Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX) Spotting Information

Introduction

Osaka is second biggest city in Japan. There are two airport in this area. One is Kansai, new airport for International and domestic. and Itami, former international airport. Kansai airport is located on man-made island at south of the city. Unfortunately it is not so easy to take photos in this airport. This airport is surrounded by sea and no observation deck in the terminal building, which was designed by French architect. So "Observation Hall" near RW24 end is only one spotting point. The location is good, but unfortunately the light condition is not so good and the ratio of using RW24 is low.

How to get there

from Osaka downtown and Itami airport
You can get the information on Osaka Kansai airport official site
from Tokyo
<by Air>
17 flights from Tokyo Haneda by ANA, JAL, JAS (75min JPY18,500(O/W), JPY29,000(R/T), JPY10,000 to 13,000(O/W special fare, must buy ticket few days before), maybe you can get cheaper international connection fare at your travel agent)
Also any "Air Pass" (ANA Star Alliance airpass, ANA Vist Japan fare) are available.
<by JR Shinkansen train to Shin Osaka>
Nozomi super express(2h30min, JPY14,050(O/W), every 30min) and from Shin Osaka 50min express train ride, JPY2,980(O/W) or 80min rapid train connection via Osaka sta., JPY1,320(O/W). Rail Map
<by JR Bus from Tokyo station>
If you want to save money, you can choose JR night Bus to Osaka (8h40min, JPY8,610(O/W) JPY15,190(R/T))
You can get the information on JR Bus official site.
from Nagoya
<by JR Shinkansen train>
Nozomi super express(1h8min, JPY6,380(O/W), every 20min), Hikari super express (1h13min, JPY6,180(O/W), every 30min) and transfer to limited express trains at ShinOsaka (50min, JPY2,980(O/W)) or rapid trains (change train at Osaka sta., 80min, JPY1,320(O/W)) Rail Map
<by Kintetsu line and Nankai line>
Express train from/to Osaka Namba (2h35min, JPY4,150(O/W), every 30min) and Nankai line between Namba and KIX (Limited express 35min JPY1,390(O/W), express 45min JPY890)

#The fares above are for ordinary season.
#If you plan to travel by train, check the price of Japan Rail Pass for JR lines. Maybe you can travel cheaper than by normal ticket. Rail Map

Airlines and Airliners

Domestic
Japan Airlines; B777-300, B767-300, B767-200, MD-90, MD-81, MD-87, Japan Transocean Air; B737-400, All Nippon Airways; B767-300, B767-200, A320, B737-500
International
Japan Airlines; B747-400, B767-300, B747F, JAL Ways; B747-200, B767-300, All Nippon Airways; B747-400, B777-200ER, B767-300ER, Air Japan; B767-300ER
Aeroflot; A310, Air Caledonian International; A310, Air Canada; B767-300ER, Air Caledonie International; A330-200, Air China; B767-300, B737-300, B747F, Air France; A340-300, B747F, Air India; A310, Air New Zealand; B767-300, Air Tahiti Nui; A340-300, Alitalia; B777-200, B747F, American Airlines; B777-200, Asiana Airlines; B777-200, B767-300, B737-400, A321, B747-400F, Austrian Airlines; A340-300,A340-200, Cathay Pacific Airlines; A330-300, A340-300, China Eastern Airlines; A300-600R, A321, MD-11F, China Southern Airlines; B777-200, A321, A320, Continental Micronesia; B737-800, Egyptair; A340-300, Emirates; A340-300, A340-500, EVA Airways; A330-200, Garuda Indonesian Airlines; A300-300, KLM; B747-400, B747F, Korean Air; A330-300, A300-600R, B747F, B747-400F, Lufthansa; A340-300, MD-11F, Malaysian Airlines; A330-300, B747F, Northwest Airlines; B747-400, B747-200, B747F, Philippine Airlines; A330-300, B737, Qantas Airways B747-400, Royal Nepal Airlines; B757-200, Shanghai Airlines; B767-300, B737-800, Singapore Airlines; B777-200, B747-400F, Swissair; A340-300, Thai Airways International; B747-400, B777-200, A300-600R, Vietnam Airlines; B767-300ER, Vladivostok Airlines; Tu-154, United Airlines; B777-200ER, Uzbekistan Airways; A310-300,
Cargo
Nippon Cargo Airlines; B747F, Air Hong Kong; B747F, Dragon Air; B747-400F, Federal Express; MD-11F, United Parcel Service; B767-300F, B757-200F

