Kansai Airport (KIX)—How to Get Around?

If you will visit Kansai region (関西)and arrive at Kansai International Airport (KIX) the first time, this is the article for you. Note that KIX is different from Osaka International Airport which handles only domestic flights now.

Orientation

Before we start, get an orientation of where Osaka International Airport (symbol: KIX) is relative to Osaka (大阪; middle), Kyoto (京都; upper right), and Nara (奈良; middle right) on the map above.

As shown, KIX is located SW to the Central Osaka. If you will use trains for your transportation, you also want to avoid rush hours if you need to make connections at Central Osaka.

Reaching Kansai Destinations via Osaka

There are multiple ways to reach various destinations in the Kansai region (however, all routes go through Central Osaka first):^[12]

Bus

Direct airport limousine buses from Kansai Airport to various places and hotels in Osaka

Osaka Station (60 minutes) and Namba Station (45 minutes)

Connects KIX and Kobe directly (there is no direct train service)^[15]
Connects KIX and Nara directly (there is no direct train service)^[16]

JR airport rapid train

Connects the airport with Tennoji Station (50 minutes) and Osaka Station (70 minutes).

Hakura limited express (JR)

Connects Kansai Airport with Tennoji (30 minutes) and Shin-Osaka Station (50 minutes)
With the Icoca & Haruka ticket, available to foreign tourists only, you can travel by non-reserved seat on the Haruka between the airport and Osaka for only 1100 yen (to Tennoji) or 1300 yen (to Shin-Osaka)

Limited Express from KIX to Namba (なんば ) Station

Run by Nankai Electric Railway

"Rap:t" limited express trains (35 mins)
Express trains (45 mins)

Nankai Namba Station

Is different from JR Namba station (see [13] for disambiguation)

Also read more information from here

Note that above fees and schedules are subject to change.

ICOCA Card

ICOCA (イコカ / Ikoka) is a smart card issued by JR West and sold/used mainly in Kansai region. However, there are other stored-value cards such as Pasmo, Suica, etc. Since March 2013, major 10 different IC cards were standardized and become inter-operable. For more information, read this article.

Rail Pass

As a foreigner holding Temporary Visitor visa, you are entitled to purchase some rail passes at discounts. To get familiar with all choices, read [1] or JPRail.com.^[2]

If you will travel in Kansai area (say, from KIX to Osaka, Kyoto and Nara) only and not throughout Japan, you may want to consider:

ICOCA and Haruka

Is a set containing an "ICOCA" card and a discounted ticket for the Kansai-Airport Express "HARUKA" (operated by JR West)

Haruka is a limited express train which directly links KIX with stations in the major cities in Kansai such as Tennoji, Shin-Osaka and Kyoto
Check the map here to see where is covered by the HARUKA service

If you already have an ICOCA card, you can purchase "HARUKA discount ticket" without buying new ICOCA card
You can change ICOCA card of ICOCA & HARUKA to Kansai One Pass which has more benefits
See more information here.

KANSAI THRU PASS (or Surutto Kansai Pass) — not a JR offering and has the following characteristics:

Benefits

Unlimited rides on subway, private railway and bus in Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, Wakayama and Shiga. (excludes JR Line)
In case you use limited express of Nankai Railway and Kintetsu Railway, you need to purchase a reserved-seat ticket
No additional purchase needed for limited express run by other railways
Includes discount coupon for 350 major tourist facilities along the railway lines
The Pass can be used on unconsecutive days during its period of validity

One day is counted as the duration from the first train to the last train in a day. (Not for 24 hours from the time first used)

Nankai Kansai-Airport Station Tichet Office

You book the ticket online and get a voucher in advance
When you arrive at KIX, you then go to the above exchange counter to get the real ticket using the voucher and passport.

Valid periods

Spring / Summer Edition

Sale period

April 1 - September 30 of each year

Valid period

April 1 - October 31 of each year

Autumn / Winter Edition

Sale period

October 1 of each year - March 31 of the following year

Valid period

October 1 of each year -April 30 of the following year

See more information here and available area map

Search Site

HyperDia is a service offering both route and timetable information for either train or flight travels in Japan. With simple search, HyperDia can provide you the optimal route and fare from one point to another.

In the diagram above, the following information were entered:

From

Osaka Airport (note that this is not KANSAI AIRPORT)

Kawachnagano

Date / Time
Type

Departure / Arrival / Average

Note that it's important to select the "Corp." category. For example, in the Kansai region, you can get by without using Japan Railway (JR) which normally is faster and more expensive. However, traveling in Kansai region is mostly covered by a myriad of train services from private railways (not JR) and buses.

Photo Credits

theguardian.com

References

Rail Passes for the Kansai Region
ICOCA and Haruka and Haruka discount ticket
How to use Kansai Thru Pass. Compare pass and single fare.
What's ICOCA and Hakura?
Osaka: Which Namba Station? (Travel for a Purpose)
Kansai Thru Pass (Surutto Kansai)

Also known as Surutto Kansai Pass

Kansai Thru Pass (Official site: Surutto.com)
Kansai Thru Pass (Ticket can be purchased via Internet at Nankai Railways)
Pass Tickets (available for purchased on the Internet here)
9 Things You Should Never Buy at the Airport

Duty-free merchandise, foreign currency, bottled water, souvenirs, neck pillows, wi-fi, restaurant meals, magazines, a parking spot
Buy these online before your trip