The Umeda area, located in the northern part of Osaka, is the center of fashion and shopping in Osaka. With an unbeatable location, and a highly developed transportation network, if you use Umeda as a base to stay at during your trip, you’ll be able to easily reach not only all of the sights in Osaka, but popular tourist attractions in Kyoto and Kobe as well.

Plus, since it takes only about an hour to Kansai International Airport, Umeda is the perfectly-located spot between Kyoto, Kobe, and other sightseeing spots. If you’re looking for the easiest way to get from Kansai Airport to central Osaka’s Umeda area, try the airport limousine bus. Read on to discover the benefits of taking the airport limousine bus, details on boarding times, tickets, and more to help you plan a smooth and fun shopping trip to Umeda, Osaka!

Get around easily from Umeda

If you’ve traveled to Japan before, you’ll know that Umeda is the Kansai region’s foremost shopping area. Here you can find everything from the latest fashion to seasonal dining. Since Umeda is located in the center of the Kansai area, it’s also equipped with an excellent transportation network. From Umeda, you can conveniently reach the neighboring cities of Kyoto and Kobe in less than an hour.
Also, while it takes two hours to reach Kyoto and one and a half to reach Kobe from Kansai Airport, it’s just one hour by car to Umeda. Shorter travel times are another of its advantages. It’s a great location from which to base your Kansai travels, or simply to stop by after you get off the plane, or before you return home again.

From Kansai Airport to Umeda

The Umeda area is home to many hotels, and there are also train stations and airport limousine bus stops within walking distance in the area. So if this is your first stop after arriving from Kansai Airport, you won’t need to spend a lot of time walking around to reach your hotel and check-in. If you want to start shopping immediately on the first day you arrive, you can walk straight to large-scale shopping malls like GRAND FRONT OSAKA, where there are lots of options for both shopping and dining. Umeda also provides easy access to popular sightseeing locales such as Kyoto, Kobe, Himeji, and Nara. (see access information here)

From Umeda to Kansai Airport

Before returning home, if you want to get in one final shopping trip or choose a souvenir for your family and friends, we recommend coming to Umeda on the last day of your trip. There are also plenty of cafés where you can take a rest from shopping, and a variety of different restaurants where you can enjoy one more authentic Japanese meal before returning home. (There are also money-saving coupons that can be used at Japanese restaurants in the Umeda area!) Best of all, since it takes only one hour to reach Kansai Airport from Umeda, you can enjoy sightseeing and shopping just up until it’s time to leave.

How to get to Umeda from Kansai Airport

There are several ways to get to Umeda from Kansai Airport. You can travel by local train, the limited express train Haruka, or by airport bus. Of these options, the airport limousine bus is your best option.

The Perks of Airport Limousine Bus

Get to Umeda without any transfers

If you want to board a train, you can only do so from Kansai Airport’s Terminal 1, but limousine buses depart from both Terminal 1 and 2. If you’re arriving at Terminal 2, you can skip the shuttle bus ride to Terminal 1, and get started on your trip to Umeda directly from your arrival terminal. You won’t have to worry about missing your train stop, either, and you’ll be saved the hassle of walking around with your luggage.

You’re guaranteed seating

If you travel by train, you might not be able to find a seat during rush hour, and may be left standing, holding on to your luggage while you wait to see if a seat will open up. On the limousine bus, though, you can leave your luggage in the baggage compartment and enjoy your travel time comfortably seated. This is one of the reasons that makes the limousine bus a great option for passengers with children, and elderly visitors.

Service from morning until night

Airport limousine buses operate during a wide range of hours, departing frequently between 6-7 a.m. and 10-11 p.m., so it’s a good option not only for daytime travelers, but for nighttime rides. You can also check on the status of the airport limousine bus - information like where and when it will be boarding - with its “Highway Bus Location System.”

