Air Travel

Many international carriers fly into Kansai International Airport (KIX) south of Osaka, which handles all of the Kansai region's international flights as well as connecting domestic flights to major Japanese cities. The airport, constructed on reclaimed land in Osaka Bay, is easy to navigate and is an interesting sight in its own right. Exiting customs on the first floor, you will find English-language tourist information and direct access to the limousine buses that run to many downtown hotels and destinations (roughly 60 minutes, depending on the destination). Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) have ongoing domestic flights to many major cities—Osaka is about 30 to 70 minutes away, Kobe about 40 minutes, and Nara about 90 minutes. Skymark offers good fares to major cities, and Peach Aviation, a Kansai-based discount carrier, offers inexpensive flights to many cities.

About half of domestic flights use Itami Airport, roughly 30 minutes northwest of Osaka. Travel to Kobe from Itami Airport takes about 40 minutes, 55 minutes to Nara.

Airline Contacts

Air Canada. 0570/014–787; www.aircanada.com.

All Nippon Airways. 0570/029–709; www.ana.co.jp.

Delta Airlines. 0570/077–733; www.delta.com.

Japan Airlines. 0570/025–121; www.jal.com.

Peach Aviation. 03/6302–8991; www.flypeach.com.

Skymark. 0570/039–283; www.skymark.co.jp/en.

Airport Contact

Kansai International Airport (関西国際空港). 関西国際空港 1-Banchi, Senshu-kuko Kita, Izumisano, Osaka-fu, 549-8501. 07/2455–2500; www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/index.asp.