HARUKA Timetable 2026: Kansai Airport to Kyoto & Osaka Train Schedule

HARUKA connects the Kansai Airport and the cities of Kyoto and Osaka, providing many rides throughout the day. Below is everything you need to know about the departure points, schedules, and where to catch the trains.

HARUKA Timetable: Kansai Airport → Kyoto / Osaka (Departures)

The following timetables are drawn from the official JR West timetable for services from Kansai Airport Station. All trains depart from Platform 4 at Kansai Airport Station. Times shown are departure times from Kansai Airport.

Weekday timetable

Saturday, Sunday and public-holiday departures

The following departure list is for Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays:

During the primary daylight hours (about 09:00–20:00), the HARUKA operates about 2 trains per hour with a train every half hour. This frequency is somewhat lower in the early morning and late evening hours. The frequency is the same in both directions.

⚠️ Never depend on the last train. A delayed flight or long immigration queues can cause you to miss it. The last HARUKA train will leave Kansai Airport an hour or so before midnight, and there is no other train on the JR Network you can take to reach Kyoto.

HARUKA Timetable: Kyoto / Osaka → Kansai Airport (Departures)

The reverse direction follows a mirrored pattern, with services departing Kyoto Station throughout the day.

Full Departure List (from Kyoto)

The same 30-minute frequency applies during the daytime. The first departure from Kyoto is 05:45, and the last is 20:30, arriving at Kansai Airport at 21:46.

💡Note: The last train from Kyoto is significantly earlier in the evening than the last train from Kansai Airport. If you have a late-night flight, you will need to leave Kyoto by early evening.

Weekday vs Weekend and Holiday Services

Although there are few, real differences between the weekday and weekend/holiday timetable, they are as follows:

The first train from Kansai International Airport: 6:40 on weekdays; 6:40 on weekends.

The service frequency: every half an hour on weekdays and weekends, with slight variations on Saturdays and holidays.

Seasonal extras: more frequencies may be offered in peak travel seasons, but this is not reflected in the timetable and can be checked separately.

The official JR West timetable PDF is used as the sole reference to find what day you want.

Which Stations Each Train Stops At

HARUKA stopping patterns differ by train. JR West's official information warns that the stopping stations vary by service.

HARUKA's main stops

The current timetable includes services calling at:

• Kansai Airport
• Hineno on selected services
• Izumi-Fuchu on selected services
• Tennoji
• Osaka
• Shin-Osaka
• Takatsuki on selected services
• Kyoto
• Yamashina and stations in Shiga on selected through services

Not every HARUKA service stops at every station. Check the official timetable for the individual train.

HARUKA and Hineno

Hineno is an important point when comparing HARUKA with the Kansai-Airport Rapid Service.

HARUKA services can call at Hineno. The Kansai-Airport Rapid Service, meanwhile, has a different operating arrangement and splits from the Kishuji Rapid Service at Hineno.

Do not use the Kansai-Airport Rapid Service's Hineno arrangement as a description of HARUKA.

Important: HARUKA Now Stops at Osaka Station

HARUKA trains now stop at Osaka Station's underground platform; this is a major improvement compared to before when passengers were required to transfer at either Shin-Osaka or Tennoji Stations. The underground platform was inaugurated, and HARUKA trains running from Kansai Airport to Osaka Station have reduced the travel time by about 20 minutes.

The underground platform was constructed by the western side of Osaka Station building and has been connected with it by an underground passageway. If you make your way to the downtown Osaka Station area (Umeda), it would help to exit in the direction of the West Gate. It will take you approximately 10-15 minutes for the transfer if you continue your journey by reaching other station lines.

Trains That Skip Stations

Certain HARUKA services work the Kansai Airport → Tennoji → Shin-Osaka → Kyoto route bypassing Osaka Station. Generally when excluding Osaka Station, such services are offered either early in the morning or late in the evening.

Trains That Run Through to Kusatsu/Yasu

Some HARUKA services go beyond Kyoto. For instance, the trains 50 and 54 continue on to Otsu, Kusatsu and Yasu. This is important for you only if your destination is east of Kyoto because you can avoid changing trains at the Kyoto Station.

Future extension to Yamashina: JR West plans to extend HARUKA trains to Yamashina Station until the end of fiscal year 2029. The extension will enable you to reach other parts of east Kyoto and use the Tozai Line of the Kyoto Municipal Subway.

How to check your train: The official timetable in PDF form gives details about where every service stops. If you leave from Osaka or Shin-Osaka, make sure that your train makes a stop at the station before booking your tickets.

Journey Times Between Key Stations

According to what is reported at some of the official sources, the KIX–Kyoto ride takes approximately 75 minutes (or 80 minutes in cases when there are many stops on the route). The KIX–Osaka ride can come in handy if you plan to visit Umeda as the underground station is situated right below Osaka Station complex.

