Kansai Airport to Osaka and Kyoto: Nankai Rapi:t, JR Haruka, Airport Buses and Taxis Compared

Navy-blue Nankai Rapi:t airport express train with a rounded front and oval windows — Nankai's Rapi:t, the limited express between Kansai International Airport and Nankai Namba Station in Osaka.Photo: 日根野 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo details

Kansai International Airport (KIX) is the main international airport for both Osaka and Kyoto. The main options are: Nankai's Rapi:t and Airport Express to Namba Station, JR's Haruka limited express to Tennoji Station, Osaka Station, Shin-Osaka Station and Kyoto Station, the cheaper Kansai Airport Rapid, and airport limousine buses. Taxis and pre-booked cars are there too. This guide compares their times and fares from each company's official pages, so you can pick the one that gets you closest to your hotel.

Osaka and Kyoto are served by different lines, and the right train depends on where you sleep tonight. Deciding before you land means one less thing to work out at the ticket machine.

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Staying near Namba Station or Shinsaibashi Station: Nankai, with the Rapi:t the fastest
Staying near Tennoji Station, Osaka Station, Shin-Osaka Station or Kyoto Station: JR's Haruka runs direct
On a budget to Tennoji Station or Osaka Station: JR's Kansai Airport Rapid, with no extra charge
Lots of luggage: the limousine bus to Kyoto Station, Osaka Station or OCAT (Namba); a family or group: a car booked ahead

First: which terminal, and where's the station?

The airport has two terminals. Kansai-Airport Station, used by both JR and Nankai, is joined to Terminal 1 by a deck on the concourse level, so from Terminal 1 you can walk straight to the trains. From Terminal 2, take the free shuttle bus to Terminal 1; Nankai lists the ride as about 7 to 9 minutes. JR's ticket office at the station is open from 5:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

The main ways into Osaka and Kyoto

Adult fares and times from Nankai, JR West and Kansai Airport Transportation Enterprise official pages (checked October 17, 2026). JR times are from a midday weekday train and can change.

Nankai Rapi:t and Airport Express: to Namba Station

Nankai runs from Kansai-Airport Station to Nankai Namba Station, in Namba (Osaka). The navy-blue Rapi:t limited express is the fastest, with Nankai listing 34 minutes at best, and the Airport Express takes about 45 minutes. The Rapi:t has luggage space and overhead racks, and also stops at Tengachaya Station and Shin-Imamiya Station on the way.

Rapi:t seat charge: on top of the normal fare, a Regular Seat costs 700 yen for adults (350 yen for children) and a Super Seat 910 yen (560 yen for children). Nankai adds 300 yen if you buy it on board, and its online ticketless service is 150 yen cheaper.
Where to buy: ticket counters and machines at the stations, from one month before travel. If seats are left on the day, you can buy them from the machines.
Rapi:t Digital Ticket: the fare and the Regular Seat together for 1,410 yen for adults and 710 yen for children (Super Seat 1,590 yen and 910 yen), bought online. You pick your train and seat on your phone after buying, then scan the QR code at the designated gate. It's valid only on the date you choose.
Airport Express: no seat charge, just the normal fare.

Heading to Umeda (Osaka) or Shin-Osaka Station instead? JR runs there without a change, as below.

JR Haruka and Kansai Airport Rapid: to Tennoji Station, Osaka Station and Kyoto Station

JR West's limited express Haruka runs direct from the airport to Tennoji Station, Osaka Station, Shin-Osaka Station (for the Shinkansen) and Kyoto Station. On JR West's October 2026 timetable, a midday Haruka from the airport reaches Tennoji Station in 34 minutes, Osaka Station in 47 minutes, Shin-Osaka Station in 52 minutes and Kyoto Station in 80 minutes, and at midday trains leave every 30 minutes. The Haruka needs a limited express ticket as well as the fare.

HARUKA discounted one-way ticket: for holders of a non-Japanese passport entering Japan as a "Temporary Visitor". Adults pay 1,300 yen to Tennoji Station, 1,800 yen to Osaka Station or Shin-Osaka Station and 2,200 yen to Kyoto Station (children 650, 900 and 1,100 yen). It covers ordinary reserved and non-reserved seats on the Haruka.
Buy it before you arrive: JR West says this ticket can't be bought in Japan. Book it on JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION from one month before (from 10:00 a.m. Japan time) with a credit card, or buy an exchange order from a travel agency outside Japan. You collect it at a station ticket machine (with a passport that has an IC chip) or at the ticket office, and you can't get off at a station before your destination.
Kansai Airport Rapid: a regular rapid train with no limited express charge. A midday train on the same timetable reaches Tennoji Station in 53 minutes and Osaka Station in 71 minutes. It's slower than the Haruka, but you can simply tap an IC card.
ICOCA: the ticket machines at Kansai-Airport Station sell ICOCA, JR West's IC card, but JR West notes that you can't use a credit card to buy it, so have cash ready.

Flying home on the Kansai Airport Rapid? JR West notes that the train splits at Hineno Station, so ride in cars 1 to 4 to reach the airport.

From the airport: which line goes where

Only the main stops are shown. Nankai's time is its fastest listed time; JR times are from a midday weekday train on the October 2026 timetable (official pages, checked October 17, 2026).

Early and late trains

On JR West's weekday timetable for October 2026, the first train toward Osaka leaves Kansai-Airport Station at 5:50 a.m. and the first Haruka at 6:31 a.m. The last Haruka toward Kyoto Station leaves at 10:16 p.m., and the last Kansai Airport Rapid toward Osaka Station leaves at 11:09 p.m. If your flight lands late, check the last trains before you fly, and allow time for immigration and baggage.

Limousine buses: to OCAT (Namba), Osaka Station and Kyoto Station

Kansai Airport Transportation Enterprise runs limousine buses from both terminals. They're a good fit if you have big suitcases and your hotel is near a stop, since you stay in one seat the whole way.

To	Adult	Child	About
OCAT (Namba)	1,400 yen	700 yen	50 min
Osaka Station (Umeda)	1,800 yen	900 yen	60 min
Kyoto Station (Hachijo exit)	2,800 yen	1,400 yen	85 to 90 min

The company says no reservations are needed for the OCAT and Osaka Station buses; seats are first come, first served. Times are from Terminal 1, and buses also stop at Terminal 2. The bus to Abeno Harukas (Tennoji Station) is listed as suspended, so use JR for Tennoji.

Taxis and pre-booked cars

Taxis from the airport charge by the meter, with expressway tolls on top, so for one person the train is far cheaper. For a family or group with suitcases, or if you'd rather be met at arrivals, a car booked before you fly at a set price can be easier.

Which one fits your trip?

Namba Station or Shinsaibashi Station: Nankai, the Rapi:t if you want a reserved seat.
Tennoji Station: the Haruka, or the Kansai Airport Rapid to save money.
Osaka Station (Umeda) or Shin-Osaka Station: the Haruka without a change, or the limousine bus to Osaka Station.
Kyoto Station: the Haruka, or the limousine bus if you'd rather not carry bags on stairs.

Still choosing a hotel? Our guides to where to stay in Osaka (including a hotel about 3 minutes on foot from JR Tennoji Station) and where to stay in Kyoto can help. For IC cards such as ICOCA, see our guide to cash and IC cards in Japan, and to send big suitcases ahead, see luggage forwarding and coin lockers. Flying into Tokyo instead? See Haneda Airport to Tokyo or Narita Airport to Tokyo.

Last reviewed: October 17, 2026. Fares, timetables and routes change. Please check each company's official page before you travel.