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

Find your hotels in 218 cities throughout Japan!!!

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. senthilkumar says:
    June 1, 2017 at 10:34 am

    Hi Takeshi,
    i have given below my itinerary.please suggest me the Best Train travel Plan and Tickets accordingly:
    DAY.1 – 16.6.17 – KYOTO
    • Osaka Kansai Airport To Kyoto
    • STAY in “K`s HOUSE KYOTO “
    DAY.2 – 17.6.17 – KYOTO
    • 8:30am: Head up to Kiyomizu-dera Temple.
    • 9:30am: Walk down Sannen-zaka and Ninen-zaka, two preserved streets, to Maruyama-koen Park to enjoy some greenery.
    • 10:30am: Walk through Chion-in Temple
    • 11:00am: Enter Shoren-in Temple
    • Noon: Get on the Tozai Subway Line at Higashiyama Station and get off at Kyoto Shiyakushomae (downtown).
    • Noon ~ 2:30pm: Eat lunch downtown and explore Nishiki Market and the food floor at nearby Daimaru Department Store.
    • 2:30pm: Take the Keihan Line to Fushimi-Inari Station and walk to nearby Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine.
    • Evening: Eat dinner downtown, then walk over to Shimbashi in Gion and keep your eyes peeled for geisha.
    • STAY in “K`s HOUSE KYOTO “

    DAY.3 – 18.6.17 – KYOTO
    • 8:30am: Head west to Arashiyama by taxi, train or bus.
    • 9:00am: Enter Tenryu-ji Temple and explore the temple.
    • 10:00am: Leave Tenryu-ji Temple by the north gate, which will bring you into the famed Bamboo Forest. Explore the Bamboo Forest for about half an hour.
    • 10:30am: Leave the Bamboo Forest and enter Okochi-Sanso Villa.
    • 11:30am: Leave Okochi-Sanso Villa and return to central Arashiyama. Eat a simple lunch of noodles or rice in one of the shokudo (simple eateries) on the main strip.
    • 12:30pm: Take a taxi over to Kinkaku-ji Temple, the famed “Golden Pavilion” in Northwest Kyoto.
    • 1:00pm: Explore Kinkaku-ji Temple.
    • 2:00pm: Take a taxi down to Daitoku-ji Temple and enjoy the peace and quiet of a small subtemple there. Consider Koto-in Temple.
    • 3:00pm: Take the Karasuma Subway Line to Shijo Station and enjoy a bit of shopping or café life.
    • 4:00pm: Take a rest at your hotel.
    • 6:00pm: Eat dinner downtown and then take an evening stroll on Pontocho Alley or on Kiyamachi-dori south of Shijo-dori.
    • STAY in “K`s HOUSE KYOTO “

    DAY.4 – 19.6.17 – KYOTO
    • Morning: Take a day trip to Kurama and Kibune (ideally, hike over the mountain from Kurama to Kibune).
    • Afternoon: Visit the Northern Higashiyama area: Ginkaku-ji Temple, Honen-in Temple, the Path of Philosophy and Nanzen-ji Temple.
    • STAY in “K`s HOUSE KYOTO “

    DAY.5 – 20.6.17 – KYOTO
    • DAY TRIP TO NARA
    • Walk up Nobori-oji Street. You’ll start to encounter Nara’s famous sacred deer as you go.
    • Use the underground crossings to get to the northeast corner of the Nobori-oji/Route 169. Walk from there to Isui-en Garden. If you have time, pop into the free and excellent Yoshiki-en next door.
    • Walk from Isui-en along the backstreets to Todai-ji Temple. Before entering the Daibutsu-den Hall to see the Great Buddha (Daibutsu), walk a little south to check out the Nandai-mon Gate, with its two huge guardian figures.
    • Enter the Daibutsu-den. Take your time marveling at the Daibutsu and then exit the Daibutsu-den. Walk along the east wall of the Daibutsu-den and then go up the path that turns up to the right just past the small pond to reach Nigatsu-do Hall.
    • Check out Nigatsu-do and then walk in the direction of the base of Wakakusa-yama. If you’re traveling at a normal pace, you’ll probably reach this area around lunchtime. See my list of Places To Eat In Nara for some lunch picks in this area.
    • Follow the narrow pathways through the forest to Kasuga-Taisha Shrine.
    • Follow the main path from Kasuga-Taisha all the way west until you reach Kofuku-ji Temple. If you haven’t eaten lunch yet, you’ll find lots of place in the shopping streets nearby (in Downtown Nara and Naramachi)
    • In the afternoon, make a loop south through Naramachi, checking out Sarusawa-no-ike Pond, Koshi-no-Ie and the shops and galleries of the area.
    • Return to your lodgings or one of the main train stations.
    • STAY in “K`s HOUSE KYOTO “

