Car Hire Kansai International Airport

Car Hire

As one of Japan's newer airports, Kansai International Airport opened in 1994 to handle the overcrowded Osaka International Airport's international flights. Today, this modern Osaka Bay airport which is situated just over 30 miles southwest of Osaka is the main air gateway for most international visitors to Japan's historic Kansai region. Passengers can take a high-speed ferry to Kobe Airport, board a monorail for Tokyo, choose from three different airport shuttle buses or make a 24-mile long train journey to Osaka Station. However, car rental in Kansai Airport remains the easiest way to explore rural regions like Kansai's four national parks and the beaches on its north coast.

Who to Book With
It takes about three minutes to walk between the main Kansai International Airport passenger terminal and the six car rental desks on the second floor. Most vehicles for rent at the airport are available through Japanese-owned car hire companies like Nippon and Orix, with well-known Japanese brands like Mazda, Nissan and Toyota on hand.

Need to Know Essentials
The following documents have to be shown when claiming rented vehicles at this airport:

- A Japanese driver’s licence or an International Driving Permit
- A valid passport for drivers from outside of Japan
- Proof of identity and age over 18

For more info read our FAQ's.

Driving
Driving around Kansai is generally much more relaxing in the region's peaceful countryside than in the chaotic traffic throughout the major cities of Kobe, Kyoto and Osaka. Motorists must pay tolls to cross the Airport Access Bridge which connects the airport's island location with the Hanshin Expressway. The Kii Peninsula's Kumano region is where rental cars come in most handy in Kansai. Motorists can also drive directly from Kansai Airport along the Shirahama Route to the region's biggest beach resort or along the mountainous Koyasan Route to the Ryujin shrine.

See our guide to Japan for more information on driving here.

Transport

A second-floor walkway connects the Kansai Airport Arrivals hall to the airport's railway station, from where passengers can board four different train routes bound for Osaka, Kyoto and several other destinations. A high-speed ferry service takes just under 30 minutes to travel to Kobe Airport. Airport Limousine buses cost slightly more than trains, but are often faster and more convenient. They take 1 hour to travel to Kobe or 1 hour, 10 minutes to travel to Osaka's Itami Airport. Shared shuttle vans are far cheaper than regular taxis.

Trains
The West Japan Railway Company operates two rail lines from Kansai Airport railway station. JR West Haruka train tickets cost around £18 for the 45-minute journey to Osaka and £22 for the 1 hour, 10 minute trip to Kyoto. A 1 hour Osaka Station journey aboard a JR Rapid Service train costs around £8.50. Nankai Electric Railway operates two routes to Osaka's Namba Station. Nankai Rapid Service trains cost £6.50 for a 40 minute journey to Namba, while a faster trip aboard a Nankai rapid train costs just over £10.

Taxis
MK Skygateshuttle is among the cheapest of the airport's sometimes costly taxi services, while Yasaka Taxi operates both a limousine service and an airport shuttle bus between Kansai Airport and Kyoto. Taxi booths stand on the first floor of the terminal's south end.

Taxi prices:
Kansai Airport to Osaka city centre is about £120
Kansai Airport to Kyoto city centre is about £240

Buses
Kansai Airport Transportation Enterprise is the airport's main bus provider, and both Kansai Airport terminal buildings have their own outdoor bus stops. Bus tickets are sold at vending machines outside both terminals. Although buses can be caught from the Terminal 2 building, some buses only stop at the Terminal 1 building. Bus tickets to both Kobe and Osaka's Itami Airport cost around £12.

Facilities

Terminals
The brand new Terminal 2, reserved for low-cost flights, welcomed its first passengers on October 2012. Peach Aviation is the only airline which presently uses this basic one-floor terminal whose domestic and international gates are located next to each other. All other flights still use the older and much larger Terminal 1, which currently handles nearly 500 Asian flights, 35 North American flights and 66 Middle Eastern or European flights per week. Nearly 17 million passengers enter Kansai Airport on an annual basis.

Parking
Both Kansai Airport car parks, P1 and P2, are directly linked to the main terminal building. Standard parking rates are about £4 per 30 minutes for up to 5 hours, 30 minutes, around £30 for 12 hours and £60 for three days of parking. Passengers who purchase more than £20-worth of goods at airport shops are entitled to two hours of free parking.

Wi-Fi
No money or special application procedures are required to use Kansai Airport's free wireless internet facilities.

Information Services
In addition to two fully-fledged information centres, one at each terminal, Kansai Airport contains a total of eight information counters, a telephone centre and a tourist information centre.

Useful Numbers
Information Centre: +81 72 455 2500
Hotel Reservations and Transportation Tickets: +81 72 455 2911
Tourist Information Centre: +81 72 456 6025

Accessibility
Kansai Airport provides a free fax service for the hearing-impaired, Braille signage at all bus stops and train platforms, and wheelchair-friendly escalators and elevators. Most airport toilets are disabled persons-friendly. Airport staff can provide free wheelchairs as well as assistance for visually-impaired passengers.

Restaurants and Bars
From traditional Japanese sushi bars to Western fast food chains like Subway and McDonald's, Kansai Airport's dozens of restaurants offer meals to please the palates of all passengers. Those who just want a cup of coffee can visit a total of four Starbucks outlets, two Tully's Coffee franchises and several independently-owned coffee shops. The Colonna Traiano Italian restaurant is among the airport's more formal dining options.

VIP Lounges

Terminal 1:
VIP Room

Money and ATMs
ATMs from at least nine different banks are represented at every corner of Kansai Airport except, by law, past the International Departures gates. All ATMs accept credit cards. The second floor of Terminal 1 contains a Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi branch, while several currency exchanges and a world currency shop are scattered across the airport.

Shopping
The international gates of Terminal 1 contain dozens of duty-free shops where passengers can purchase designer clothing, watches and handbags at rock bottom prices. Other shopping options within Kansai Airport include two Lawson convenience stores, a Panasonic electronics outlet, a Kokumin cosmetics shop and dozens of souvenir shops.