Jazmin Li
Osaka's international airport, Kansai International Airport (KIX), is located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, about 40 kilometres southwest of downtown Osaka. It is the closest international airport to the cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. Osaka's domestic airport, on the other hand, is called Itami Airport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Osaka International Airport |
| Location | It is located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Specifically, it is in the city of Toyonaka and the city of Ikeda in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. |
| Coordinates | 34°47′00″N 135°26′13″E |
| Elevation-f | 66 ft |
| Code | ITM |
| Phone number | +81 6-6856-6781 |
| Owner/Operator | Osaka International Airport Terminal Co., Ltd. |
| Serves | Osaka |
| Focus City For | All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, Japan Transocean Air |
| Hub For | Skymark Airlines |
| Passenger traffic | 15,686,590 (2019) |
| Website | Osaka International Airport |
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What You'll Learn
Kansai International Airport (KIX) is Osaka's international airport
KIX is Osaka's main point of entry and is the closest international airport to the cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. It serves as a hub for several airlines, including All Nippon Airways, Peach Aviation, Japan Airlines, and Nippon Cargo Airlines. The airport has two terminals with various shopping and dining facilities, as well as state-of-the-art lounges and intelligent security gates. Terminal 1 handles most flights and check-ins, while Terminal 2 primarily serves Peach Aviation, a low-cost carrier.
KIX is well-connected to Osaka by train, limousine bus, and taxi. Travellers with a Japan Rail Pass can take the JR Haruka airport express train to Tennoji or Shin-Osaka, followed by a subway or taxi to their final destination. Alternatively, the Nankai Rapi:t airport express train can be taken to Namba Station, followed by a subway or taxi. The Nankai Line station is directly opposite the terminal building and offers inexpensive, comfortable, and efficient transportation to Osaka and beyond.
KIX was built to relieve overcrowding at Osaka International Airport, also known as Itami Airport, which is closer to Osaka and primarily serves domestic flights. Kansai International Airport opened on 4 September 1994 and has since been recognised for its earthquake engineering and resilience against natural disasters, such as the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995.
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Itami Airport is Osaka's domestic airport
Itami Airport opened in 1939 as No. 2 Osaka Airport. It was Osaka's main civilian airport until the opening of Kansai International Airport (KIX) in 1994. In 2006, Itami was Japan's third busiest airport and the Kansai region's busiest. In 2018, it was the seventh busiest airport in Japan, serving 16.3 million passengers.
Itami Airport is accessible from downtown Osaka by limousine bus, which takes around 30 minutes and costs Y640. A private taxi is a more expensive but more convenient option, costing around Y5000 and taking about 25 minutes. A shared taxi (MK Skygate Shuttle) is also available. Additionally, travellers can take the Osaka Monorail and then transfer to the train or subway, although this is not recommended for those with a lot of luggage.
Itami Airport has been a source of political controversy due to concerns over noise and air pollution from jet aircraft. In the 1960s and 1970s, local residents filed lawsuits against the government, seeking damages for noise pollution. As a result, restrictions were placed on flight operations during specific hours.
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KIX is located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay
Osaka's international airport, Kansai International Airport, is commonly referred to as KIX and is located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay. KIX is about 37 to 40 kilometres southwest of downtown Osaka and is well-connected to the city by train, limousine bus, and taxi. The airport is also accessible by bullet train, with Shin-Osaka located about 50 minutes away.
KIX is the primary international airport in the Greater Osaka Area and the closest international airport to the cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. It is also a hub for several airlines, including All Nippon Airways, Peach Airlines, Japan Airlines, and Nippon Cargo Airlines. The airport has two terminals, with Terminal 1 handling most flights and check-ins, and Terminal 2 primarily hosting flights by the low-cost carrier Peach Aviation.
The construction of KIX on an artificial island was a significant engineering feat. To create the island, three mountains were excavated, providing the fill material for the island's construction. A seawall was built using rock and 48,000 tetrapods, and a thick layer of earth was placed over the seafloor and inside the seawall. The project faced challenges due to the soft soils of Osaka Bay, resulting in additional costs.
