To and from Osaka Itami Airport

last update: August 13, 2022

Itami Airport (伊丹空港, Itami Kūkō, ITM), is the oldest airport in the city, opened in 1939 about ten kilometers north of the center of Osaka. In 1994, the new Kansai airport was completed, on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, where all international traffic was moved, while in Itami there are only domestic flights left. Today Itami Airport is far from disused, and continues to have considerable air traffic and connections with all of Japan. The airport has only one large building, divided into "North Terminal" for the companies JAL and Amakusa, and "South Terminal" for the companies ANA and IBEX. If you fly to Osaka from the rest of Japan, it is preferable to use Itami airport as it is easier and cheaper to reach both the center of Osaka and several neighboring locations such as Kobe and Kyoto. Central Osaka can be reached in less than half an hour by both train and bus.

By train

The only direct rail link to the airport is the Osaka Monorail, a monorail that connects the airport with some suburban areas in the north of the city of Osaka. A very useful interchange station is Hotarugaike, that is located just one stop from the airport. By changing train at this station you can easily reach Umeda station in twenty minutes or so: first take the Osaka Monorail for one station to Hotarugaike (2 minutes, 200¥). Then change to the Hankyu Takarazuka Line to reach Osaka-Umeda Station (15-20 minutes, 230¥).

By bus

Buses are a popular means of connecting Itami Airport with various areas of Osaka city, including Umeda/Osaka Station (30 minutes, 650¥), Shin-Osaka Station (25 minutes, 510¥), Namba station (25 minutes, 650¥). There are also several regional connections, such as direct connection to Kansai airport (70 minutes, 2000¥), Kyoto station (60 minutes, 1340¥), Sannomiya station in Kobe (60 minutes, 1070¥), and several other locations. More information on the company's official website.

By taxi

Itami airport is not far from the city, so a taxi is much more expensive than public transport but still at an acceptable cost. A ride to central Osaka costs 4000-5000¥.

Guided tours, activities and other things to do

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