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. Ms Foo says:
    March 22, 2016 at 12:14 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I have bought a JR West Kansai Area Pass and I understand it is valid on Haruka Express to Kyoto and for non-reserved seat.

    However, I would like to know if I can arrange for a reserved seat from Midori no MadoGuchi as I’m afraid that all seats will be taken? I read it somewhere that it could but unfortunately I couldn’t find the link anymore.

    Please advise.

    Thanks.

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      March 22, 2016 at 6:46 am

      Hi Foo,

      You can add but you need to pay full limited express surcharge that is about 1500 yen. In my experience, it’s not hard to take a seat on non reserved car.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Zenny Mackay says:
    March 5, 2016 at 2:08 pm

    Hi, pls tell us how we get from KIX to Hiroshima be Shinkansen. We arrive at 11:50. And how much is the fares adults and children (13 & 11yrs). Travelling Apr 3,2016.

  3. JESSICA LAU says:
    March 4, 2016 at 12:18 am

    Hi Takeshi, there are 3 of us travelling to Japan in September. We would really appreciate it if you could offer us some guidance on the transportation. Below is the draft itinery:

    09.09.2016
    arrive at KIX at 0720
    depart to Kyoto
    explore eastern Kyoto including kiyomizudera, ginkakuji and gion street
    staying at hostel near Kyoto station

    10.09.2016
    explore western Kyoto, i.e. arashiyama
    explore central Kyoto including nishiki market and pontocho

    11.09.2016
    depart to Nara
    explore nara including nara park, yoshikien garden and naramachi
    depart to Osaka
    stay at Osaka near tennoji area

    12.09.2016
    USJ Osaka

    13.09.2016
    Osaka aquarium, Osaka castle, umeda sky building

    14.09.2016
    dotonburi, shinsaibashi

    15.09.2016
    dapart from KIX at 1625

    Thanks a lot.

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      March 4, 2016 at 6:47 am

      Hi Jessica,

      Please see the link below, It’s one of my sample itineraries and almost same as your plan.
      https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/7days/visit-kyoto-osaka-nara-and-kobe-for-5-to-7-days-sample-itinerary.html

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

    • Jessica says:
      June 22, 2016 at 8:46 pm

      Hi Takeshi, there is a slight change in our itinerary so we would like to seek your opinion.

      We noted that for the ICOCA and Haruka package, the fare has risen quite a lot so we wonder whether it is still economical to use Haruka from KIX to Kyoto and then from Osaka to KIX.

      For the day trip from Kyoto to Nara and then back to Kyoto, is it advisable to use JR West Kansai Pass? Will it cover the buses at Nara too?

      From Kyoto to Osaka, should I use JR West Kansai Pass or use the ICOCA?

      At Osaka, we plan to use Kaiyukan ticket for the day we are going to Osaka Aquarium. We are also considering whether to buy Osaka Amazing Pass for two days or one day only since the Kaiyukan ticket will be covering the subways. Can the Osaka Amazing two days pass be used seperately or must it be two consecutive days?

      We have not fixed the itinerary at Osaka as we are unsure how to utilise the different passes. If you have any suggestion as to whether it is more economical to use Kaiyukan ticket on the first day in Osaka or use Amazing Pass on the first and second day, go to USJ on third day, then use Kaiyukan ticket for the Aquarium on the fourth day?

      08.09.2016(thu)
      arrive at KIX at 0820
      depart to Kyoto
      explore eastern Kyoto

      09.09.2016(fri)
      explore Kyoto

      10.09.2016(sat)
      depart to Nara early
      back to Kyoto at late afternoon
      explore Southern Kyoto

      11.09.2016(sun)
      depart to Osaka(stay near tennoji area)
      Osaka aquarium, Osaka castle (Kaiyukan ticket)

      12.09.2016(mon)
      USJ Osaka

      13.09.2016(tue)&14.09.2016(wed)
      Explore Osaka-umeda sky building, dotonburi, shinsaibashi (Osaka Amazing Pass)

      15.09.2016(thu)
      dapart from KIX at 1100

      Thank you very much for your help.

      • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
        June 22, 2016 at 10:26 pm

        Hi Jessica,

        ICOCA and Haruka is the best choice to get Kyoto from KIX anyway. And ICOAC should be used for trip to Nara. Kansai area pass does not cover bus. And most of places in Nara can be accessed by walk from Nara station.

