Icoca deal. Here, you get one-way or return travel between KIX and Shin-Osaka or Tennoji (or Kyoto) and an Icoca stored value card containing Y1500 of credit. Just as an example of the savings you can get with this deal, if you were to buy a one-way Haruka ticket between KIX and Shin-Osaka, it would cost you Y2330, and the Icoca card would cost you Y2000 (there’s a Y500 deposit for the card). If you take advantage of the combo deal from JR, the total fee would be Y3300, a savings of Y1030 yen. These combos are available at the JR ticket office at KIX. For details, see the JR West Haruka/Icoca
Nankai Rapi:t Airport Express Train from KIX to Osaka
If you don’t have a Japan Rail Pass, then the Rapi:t airport express on the private Nankai Line is the fastest way to south and central Osaka (the Minami district etc). It runs direct from KIX to Namba Station, where you can catch the Midosuji subway line to other destinations in Osaka. Here are the details:
- Fare/duration from KIX to Namba (Y1130, 45 minutes)
- First departure from KIX to Namba: 6:52am (7:31am Sat/Sun, holidays)
- Last departure from KIX to Namba: 10:35pm (10:31pm Sat/Sun/holidays)
- Tickets: purchase tickets from the Nankai Office at KIX or from the machines outside the ticket office.
- Note: You don’t need reserved seats on this train except in the busy shogatsu, Obon and Golden Week seasons.
Limousine Bus From KIX to Osaka
If you aren’t staying near Tennoji, Shin-Osaka or Namba or have a lot of luggage and don’t want to deal with the subway, a limousine bus from KIX to Osaka might be a better choice. These buses drop you (and pick up) at several points in Osaka (see the website for details).
- Company: Osaka Airport Transport
- Tel: 06-6844-1124
- Site: Okkbus.co.jp
- Fare: Y1550
- Duration: about 60 minutes
- Tickets: At KIX, buy your tickets from the airport transport counter in the arrivals hall (right outside of customs). In Osaka, buy them at the boarding points (see the website above for details of locations).
- Notes: No reservations necessary.
You can also purchase a limousine bus ticket online and collect the ticket on arrival at Kansai International Airport.
Taxis From KIX to Osaka
You can take a regular taxi from KIX into Osaka, but be warned that it will cost at least the equivalent to US$100.
Company: MK Taxi Sky Gate Shuttle
Tel: 075-778-5489
Site: Mk-Group.co.jp
Fare: Y3600
Notes: If possible, reserve online at least two days in advance. If you have no reservation, you can approach the MK counter at the south end of the international arrivals hall and see if they can fit you in (they probably can).
Itami International Airport (Itami; ITM) Transport
- Osaka International Airport, better known as just Itami, is Osaka’s main domestic airport.
- It retains the word “International” in its name because it used to serve as the city’s international airport, before they built KIX.
- Itami is about 11 kilometers or 6.5 miles north of central Osaka.
- If you’re planning to fly from another part of Japan to Osaka (ie, domestically) and have a choice of flying to either KIX or Itami, always choose Itami as it’s much closer to the city.
- The best way from Itami to downtown Osaka is a limousine bus.
- However, if you’re willing to spend a bit more, a private taxi is a reasonable and more convenient option.
- You can also take a shared taxi (MK Skygate Shuttle).
- Finally, you can take the Osaka Monorail and then the train or subway into downtown Osaka, but this is not a good option if you have a lot of luggage.
Here are the details:
Limousine Bus From Itami to Osaka
The best public transport option from Itami to downtown Osaka is a limousine bus. There are several routes to most of the major hubs of Osaka. Here are the details:
- Company: Osaka Airport Transport
- Tel: 06-6844-1124
- Site: Okkbus.co.jp
- Fare: Y640 (to Osaka Station/Umeda)
- Duration: about 30 minutes to Osaka Station/Umeda
- Tickets: At Itami, buy your ticket from the ticket machines outside the arrivals hall and wait at the curbside at the correct boarding point. In Osaka, buy them at the boarding points (see the website above for details of locations).
- Notes: No reservations necessary.
Private Taxi From Itami to Osaka
Since Itami is relatively close to central/downtown Osaka, a regular private taxi into town is a reasonable, comfortable and convenient option. There is a taxi rank outside the arrivals hall. A private taxi from Itami to downtown Osaka will cost about Y5000 and take around 25 minutes. And, unlike a limousine bus or monorail/subway, the taxi will take you right to your accommodation. If you have three people and minimal luggage, this doesn’t cost that much more than three limousine bus tickets and it’s WAY more pleasant. It’s also more pleasant than cramming into a shared taxi and making the rounds of all the drop-offs with the other passengers.
Osaka Monorail/Train/Subway From Itami to Osaka
One final method of getting from Itami into Osaka is the Osaka Monorail and a train or subway. Here, walk from the arrivals hall to the nearby Osaka Monorail Itami Airport Station. Take the monorail to the following stop, Hotarugaike, and switch to the Hankyu Takarazuka Line and ride that line into Umeda (downtown Osaka, Kita district). The route takes about 33 minutes and costs Y420. Alternatively, you can ride the monorail to the Senri-Chuo Station and switch to the Midosuji subway line, which connects you to most of Osaka’s urban hubs. By this route, it takes about 50 minutes and Y690 to get to Umeda. Here’s a useful Osaka Monorail Map.
Where Are These Places Located?
See these places on the Inside Osaka Google map:- Open the Osaka map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels / Ryokan / Guesthouses | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | GREEN: Shops | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Osaka Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Osaka guide
- Check Osaka accommodation availability and pricing on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Osaka
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Osaka, Osaka to Kyoto and Osaka to Tokyo
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- View my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- Compare flight prices and timings to find the best Japan flight deals
- If you're visiting more than one city, you might save money with a Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- Get a prepaid Icoca card to make travelling around Osaka easy – here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
