eatravelove
If you’re flying into Osaka‘s Kansai Airport and looking for the best way to get to your hotel, I’ve got a great tip for you! When I arrived in Osaka, I was staying in the Umeda area, and I decided to take the Express HARUKA Ticket for a super easy and convenient ride straight to my accommodation.
Normally, most people head to Namba Station using the Nankai Airport Express Rapit, but if your hotel is in Umeda, the Express HARUKA Ticket is a better option. It takes you directly to Osaka Station, which is very close to Umeda, making it a lot more convenient than the Rapit.
Let me share how I booked the Express HARUKA Ticket and why it was a great choice for me!
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1. Booking the Express HARUKA Ticket
Before your trip, I recommend checking the price comparisons across different travel platforms. Here’s how much I found it for on a few sites:
🎫 Express HARUKA Ticket prices
Klook: US$11.95 > reservation now
KKday: US$ 11.91 > reservation now
These prices can change, so it’s worth checking each site to see what works best for you.
2. The Express HARUKA Train Route
The Express HARUKA is one of the fastest ways to get from Kansai Airport to Kyoto, but it also stops at major stations in Osaka, like Tennoji, Namba, Osaka Station, and Shin-Osaka. So if you’re staying somewhere other than Namba, the HARUKA is a great option!
I stayed in Umeda, which is near Osaka Station, so I took the HARUKA directly to my hotel. On my return journey, I stayed near Namba, so I took the Nankai Rapit back to Kansai Airport.
3. How to Exchange Your Express HARUKA Ticket
When you arrive at Kansai Airport, follow the signs for Railway (鉄道), and head to the Haruka or Rapit boarding area. You’ll see two different machines:
Red lines (NANKAI) are for the Rapit
Blue liness (JR) are for the Express HARUKA
To pick up your HARUKA ticket, go to the blue line and follow the instructions to exchange your voucher for the actual ticket.
In the past, you could only exchange your ticket at a green machine (marked with a passport symbol), but now you can use the white ticket machines as well. I was a bit surprised to see a lot of people waiting at the white machines, but luckily, staff were there to help, and I got my ticket quickly.
One difference is that if you use the white machine, you’ll get a paper ticket that isn’t valid for the subway gates. You’ll need to get a stamp from a station staff member to enter the train platform. On the other hand, the green machines will give you a ticket that can be used for the subway gates.
4. The Express HARUKA: Reserved or Non-Reserved Seats?
The Express HARUKA operates about twice an hour, so there’s usually no need to rush. However, when I was about to board, I realized that I had to wait for about 30-40 minutes for the next train, and I regretted not taking the earlier one.
You can use the Express HARUKA Ticket for non-reserved seats (自由席) if you prefer. I initially wasn’t sure about it and didn’t want to risk any penalty, but after double-checking, I found that with the HARUKA ticket, you can use non-reserved seats on trains at different times as well. However, make sure you check which trains allow for this, as not all do.
For reserved seats, you must travel on the specific train and time listed on your ticket.
5. Express HARUKA Train Timetable
Here’s a quick look at the Express HARUKA train timetable, based on my travels in late November 2024. The schedule doesn’t change too much between weekdays and weekends, so it’s pretty consistent.
Unlike the Rapit train, you can’t reserve the HARUKA ticket in advance, so you’ll need to buy it when you arrive at the airport. However, I think if I had known the exact times in advance, I would have been able to catch a train faster by simply buying a non-reserved seat ticket. But the journey itself wasn’t too long, and I didn’t mind waiting a bit longer for a reserved seat.
I didn’t feel too excited about the Hello Kitty decor on the train (it’s cute, but not a huge draw for me), but I did love that I could sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride to Osaka Station.
Food and drinks are allowed on the train, so I grabbed a convenience store bento and some snacks while I was waiting for my next train and officially started my Osaka adventure!
If you’re planning a trip to Osaka and flying into Kansai Airport, the Express HARUKA Ticket is a fantastic, affordable way to get to your hotel in Umeda, Osaka. It’s super convenient and comfortable, so I highly recommend it if you want to skip the hassle and start your trip off stress-free. Also see information on the OSAKA AMAZING PASS, a must-have for traveling in Osaka. Enjoy your time in Osaka!
