Kansai Japan

Kansai Airport

Posted on 17. Jul, 2006 by admin in Osaka

Kansai airport is a man made island offshore in the middle of Osaka Bay. Built over the course of 7 years at an enormous cost of 1 billion dollars it was opened in 1994.
The airport resembles a whale from the inside, but you would never know that from the outside. The building is one long sleek undulating silver roof and on the inside there are lots of mobiles and sailsthat turn due to the circulating air.

Highlights of Kansai Airport

• The airport code for Kansai is KIX.
• American Airlines, Northwest, and United have direct flights to KIX from the US.
• Kansai airport is the longest terminal in the world.
• Kansai aiport withstood the effects of the 1995 Kobe earthquake

Transportation to Kansai Airport

Official train schedule from JR

Official train route map to and from Kansai Airport

*If you want to goto downtown Osaka, known as Umeda, from KIX, the best way would be to take the Airport Express “HARUKA” to Shin-Osaka and take either a rapid or local train to Osaka (Umeda train station). The difference between Osaka and Shin-Osaka is that Shin-Osaka is a little further out from the city center and it can accomodate the Shinkansen trains which are also known as Bullet Trains. Shin-Osaka and Osaka are 1 stop apart.

*If you want to transfer to Kyoto from KIX, the best way would be to take the Airport Express “HARUKA” to Kyoto direct. They have direct and non-direct lines so pay attention.

*If you want to transfer to Tokyo via rail, the best way would be to take “HARUKA” direct to Shin-Osaka, then get tickets on the Shinkansen Lines to Tokyo.