Kansai Airport Limited Express Haruka route and timetable. Direct access to Shin Osaka, Tennoji and Kyoto from Kansai airport

Kansai (KIX)
Limited Express Haruka from KIX is covered by this pass.
2011.03.06
Limited Express Haruka connects Kansai airport and Kyoto via Tennoji and Shin-Osaka.
Limited Express Haruka connects Kansai airport and Kyoto via Tennoji and Shin-Osaka.

Kansai Airport Limited Express Haruka may be your first train if you arrive in Kansai airport. It is operated between Kansai (Osaka) airport, Tennoji, Shin-Osaka, Kyoto, Kusatsu and Maibara. But please be careful that Haruka does not stop at Osaka station. It stop at Tennoji and Shin-Osaka. If you want to go to Osaka station, you have to transfer to the local train at Shin-Osaka. This express train has 30 round trips a day and are operated mostly every 30 minutes.

After you arrive Kansai airport, you can exchange your JR Pass and take this train to Osaka. JR Pass cover fully this train. Haruka takes you to Shin-Osaka station for about 1 hour. It is fast and convenient. But this train does not take you to Osaka station and does not drop you off at the door of Hotel either. We have an Airport limousine bus to many place in Greater Osaka and Hi-speed ferry service to Kobe. So if you go to Greater Osaka area, I recommend you to take other transportation.

And also if you stay several days in downtown Osaka, please think about saving your rail pass days. Please refer this tips.

Route and stations

Haruka runs between Kansai airport and Kyoto, Kusatsu, Maibara. But most of trips run between Kansai airport and Kyoto. Train to/from Kusatsu and Maibara run in early morning and late evening only as a commute express train.

Please see the operation route in the map below:

Limited Express Haruka operation map (Click to view large)

If you are looking for the timetable of Haruka, you can find it in my PDF timetable in the link below:

Due to COVID-19, it may be operated on a schedule different from the normal timetable. Check the train schedule on Hyperdia.
Hyperdia perfect guide, train timetable and route search engine

Special tickets and passes to cover Haruka

There are some deals available to cover this train.

JR West Kansai Area Pass

This pass is designed for unlimited JR train ride in Kansai area. But you can use one day pass to get on Haruka. This pass covers non reserved seat on Haruka. The online price of one day pass is 2,200 yen. You can purchase this online or Kansai airport station on the spot. The online price is slightly cheaper than a regular ticket (basic fare + non reserved seat fee = 2,330 yen) from Kansai airport to Shin-Osaka. If you go to Shin-Osaka or Kyoto and make some trips on JR lines, this pass gives you a great deal. Please see the link below to find the details:

how to use JR Kansai Area Pass. Compare this pass and regular fare

ICOCA and Haruka, Kansai One Pass and Haruka, Haruka discount ticket

If you take some local trains after arrival by Haruka, this special combination deal offers you a good deal and convenience. This is a discount price ticket to take non reserved seat on Haruka and IC card which covers most transportation. Please see the post below to find more information:

ICOCA and Haruka, Kansai One Pass and Haruka, aruka discount ticket. Very flexible and good deal for a tourist who stay in Kansai

Other rail passes to cover Haruka

The following deals cover this train, Haruka:

Accommodation

Hotels in Kansai International Airport
Hotels in Kyoto
Hotels in Nara
Hotels in Kobe
Hotels in Osaka

JR West 281 series and 271 series are used for Haruka. 281 series was introduced at the same time of Kansai airport opened in 1994. 271 series was introduced in July, 2019 because of increasing demand. But both series look almost same.

*Sonic Rail Garden has copyright for all images of accommodations below.

Green seat

The seat configuration is 2+1. It is a big seat, but the headrest is quite small.

Ordinary seat

The seat configuration is 2+2. The table is so small and the size is not enough for eat and using a laptop.

Washroom and other facilities

Baggage storage area

This storage does not have any lock and security.

Haruka train formation

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Some trains are operated by 9 cars formation.

