[JAPAN] 5-Minute Guide to Train Services Between Osaka and Kansai Airport / Major Cities

11:20 Travel Bunny 0 Comments

If the complicated train system in Kansai region is making you dizzy (see map above), guess what, you’re not alone. In this post, I will attempt to summarise the train services (approx. duration and fare) between Osaka and Kansai International Airport / other major cities (Wakayama, Nara, Kyoto, Kobe, Himeji) in the Kansai region.


KIX-Osaka
1) JR Haruka limited express train
To Tennoji station (approx. 30 min, 1,710 yen unreserved & 2,200 yen reserved)To Shin-Osaka station (approx. 50 min, 2,330 yen unreserved & 3,000 yen reserved)
2) JR Airport rapid train
To Tennoji station (approx. 45 min, 1,060 yen)To Osaka station (approx. 65 min, 1,190 yen)
3) Nankai Limited Express Rapid
To Namba station (approx. 37 min, 1,130 yen one way, 2,120 yen round trip)
4) Nankai Airport Express
Direction connection to Namba station (approx. 45 min, 920 yen)

Passes available for travelling to/from KIX
1) ICOCA & Haruka pass
This pass includes:
- ICOCA prepaid card worth 2,000 yen (500 yen as refundable deposit and 1,500 yen for card balance),
- JR Haruka limited express train ticket (non-reserved seat) and other JR trains (except limited express and shinkansen trains) between KIX to Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto or Nara.

KIX–Tennoji: 1,100 yen (1 way) & 2,200 yen (2 way)
KIX-Shin-Osaka: 1,300 yen (1 way) & 2,600 yen (2 way)
KIX–Kyoto: 1,600 yen (1 way) & 3,200 yen (2 way)
KIX–Kobe: 1,500 yen (1 way) & 3,000 yen (2 way)
KIX–Nara: 1,400 yen (1 way) & 2,800 yen (2 way)

Where to buy: JR ticket offices of Kansai Airport, Osaka Station, Shin-Osaka Station, Tennoji Station, JR Namba Station, Kyoto Station, Nara Station and Kobe's Sannomiya Station.Please note that 1-way pass can purchased for travel in either direction (from or to the airport) and are valid only on the day of purchase. And round trip tickets are valid for up to 14 calendar days and are only sold at Kansai Airport.

2) Yokoso! Osaka ticket
This pass includes:
- Nankai Electric Railway Train ticket + Limited Exp. Rapi:t reserved-seat ticket (one-way) valid on date of issue (boarding day) and
- Osaka Subway and Osaka City Bus 1-day unlimited pass, valid on date of issue or the next day
- Special discount for 31 tourist spots in Osaka
Pass Price:
1,500 yen buy online,
1,650 yen buy at ticket office and
1,550 yen buy at travel agency
Where to buy: Online, Nankai Kansai Airport station or travel agency.
Please note that no stopover is permitted, and it is non-refundable. Osaka Subway 1 Day Pass is 800 yen for weekdays and 600 yen for weekends and holidays.

3) One-way train ticket
This ticket includes Nankai Electric Railway between KIX and Namba station plus journey to any station on Osaka city subway and New tram.
Ticket price: 1,000 yen
Where to buy: Kansai-Airport Station ticket vending machine or ticket vending machine on Osaka city subway and New tram (excluding Namba Station, Higashi-Umeda Station and Tengachaya Station).




Please see map above for a quick guide on non-JR trains between Namba station in Osaka and other major cities for Kansai Thru Pass holders (I got this from the Namba Tourist Information Center).

OSAKA-WAKAYAMA
1) JR Kinokuni Line (Kuroshio Limited Express)
Shin-Osaka Station to Wakayama Station (approx. 68 min, 2,210yen)Tennoji station to Wakayama Station (approx. 48 min, 1,830yen)
2) JR Hanwa Line
Tennoji station to Wakayama Station (approx. 62 min, 860yen)
3) Nankai Main line
Namba station to Wakayama-shi station (approx. 60 min, 920 yen)

Please note that JR Kisei Line links JR Wakayama Station to Wakayama-shi Station.


OSAKA-KOYASAN
1) Nankai Koya line
Namba station to Koyasan station (approx. 120 min, 1,260 yen)Nankai is the only train to reach Koyasan.

OSAKA-KYOTO
1) JR Shinkansen Line
Shin-Osaka station to Kyoto station (approx. 14 min, 1,420 yen)
2) JR Kyoto Line (Limited Express)
Osaka station to Kyoto station (approx. 26 min, 1,210 yen)
3) JR Kyoto Line (Special Rapid Service)
Osaka station to Kyoto station (approx. 29 min, 560 yen)
4) Keihan Main Line
Yodobashi station to Gion-Shijo station (approx. 55 min, 410 yen)
5) Hankyu Kyoto Line
Umeda station to Kawaramachi station (approx. 50 min, 400 yen)Umeda station to Arashiyama station, transfer at Katsura station (approx. 60 min, 400 yen)
6) Kintetsu Kyoto Line
Namba station to Kyoto station, transfer at Yamato-Saidaji station (approx. 66 min, 790 yen)
7) Keihan + Kintetsu Line
Keihan: Yodobashi station to Tambabashi station (approx. 40 min, 400 yen)Kintetsu: Tambabashi station to Kyoto station (approx. 15 min, 210 yen)

OSAKA-NARA
1) JR Nara Line
Osaka station to Nara station (approx. 50 min, 800 yen)
Tennoji station to Nara station (approx. 35 min, 470 yen)
2) Kintetsu Nara Line
Namba station to Nara station (approx. 40 min, 560 yen)

OSAKA-KOBE
1) JR Shinkansen Line
Shin-Osaka station to Shin-Kobe station (approx. 13 min, 1,500 yen)
2) JR Kobe Line
Shin-Osaka station to Sannomiya station (approx. 27 min, 550 yen)
2) Hanshin Namba Line
Namba station to Kobe-Sannomiya station (approx. 40 min, 410 yen)Umeda station to Kobe-Sannomiya station (approx. 30 min, 320 yen)
3) Hankyu Kobe Line
Umeda station to Kobe-Sannomiya station (approx. 32 min, 320 yen)

OSAKA-HIMEJI
1) JR Shinkansen Line
Shin-Osaka station to Himeji station (approx. 29 min, 3,220 yen)
2) JR Kobe Line (Special Rapid Service)
Osaka station to Himeji station (approx. 68 min, 1,490 yen)
3) Hanshin Main Line + Sanyo Electric Railway Main Line
Hanshin Main Line: Namba station to Nishidai stationSanyo Electric Railway Main Line: Nishidai station to Sanyo-Himeji station (total approx. 110 min, 1,370 yen)

I hope this guide has been useful to you in planning the transport in Kansai region. Do not hesitate to let me know if I made any mistakes or you have anything to add on to the guide. Thank you for reading.