The Nankai Airport Line is a short rail line operated by the private railway company Nankai Electric Railway. It connects Kansai International Airport with the rest of the Nankai railway network in Osaka. The line runs between Kansai-Airport Station and Izumisano Station with just one stop at Rinku Town Station. Two important through services make use of this line: the Nankai Airport Express and the Limited Express Rapi:t. Both of these services connect Kansai Airport with Nankai Namba Station, an important transportation hub in the Minami district of Osaka. Because this is a private rail line, neither the Airport Express nor the Rapi:t service is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
The Airport Express
The Airport Express at Nankai Namba Station
The Airport Express is a commuter train that runs on the Nankai Airport Line and the Nankai Main Line, making 12 stops between Kansai-Airport Station and Namba Station. The one-way fare between these destinations is 970 yen for an adult or 490 yen for a child. No reservations are required for this train and the journey time is about 44 to 45 minutes. At Namba Station and Kansai-Airport Station it is usually easier to find seats, as these are the first stops. However, during peak periods the train can get crowded on the way, and there is no designated space for luggage.
The Airport Express stops at the following stations:
Kansai Airport – Rinku Town – Izumisano – Kaizuka – Kishiwada – Haruki – Izumiotsu – Hagoromo – Sakai – Tengachaya – Shin-Imamiya – Namba
Information for the Airport Express
Be sure not to get on the local trains that also run on this route if you want the faster airport journey, because local trains stop at many more stations. For current train times, use the official Nankai timetable page.
The Rapi:t Airport Express
The Rapi:t train at Nankai Namba Station
The Rapi:t is a limited express service between Kansai-Airport Station and Namba Station. The name “Rapi:t” means “fast”. This train does not make as many stops as the Airport Express so it is faster, with the quickest services taking as little as 34 minutes between Kansai Airport and Namba.
All seats are reserved, so a seat is guaranteed. Because an extra limited express ticket is required to ride this train, the fare between Kansai Airport and Namba is higher than the fare for the Airport Express.
There are two classes of seat on the Rapi:t: Regular Seats and Super Seats. Super Seat carriages are more spacious with a row of double seats on one side and a row of single seats on the other. Regular Seat carriages have two rows of double seats.
Rapi:t Airport Express regular seats
Rapi:t Airport Express Super seats
All seats are forward facing. The standard adult fare between the airport and Namba is 1,670 yen for Regular Seats and 1,880 yen for Super Seats. These totals include the 970 yen base fare plus the limited express ticket charge. For children, the standard total is about 840 yen for Regular Seats and 1,050 yen for Super Seats.
The signature round windows of this distinctive train
The train is well known for its award winning “retro-futuristic” design by the architect Hiroyuki Wakabayashi. With a form meant to express “power and speed,” the dramatic space age exterior and elegant interior design make this a distinctive airport train. Inside, the train has spacious, comfortable seating with lots of leg room, and there is also designated luggage space.
There are two Rapi:t services: the Rapi:t alpha and the Rapi:t beta, but most trains are of the Rapi:t beta type.
Rapi:t alpha trains are the fastest services and stop at the following stations:
Kansai Airport – Rinku Town – Izumisano – Tengachaya – Shin-Imamiya – Namba
Rapi:t beta trains stop at the following stations:
Kansai Airport – Rinku Town – Izumisano – Kishiwada – Sakai – Tengachaya – Shin-Imamiya – Namba
Popular Hotels near Nankai Namba Station
Most Rapi:t services are Rapi:t beta trains, with some faster Rapi:t alpha services running at limited times. For current Rapi:t departure times, use the official Nankai timetable page.
Information for the Rapi:t service
Discount Tickets & Guides
The Rapi:t Digital Ticket is a discounted one-way ticket that combines the basic Nankai ticket and the Rapi:t limited express ticket. It costs 1,410 yen for an adult Regular Seat or 1,590 yen for an adult Super Seat. Child fares are 710 yen for a Regular Seat and 910 yen for a Super Seat.
Nankai also sells the Kanku Toku-wari Rapi:t Ticket at station ticket counters. This costs 1,560 yen for an adult Regular Seat or 1,740 yen for an adult Super Seat, with child fares of 780 yen for a Regular Seat and 980 yen for a Super Seat. For current conditions and other discount options, check the official Nankai discount tickets page.
If you plan to transfer from the Nankai Railway to other rail lines, we recommend using English language online route finders like Jorudan and Navitime to help you plan your journey.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved. Last updated 26-Jul-2026.
