After arriving at KIX, here are 3 things to do in Osaka that showcase the fun and excitement on offer.
Namba City Shopping Mall
The Namba City shopping mall is a large shopping center located at the northern terminus of the Nankai Line, Nankai Namba Station, in Osaka’s bustling Namba district. It has upward of 250 stores and restaurants spread across 2 buildings, the Honkan and the Minami-kan, and 4 floors (2 above ground and 2 below). A tourist information center, foreign exchange, duty free shopping and ATMs accepting overseas cards are some of the other services available at Namba City, and one train is all it takes to get there from Kansai Airport.
Access to Namba City Shopping Mall
The Nankai Line Airport Express completes the journey in as little as 45 minutes for a cost of just ¥950. The fighting-anime-robot-looking Limited Express Rapit α or Rapit β cut the travel time down to as little as 38 minutes and provide riders with supremely comfortable reserved seats in a quiet and smooth-riding cabin for just ¥510 on top of the regular ¥950 fare.
Tempozan Marketplace
The Tempozan Marketplace is a medium sized shopping and entertainment complex located in the Osaka Port Village a short 5-minute walk from Osaka-ko Station on the Chuo Subway Line. The mall is home to 33 fashion and goods stores and 43 restaurants. It’s also home to two unique indoor theme parks, the Legoland Discovery Center Osaka and the Fureai Dobutsuen Anipa petting zoo, the latter of which provides visitors with the opportunity to come face-to-face with kangaroos, owls, capybaras and many more fun and unique animals, and to the 112.5 meter tall Tempozan Ferris wheel, which offers incredible views of Osaka Bay, Downtown Osaka and the surrounding Kansai Area.
Access to Tempozan
Getting to the Tempozan Marketplace from Kansai Airport requires 2 train transfers. Take the Nankai Airport Express or either of the Limited Express Rapit services to Tengachaya Station and then transfer to the Sakaisuji Subway Line. Get an Awaji bound train to Sakaisuji-honmachi Station and transfer to a Cosmo Square bound train on the Chuo Line for the final run to Osaka-ko Station. Alternatively, or depending on the departure time from the airport, get the Nankai Airport Express or either of the Limited Express Rapit Services and transfer to the JR Osaka Loop Line (the “Kanjosen" in Japanese) at Shin-Imamia Station. Take the Osaka Loop Line to Benten-cho and then transfer to the Chuo Subway Line. The prior option costs ¥1,200 (using the Nankai Airport Express) or ¥1,710 (using the Limited Express Rapit) and takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. The later route costs ¥1,320 (using the Nankai Airport Express) or ¥1,830 (using the Limited Express Rapit) and can take as little as 55 minutes. See you in Osaka?