KIX opened on September 4, 1994, and has since expanded with the addition of a second runway and a new terminal building. It has received recognition for its earthquake-resistant design, surviving the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995 with minimal damage. The airport also offers a range of amenities for travellers, including restaurants, shopping facilities, and accommodation options.
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Osaka Airport used to be Kizugawa Airport, which handled seaplanes and conventional planes
Osaka Airport, also known as Itami Airport, is the primary domestic airport for the Kansai region of Japan. It is the closest airport to Osaka, being 11 km (7 mi) north of Osaka Station.
Before Itami Airport opened, Osaka's main civilian airport was Kizugawa Airport. Kizugawa Airport handled both seaplanes and conventional planes. The site of Kizugawa Airport is now a port area in Funamachi in the south end of Taisho Ward. In 1931, the Osaka municipal government drafted plans to construct a new "No. 1 Osaka Airport" near the mouth of the Yamato River, also targeted at seaplanes. However, concerns about fog and protests from Kobe-based businesses led the government to build the "No. 2 Airport" for land-based aircraft instead.
Itami Airport, also known as No. 2 Osaka Airport, opened in 1939. Construction began in July 1936 on a 53-hectare (131-acre) site. The airport was primarily used by the Imperial Japanese Army during its early years. After World War II, the U.S. occupation forces took over the airport, expanding it to 221 hectares and renaming it Itami Air Base. The airfield was used extensively by U.S. forces during the Korean War.
In 1959, the airport was returned to Japanese control and renamed Osaka Airport. Over time, the airport became surrounded by residential areas, leading to complaints about noise and air pollution. The introduction of jet aircraft made these issues worse, and the airport's proximity to residential areas meant that it could not be expanded to accommodate larger aircraft.
To address overcrowding and the inability to expand Itami Airport, the construction of a new airport was proposed. This airport, known as Kansai International Airport, opened in 1994 and took over all international arrivals to Osaka, leaving Itami Airport to handle domestic flights exclusively.
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KIX is about 37-43km from downtown Osaka
Osaka's international airport, Kansai International Airport, is commonly known as KIX and is located about 37-43km from downtown Osaka. KIX is built on an artificial island, Kankūjima, in Osaka Bay. The airport is within three municipalities, Izumisano, Sennan, and Tajiri, in Osaka Prefecture.
KIX is about 38km southwest of Ōsaka Station. The distance between KIX and Namba in downtown Osaka is about 43km. The airport is well-connected to the city by train, limousine bus, and taxi. The train is the fastest way to get to downtown Osaka from KIX, with the Nankai Rapi:t airport express train taking 45 minutes to reach Namba Station. The JR Haruka airport express train takes 50 minutes to reach Shin-Osaka Station.
KIX is Osaka's gateway to the Kansai region, which includes the cities of Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, and Wakayama. It is the closest international airport to these cities. KIX is also a hub for several airlines, including All Nippon Airways, Peach Airlines, and Japan Airlines. The airport has two terminals, with Terminal 1 handling most flights and Terminal 2 catering to low-cost carriers.
KIX is easily accessible from Osaka and offers various transportation options, making it a convenient gateway to the Kansai region for travellers.
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Frequently asked questions
Osaka has two airports: Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Itami Airport. Kansai International Airport is located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, about 40 kilometres south of the city centre. Itami Airport is about 11 kilometres or 6.5 miles north of central Osaka.
Kansai International Airport (KIX) is the closest international airport to Osaka. It is also the primary international airport in the Greater Osaka Area and the gateway to Japan's Kansai region.
Osaka Kansai Airport is about 37 to 40 kilometres southwest of downtown Osaka. It is approximately 50 minutes from the bullet train hub of Shin-Osaka and 100 minutes away from Kyoto Station.
The best way to get from Osaka Kansai Airport to Osaka is by train, followed by the limousine bus, and then a shared taxi van. The Nankai Rapi:t airport express train takes 45 minutes to get to Namba Station and costs Y1130. The JR Haruka airport express train takes 50 minutes to get to Shin-Osaka and costs Y2330.
Osaka's domestic airport is Itami Airport. It is older but more conveniently located than Kansai International Airport.
