Haruka Express: Osaka and Kyoto airport transfer

The Kansai International Airport (KIX) services the cities of Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Kobe. If you hold a JR Pass, travel from the airport can be a simple and exciting process, as the JR West’s Express Haruka train offers direct transportation from the Kansai International Airport to downtown Osaka and Kyoto.

International travelers may find navigating the Japan Railway system to be intimidating, especially if trains are not used extensively in their country of origin. This trek, in particular, can be a bit confusing for first-time users of the Haruka service. This guide is designed to make it clear how to get to downtown Osaka and Kyoto for free on the Haruka Express.

Haruka Express: the Kansai Airport transfer

The Haruka is a limited express, airport rail link train service. The train offers rapid service between Maibara (in the Shiga prefecture) and the Kansai International Airport (KIX), reaching speeds of 130 km/h (80 mph).

While the use of this train generally requires both a train fare ticket and a limited express ticket, Japan Rail Pass holders are admitted free of charge.

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Each train has 6 to 9 cars, with at least 1 Green Car. There are also 2 to 3 cars on each train that are for non-reserved seating, and the remainder are reserved seating. Each train has restroom facilities, a vending machine, luggage racks, and is wheelchair accessible.

Free Wi-Fi service is also provided. In the interest of passenger safety, smoking is prohibited on all Haruka Express train cars.

The Haruka Express is also covered by some JR Regional Passes, such as the Hokuriku Arch Pass.

Haruka Express from Kansai Airport to Osaka

To travel from the Kansai Airport to the city of Osaka, board the Limited Express Haruka at the Kansai Airport Station using your JR Pass.

You can take the Haruka to both JR Osaka Station and Shin-Osaka Station. The journey to Osaka Station takes 45 minutes, while Shin-Osaka is 5 minutes longer.

To go to Osaka, Shin-Osaka Station, the price is

• ¥1800 for adults
• ¥900 for children

Alternatively, you can also get on the previous station, at Tennoji Station, which is slightly closer to the city center.

Read More: How to get from Kansai Airport to Osaka

Haruka Express from Kansai Airport to Kyoto

The Limited Express Haruka is the only direct train service from Kansai Airport to Kyoto Station. The one-way trip takes around 1hour and 15 minutes and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

From the Kyoto station, you may use other JR lines (such as the JR Nara line), bus, or taxi services to travel anywhere in the city or nearby.

Read more: Kansai Airport to Kyoto

Route and map

Haruka Express stations

The Haruka Express runs several times daily from the Kyoto Station to the Kansai Airport Station. The train also stops in Osaka City at the Shin-Osaka Station, Osaka Station, and the Tennoji Station.

For other destinations, here is the full list of stations served by the JR Haruka Express trains.

• Maibara station (connection with the Tokaido Shinkansen line)
• Hikone
• Omi-Hachiman
• Yasu
• Moriyama
• Kusatsu (connection with the JR Kusatsu line)
• Ishiyama
• Otsu
• Yamashina
• Kyoto (connection to the Tokaido Shinkansen line, Nara line and other JR lines)
• Takatsuki
• Shin-Osaka (connection to the Tokaido Shinkansen, Sanyo Shinkansen and other private lines)
• Osaka Station (Osaka)
• Tennoji (Osaka)
• Izumi-Fuchu
• Hineno (connection with the JR Hanwa line for Wakayama)
• Kansai Airport

Ride the Haruka Express with the JR Pass

There are a number of regional JR West Passes in addition to the JR Pass that include the Haruka Express. You can take this line with the following passes:

• Kansai Area Pass
• Kansai Wide Area Pass
• Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass
• Sanyo – San’in Area Pass
• Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass
• Hiroshima – Yamaguchi Area Pass

Haruka Express timetable

The Haruka makes 30 return trips daily, from Maibara to the Kansai airport and back, for a total of 60 one-way trips. Each one-way trip between the Airport Station and Kyoto Station takes 73 to 75 minutes.

Trains depart every 30 minutes during the day and evening.

Check out the timetable below to understand when you can take your trip with the Haruka Express.

Haruka express weekend and holiday timetable

If you are planning to travel on the weekend or holidays, there is a slightly different timetable for the Haruka Express.

Review it below to make sure you know the different train arrival and departure times.

Where to check the timetables

Apart from the Haruka Express timetable found on the official website, once you pass through the ticket barrier at each station, you will see a timetable for the trains. Be sure to check the timetables for unexpected delays or boarding changes.

You can then find the train type – in this case “Ltd. Haruka”), the train number, departure time, destination, and platform number scrolling across the digital screen. The departures are numbered from 1to 60. Odd numbered trains (1, 3, 5, etc.) run south toward the airport, while even numbered trains (2, 4, 6, etc.) run north, toward Osaka and Kyoto.

Haruka Express ticket prices

Depending on the station, the prices of tickets vary. Take a look at ticket prices below for trips to Kansai Airport for both adults and children to help you plan your trips and budget.