Kansai International Airport is used by travelers to the Kansai area, including Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, and Nara. Travelers want to be as comfortable as possible when walking with large luggage during their trip.

Therefore, we will explain the recommended convenient way to get from Kansai International Airport to Umeda, the center of Osaka.

I wish everyone visiting Japan a good start to their trip!

First, there are two main ways to travel from Kansai International Airport to Umeda, Osaka.

・Train

・Airport Limousine Bus

There are also cabs, but we do not recommend them here because cabs in Japan are expensive and not recommended.

As for traveling by train, the limited express Haruka will stop in the Osaka-Umeda area on the JR line starting in the spring of 2023, making it even more convenient.

So here is a comparison of JR Rapid Train, Limited Express Haruka, and Airport Limousine Bus.

*Fares are as of April 26, 2023.

Those who use Terminal 2 should be careful. If you wish to travel to Osaka Umeda by train, you will need to take a connecting bus running through the airport from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1.

The airport limousine bus also has a stop at Terminal 2, making it possible to smoothly travel to Osaka Umeda.

*However, airport limousine buses depart only from Terminal 1 during early morning hours.

All modes of transportation have their advantages and disadvantages, but the airport limousine bus is particularly recommended for travel from Kansai International Airport to Umeda, Osaka.

The reasons are,

・The terminal is located right in front of the arrival lobby, making it easy to get around.
・Sufficient number of buses.
・Fares are cheaper than the Limited Express Haruka.
・The capacity is fixed, so you can sit in a seat.
・It is comfortable to leave large luggage in the trunk.
・There are two stops in Osaka-Umeda, so you can choose the one closer to your destination.

etc.

Anyway, the airport limousine bus is an easy, comfortable, and convenient way to get around.

Some may be concerned about traveling by bus, where arrival times are unpredictable due to traffic congestion.

However, all airport limousine buses are equipped with GPS to monitor vehicle operation in real time. At the bus stop, you can confirm the approximate arrival time in advance by checking the latest information on the bus service status.

Now that you know the advantages of using an airport limousine bus, you may be a bit nervous about getting around on a bus in Japan, a country you are not accustomed to. The following is a detailed explanation of how to use the airport limousine bus, from boarding to ticket purchase and getting off.

Kansai International Airport has two terminals. Here are the bus stops for each terminal.

<Terminal 1>.
Exit the Arrival Lobby on the 1st floor, and you will see a bus stop. Buses heading to Osaka Umeda are at bus stop No. 5.

<Terminal 2>.
As you exit the Arrival Lobby on the 1st floor, you will see a bus stop in front of you. Buses heading to Osaka Umeda are at platform 1.
Terminal 2 itself is small, so you should be able to easily find the bus stop as soon as you step outside.

Note for those using Terminal 2!
There is no airport limousine bus service in Terminal 2 during the early morning hours (from 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM). You must take the airport’s connecting bus to Terminal 1 and board from the airport limousine bus stop at Terminal 1.

There is an automatic ticket vending machine right next to the boarding gate.

Airport limousine buses connecting Kansai International Airport and Osaka Umeda do not require reservations; tickets are purchased from a ticket vending machine on the day of boarding.

Ticket machines are available in five languages (Japanese, English, Korean, Chinese simplified and Chinese traditional), and credit cards from major companies are accepted.

Tickets are available for one-way and round-trip rides.
If you are planning to use the airport limousine bus on your return trip as well, you can save on the fare by purchasing a round-trip ticket.

<In case of ticketing by QR code>

If you are issuing a ticket using a QR code via a travel agency, please use the QR scanner located at the Kansai International Airport Limousine Bus Ticket Office. If you have a QR code for a round-trip ticket, please issue a return ticket at Kansai International Airport as well. Please note that QR scanners are not installed at the “Hotel New Hankyu” stop and “Herbis Osaka” stop in Umeda, Osaka, which are the departure points for the return trip.

It is important to note that one-way bus tickets and round-trip onward tickets have an expiration date.
They can only be used on the day of purchase, so be sure to purchase them on the day of departure.
A return ticket for a round-trip bus ticket is valid for 14 days from the date of purchase.