How Often Does HARUKA Run?

Quick answer: approximately every thirty minutes during daylight, about sixty trains in total each way during the day.

• First train leaves Kansai Airport at 06:40 on weekdays, weekends or holidays.
• Final train leaves Kansai Airport at 22:16 and Kyoto at 20:30.

Quick note: Do not plan your trip to coincide with the last train, as you might end up stranded if your flight is delayed. You should think about alternative options, such as staying in an airport hotel, taking a taxi, or riding a late-night bus.

Where to Check Live Times

Keep in mind that the times listed here are just a snapshot—timetables get revised, seasonal extras get added, and services sometimes change temporarily, so it's always worth checking the official sources before you travel. For the most current schedule, see the official English HARUKA timetable PDF, or the Japanese original if you want more detail. You can also use JR West's route finder to plan your specific journey, check the official English access guide for station maps and boarding info, or look at the Kansai Airport Station map to find your platform once you land.

⚠️ Important Notice: Changes in season and schedule may cause the original timetable to differ. Before traveling, check the most up-to-date information. Information mentioned in this article is accurate based on the current timetable as of March 2026.

HARUKA vs Kansai Airport Rapid Service (and Nankai Rapi:t)

HARUKA isn't your only option. Here's how the others compare.

Which Should You Take?

Pick HARUKA if: You will be traveling to Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, or Osaka. It alone goes straight to Kyoto and now goes directly to Osaka Station without needing to transfer to get to the Umeda area.

Pick Kansai Airport Rapid if: You will be traveling to Osaka (Umeda) and wish to save money. The cost of ¥1,210 is much lower than HARUKA's fare of ¥1,800, while the additional duration is just about 15-20 minutes. It also accepts JR Pass.

Pick Nankai Rapi:t if: Your accommodation happens to be in areas of Namba, Dotonbori, or Shinsaibashi. Onboard the Rapi:t, you will arrive at your destination within a short timeframe of only 34 minutes since there are no other forms of transport that will bring you to the center of Osaka faster. You can also enjoy the spacious seating on the Rapi:t and the price will be around ¥1,490.

💡 HARUKA is probably one of the best transport options to get to the centre since it travels straight to Osaka Station and makes the trip to the area of Namba longer than with the above option.

Tickets, Seats and Reservations

Reserved vs Non-Reserved

Compared to reserved seating, non-reserved seating is provided by HARUKA. Non-reserved seating is provided for cars 4-6. In case you have a JR. Pass, you do not have to pay for non-reserved cars. To ensure your seats during the peak season, you have to book beforehand.

ICOCA & HARUKA / Kansai Area Pass

The ICOCA & HARUKA set is the ideal choice for foreign tourists. It offers an ICOCA IC card (with a balance of ¥1,500) and a discounted HARUKA ticket.

Prices include the ICOCA card (¥2,000, comprising ¥1,500 usable balance and ¥500 deposit).

If you already hold an ICOCA card, you can purchase the HARUKA discount ticket separately:

The round-trip ticket is valid for 14 days from the date of first travel.

The JR Kansai Area Pass also covers HARUKA non-reserved seats and is worth considering if you plan multiple JR journeys. A 1-day pass is approximately ¥2,800; a 4-day pass is ¥7,000.

Where to Buy at Kansai Airport

You can get HARUKA Tickets from:

• Green Ticket Vending Machines (accepting credit card payments; some credit cards require a PIN)
• JR-WEST Ticket Office (Midori-no-Madoguchi) at Kansai Airport Station, which is open from 05:30 – 23:00.
• You can book tickets online from the JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION system, and collect them from the station counter. For this, obtain your reservation number, credit card used for the payment, and valid passport.

The station is directly connected to Terminal 1 on the 2nd floor.

Practical Tips for Riding HARUKA

Luggage: Each car of the HARUKA comes with luggage designated areas. This is a great advantage compared to Kansai Airport Rapid Service, which has no luggage space and can be crowded with bags.

Wi-Fi: Available onboard.

Railway platform: HARUKA leaves from Platform 4 in Kansai Airport Station. At Osaka Station, HARUKA leaves from new underground platform; leave towards the West Gate for the shortest way to the main station.

Underground platform: Since the timetable change, HARUKA has been stopping at the underground station located under the main station complex. This is a significant change compared to previous arrangements. Now you don’t have to transfer at Shin-Osaka or Tennoji to reach central Osaka.

Hello Kitty HARUKA: The Hello Kitty HARUKA trains are planned to be entirely removed by the summer of 2027. If you'd like to find yourself on one of those trains, it’s better to check with the station team on the day as specific trains can differ on a daily basis.

💡Tip: Book in advance during busier periods of time: The Golden Week, Obon and New Year periods are very busy and you should always reserve your tickets at least three days in advance

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