    DAY.6 – 21.6.17 – KYOTO to HIROSHIMA
    In the early morning, travel from Kyoto to Hiroshima (2 hours) and visit the Peace Park.
    Travel to Miyajima
    ROOPALI INDIAN RESTAURANT -14-32 Wakakusacho, Higashi-ku, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture +81 82-264-1333

    • STAY in “ Simple Stay Miyajima – Hostel, Hatsukaichi “

    DAY.7 – 22.6.17 – MIYAJIMA to HIMEJI
    Get up early and spend a few more hours on Miyajima. Leave the island around eleven for Himeji (2 hours). Spend the afternoon exploring Himeji Castle.
    • STAY in “ Simple Stay Miyajima – Hostel, Hatsukaichi “

    DAY.8 – 23.6.17 – TOKYO
    1.) Meiji Shrine (1 hour)
    Start the day by exploring Meiji Shrine.
    2.) Takeshita Dori (1 hour)
    Leave the shrine through its main gate next to Harajuku Station. Cross the street in front of the station and explore the trendy shops and boutiques of Takeshita Dori Street. Note that most shops do not open before 11am.
    3.) Omotesando (1 hour)
    At the end of Takeshita Dori head south to the fashion and luxury stores of Omotesando. Walk down toward Omotesando Hills and then head back toward Harajuku Station.
    4.) Walk to Shibuya (30 minutes)
    Head west past the Yoyogi National Stadium and turn south at the first light toward Shibuya.
    5.) Explore Shibuya (2 hours)
    Continue south and turn right after the Parco Department Store down toward the Spain Slope, Tokyu Hands and Center Gai. Check out the famous Shibuya Crossing and Hachiko Statue next to Shibuya Station.
    6.) Train to Shinjuku (10 minutes)
    Take the train to Shinjuku. Explore Shinjuku (3 hours)
    Walk to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and head up to the observation deck. Afterwards spend the rest of your time explore the shops and restaurants around Shinjuku.
    DAY.9 – 24.6.17 – TOKYO
    1.) Kaminarimon (10 minutes)
    Start in Asakusa at Kaminarimon Gate at the entrance to Sensoji Temple.
    2.) Nakamise Dori (30 minutes)
    As you walk toward the temple buildings, check out the historic Nakamise Dori shopping street whose souvenir shops and food vendors have been serving temple visitors for centuries.
    3.) Sensoji Temple (30 minutes)
    After exiting the temple grounds, check out the old-fashioned neighborhoods around Asakusa.
    4.) Sumida River Boat Ride (1 hour)
    Head to Sumida Park and board a sightseeing boat to Hama Rikyu Garden.
    5.) Hama Rikyu (1 hour)
    Disembark at Hama Rikyu and spend time exploring the garden. Afterwards head to Shiodome Station and board the Yurikamome elevated train to Odaiba. Try to sit in the front of the first car for the best views.
    6.) Aquacity and Decks (1 hour)
    Arrive at Daiba Station and explore the Aquacity and Decks shopping and entertainment malls. Inside you will find a large variety of shops, restaurants, and indoor theme parks such as Joypolis, Legoland, and the Trick Art Museum.
    7.) Palette Town (90 minutes)
    From Decks head south to Palette Town, and take in the attractions such as the Venus Fort shopping mall and Toyota Mega Web.
    8.) Diver City (30 minutes)
    From Palette Town take the walkways to Diver City and check out the life sized Gundam statue.
    9.) Miraikan (1 hour)
    From Diver City head south to the National Science Museum (Miraikan) and spend time exploring the museum.
    10.) Oedo Onsen
    Afterwards, walk south toward the Telecom Center and cross the street to Oedo Onsen, an Edo Period themed hot spring on Odaiba.

    DAY.10 – 25.6.17 – TOKYO
    1.) Tokyo Skytree
    Across the Sumida River is the Tokyo Skytree, the tallest tower in Japan. The complex has two observation decks with great views over the city, as well as the Tokyo Solamachi shopping center and Sumida Aquarium. The Tokyo Skytree is about a 20 minute walk or a 5 minute train ride from Asakusa.
    2.) Taikokan
    Drums from around the world, including Japanese taiko drums, are exhibited in this small museum. Visitors can play several of the drums. The museum is located above a store.

