Airport Transfer (Haruka Express) from Osaka to Kansai International Airport (KIX)
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Getting from Osaka to Kansai International Airport by Train
Kansai International Airport, known as KIX, is situated in Izumisano within Osaka Prefecture. It serves the wider Kansai region. Travelers can easily reach various destinations, including major cities like Osaka and Kyoto, via the Haruka Express Train on the Kansai Airport Line! This train departs from Terminal 1 and heads straight to Kyoto Station. The journey takes about 45 minutes, passing through Osaka city center along the way. If you're traveling from Osaka to KIX, simply catch the train coming from Kyoto to reach your terminal!
The Haruka Express offers several stops throughout the Osaka metropolitan area, making it easy for travelers to catch the train to the airport from various locations. While Osaka Station is a convenient choice for accessing central Osaka, you can also board the Haruka Express at other key stations, including Tennoji Station, located at the opposite end of the Osaka Loop Line, and Shin-Osaka Station. On this page, you can book tickets for the Haruka Express Train's airport transfer service to suit your travel plans. If you prefer to leave from one of these alternative stations, simply adjust the departure station in the ticket selector above before clicking “Search.”
More information about your transfer to Kansai International Airport
The Haruka Express Train connects Kansai International Airport directly to Osaka, the largest city in the Kansai Region, boasting a population of nearly 3 million. This vibrant city is celebrated for its unique blend of culture and history. Iconic districts like Dotonbori and Shinsekai showcase the essence of urban Japan, featuring bustling streets filled with shops and cozy eateries, all aglow with colorful neon signs at night. To delve into Osaka's historical side, don't miss the stunning Osaka Castle and the ancient Mozu Tombs. Also, Taro Okamoto’s renowned “Tower of the Sun,” created for the 1985 World’s Fair, stands proudly in the city. With the World’s Fair set to return to Osaka in 2025, it's a perfect time to explore these attractions!
NOTE: Kansai International Airport is a major international gateway to Japan, serving as the primary airport for travelers arriving and departing in Kansai. As such, booking your Haruka Express transfer in advance is recommended to secure your seats, especially during peak travel periods, and save time at the station.
Train information
The Haruka Limited Expres Train on the Kansai Airport Line is an essential line, not just for travelers, but for residents of Kansai as well, as it serves as the main means of going to and from the airport for most locales in Kansai. The train itself departs from Terminal 1 in Kansai International Airport and goes out all the way to Kyoto and back, stopping at a number of stations within Osaka Prefecture and the Osaka City metropolitan area on the way.
These stops include Tennoj Station, Osaka Station, and Shin-Osaka Station. Tennoji Station is surrounded by a retro environment and attractions that go back much farther into Japan’s history. On the other end of the Osaka Loop Line, Osaka Station and Shin-Osaka Station, only one stop away from each other, are in a commercial center of the city with large skyscrapers and shopping complexes all around.
More information about the Haruka Express, Osaka Station, and Kansai International Airport
From central Osaka, getting to KIX airport takes around 45 minutes, depending on the stop, but all the way from Kyoto to KIX takes around one hour and 15 minutes. To get to other destinations in Kansai, such as Nara and Himeji, the Haruka Limited Express can be ridden to certain stations in order to make transfers.
Each train on the Haruka Express has six to nine cars, with the option of a higher-end Green Car with upgraded amenities, such as further reclining charis and more leg room as compared to ordinary train cars. There is often a mix of reserved and non-reserved seating. We strongly recommend booking tickets for reserved seats during peak travel times to assure a comfortable journey from the airport, especially after a long flight!
How to get to Osaka Station
Osaka Station is located in a central commercial area of Osaka known as Umeda, and in fact, both Osaka Station and Shin-Osaka Station (built in 1964 to service the newly built Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkasen) are nearby Umeda Station. Osaka Station is a major stop on the famous Osaka Loop Line, making it easily accessible by train. The Haruka Express stops at Osaka Station on the way to Kyoto from Kansai International Airport, and back. Other trains that go to and from Osaka Station include the Thunderbird Limited Express Train and Super Hakuto Limited Express Train.
Where to go from Kansai International Airport
Kansai International Airport is located in Osaka Prefecture, a bit outside of Osaka City. The Haruka Express arrives at Terminal 1, the main terminal for international departures and arrivals. The same train can be ridden to parts of Osaka and Kyoto to leave the airport.
Reminder: You can also decide to depart from Tennoji Station or Shin-Osaka Station via the Haruka Express
Why book your airport transfer tickets with Japan Experience?
