International Airports

Kansai International Airport 関西国際空港

Kansai International Airport (KIX), pronounced Kansai Kokusai Kuko or Kanku for short, is the main international airport for western Japan. Extensive train, bus and ferry links provide access to Kansai Airport’s artificial island. Below is an overview of to get to the airport.

Phone: 0724-55-2500
URL: http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp

Getting to KIX

By Train

By High-Speed Ferry

URL: http://www.kobe-access.co.jp/en

Taking the high-speed ferry is the fastest and awesomest way to get to KIX from Kobe. First, take the Port Liner from Sannomiya to Kobe Airport (18 mins), and then get on the ferry to KIX (30 minutes). 2120 yen for the whole trip. Be aware that the ferry only runs once an hour.

If you have a car, they offer free long-term parking on the Kobe side.

By Limousine Bus

Phone: 078-857-7000 Online Schedule
-The limousine bus is also a convenient way to get to Kansai International. You don’t have haul your heavy luggage through train stations and there is storage room below the bus for your larger bags.
The bus is generally on time or a little bit early, but when there is heavy traffic the bus will be late. Be sure to allot some extra time just in case. 1900 yen from Sannomiya to KIX.

*The bus stop is next to Minato Bank (みなと銀行), kitty-corner from the Sogo department store (just south of Hankyu Sannomiya and just southwest of JR Sannomiya).
*The bus stop is outside the Hotel New Hankyu (新阪急ホテル).
*The bus stop is outside the Miyako Hotel Osaka (都ホテル大阪).

Airport Tax

When leaving KIX, you must pay an airport tax of ￥2,650. You probably already paid this when you bought your ticket.

Secret Lawsons

At the airport, restaurants and snacks are very expensive, so if you need to eat something use the secret Lawson Station! It is intended for use by airport staff, and is down some stairs from the Arrivals area on the ground floor. Go to Arrivals in the center of the airport building, and look for a small, plain white Toilets sign. Go down the stairs, and you’ll find the bathrooms and a Lawson’s convenience store – which all things considered is really an inconvenience store. Marvel in the hidden aspects of Japan.

NOTE: This Lawson closes early, but there’s another one at the airport which is 24 hours. It’s on the ground floor of the building with the hotel, next to some car rental counters. To get there take the walkway out of the terminal towards the train stations, then continue past to the hotel.

Narita International Airport (成田国際空港)

URL: www.narita-airport.jp/en

Getting to Narita International Airport

By Train

Narita is serviced by two train companies, JR East and Keisei Electric Railway. Each company offers a number of different services, ranging from faster/expensive expresses to slower/cheaper rapid services. If you have a lot of luggage, however, it is probably best to take the limousine bus instead of the train.
There is a separate railway stop for each terminal, so make sure find out what terminal your airline uses before heading for the airport.

JR East
JR East Info Line: 050-2016-1603 (Answered in English)
URL: www.jreast.co.jp/e

Keisei Electric Railway (京成電鉄)
Kaisei Railway: 0476-32-8501

By Limousine Bus

Reservations: 03-3665-7220
URL: www.limousinebus.co.jp (Japanese); http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/e (English)
The Japanese site is much more comprehensive than the English version.

Limousine buses stop in front of both terminals, so make sure find out what terminal your airline uses before heading for the airport. Airport limousine buses are probably the most convenient option since you can store your big bags underneath the bus and won’t have to lug through busy train stations.

Online Schedule in English: www.limousinebus.co.jp/e/index_route.html
Click on the station name for a detailed schedule and more information

1. The bus stop is outside the Yaesu South exit
   (八重洲南口).
2. The bus stop is outside the west exit of JR Shinjuku Station at bus stop 23 (23番のりば)
3. You can catch the bus at the following hotels:
   Shinjuku Washington Hotel (新宿ワシントンホテル)
   Runs from 5:25 am to 5:10 pmPark Hyatt Hotel (パークハイアット東京)
   Runs from 5:30 am to 5:15 pmTokyo Hilton Hotel (ヒルトン東京)
   Runs from 5:35 am to 5:20 pm

   Keio Plaza Hotel (京王プラザホテル).
   Runs from 5:50 am to 5:45 pm

   Century Hyatt Hotel (センチュリーハイアット)
   Runs from 6:05 am to 5:50 pm

   Odakyu Hotel (小田急ホテル)
   Runs from 7:00 am to 5:15 pm

4. You can catch the bus at the following hotels:
   Hotel Metropolitan
   (ホテルメトロポリトン)
   Runs from 6:00 am to 5:00 pmSunshine-City Prince Hotel.
   (サンシャインシティ・プリンスホテル)
   Runs from 6:15 am to 5:20 pm