    3.) NHK Studio Park
    NHK Studio Park is the headquarters and broadcasting center of Japan’s public television and radio broadcaster. The park is open to the public.
    4.) Yoyogi Park
    Yoyogi Park is a spacious public park in Western Tokyo.
    Shopping
    Shinjuku, Shibuya and Harajuku are popular shopping areas with a large variety of department stores and electronics shops.
    DAY.11 – 26.6.17 – TOKYO
    Mt Fuji, Lake Ashi and Bullet Train Day Trip from Tokyo
    • Explore Mt Fuji, Lake Ashi, Mt Komagatake and Hakone National Park and return by bullet train to Tokyo
    • Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mt Fuji
    • Cruise the waters of beautiful Lake Ashi in a boat
    • Ride the Mt Komagatake Ropeway for sweeping views of Hakone National Park
    • See the bright red shrine and panoramic views on a stroll at the top of Mt Komagatake
    • Learn from your knowledgeable guide about the history and significance of the sights you visit
    • Travel in comfort by deluxe coach and bullet train (Shinkansen) on Tokyo’s most popular day tour

    DAY.12 – 27.6.17 – OSAKA
    • 10am: Travel From Tokyo to osaka
    • 1:30: Eat Lunch at Tempozan Marketplace
    • 3pm: Travel from Osaka Bay Area to the Kita District
    • 3:30pm: Explore the Kita District
    • 4pm: Travel to the Osaka Castle Area
    • 4:30pm: Visit Osaka Castle
    • 8pm: Dinner in Kita, Minami or Central Osaka
    STAY IN “ECO CUBE SHINSAIBASHI-HOTEL“

    DAY.13 – 28.6.17 – Return Flight to Chennai

  2. Jenny says:
    May 29, 2017 at 10:00 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    We are a family of four. We are planning to arrive in Kansai Airport around 9.30pm and will be heading to our hotel next to Shin-Osaka station.

    We are planning to stay in hotel at Shin-Osaka hotel for 5 days.
    I m planning to go Universal Studio for one of the days and go Kyoto for day trips (can’t stay in Kyoto hotels because of our Shin-Osaka hotel deal and hence may need to go to and fro between Shin-Osaka and Kyoto).

    After that, we will move on to Tokyo Shinjuku and stay there for 1 week before heading to Narita airport to go home.

    Can you help to advise me what type of tickets is best recommended ?

    Thank you.

  3. Soryuu says:
    May 22, 2017 at 8:02 pm

    Hello, Takeshi!

    My arrival at KIX is at almost 10 PM. I’d like to know my options so I can get to Shin-Osaka Station and if I can use my JR Pass with them.

    Your response is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much ^^

  4. Olwyn McKay says:
    May 20, 2017 at 8:55 pm

    Hi
    What passes are good for me?
    1) Kansai airport to Kyoto
    2) Kyoto to Tokyo – Shinkansen
    3) Tokyo to Kofu

  5. Shirley says:
    May 10, 2017 at 2:13 am

    Hi,

    Can I know the Haruka stop at which station in Kyoto?

  6. Jocelyn says:
    May 6, 2017 at 11:26 pm

    I am planing to go directly to Kyoto once I reached Kansai airport around 4pm. Plan to stay two days in Kyoto before heading to Nagoya than Osaka.
    What is the cheapest and fastest way to get to Kyoto from kansai airport and other to Nagoya and Osaka.

  7. Tan says:
    May 1, 2017 at 7:10 am

    Hi,

    I would travelling with my family to Kansai area in late May.
    There will be four of us. It will be me & my wife, plus one 13 year old and another 11 year old children.

    One 1st stop upon reaching Kansai Airport would be Kyoto via express rail. After spending a few days in Kyoto, we will make our way to Osaka and spend a few days there too.

    On the day of departure, we intend to take the express rail from Shin-Osaka to Kansai Airport.

    Which pass would you recommend?

  8. Tim says:
    April 30, 2017 at 11:05 pm

    Hello, I arrived at Kansai airport at 9:40 pm. Can you please help me how to get to Kyoto?

  9. John says:
    April 25, 2017 at 10:47 pm

    Hi takeshi,
    I will be arriving at Kansai airport and will be staying
    near karasuma-okie station in Kyoto.
    I will be staying there for 8 nights
    6 days I will be touring in Kyoto.
    On 2 days I will be on round trip to Osaka namba area and Kobe.
    On the last day I will be going back from Kyoto to kansai airport.

    Can u recommend me a good package to buy?

  10. Crystal says:
    April 3, 2017 at 12:54 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I’m currently in Osaka .
    My itinerary is to go around dotonburi, osaka castle and also Kyoto .

    Which card do you recommend to buy? And also how do I get to Kansai airport from Shin Osaka station? Btw, I have a suica card so is it enough?

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