Kansai International Airport (KIX) guide: access & transportation to Osaka, Kyoto and beyond
- japansophy
- Nov 24
- 5 min read
Especially with the jump in the price of the Japan Rail Pass in the last years, more and more visitors to Japan are catching on to the idea of flying into Tokyo and leaving again from Osaka, or the other way around, therefore saving one trip between the two regions on the Shinkansen. Many are unfamiliar with Kansai's airports, however, and you might have seen stories of travellers showing up at Osaka Itami to check in for their international flight, only to be told that they are 70 kms and over an hour away from their actual departure airport!
This is our guide to Osaka airport Kansai International and travelling between it and your base in Japan.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission, ♡ at no extra cost to you ♡.
Jump to:
What is KIX short for and where is it?
KIX is the airport code for Kansai International Airport, Osaka's largest and only international airport. It is located in the south of Osaka, unusually on an artificial island that is accessed by a bridge to the mainland. The airport opened in 1994 and the main terminal was designed by the world-famous architect Renzo Piano. Considered something of an engineering marvel, the cutting-edge, innovative technologies used in its construction meant that the airport survived the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995 virtually unscathed, although the epicentre was just 20 kilometres. When it opened, the airport offered exemplary and unparalleled passenger comfort - arriving into the airport for the first time in 1994, Japansophy was in wonder at the real trees growing inside the terminal! - and it still wins international awards annually, notably for baggage delivery and ground staff.
So how do you travel from or get to Kansai International Airport?
Option 1: JR Haruka Limited Express
The Haruka is the premium train service operated by JR West, offering the quickest and most comfortable journey to major destinations. It is comparable to the Narita Express, with roomy seats and luggage racks between the cars.
Leaving KIX, the Haruka stops at Tennoji (for connections to the Osaka Loop Line and subway), JR Osaka and Shin-Osaka (for connections to the Shinkansen), with a final stop at JR Kyoto Station.
The Haruka is fully covered by the standard Japan Rail Pass and is the recommended option for JR pass holders heading to Kyoto or connecting at Shin-Osaka.
Travel time:
To Tennoji: approx. 35 minutes
To Shin-Osaka: approx. 50 minutes
To Kyoto Station: approx. 75-80 minutes
Ticket price: A one-way adult ticket to Kyoto costs 2200 yen; to Osaka, 1800 yen (2025; subject to change). Children up to the age of 11 pay half price.
You can buy your Haruka tickets in advance on Klook, reserve your seat online and board with an e-ticket, saving you time and stress. Click here for more info (affiliate link).
Option 2: Airport Limousine Bus
If you are traveling to a location not near a major train station, or if you have a lot of luggage, the bus might be easier. The limousine buses are comfortable and the drop-off/pick-up points are often closer to hotels. The drawback: they are subject to traffic delays, especially during rush hour.
The extensive network covers various routes between Kansai International Airport and Osaka city, Kyoto and even Itami Airport in the north (in case you have a domestic transfer).
Travel time:
To Namba: approx. 45 minutes
To Umeda, Osaka: approx. 60 minutes
To Kyoto Station: approx. 75-80 minutes
Ticket price: A one-way adult ticket to Kyoto costs 2800 yen; to Namba, 1300 yen (2025; subject to change). Children up to the age of 11 pay half price and return tickets are available at a discount.
You can buy your limousine bus tickets in advance on Klook. Click here to find out which route is closest to your hotel and to check prices (affiliate link).
Option 3: Private transfer
The options outlined above are fast, convenient and reliable, but sometimes - looking at you, families! - the last thing you want to have to deal with after a long international flight is getting yourself, your kids, your luggage and your jet-lag onto a train or bus. The answer is a private transfer that you can book in advance and have waiting for you at the airport. If this all sounds very VIP (not to mention pricey), hear us out. While a private transfer is definitely the expensive option, the price difference may be worth it when you consider that you'll be left right to your hotel doorstep. It might also be your only option: KIX is a 24-hour airport but the trains and buses stop running around or even before 11pm and generally don't start again much before 6:30am. If your flight is coming in late at night, by the time you get through passport control, luggage reclaim and customs, you might have missed that last train.
When booking a private transfer, make sure that you book a vehicle that has enough space not just for the number of passengers in your group, but also for the pieces of luggage you are taking with you. Click on this link to check prices and book in advance with Klook (affiliate link).
Other transport options
While the above three options are direct services between Kyoto and central Osaka to Kansai International Airport, they are not the only way to travel to/from KIX. If you are staying in the Dotonbori area of Osaka, you could take the Nankai Airport Express (50 minutes, 970 yen) or its speedier cousin the Nankai Rapi:t (38 mins, 1400 yen) between Kansai International Airport and Namba Station. In Namba you can connect to or from the Midosuji subway line for other parts of Osaka, for example, or for JR Osaka or Shin-Osaka stations for a connection to Kyoto. This would be the cheaper alternative but will be time consuming and will involve changing trains. You can also expect these regular trains to be quite full and have no dedicated space for bags. It might be an option, though, if you want to jump off in Namba and explore a little of Osaka before heading on to Kyoto, in which case we can recommend sending your luggage on ahead to your hotel, so that you can travel hands-free. For more information on how to forward your luggage in Japan, read our article here.
Kansai International Airport FAQ
Are there two airports in Osaka?
There are indeed! As the name suggests, Kansai International handles international traffic, while Itami in the north of Osaka handles only domestic flights.
Which airport in Osaka is better?
If you are flying into Japan from abroad or leaving Japan again your trip, you will be using Kansai International Airport. Itami, on the other hand, is closer to central and northern Osaka and to Kyoto, making it a great choice if you are flying between Kansai and other parts of Japan.
Is Kansai Airport the same as Osaka Airport?
No, they are not the same thing, so check your ticket carefully. Kansai Airport is KIX (Kansai International Airport), which is also in Osaka, but Osaka Airport probably refers to Osaka Itami Airport (ITM), which is in the northern part of the city.
Is KIX or ITM closer to Osaka?
Kix is closer to the southern Osaka hub of Namba/Dotonbori, while Itami is closer to the norther Osaka hub of Umeda as well as to the Shinkansen station, Shin-Osaka, and to Kyoto.
Click through here to our full guide to the airports in the Kansai region, here to our article comparing Tokyo's Haneda vs Narita airports and here for comprehensive info on Osaka Itami Airport (ITM).
Comments