Designed by the renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, the airport is nothing short of an engineering marvel. Completed in 1994, the airport is built upon an artificial island. The airport is connected by a single 3.7-kilometer-long bridge (Sky Gate Bridge R) to the mainland, which allows vehicles and public transport heading for Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto, and Senshu easy access to the airport.

The bridge was severely damaged during Typhoon Jebi in September 2018. However, the incredible efforts allowed for train services to resume services across the bridge merely two weeks after the typhoon, with airport services returning to normal within the same week. The speed at which repairs were made and operations resumed received praise from around the globe.

For all those keen plane spotters, head over to the Observation Hall Sky View. The area is split between two buildings: the entrance hall building and the main hall building. Catch a 360-degree panoramic spectacle from the Sky Deck on the roof park of either building to see planes landing, departing, taxiing, and parked up at the terminals. Join others and collect photographs of various aircraft livery.

Take the free shuttle bus from Terminal 1 to access the Observation Hall Sky View buildings. The Sky Shop Town on the fourth floor of the entrance hall building sells a range of aviation related souvenir products, such as model airplanes. Look out for collaborative towels from independent Senshu towel companies and Japanese airlines to help support local business, all while enjoying the highest quality towels available in Japan.

Those who would like to know more about the history of Kansai International Airport and the world of aviation, be sure to visit the Sky Museum on the third floor of the main hall. The museum offers hands-on experiences, such as simulators and a large 200-inch video theater experience. Be sure to visit the impressive diorama of the airport, which is 30 meters long and built at a 1/72 scale.

Kansai International Airport is equipped with a wide range of services and amenities you would expect from a modern airport. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport. Both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are equipped with free charging ports for tablets and mobile devices. Visitors who would like to feel refreshed after a long journey can make use of the shower rooms available. Visitors wanting to make use of a lounge can do so at the Aeroplaza Lounge a short walk from the airport station, which offers amenities such as free soft drinks (alcoholic drinks are charged separately) and shower rooms (also charged separately).

For Muslim visitors, multi-functional prayer rooms are available 24 hours a day. Three rooms are available for guests to use, two of which are located at the International Departure Gate area and a third room located on the third floor of Terminal 1. Prayer rooms are separated by gender, and washing spaces are also available before prayer. There are restaurants that offer halal dining options; the halal logo is displayed at these locations. Additionally, some restaurants offer menus that do not contain pork or alcohol.

For visitors who want to tuck in straight away or get that final taste of Japan before departure, the airport offers a wide range of excellent dining options covering a variety of Japanese dishes.

The Brasserie offers a buffet which is open all day for visitors. There are around 60 different dishes available with selections of Japanese and western style meals. Seasonal ingredients like locally sourced Senshu vegetables are used to create delectable dishes. Breakfast is served from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m., with lunch offered between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (last orders at 2 p.m.). Dinner is available on weekends and national holidays between 5:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. (last orders at 8:30 p.m.). The Brasserie is located at Hotel Nikko Kansai Airport (before security), which is right next to the train station.

Those seeking a great local delicacy, head over to Botejyu, which specializes in the Osaka-style okonomiyaki, a sort of savory pancake. Fresh cabbage and ingredients such as meat or seafood are mixed in with a special batter and cooked over a hot plate. A special sweet brown sauce is generously added with a dollop of mayonnaise and a sprinkle of powdered seaweed, creating a perfectly heartwarming dish.

For visitors without a lot of time, head over to one of the famous restaurants such as Sukiya and Nakau, which serve donburi, bowls of piping hot rice with shredded beef or egg and chicken usually, within 10 minutes of ordering. A quick, healthy fast-food option which hits the spot is the ideal meal for those itching to explore Japan right after landing or is tight for time before their flight departs.

Visitors who need to make last minute purchases, or those who prefer to browse various shopping options, may also do so at Kansai International Airport. Duty Free options are available after security in both Terminal 1 and 2, and a range of Japanese stores are also available.

For visitors looking to purchase Japanese souvenirs, head over to Applause. There are several stores within the airport selling a wide variety of popular items from Osaka and the Kansai region. The airport is also home to a large collection of gachapon vending machines, where visitors can purchase a range of small figurines from various Japanese anime and manga, and other miscellaneous characters. Costs vary from ¥100 to ¥500, which is ideal for visitors wanting to get rid of any small change accumulated over their time in Japan.

*The content in this article (e.g., business days, hours, and services) may change due to the spread of COVID-19, and any governmental declarations. Please check the official website for the latest information.

For Senshu tourist information inquiries, please contact the Senshu Japan Concierge Team.