        When you use Kaiyu ticket, just visit Kaiyukan aquarium and if you intend to spend your time for shopping, do it after visiting Kaiyukan. Most of attractions are covered by amazing pass. You can visit attractions when you use amazing pass. I think this way is the best way to spend your time and save your cost. If you want to save most cost, you can take ordinary train, like airport rapid from Tennoji to KIX. Single fare is 1,060 yen and this is most affordable way.

        Cheers,

        Takeshi / JPRail.com

  4. nghm1218 says:
    February 9, 2016 at 6:49 pm

    Hi, my flight will reached kansai airport at 2230pm. Which train should i take to tennoji station?

    http://time.jr-odekake.net/cgi-bin/mydia_ml.cgi
    According to this website, i have few choice. Is it i can purchase the ticket at the Jr ticket station when i have arrived or i need to booking the ticket online? when the operation hours of the JR ticket station? thank you ^^

  5. Nofri says:
    February 8, 2016 at 8:54 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    I plan to visit Japan together with my wife and 2 daughters.
    If all 4 of us purchase JR Pass (2 adults and 2 children) , can my children take Haruka train to Kyoto from KIX with their child JR Pass?

    Thanks in advance for your reply.

  6. MP Tran says:
    December 25, 2015 at 9:19 am

    Hello Takeshi,
    What a wonderful and useful post to read. I have a few questions based on my itineraries. Below is my plan:

    Day1 (8/10/16): arrive in KIX at 7pm
    .Take Limited Express Haruka to Shin-Osaka station, stay at Courtyard Shin Osaka which is few step aways from the station.
    Day 2 (8/11): explore Osaka area
    Day 3 (8/12):
    .Catch Limited Express Haruka to Kyoto station
    .Stay at Crowne Plaza Ana Kyoto which offers free shuttle bus to/from Kyoto station every 15′.
    Day 4,5 (8/13,8/14): spend time in Kyoto
    Day 6 (8/15): depart to Yokohama for cruise
    .Take bullet train Nozomi (Tokaido Shinkansen) from Kyoto to Shin-Yokohama
    . then transfer to JR Yokohama Line Rapid for Sakuragicho to Yokohama station.

    Which is my best option:
    1. Buy Icoca & Haruka package on arrival day at KIX for transportations around Osaka and Kyoto including the trip from Shin Osaka to Kyoto on day 3? Do I have to pay extra for shin osaka to kyoto?
    2. Buy Haruka one way from KIX-Shin Osaka on day1, then buy Kansai Area Pass 4 days (cover unlimited on JR and Haruka limited express) or Kansai Thru Pass 3 days ( cover non JR trains, buses,cable cars and discount to museum and attractions).
    Thank you in advance for your time.
    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!

    MP Tran

  7. WK Ko says:
    December 15, 2015 at 1:37 am

    Do you have the Haruka line train schedule? Please send me a copy or a link to look up. Thank you.

    Ko

  8. Dee says:
    November 20, 2015 at 5:49 am

    Does the Pasmo card cover the Haruka limited express ?
    Or should I just get a JR West Kansai Area Pass (Haruka) KIX and then use Pasmo for further transfer ?
    Thank you

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      November 20, 2015 at 6:46 am

      Hi Dee,

      You can use Pasmo but it does not cover limited express supplement. You need to purchase this supplement beside Pasmo. Kansai area pass includes both and cheaper.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  9. Olivia says:
    November 19, 2015 at 4:25 pm

    Hi Takeshi,

    What a nice and helpful post. Much appreciated. I have a quick question based on my itinerary.
    My plan is as below.
    Day 1: KIX-Kyoto
    Day 2-3: Kyoto
    Day 4: Kyoto-Osaka
    Day 5: Osaka (Umeda)-KIX

    In this case, should I get Icoca Haruka return ticket which I can use for KIX-Kyoto and Tennoji-KIX? And use Icoca for Kyoto-Osaka?
    Also, for 3days plan in Kyoto, Kyoto rail pass is recommended?

    Thanks in advance.

    Cheers,
    Olivia

  10. harpreet s grover says:
    November 19, 2015 at 3:52 am

    Hi! We are planning a trip to Osaka. Arriving late at night on Dec 7 and staying the night at Nikko airport hotel. Staying Bishoen area for the next 3 nights. Plan on going to univeral, osaka castle, Namba, Shinsibashi, Aquarium. Day trips to kyoto, Nara, and or Kobe. What would be the cheapest pass you would recommend to us. We are 3 adults traveling together. Thanks.

    Harpreet

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