How to Book and Exchange Haruka Express Train Tickets
When you buy your train tickets through Japan Experience, you'll receive a QR code via email. This QR code can be easily accessed and scanned at the machines located at JR stations in Japan. Once you scan the QR code, your tickets will be issued to you, and you'll also have the option to get a receipt. Whether you're arriving at the airport or a major station in the city, you can find more information below about ticket fares and how to exchange your train tickets. Along with your QR code, you'll also receive a detailed user guide that will help you navigate the simple and efficient process of obtaining your physical train tickets in Japan.
More information about conditions
Is there a special airport transfer service ticket fare for children?
Yes, there are special fares applicable for children to board the Haruka Express Ttrain. Ages 12 and up are considered adults, but kids aged from 6 to 11 benefit from a reduced child fare (except for Green Class). Children under the age of 6 travel for free (except for Green Class). This free fare is limited to 2 tickets, meaning any additional child under 6 will then pay the classic child fare to ride aboard the Haruka Express airport transfer.
Modification and Cancelation
You can find the conditions of modification and cancellation of our train tickets in our “Frequently Asked Questions” section at the bottom of the page.
Eligibility
All persons above the age of 12, with no restrictions of residence status or nationality, are eligible to buy individual train tickets (unlike the Japan Rail Pass and some JR regional passes, for example). Japanese individuals as well as foreigners living in Japan can thus purchase train tickets online. Under the age of 12, the aforementioned child fare conditions apply.
Validity of Haruka Express train tickets
Haruka Express airport transfer service tickets issued are only valid for the date and time indicated on your booking, from Osaka Station, Tennoji Station, or Shin-Osaka Station to Kansai International Airport (KIX).
Frequently Asked Questions about Airport Transfers
- There are different types of carriages on the Limited Express trains such as the Haruka Express, with different levels of accommodation. The Ordinary Car is the most general seating option, but Japanese trains are, by default, more luxurious than other types of trains you may be used to. These accommodations include reclinable chairs, overhead storage, hooks for outerwear, deployable trays, and electrical outlets.
- The Green Car is the next step up in luxury from the ordinary car, featuring even deeper reclining chairs and more leg room. All seats in these cars need a reservation.
Up to 72 hours before departure, you can modify your booking one time free of charge or cancel your booking (with a 15% cancellation fee). Please find more details below.
- How can I cancel or modify my booking?
You can cancel or modify your tickets by contacting Japan Experience by phone or email.
Modifications and cancellation are not possible in stations, neither at ticket machines (even those with a QR code reader) nor at JR counters (except when mentioned by our assistance*).
- What are the cancellation conditions?
You can cancel your train tickets up to 72 hours before departure, with a 15% cancellation fee applied. Past 72 hours before departure, no cancellation can be done.
- What if I miss my train?
If you have missed your train, your tickets allow you to board any train on the same route in the same day – in non-reserved seat cars only.
- What are the modification conditions?
You can modify your booking for free one time up to 72 hours before departure. Any extra modification will result in booking cancellation to make a new order, with a 15% cancellation fee applied.
Past 72 hours before departure, no modifications can be done.
If you want to modify:
- Seat and/or departure time (for e-tickets or e-voucher before paper tickets issued): Japan Experience can modify your booking for free, one time per booking.
- Departure date and/or ticket class: Japan Experience allows you to change your departure date/ticket class free of charge by canceling your order without fees in order to make a new booking. Please note that a new date in a higher travel season or an upper class will result in a price difference.
- Adding or removing passengers from the booking: Adding a passenger is free of charge, you only need to pay the extra ticket price. Removing a passenger equals to canceling the booking for that passenger only, cancellation conditions apply for the removed passenger ticket (15% fee).
- Departure station/arrival station: This change equals a cancellation, with a 15% cancellation fee applied.
*For the rare and only case of cancellation for e-voucher after paper tickets have been issued, you need to request a cancellation at Japan Railways counters (not machines) in stations, up to 10 minutes before departure. JR will refund you around 70% of your order, in cash (JPY ¥). Modifications at JR machines or counters in stations are also possible up to 10 minutes before departure (some fees may apply).
Yes, both of these cities in Kansai are accessible from Kansai International Airport (KIX). The Haruka Expres Limited Express Train passes through and stops within Osaka City and has a terminal station of Kyoto Station.
- The Haruka Express train does not have luggage size limitation, and does not require to book extra luggage space in advance as it is the case for the Shinkansen trains. You can head out of the airport and into the city worry-free, as you will have room to store all your luggage aboard the Haruka train service!
With over 40 years of dedicated experience dealing specifically with Japan travel and tourism, you can rest assured that we will have the best knowledge and familiarity with getting around the country. Our train tickets are acquired through an official partnership with JR West. We also offer reliable and expert assistance thanks to our onsite team in Japan, flexible modification options, and a fully digital booking experience with no hidden fees.
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