Kansai Osaka Airport Review
Since I have been to Osaka several times, it was high time I reviewed the Kansai International Airport here. Anyone visiting Osaka will be coming in here, and I will share some general information about what is available here at the Osaka Airport.
Kansai Osaka Airport Review
On a trip here with mainstream journalists from Malaysia and working with the Osaka Government Tourism Board (OGTB) and Tourism Malaysia Osaka (TM Osaka), our group was taken on a tour around the airport. Anyone planning to visit here should note that flights to Osaka depart from Kuala Lumpur at midnight and arrive in Japan early in the morning.
Therefore, we flew via Malaysia Airlines on this trip, and on our arrival, we were greeted by the head of the Malaysia Airlines Osaka office, together with the representatives of TM Osaka and OGTB. The seven-hour flight was decent, but my important tip is to get a window seat or one by the door or bathroom if you want a comfortable flight here.
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International check-in counters at the departure hall. |
Anyway, arriving at Osaka’s KIX brought back memories from my previous trips in 2012 and 2013, when I noticed that some renovations had been done to accommodate the growing number of passengers here. You should also know that there has been a steep rise in the number of Malaysians visiting Osaka, namely Muslim tourists who seek the Japanese experience here.
Our media group was given a semi-tour of the shopping facilities in the departure area. On a first impression, sections here resembled more of a shopping mall rather than a common airport shopping area.
They tried to ensure that travellers felt comfortable here, and I was very comfortable. Popular Japanese brands caught my eye as we walked through the main shopping areas in the airport departure area.
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Daiso store at Osaka airport. |
Muji to Go, Uniqlo and even Daiso are some of the common names I am used to, and they are also more familiar to Malaysian travellers. Other shops were more general and straightforward, offering travellers what they needed before and after a trip. Souvenir shops were abundant, with all sorts of Japanese names, while speciality stores were also available.
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Shopping in Osaka KIX Airport. |
Definitely, a paradise for Japanese KitKat lovers, and the prices are quite reasonable too, priced at ¥600 to ¥800 per box, which works out to be around RM18 to RM24 (US$6 to $8). Flavours include Kit Kat Wasabi, Green Tea, Red Bean, Strawberry Cheesecake and other unique stuff.
Do you know how friends and relatives always ask for Japanese Kit Kat when anyone goes to Japan? Well, this is your solution here in Osaka.
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Japanese Kit Kat variety for sale at Kansai Airport. |
General Shopping Photos of Kansai Airport
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A Japanese souvenir shop. |
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Kokumin Shop. |
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Kyoto Craft Mart is an excellent place to buy souvenirs. |
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Muji to Go speciality shop in Kansai Airport. |
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Some of the shops in the airport area. |
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Toy Park is great for kids…and adults, too. |
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Uniqlo store at Kansai Airport. |
Japanese Food at Osaka Airport
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Some of the Japanese ‘Display Food’ at the airport. |
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Japanese Bento and other dishes. |
The list goes on and on for food and beverage. Japanese restaurants mainly offer the usual sushi, Bento, soba, and ramen, and they always have beautiful fake food displays in front of them, which amazes me, too. Others include Japanese fusion restaurants offering hamburgers, steaks and several Western choices.
Muslim-Friendly Facilities at Osaka Airport
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A halal Japanese restaurant at Kansai Airport. |
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Halal certification at the Japanese Restaurant. |
Halal Restaurant at Kansai Airport
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Halal Japanese Food at Osaka Airport. |
Muslim Prayer Room Facilities at Kansai
Kansai Airport has also built unique prayer rooms for Muslims. Our media group visited one prayer room, or ‘surau,’ on the third floor of the main terminal building.
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Prayer Room or surau at Osaka airport. |
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Prayer room sign at Kansai Airport. |
Arrival facilities at Kansai International Airport
Kansai Tourist Information Center
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Kansai and Osaka Information. |
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Japan SIM Card and Mobile Center at Osaka Airport. |
Japan SIM Card and Smart Phone Kiosk
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Osaka Free WiFi services. |
I just used my hotel WiFi whenever I got the chance. Several places around Osaka offer free WiFi, and WiFiso the Osaka Free WiFi, which is easy to log into. Connect to it. A browser will automatically pop up. Enter your email, and you can use the service for 15 minutes. When it disconnects, repeat the same steps. All hotels in Osaka have free Wi-Fi.
Some companies in Malaysia even offer portable WiFi before you leave the country. You can even rent Japanese smartphones in English at the Mobile Kiosk Centre.
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Malaysia Airlines check-in counter at Kansai Airport. |
Checking in at Osaka Airport
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The Smoking Room is located at Counter A in the departure hall. |
Smoking Room at Osaka Airport
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Luggage services at KIX. |
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Money Changer at Kansai Airport. |
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Vending machines at the arrival hall. |
They also sell them in hot or cold, and prices are always around ¥100 to ¥130 per can. Other items found here include soft drinks and cigarettes.
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Last chance for that Japanese McDonald’s burger before leaving Osaka. |
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The domestic departure hall at the airport. |
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Tsutaya Book Store is in the domestic section of the airport. |
There are 27 units in the Terminal 1 Building, 11 in the Terminal 2 Building, and 8 in the Aeroplaza, hotel, Observation Hall, and other locations. Please get and check the airport map if you or someone travelling with you is diagnosed with a heart condition.
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Kansai Airport Map. |
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Officials involved in the Osaka Media Trip. |
On a side note, many people are asking me when the best time to visit Osaka is, and speaking to the many tourism people involved over the number of times I have visited this place, I have concluded. The best times to visit Osaka are in the Autumn, from October to November, and in the Spring, from the end of March to early April.
However, you should note that the cherry blossoms usually start flowering at the end of March and continue until the first week of April for those wanting to see this fantastic sight. You can also check out the Sakura Forecast website. I am amazed that they even have this for the tourist.
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Universal Studios Japan is one of the most popular attractions in Osaka. |
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