Weather

Spring; March to May; warm but humidity is a little high and air is not so clear except May. The weather is changeable.
Summer; June to August; June to middle of July is rainy season and end of July to August is very hot and high humidity.
Autumn; September to November; September is still hot and the weather is changeable. The middle of October to November are best season for spotting; cool, low humidity and clear.
Winter; December to February. Cold but clear and no snow.

	temperature (degrees centigrade)			total sunny time (hour)	total rainfall (mm)
	average	maximum	minimum	total sunny time (hour)	total rainfall (mm)
Jan	5.0	8.1	1.8	111	46
Feb	4.9	8.3	1.5	130	57
Mar	8.0	11.8	4.1	154	101
Apr	13.5	17.9	9.1	172	109
May	18.1	22.3	13.8	153	155
Jun	21.9	25.5	18.4	108	206
Jul	25.8	29.2	22.6	145	130
Aug	26.8	30.6	23.3	196	82
Sep	23.0	26.7	19.6	143	173
Oct	17.3	21.3	13.6	157	103
Nov	12.3	16.0	8.6	136	77
Dec	7.5	10.9	4.2	130	38

above data is the average of last 30 years

Sunrise & Sunset

date	Sunrise	direction	Sunset	direction
1-Jan	7:05 AM	117.8	4:58 PM	242.3
1-Feb	6:57 AM	110.5	5:27 PM	249.7
1-Mar	6:28 AM	98.9	5:54 PM	261.4
1-Apr	5:46 AM	84.1	6:19 PM	276.1
1-May	5:08 AM	71.1	6:43 PM	289.1
1-Jun	4:46 AM	62.3	7:06 PM	297.8
1-Jul	4:48 AM	60.8	7:15 PM	299.2
1-Aug	5:08 AM	67.1	7:01 PM	292.7
1-Sep	5:30 AM	79.1	6:25 PM	280.7
1-Oct	5:52 AM	93.1	5:43 PM	266.7
1-Nov	6:18 AM	106.8	5:05 PM	253.0
1-Dec	6:46 AM	116.1	4:47 PM	243.8

Map

Where can you take Photographs?

There is only one spotting point in this airport. It is "Observation Hall". You can get good airport view at there. But Unfortunately it face south east., so light condition is good only in late afternoon. And it is located near RW24 end, so when using RW06, you can see only the stomachs of airliners taking off and some airliners spotting north area of the terminal. The ratio of using RW24 is only 30 percents, the ratio is high in summer and low in winter, high in the afternoon and low in the morning..
If you arrive at KIX by domestic flight, you can stay gate area and take photos at gate area after arrival. And if you have boarding pass for any destination in Japan, you can proceed to domestic gate area and take photos. You can check in any time for domestic flight and proceed to the domestic gate area.

Observation Hall renewal open on 3, July, 2004.
You can get good airport view. Open 10:00am to 8:00pm(10:00pm on weekend), free of charge. You can go there by bus from the No.1 bus stop on the terminal building 1F or the bus stop on the side of Aero Plaza, see above right map, 5min JPY100 every 15 min on the weekend or every 30 min on weekday. Click here to get the bus schedule

The buses arrive in front of Exhibition Hall, entrance fee JPY200, check the sign and walk to the observations hall. (see the left map) The bus stop for the terminal is located another side of Exhibition Hall.

Gate Area
In this area you can see all airliners arrived at and departing from KIX. The window glasses are clear and few reflection. You need your boarding pass to proceed to this area.

Timetable

You can get the information on Osaka Kansai airport official site

Radio

DEL 121.90 126.20 GND 121.60 126.20 TWR 118.20 126.20 APP/RDR 120.25 121.15 124.70 125.50
DIP 119.20 120.65 ATIS 127.85

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