What is the best way to get from Kansai International Airport to Namba?
1. Going to Namba by Nankai Electric Railroad
The Nankai Electric Railroad boarding area is located across the bridge on the second floor of Kansai International Airport.
When going to Namba Station on a Nankai train, there are two trains one can take.
1-1. Using the “Rapi:t”
The “Rapi:t” is a limited express train that runs every 30 minutes.
It takes 38 minutes to get to Namba Station.
The Kansai International Airport Rapi:t train schedule can be found here.
http://www.howto-osaka.com/en/railway/kix/fromkix/rapit.html#kix
The train fare is as follows. All seats are reserved seating.
(Regular seat) Adult: 1,130Yen — Child: 570Yen
(Super seat) Adult: 1,340Yen — Child: 770Yen
You may purchase tickets at the station’s ticket counter.
1-2. Going to Namba by Airport Express
Going to Namba by Airport Express costs ¥920, and will take 44 minutes.
The Airport Express is less expensive than the Rapi:t, but takes longer.
Rapi:t trains stop running after 10 pm, so customers must switch to the Airport Express after 10 pm.
It may be difficult to find a seat depending on the time of day.
Nankai Namba Station connects directly to the Takashimaya and Namba Parks department stores, as well as to other shopping malls. One will also be within quick walking distance of areas packed with electronics shops, the famous area of Nipponbashi, and the shopping district of Dotonbori. This method is therefore very convenient for people who want to start shopping or find a place to eat immediately upon arrival.
Namba Station on the Midosuji subway line is also close by, making this quite convenient for those who want to go on to Umeda or other areas.
The Nankai Electric Railroad website is available in multiple languages.
There is still lots of other useful information, so please check out their website.
How to Enjoy OSAKA
2. Going to Namba by JR
The JR boarding area is next to the Nankai Electric Railroad boarding area.
2-1. Going to Namba Station by Kansai Airport Limited Express “Haruka”
Kansai Airport Limited Express “Haruka” is a limited express train that runs from Kansai International Airport to places such as Shin-Osaka or Kyoto.
It takes about 50 minutes when riding the “Haruka” to get to JR Namba Station.
It is necessary to switch to the Yamatoji line at Tennoji station.
With the limited train express fee included, the total cost to ride is 2,030Yen.
However, if one has purchased the previously introduced JAPAN RAIL PASS, one can ride the train without paying any additional fees.
The “Haruka” runs once every hour.
2-2. Going to Namba Station by Kansai Airport Express
The Kansai Airport Express runs more often than the Haruka, with one train running about every 20 minutes.
It takes about 1 hour to get to JR Namba Station when riding the Kansai Airport Express. The train fare is 1,060Yen.
Being able to ride without any additional charges is a big benefit of having the JAPAN RAIL PASS.
JR Namba Station and Nankai Namba Station are about 10 minutes walking distance from each other. However, Amerikamura is closer to JR Namba station.
Transferring to Kintetsu trains or to the Yotsubashi Line is also more convenient from JR Namba Station.
There are various ticket deals for JR as well, so be sure to check their website.
West Japan Railway Company
3. Going to Namba by bus
Finally, we would like to introduce how to get to Namba by riding the bus.
The bus boarding areas are located outside of the exit of the arrival area.
The correct ticket machine and bus boarding location will depend on where you are going, so it is necessary to pay attention. First, look up your destination’s boarding area number.
Buses going to Namba are at the number 11 boarding area.
Ticket vending machines are located right near the boarding area, so go ahead and purchase a ticket.
The fare to get to Namba is 1,050Yen. It takes about 48 minutes.
You will hand your ticket to the driver when you board.
The bus stops at OCAT, which is located next to JR Namba Station.
Like using JR, this is convenient for those going to Amerikamura, or transferring to the Yotsubashi or Kintetsu lines.
However, one must understand that traffic or other issues may cause the bus to arrive late.
This method is best for those who want to sit down and relax after arriving at Kansai International Airport.
This concludes the introduction of the three ways one can travel to Namba.
Each method has its own features, so please choose the way that works best for you.
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Directions from Kansai International Airport to Shinsaibashi