A convenient, safe, and comfortable ride

Free wifi is available on the bus, so you can let your family know right away that you’ve arrived safely - and start researching the next spot you’ll visit on your trip! The bus also operates by carefully following pandemic guidelines so you can relax and ride safely. Along the way, you can enjoy the Osaka scenery. It’s especially pretty at night.

A convenient drop-off point

A further plus is that the drop-off location in Umeda is close to the shopping center HERBIS PLAZA, and the Hotel New Hankyu Osaka. It’s easy to hop off the bus and get straight to some Osaka shopping, check right in to your hotel, or drop off your luggage first thing.

Learn more about the airport limousine bus!

Boarding times

Travel time from Terminal 1 of Kansai International Airport to Umeda is about 1 hour, and about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Terminal 2. As of July 2022, there are approximately 29 buses per day.

Departure from Terminal 1: First at 6:50 a.m., last at 11:30 p.m.
Departure from Terminal 2: First at 9:12 a.m., last at 11:17 p.m.

*Please check the bus website for exact departure times.

Bus Fees

The fare from Kansai Airport to Umeda is 1,600 yen. If you use the same route for your return trip, you can save money by buying a round trip ticket (please note that these tickets have an expiration date).

Buying Tickets

Ticket counters at the airport can be found outside the first floor of each terminal (near the bus hall). You can purchase one from either a ticket vending machine or from the sales counter. If you have an IC card, you can also use it on the bus.

Boarding & Drop-off Locations

You can board the airport limousine bus headed to Umeda from bus stop no. 5 at Terminal 1, or stop no. 1 at Terminal 2. When you arrive in Umeda, you can get off at the Hotel New Hankyu Osaka or the HERBIS PLAZA shopping mall. Hotel New Hankyu Osaka is located in the center of Umeda and is only a five minute walk away from some of the area’s best shopping malls, like GRAND FRONT OSAKA and HEP FIVE.

You’ll arrive at HERBIS PLAZA in front of JR Osaka Station another 10 minutes from Hotel New Hankyu Osaka. HERBIS PLAZA is a shopping mall with more than 140 international brands, including fashion items and a variety of restaurants. Start shopping as soon as you get off the bus It’s also a good spot to pick up some souvenirs on the last day of your trip, before you get on the airport limousine bus to the airport. (There are coupons available for shopping at HERBIS restaurants and stores on this site here!)

Notes on riding the airport limousine bus

• 1. Please understand that buses are first come first served, and do not take prior reservations.
• 2. For your safety, wear a seat belt while riding the bus.
• 3. Wait for the bus to stop before getting on and off to prevent accidents.
• 4. Be sure to hang on to the numbered card for your luggage. When you get off, you’ll need to hand your numbered card to the staff to pick it up.
• 5. As a countermeasure against COVID-19, the bus companies ask that you cooperate in wearing masks and refrain from conversation while on the bus.
• 6. Please put your phone on silent mode and don’t make phone calls while on the bus, in consideration of other passengers.

Make your next trip to Umeda by limousine bus!

With all this, it’s easy to see how convenient it is to get to Umeda by airport limousine bus. Whether you head straight to Umeda for some shopping after you get off the plane, or enjoy your final day in Japan here before heading back, using the limousine bus is a great way to make the trip more comfortable.

When you visit Umeda, be sure to use some of our coupons when you go shopping! If you want more ideas on what to do in Osaka, check out our Trip Ideas for loads of fun suggestions!

*The airport limousine bus is operated jointly by the following three companies. For details, see their respective websites.

・HANKYU KANKO BUS Co.,Ltd. https://www.hankyu-kankobus.co.jp/en/
・KANSAI AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION ENTERPRISE CO.,LTD https://www.kate.co.jp/en/
・Hanshin Bus Co., Ltd. https://www.hanshin-bus.co.jp/limo_en/index.html

For more information on Umeda, check out some of our Trip Ideas.

*Information in this article is accurate as of the date of posting. There is a possibility that details regarding these products and services have changed, or that some shops have since closed.