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*G=Green seat R=Reserved seat NR=Non reserved seat

Comments

  1. Jyess says:
    August 16, 2016 at 6:32 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I am arriving in KIX on 7th Dec, going to Takayama & Kanazawa from 8th to 11th Dec. If I purchase the Takayama-Hokuriku Pass, will it be worth for me to activate it upon arrival in KIX on 7th Dec? My itinerary as below;

    07th Dec – KIX > Osaka
    08th Dec – Osaka > Kanazawa > Takayama
    09th Dec – Takayama
    10th Dec – Takayama > Shirakawa-go > Kanazawa
    11th Dec – Kanazawa > Kyoto
    11th to 13th Dec – Kyoto
    13th to 18th Dec – Osaka

    On 07th Dec, I am staying nearby to Matsuyamachi Station, should I get off at Tennoji Station or Shin-Osaka Station? I am arriving in KIX at 8.30am and wont be able to check in until 3pm. I might need to leave my luggage at Namba Station’s locker.

    I am also planning to get a ICOCA card for Kyoto & Osaka from 11th to 18th Dec, roughly how much I should have in my card for a start? I can reload later when the funds isn’t sufficient.

    Kindly help me. Thanks in advance.

    • Takeshi Shimomura, Author of JPRail.com
      Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      August 16, 2016 at 3:24 pm

      Hi Jyess,

      Takayama Hokuriku Area Pass will work for your trip. I’m sure that it’s the best choice.
      Tennoji is closer to Matsuyamachi than Shin-Osaka. You can take subway from Tennoji to Matsuyamachi. Please find the map at the link below:
      http://www.kotsu.city.osaka.lg.jp/library/english/img/guide_english2.pdf

      Most of hotels in Japan can receive the luggage before check in time. I always go to the hotel even before check in time and leave the luggage. Ask your hotel to do it or not. I believe they can do it.

      You can use ICOCA but I have no idea how much you spend at all. It depends on how many trips you make. When you purchase it, 1500 yen is in the card. You can add as much as you want later.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Jyess says:
        August 16, 2016 at 7:25 pm

        Dear Takeshi,

        Thank you for your reply and the pdf map. It certainly helps. I also read from your blog that the TH Pass will not be available for sale in Japan. Thus, I need to purchase it from the local agent?

        Ohh, upon arrival in Kanazawa, I will need to take the Nohi Bus to Takayama. Any idea on seat reservation online? I only notice that I can purchase the ticket online and make a reservation during purchase. However, I am holding the TH Pass, I wont be doing any purchase online.

        Thanks.

        • Takeshi Shimomura, Author of JPRail.com
          Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
          August 16, 2016 at 11:09 pm

          Hi Jyess,

          Actually JR does not give us any list of venders. I have no idea which agent sell this deal. As you think, this is not sold in Japan and you have to buy it before you leave.
          Try to contact JR pass agent. They may sell this deal. You can find JR pass agent list at the link below:
          http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/purchase.html#step_01

          I think you have to make a call if you want to book Nohi bus in advance. As far as I know, phone call is only way to book for this deal.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Netr says:
    July 18, 2016 at 7:50 am

    Hi Takeshi

    I’m flying to Kansai Airport and want to take the Hakura train to Shin-Osaka to catch a Shinkansen to Kyoto. Is this the fastest way to get to Kyoto? and how much would this cost?

  3. artistrie
    Cynthia says:
    July 12, 2016 at 4:50 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    I need to get from Kyoto station to Kansai Airport. Is the best option the Kansai Area Pass taking the Kansai-airport Express HARUKA?

    Thanks,
    Cynthia

  4. paulinealisago
    Pau says:
    June 15, 2016 at 12:59 am

    Hi. My senior parents and I are going to Osaka on November for 9 days. What is the most convenient way to reach Shin-Osaka St.? I dont want them jumping off from station to station. What kind of discount card can I get? And when going back on our departure day from Shin-osaka to KIX airport, what is more ideal? Any suggestions? Thanks!

  5. Adeline Yap says:
    May 23, 2016 at 11:11 pm

    Dear Takeshi san

    May I know how do we get to Wakayama station from Kansai airport? Can we use Haruka Express.

