Kansai International Airport KIX

Kansai International Airport (KIX) sits on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, about 38 km southwest of central Osaka, and belongs to the municipalities of Izumisano, Sennan and Tajiri. It is the great international gateway of the Kansai region, which includes Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara. In 2025 it handled around 34 million passengers, about 27 million of them on international flights. It is the home of Peach, Japan’s largest low-cost airline, and a cargo base for FedEx and Nippon Cargo Airlines.

Terminals

There are two terminals. Terminal 1, designed by Renzo Piano, is 1.7 km long and one of the longest in the world; it brings together most full-service airlines. Terminal 2 opened in 2012 for low-cost carriers such as Peach, Spring Airlines and Jeju Air. A free shuttle bus links the two terminals; allow plenty of time if you need to move from one to the other, especially with luggage.

Airlines and destinations

ANA and Japan Airlines operate domestic flights and routes to Asia, North America and Europe, and Peach has a broad network of domestic and Asian routes. Many airlines from China, Korea and Southeast Asia fly here. Routes change with the season, so confirm your terminal on your ticket or on your airline’s website.

Services

It is a full international airport, with shops, restaurants, currency exchange and ATMs. If you have a long layover, bring something to keep yourself busy and factor in the transfer time between terminals.

Tips

The airport operates 24 hours a day, which allows early-morning and late-night flights. It is on an island connected by a bridge, and Typhoon Jebi in 2018 caused flooding and a temporary closure, something to bear in mind in typhoon season in late summer. If you fly with a low-cost airline, check before leaving whether you are using Terminal 1 or 2. Besides train and bus, there is a ferry service from the island to Kobe.