After purchasing your ticket, follow the directions of the staff to get in line. Leave your large luggage in the trunk.
At this point, it is important to make sure you know where you are getting off!

There are two stops in the Osaka Umeda area: Hotel New Hankyu and Herbis Osaka. You will need to let them know which stop you will be getting off at when you check in your luggage.

However, you may feel rushed if you are suddenly asked at a time when you are tired after a long plane ride. It is a good idea to check the location of the bus stop on a map in advance so that you do not have to worry about getting lost on the day of your flight.

“Hotel New Hankyu” stop　⇒　Google MAP

“Herbis Osaka” stop ⇒　Google MAP

When the bus arrives, follow the directions of the staff to board. Seats are not assigned, so you may sit in any seat you like. Once seated, please remember to fasten your seatbelt.

Inside the car, voice guidance is broadcast in five languages: Japanese, English, Korean, Chinese simplified and Chinese traditional, so be sure not to miss anything.
In addition, there is an LCD screen at the front of the train, which also provides information on the next stop.

Free Wi-fi is available in the car, so you can check the location of your hotel, find a good restaurant, listen to music and take a break, and make the most of your travel time.

The airport limousine bus first arrives at the  Hotel New Hankyu stop in Umeda, Osaka.

Nearby are hotels such as the Hotel New Hankyu, Hotel Hankyu Respire Osaka, and Hotel Hankyu International, as well as the Hankyu Line, Osaka Metro Midosuji and Tanimachi Lines, JR Line, Yodobashi Camera, and Hankyu Umeda Main Store.

The Hankyu Tourist Center Osaka-Umeda, a tourist information center for international travelers, is also located nearby. In addition to sightseeing and transportation information, this center sells discount tickets for Hankyu and Hanshin trains and rents Wi-Fi routers, so please take advantage of this service.

The airport limousine bus next arrives at the “Herbis Osaka” stop, which is the last stop.

Nearby are hotels such as The Ritz-Carlton Osaka, Hilton Osaka, Hearton Hotel Nishi-Umeda, and Hotel Monterey Osaka, as well as stations on the JR Line, Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line, Midosuji Line, and Tanimachi Line.

Click here for details including the airport limousine bus timetable.

What if I get off at the wrong bus stop?

The “Hotel New Hankyu” stop and the “Herbis Osaka” stop are about a 12-minute walk away without getting lost. It is convenient to go through the underground shopping center, but Umeda’s underground shopping center is complicated.

When heading toward the “Hotel New Hankyu” stop from the “Herbis Osaka” stop, please follow the signs marked “Hankyu Railway” and when heading toward the “Herbis Osaka” stop from the “Hotel New Hankyu” stop, please follow the signs marked “Yotsubashi Line”.

▼Check out this article as well!

Osaka-Umeda-1Day-Course | Sightseeing! Shopping! Gourmet! Enjoy Osaka Umeda to the fullest!

Located a two-minute walk from the “Hotel New Hankyu” stop, the “Hankyu Express Bus Terminal” is an express bus terminal connecting Osaka Umeda and the region.

From this location, buses run daily to Shikoku and Shinshu, which are rich in nature, as well as to Arima and Kinosaki hot springs in Hyogo Prefecture, and to Amanohashidate in Kyoto Prefecture.

Japan Bus Online, a reservation site that handles highway buses throughout Japan, is convenient for highway bus reservations.

Click here for Japan Bus Online, a highway bus reservation site.

In particular, Arima Onsen is definitely recommended to take a highway bus from Umeda, Osaka, as it takes a long time and requires many transfers if you try to travel from Umeda to Arima Onsen by train!

Check the special page for reservations for routes to and from Arima Onsen.

Incidentally, the Kyoto – Arima Onsen route also operates, making it easy to travel between Osaka, Arima Onsen, and Kyoto by highway bus.

The following are some tips for traveling from Kansai International Airport to the Osaka Umeda area.

・The airport limousine bus is a comfortable and convenient way to travel from Kansai International Airport to the Osaka Umeda area.
・Please purchase a ticket on the day of boarding.
・There are two drop-off points at Osaka Umeda. There are two drop-off locations in Osaka Umeda, so please confirm in advance whether you will be getting off at Hotel New Hankyu or Herbis Osaka.

Have a good trip!