Travel Information
Osaka Japan has two major airports:
Kansai International Airport (KIX)
- The primary international airport in Osaka and one of Japan's busiest airports.
- It's located on an artificial island 5 km off the coast of Osaka Bay. KIX is the world's first airport built off the shore.
- KIX is approximately 22.5 miles southwest of downtown Osaka and is well connected by train.
- The airport is approximately 68 km from the conference venue, 1 hour by car.
- You can take the R Airport Express HARUKA to Shin-Osaka Station, which takes about 50 minutes.
- Nankai Line Airport Express: A premium express train that connects the airport to Namba Station in Osaka. The trip takes about 34 minutes.
- Rapid trains: Connect the airport to Tennoji Station and Osaka Station.
- Airport Limousine Bus: A bus that can take you to central Osaka, Kyoto, or Kobe.
- Taxi: A taxi ride to central Osaka takes about 50 minutes, but can be expensive.
Osaka (Itami) International Airport (ITM)
- Osaka (Itami) International Airport (ITM) is about 6.5 miles north of central Osaka. It's the main domestic airport for Osaka.
- The airport is approximately 13.3 km from the conference centre, 22 minutes by car.
Public Transport in Osaka
- Subways and trains are the best way to get around Osaka.
- A prepaid Icoca card is the best way to pay for transport (but a Suica or Pasmo card from Tokyo will also work just fine).
- Taxis are excellent but expensive.
- Buses aren't recommended for short-term visitors.
- Osaka is huge but it's very easy to get around using the city's excellent public transport system. Five of the city's main hubs are conveniently located on the Midosuji subway line that runs north/south right through the heart of the city. From north to south, here they are: Shin-Osaka, Kita, Central Osaka (Honmachi), Minami, and Tennoji.
Located below are multiple taxi companies that take reservations for any potential planned trips:
- Kens Osaka Taxi: +81-90-12567840
- Uber Taxis can be booked straight through app.
- Hailing a taxi is simple in Osaka and there are plenty available.
Important Telephone Numbers
- Emergency call for fire, ambulance or emergency rescue: 119
- Emergency advisory service for non emergency enquiries : #7119
- Emergency call police: 110
- Police Consultation in English: 03-3503-8484
- Foreign Residents Support Center FRESC: 0570-011000
Additional Information
- Currency in Osaka is the Yen - £1 = 190.90 Yen current exchange rate.
- Throughout Japan, tap water is safe to drink and that includes the water found in parks, gardens, and public bathrooms.
- Japan is in a time zone referred to as "Japan Standard Time"(JST), which is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Time. It is 17 hours ahead of Los Angeles, 14 hours ahead of New York, and 9 hours ahead of London. (During the summer, the difference is one hour less).
- The most common electrical plugs in Osaka, Japan are type A and type B:
- Type A - An ungrounded plug with two flat parallel pins. This is the same type of plug used in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
- Type B - A grounded version of type A with an additional round pin for grounding. Type B outlets may have an extra slot for the U.S. style grounded plug.
- Osaka uses 60 Hertz. 120 volt machines from America will generally operate well with Japan's slightly lower voltage. However, larger machines from America will operate with less power and sometimes a bit slower.
- Currently, there are no COVID-19 testing, proof of vaccination, or quarantine requirements to travel to Japan.
COVID-19 Guidelines: For any travel restrictions regarding COVID-19, we recommend researching your own countries regulations in preparation for your travels.