    Thank you
    Yap

  6. Soo says:
    May 16, 2016 at 7:01 pm

    Hi, I have a question on the Kansai Wide Pass for Haruka. The pass covers ‘Ordinary Car, Non-reserved Seating’, right? So we sit where there are seat available for ‘Non reserved seat’ but what if there are no more seat available after we enter the coach? Do we sit somewhere else? And how do we reserve seat and what is the extra cost? Sorry if the question sounded silly but I’m rather confused with the whole extra ticketing required and reserve/non reserve system. Appreciate if you would be able to help to explain the system! 🙂

    • Takeshi Shimomura, Author of JPRail.com
      Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      May 16, 2016 at 8:26 pm

      Hi Soo,

      If all seats in non reserved cars are occupied, you have to stand up on the isle or passengers deck. But it’s very very rare.
      If you want to reserve your seat, you have to pay full amount of seat fare and it doesn’t make any sense to use this pass. And also you have to go to the ticket window to book. You cannot do it on board.

      If it’s full and you really want to get a seat, wait for next train to get a seat. That’s better way than reserving seat.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  7. rani says:
    April 25, 2016 at 9:37 pm

    hi Takeshi,

    i will attend a confrence in Miyakomesse, Kyoto for 5 days.
    what is the cheaper way to get there form Kansai airport?

  8. bushouhige says:
    April 17, 2016 at 5:49 pm

    Hi Takeshi,
    i am arriving at KIX with Osaka locals and they are organising our transport into Osaka (Yao).
    But i need to travel back to KIX by myself. I will catch local train to Tennoji and then take Haruka to KIX. What is the best option to purchase a one-way Haruka ticket from Tennoji to KIX? Can i buy a ticket at Tennoji?
    I do not need a general rail pass while i am in Osaka, but will buy one if i must

    • Takeshi Shimomura, Author of JPRail.com
      Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      April 17, 2016 at 6:35 pm

      Hi bushouhige,

      Yes. You can take local train to Tennoji by single fare around 200 yen. And then take Haruka from Tennoji to Kansai airport by discount ticket at 1100 yen. But you need to exit at Tennoji station and purchase this ticket. You cannot purchase it at Yao.
      If you don’t want to exit, just change to rapid train at Tennoji. In this case, you can purchase one single fare ticket to Kansai airport at Yao. It costs around 1200 yen in total.

      Cher

  9. Wesley says:
    March 30, 2016 at 4:17 am

    I bought Haruka tickets from Shin-Osaka to Kansai airport and I received two tickets. One says Fair Ticket for 1,360 yen and second one says Non-reserved for 970 yen. Why am I getting two tickets and the person that works at the station said that I just need two tickets and I am to insert two tickets at the stall when I enter. This is very confusing to me. Why not just one ticket and why can’t anyone explain why I need two tickets and if I need two tickets why isn’t there any explanation on how to use two tickets. Very confused.

    • Takeshi Shimomura, Author of JPRail.com
      Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      March 30, 2016 at 2:48 pm

      Hi Wesley,

      Those are base fare ticket and limited express ticket. When you take limited express (Haruka, etc), you need to have two ticket. You don’t need to insert limited express ticket when you enter the station.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  10. Ng says:
    March 24, 2016 at 8:51 am

    Dear Takeshi
    After reading the articles about transportation and some of the comments on your site, I had summarised my itinerary as follows:
    Day 1 KIX to Kyoto (using Haruka/Icoca card) one way
    My ETA is at 8.30am. So after reaching Kyoto, I will exploring southern and central part of Kyoto using Kyoto day pass.

    Day 2 Going to Arashiyama (using Randen Day Pass) will use this pass to visit Kinkakuji and surrounding area.

    Day 3 Exploring Eastern Kyoto using Kyoto Day Pass

    Day 4 Going to Nara using Icoca

    Day 5 Kyoto to Osaka using Icoca, staying near Shinsaibashi
    Will be using Amazing Osaka for transportation and sightseeing.

    Day 6 Travelling to Himeiji and Kobe using Kansai Area Pass

    Day 7 Universal Studio (using Icoca)

    Day 8 use Icoca to go to Tennoji station, then buy one way haruka ticket to KIX.

    Would you comment on my itinerary?

    Ng

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